Cheap 3D printer.

[vereybowring]

I know some people dislike the vendor in question but they have a really good selection of maker equipment at a nice price.

For instance this looks like a fairly standard budget end 3D printer kit.

If I had the readies available I'd probably have ordered one by now to play with.

They also have a selection of laser engravers and other maker toys those of us who tinker would probably enjoy mucking around with.

[Bobsbeer]

That is cheap. I would love a 3d printer, but this one looks too cheap.
Especially when it says this: "Made from piano-black laser-cut acrylic frame to maintain the garage-built feel and the handmade charm". 

[vereybowring]

That's their cheapest but if you look they have a whole range with varying features.

[striker42]

I've looked at one of them 3d printers I don't know how many times vereybowring . But unsure how it works TBH or the quality of the goods it would produce. crystal has been trying out a bit of 3d printing but unsure which machine it is. Wouldn't mind a wee milling machine either but Mrs Striker gives me the stare when I mention it.

[vereybowring]

Aug 29, 2016 18:27:40 GMT striker42 said:

I've looked at one of them 3d printers I don't know how many times vereybowring . But unsure how it works TBH or the quality of the goods it would produce. crystal has been trying out a bit of 3d printing but unsure which machine it is. Wouldn't mind a wee milling machine either but Mrs Striker gives me the stare when I mention it.

Only a matter of time before cheap mini milling machines start showing up in the chinese wholesale style sales sites for you.

Then it can "accidentally" fall in the basket when you order some vape gear lol

EDIT: Not an expert myself but talking to other 3D printer owners who say you have to fiddle with all of them for good results and even that cheap one would probably get you pretty decent results (depending on the software controls). Probably gonna put some money aside when I can and give it a punt (might not be the cheapest one but ABS support is kinda a must since it's a much stronger material than the more common PLA printed results).

[crystal]

Aug 29, 2016 18:27:40 GMT striker42 said:

I've looked at one of them 3d printers I don't know how many times vereybowring . But unsure how it works TBH or the quality of the goods it would produce. crystal has been trying out a bit of 3d printing but unsure which machine it is. Wouldn't mind a wee milling machine either but Mrs Striker gives me the stare when I mention it.

striker42 vereybowring. The printer I've got isn't the cheapest one to buy(Robox), what I'm led to believe is "you get what you pay for".
Some are obviously better than others in terms of resolutions they can print at.
ie. layer height and thickness. That means how thick each layer can be produced and how thick each layer can be.
My 3d printer can print at the moment at 0.3mm thick which is the size of nozzle it squirts the molten plastic out and a theoretical layer thickness of 0.02mm at best, reading what other owners say is, It's not so practical printing at 0.02mm layer height, better results at 0.1mm or depending on material, 0.05 at it's smallest. What I mean with layers is, they print the bottom layer first then build the object a layer at a time from the build plate upwards.

One of the main things to consider is the software that controls them, if it's not so good then the quality of print won't be the best.
You can get some decent results from a cheaper machine if the controlling software is of a reasonable standard, I also read that on a forum so please don't quote me on that

End of the day all they are is like a computer controlled glue gun(using plastic instead of glue sticks) with CNC technology to produce 3d items.

Hope that helps a little.

[vereybowring]

Sept 2, 2016 9:36:31 GMT crystal said:

Aug 29, 2016 18:27:40 GMT striker42 said:

I've looked at one of them 3d printers I don't know how many times vereybowring . But unsure how it works TBH or the quality of the goods it would produce. crystal has been trying out a bit of 3d printing but unsure which machine it is. Wouldn't mind a wee milling machine either but Mrs Striker gives me the stare when I mention it.

striker42 vereybowring. The printer I've got isn't the cheapest one to buy(Robox), what I'm led to believe is "you get what you pay for".
Some are obviously better than others in terms of resolutions they can print at.
ie. layer height and thickness. That means how thick each layer can be produced and how thick each layer can be.
My 3d printer can print at the moment at 0.3mm thick which is the size of nozzle it squirts the molten plastic out and a theoretical layer thickness of 0.02mm at best, reading what other owners say is, It's not so practical printing at 0.02mm layer height, better results at 0.1mm or depending on material, 0.05 at it's smallest. What I mean with layers is, they print the bottom layer first then build the object a layer at a time from the build plate upwards.

One of the main things to consider is the software that controls them, if it's not so good then the quality of print won't be the best.
You can get some decent results from a cheaper machine if the controlling software is of a reasonable standard, I also read that on a forum so please don't quote me on that

End of the day all they are is like a computer controlled glue gun(using plastic instead of glue sticks) with CNC technology to produce 3d items.

Hope that helps a little.

I am a tech geek and already knew it comes down to the software. I did originally go to university to study Computing Science and Mathematics and while I dropped out I am a forever geek and try to stay up with the tech.
Been looking at the 3D printing stuff since its inception and the last year things have really started coming on. It isn't just the chinese that have cheaper 3D printers, there are a few crowdfunded ones coming to market quite soon as well which are designed to keep costs down.

I love tinkering so I reckon I will get one at some point. Of course I would like the full climate controlled machine with multiple heads etc. but lets face it they still cost over £1000 so it will probably be a cheap and cheerful one I get and will mess about with it possibly even at the software level to get stuff done lol