Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ engine mounts

3D printers: what are you using?

The Ender series is a bitch of dialing it in for it to work nicely for a while and then randomly (or with a filament change) it's a dog until you get it right again (at least on the older models I have had - the original ender 3, and ender 3 v2, and a few others that are the same thing more or less). I did move to a g10 build plate on my ender 3v2 and it was way better with bed adhesion (no glue or the other alternatives).

My needs evolved where I need to print some more abrasive and harder to print materials that need an enclosure. I had a Mk4 on order until I decided the ethos of the company (I really like the open nature of Prusa) shouldn't require that I get a lesser printer for the same price and ultimately went to a Bambu X1C. I am not really interested in the 3d printing hobby (where I have to tinker with a printer all the time), I want to 3d print things as prototypes/tools/gifts/whatever and not really have to think a lot about it. The X1C realized that for me.

Of course now, for most needs the Bambu A1 is <$400 and is supposedly every bit as good as, if not better than, the Mk4 ($1200+). Granted, the source code isn't open, it reports back to china some things, and probably other concerns people may have that are likely legit. Gotta pick your poison.

Anyway, long story short - for the Creality Ender 3 style printers, I would look at the G10 build plate and make sure you dial in your z-offset. Ideally you also have the BL Touch (or creality's equivalent, CL Touch?) that can do some bed leveling for you in the firmware.

That's great information and some good hands on experience with other machines along the way. As with all brands there's pluses and minuses and depending on a persons priorities, one may be a better fit than another. For me the Bambu X1C with AMS looks like the best buy for the money. Lidar and camera inside enclosure are just a couple awesome features as well as it's print area of 256x256x256.
My plan is similar to yours and also to make and sell higher quality pieces in niche hobbies.

Have you used any 3D scanners?
 
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Ahh...Yeah, mine autolevels. It uses the touch thing to measure the bed in about 16 places...and I believe it is calculating the Z-offset that way too.

Cool, didn't know they had that. Guess I should have waited for that model. Oh well. I figured mine was a stepping stone if I liked it and it works very well for me so I'm happy. Already have a couple of parts installed on the jeeps that I've made.
 
I'm looking to buy a 3D Printer and from my research I really like the newly released Prusa MK4.

https://www.prusa3d.com/product/original-prusa-mk4-2/


I'd add the Prusa MMU3 multi filament upgrade (five filament)

https://www.prusa3d.com/product/original-prusa-mmu3-upgrade-kit-for-mk4-3/


Does anyone have a Prusa 3D printer? Any opinions on Prusa? What other options would you recommend.

Bambu Labs X1C. If you want a tool that produces parts, it is the best option out there. if you want a hobby machine to upgrade and play with, get anything else. I stared with an Ender, and gave up because i was spending more time "calibrating" than producing parts. The X1C is an appliance/tool that just works. I design the part, send it to the printer and walk away. I love it.
 
Bambu Labs X1C. If you want a tool that produces parts, it is the best option out there. if you want a hobby machine to upgrade and play with, get anything else. I stared with an Ender, and gave up because i was spending more time "calibrating" than producing parts. The X1C is an appliance/tool that just works. I design the part, send it to the printer and walk away. I love it.

Thanks for the input, you summed that up nicely.
 
Thanks for the input, you summed that up nicely.

The cost kept me from buying the X1C for several months, but once I bit the bullet, it was a game changer. I use it all the time even for little things and just love it. Also, get the AMS.
If you don't need the enclosure to print "engineering" materials like PC and ASA I have heard great things about the new Bambu bed singers (A1 and A1 Mini), but the more I use the printer for making parts and not just trinkets, the more I like to use PC, ASA, ABS and CF filaments, and the enclosure in really necessary for those.
 
The cost kept me from buying the X1C for several months, but once I bit the bullet, it was a game changer. I use it all the time even for little things and just love it. Also, get the AMS.
If you don't need the enclosure to print "engineering" materials like PC and ASA I have heard great things about the new Bambu bed singers (A1 and A1 Mini), but the more I use the printer for making parts and not just trinkets, the more I like to use PC, ASA, ABS and CF filaments, and the enclosure in really necessary for those.

I'll be getting an AMS for sure. Definitely need an enclosure to print certain filaments and keep a project from warping.
One big thing that the Bambu does that even the Prusa doesn't do is two axis head movement and the bed only has to move in the vertical axis.
 
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Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ engine mounts