I’m just getting into 3d printing and I’m looking for some recommendations. My budget is $400 and I’ve narrowed it down to the sv06+ or the Ender-3 V3. I like that the print size is bigger on the sv06+ but all reviews point to the Ender, do you guys have any recommendations for me?
Also maybe the bambu a1? Or a1 mini? I don’t like that the firmware isn’t open source though.
I’m OK tinkering but just want some insight.
Thanks!
I just bought myself a Bambu P1S, after building and modifying ender3s since 2019. I love tinkering and customizing things but it’s nice to have a printer that just works. Its so reliable that my wife can now print her own stuff using the app instead of giving me a list. The only thing I really have to do is change the filaments loaded in the AMS for her. If you have no experience printing I would just get a A1 mini and use it until you run into the limitations.
I’ve worked with 3D printers for the last 8 years. The bambus are the most reliable, easiest to use, fastest, and have some of the best print quality I’ve seen.
I wish they were more open but their replacement parts are cheap and the value of everything just working is terrific.
Bambu is in the initial phase of enshittification.
I wish they were more open
This is how you can tell.
Also every time someone links to a print on their website it begs me to download their app.
Cannot recommend.
Yep just got an A1. It just works and I love it. I might get an ender at some point to fafph about with eventually. But to start with I wanted something that would just work. And it’s been that.
Look you’re going to get a bunch of people coming in here saying Bambu this and Bambu that. And yeah get a Bambu. I love my A1 Mini. And will probably get an A1 next year.
Thanks everyone for the suggestions! I think I’m gonna get the a1 mini, they do have a ice deal on and I don’t think I’ll be printing large items and it’ll be nice if I want to print multicolour items in the future with the AMS lite.
Thanks!
Got one of those (with the AMS) a couple of days ago. Surprisingly simple to use and good results for my first ever prints. I’d recommend it.
Problem is, I’m already like 200€ deep into fillaments. Eeh.
Honestly, bambu. I was real high and mighty about how much shilling/marketing of bambus there was when they were coming out and hated the non open source but I caved and bought one after a handful of my friends got theirs. In 4 years of owning an ender 3 I went through 6 spools of pla and a half spool of abs. After getting my p1s 3 months ago I’ve already gone through 13 spools of pla. Tinkering with the ender was fun but I’d only print things I absolutely needed like replacement parts I modeled, and while I still print those on the bambu, I find myself printing trinkets very often since I don’t have to spend ages maintaining and tinkering with it to get it to print well. I might sound like an ad but honestly I’d say stay away from ender, my personal experience was 3d printers became my hobby, rather than using 3d printing to assist in my other hobbies. I can’t speak to the sv06 and if it’s as hands off as Bambu, though, so that could be an option. But as a former ender lover ($100 printer was great) it’s just so nice to not have to worry about tinkering.
Are you planning to regularly print large items? Around that price range could get you a formbot v0.2 kit with printed parts. It’s core xy and open source if that matters to you. Print size is 120x120x120 which is small for sure, but in my experience, most of the stuff I print falls in that range (I have a 350mm v2.4 and a mk3s I’ve rarely filled the build plate on either, I’d love a few small printers for quick test prints). It’s also enclosed, can put a Nevermore Micro in it for fumes, and it’s designed to be able to print abs. Supposed to be able to print all the parts for larger vorons on it too if you ever do wish to go larger.
My first printer was a MendelMax 2 kit that I had to sell unfortunately due to a move and not wanting to ship a glass bed cross country. I personally like a kit for a first build, while I get that people don’t vibe with tinkering or maintenance, you’ll learn a lot and you can tweak it to your liking.
You could source from a Canadian vendor (assuming you’re Canadian based on your instance), I’ve sourced a lot from Spool3D in Calgary but will cost you more than the formbot kit. Definitely recommend them for future needs. 3D labtech carries a lot of mods, had great experiences with both of them.
Definitely reccomend the a1, full build plate size so larger prints can be done, plates are interchangeable with the p1 and x1c (the more expensive enclosed printers). If it’s possible, HIGHLY recommend picking up the “AMS bundle” just to make printing easier - allows for up to 4 different colors for prints, and automatically retracts/inserts whatever filament is needed. Cons as mentioned from others: parts and software is non open source, rectifying that replacements/assembly was super easy. Had mine up and printing in <2 hours after following videos online reassuring I was doing everything properly. Started showing some coworkers who 3d printed and they said for someone who had no experience I was printing like I knew what I was doing XD
I have an Ender 3, Ender 3 v2, CR10s Pro v2, and a Bambu P1S.
I would recommend going with the Bambu a1 without hesitation. My Bambu is far and away the best printer I own and it’s not close. They just work, and though I’m a techy guy and enjoy tinkering, I got really tired of needing to fix things on my non-Bambu printers.
