Thanks Every one it is helpful. I see a few people got them during corvid (to pass the time ?)
I've seen a some people make some cool stuff online but I come back to my questions
12. what is a good printer is a good printer to start out with ?
13. is it better to buy new or used ?
14. what is a good model and price range to look at for a first model to try out when I'm not sure ?
15. what mistake did you make when first starting out, any advice for other ?
16. How are things going so far for you with the printer, what was the learning curve, and what would you advice to do and avoid
17. Could I make large items or is it restricted to small items.
18. how much space would I need ? with a smallish house and other family member inc younger ones, sometime wondering around everywhere.
19. For someone new, what advice would you give on getting a printer, New, used, types addons ?
Is Creality one of the better model to get get it looks like a lot of you have them.
at the moment I'm not sure if its worth jumping in yet I'm leaning toward leaving it a little longer or till I know more and can get something cheap to try out. at the moment im not sure if cost effective to buy something that could cost £100+ just to try out and to make something that would only cost a few quid just because I want to try it out.
I'm a home user, as to whether it is worth it that is mixed - I don't use it that often, mostly due to lack of a proper place to have it setup but it is great being able to print out custom bits and pieces and/or prototypes for projects, etc. that side in its own way is invaluable. Personally I picked up a relatively cheap Monoprice (they are also sold under other brands like Malyan but no idea if they are the same quality) 3D printer which is largely plug and play other than messing about a bit with the bed.
Personally I create the 3D models from scratch for the most part using either basic CAD or basic 3D modelling software. Amongst the stuff I've printed includes custom front panels for electronic projects, custom mounting plates for routers and stuff like that and have messed about with custom chess pieces, etc.
You have to be aware of the limits though - average filament especially PLA doesn't tend to like exposure to the elements much, will eventually breakdown if exposed to water and warp in warmer weather in direct sunlight, printed parts can be brittle depending on filament used so not good for stuff like latches and clips especially if intended for repeated use - though some filaments work better towards that kind of use than others.
As an aside on the chess piece topic - I actually printed out a placeholder 3D model of a chess piece from a set of placeholders I'd done for an old video game years ago, so not optimised for 3D printing, and was gob smacked when it printed it without supports on the overhanging bits - I really didn't think that would come off:
(On the left is the 3D model cut out from the modelling program)
The left one looks good, but I assume it due to filament used and the printer ?
1. Are you a home user ? Yup
2. is it worth it ? For me yes
3. Did you buy new or used ? New
4. Do you use the 3d printer ? Currently yes, but it sometimes goes for a month without being turned on, then used loads and repeat.
5. what do you use you printer for ? Making storage, custom clips/holders for things, few toys.
6. is it cost affective ? Eventually it would be but for the odd thing you can just get someone else to print it.
7. what pushed you to buy one ? Fun thing to learn and play with.
8. what advice would you give someone considering getting one? Borrow one if you can for a bit, I do think for lots of people they will sit and gather dust.
9 is it still quite expensive ? My Creality V3 SE was incredible value at about £135 from aliexpress and 2kg of plastic for around £25 means prices have dropped heavily for a simple setup.
10. how do you scan things ? I dont
11. How did you find things ? Printables/thingiverse or design on tinkercad as I havent leanrt to use a "proper" modelling tool yet.
5. Making storage, custom clips/holders for things, few toys.
What kind of storage could you make, I assume they would only be little, also what type of toys ?
6. is it cost affective ? Eventually it would be but for the odd thing you can just get someone else to print it.
This is one reason for this post, if its not really cost effective in the long run after the first few hours play, it will just get neglected.
7. what pushed you to buy one ? Fun thing to learn and play with.
8. what advice would you give someone considering getting one? Borrow one if you can for a bit, I do think for lots of people they will sit and gather dust.
I'm unable to borrow one because I don't know anyone that has one.
8. what advice would you give someone considering getting one.
Decide on whether a resin or filament printer is best for your needs
What is the difference between the two and do they both do they both come on roles and print the same way on most printers ??
5. what do you use you printer for ?
All sorts, organisation, silly fun things for family, electronics enclosures
6. is it cost affective ?
Whether it covers the full investment I can't say, but I definitely print things that I would have possibly bought previously
7. what pushed you to buy one ?
Being able to get the E3P for ~£130 and see what the fuss was about end of 2020
8. what advice would you give someone considering getting one.
Decide if you are interested in being able to print things, or want something to tinker with - a lot of the modern mid price printers are very close to fire and forget now
9 is it still quite expensive ?
Like with many hobbies there can be a big rabbit hole to fall down, but once you have a reasonable printer (or a well setup cheap one) the material cost is fairly minimal
10. how do you scan things ?
Although I have a scanner, I haven't got round to properly using it yet
11. How did you find things ?
Printables is my main source, but Thangs/Thingiverse/many more sources exist - plus getting into designing things yourself is very rewarding (I am still only just starting here)
5. This similar to why im considering one, i see a lot of fun stuff people made online and start to wonder what I could do with one, just for the sake of it.
8. I'm interested in being able to print things, but at the same time I want to tinker to see what's possible and if its for me.
example a few weeks ago I needed a car emblem and the price was stupidly high for something so small, I wondered if it would have been possible to print a custom one.
10. are they expensive and are any of the scanning apps any good ??
You may get completely different advice from someone with more experience, but I'd say you can't really go wrong with the Ender 3 V3 series - I've had no major issues with mine, and it was easy to set up and get going.
I went for the SE at ~£170, but to be honest, having used it for a few weeks, I wish I'd spent slightly more and gone for the KE. While it's ~£50 more, I've already spent half that on the PEI bed that the KE comes with, and it seems to have quite a few other improvements as well.
Thanks, this has been really helpful, I'm still getting confused with all the different models and options, like beds addons, I even get confused with the different types of printing material.
I have this crazy thought that at some point in the future every house will have a 3d printer, a bit "Star Trek" maybe...
Recently I had an issue with a bathroom sink not staying full when the plug was down, made some adjustments to it and left the plug on the stairs while I did something else... Then the dog ate it. The plastic hair-catcher was destroyed, but I just downloaded a model of a new one, adjusted the scale, and it's working fine now. Except for the initial printer cost, it saved me the price of the part and the journey to the shop to get a new one, for only a few pennies of filament.
Would the initial cost not out weigh the cost of the parts you made by a long shot ?
). I'm also in the process of designing a drain cover, a bracket for a wardrobe clothes rail, and some brackets for LED light strips. I also need to print some mounts for a "frunk" for my car