3D Printer for 13 year old

Gredawarha said:
Thanks, yes perhaps you were thinking of the A1 mini?

I am tempted to spend a bit more and get him the P1S, presumably the enclosure will help with temperature control but I also think the enclosed form factor will be better in terms of looking after it and if it needs moving around the house. I am also mindful that if we don't put it in the utility room but keep it in the house the enclosure will keep the cat from ******* about with it.
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The A1 was the best gift I've ever given! Not only has he had fun printing random stuff we've spent loads of time together with me teaching him what litt I know, and us both learning as we go.

It's been a great bonding experience
 
Dyson said:
Looking to get one of my kids a 3D printer. I use a QIDI Plus4 at work, so have some experience in getting a printer set up and printing, BUT, I can't decide on my best choice for him.

I'm torn between the following:

Tina2 Plus - Compact size, fully enclosed, works out of the box, but compact bed.
FLASHFORGE AD5M - More bed space, works out of the box, but not enclosed.
Bambu A1 - Seems to be the go to model for starters, but is totally open.

All 3 are in the £180 to £220 region. Totally understand the limitations of this end of the market, but it's for fun and creativity above anything else. I'm predicting a heavy swing towards the Bambu, but like the fact the Tina is enclosed.
What made it click for us was pairing the printer with fun goals, like printing game figures and props from sites such as https://www.gambody.com/ which kept motivation high regardless of printer size. In the end, ease, safety, and excitement mattered more than raw capability.
Help!
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An enclosed machine like the Tina2 Plus really does make life easier around kids: less noise, fewer curious fingers near hot parts, and more forgiving prints with basic filaments, even if the bed is small. Open printers like the A1 or AD5M give more room to grow and tinker, which is great once confidence builds, but they do ask for a bit more supervision and setup discipline.
 
brendy said:
Even so, they'd only do it once.
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valuable lesson.

My 11 and 14 year olds can tell not to touch the printer without having direct experience of the hot end. I think it's something about it screaming around at 500mm/s

If they are looking to get into tinkering then buy them a second hand ender 3.

if they are just wanting to print stuff then the bamboo is supposed to be pretty bombproof but maybe something like the Elegoo Centauri Carbon. something enclosed, corexy.
 
Absolutely agree, the ender 3 or 5 with extras are amazing to learn on but there are others out there with easier just print and go options
 
Starting with ****** printer that needs upgrades and fixing will either make you quit or teach you everything you need to know :)
 
I'm in a similar position to the OP. I'm thinking about a Bambu A1 mini for my daughters to learn to 3d print on and generally mess around creatively. If I were to buy one what would people recommend as the the necessary purchases as I'm sure it's more than just buying the printer?

Any advice gratefully received.
 
Isn't Bamboo going to lock you in into their ecosystem too much? I'm in similar boat where I know I'd end up needing to step in to resolve issues and I'd like it to be not too much burden on my time
I'd even be inclined to go up to something with enclosure for £300-400 if this is better longer term.
 
PlacidCasual said:
I'm in a similar position to the OP. I'm thinking about a Bambu A1 mini for my daughters to learn to 3d print on and generally mess around creatively. If I were to buy one what would people recommend as the the necessary purchases as I'm sure it's more than just buying the printer?

Any advice gratefully received.
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If you can stretch the budget to the A1 combo, and have the room, you’ll save yourself having the feeling of wanting to print something from maker world, only to find out it’s too big for the A1 mini print bed.

And as for the combo, kids are probably going to want multi coloured toys and trinkets, so biting the bullet and getting the combo saves you having to spend more on an AMS lite in a few months time.

As for accessories, a 0.4mm hardened steel nozzle for abrasive/glow in the dark filaments, and a cheap £30 filament dryer from Amazon for the inevitable silk PLA flexi dragon toy :D
 
PlacidCasual said:
@Megahurtz400 Thanks for the reply. I wouldn't have considered a nozzle specifically for more abrasive filaments. I still haven't made the plunge yet but I'm getting closer :-D
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On the Bambu Lab store on each filament page it says wether a hardened nozzle is recommended or not, I can’t remember which exactly but from memory things like glow on the dark and sparkle PLA need them I think, which I imagine kids would want to use, I know I do! :cry:
 
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