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Any advise for someone wanting to start 3d printing ?
(self.3dprinting)
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this post was submitted on 17 Nov 2023
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The initial cost of the printer is not going to be your biggest cost. You will also spend $$ on various small tools or even furniture, and more spools of filament than you expect!!
I picked a Prusa Mini because I do not want to tinker with the machine, I want to use it. Solid choice, it just works. Alternatives are definitely cheaper, but quality is often a coin flip.
Then I started using TinkerCad as editor, dead simple and fun to use, and I made many small things that way. It was only when I felt it was limiting me, that I started moving to other tools like Fusion360 and OnShape = much more powerful but also much, much harder to learn.
Thanks, this fits my scenario. I’m interested in getting into 3d printing but have neither the time nor inclination for tinkering. I’d rather spend a little more if I can get right to printing
Another question is whether size matters. If you got one called a “mini”, I guess they make bigger ones. At what point is it big enough for typical uses? Do you regret not getting bigger?
Yes, check out Prusa's website to see the size difference. Generally, 3d printers look like a" car wash" with a column on each side and a carriage that moves between them. The Prusa Mini only has one column, so it takes up a lot less space on the desk / in the cabinet.
The mini still has a respectable print volume of 18cm (cubed), most printers have 20cm. That can be a drawback because some ready-made models expect the print volume to be 20cm, so such models can't be printed on the Mini, or would have to be scaled down to fit. I have never had that situation though, so no, I do not regret this size.
More importantly, the Mini is like 500 EUR which is a lot for a small printer, but a regular Prusa is at least 900 EUR so there's a significant savings involved. Speaking of prices, of course you can get a 100 dollar printer, but that's not going to be the "Mercedes Benz experience" which the Prusa certainly is.
The second you start to enjoy 3d printing you'll spend more on filament than the cost of the printer in the first year. This still adds up for a more expensive faster machine, youll just go trough the rolls quicker.