3D Printers??

LBZ_Duramax

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 18, 2011
Location
Benson, NC
My sons (and me, LOL) are wanting to get a 3D printer. Im lost on what to get, I dont need a super high end one. Just something to make random parts they find and mostly for them to experiment with. Any suggestions?
 
Bambu 100%

A1 mini
A1
P1p/P1s
X1C

Any of the above are great choices
LBZ_Duramax said:
My sons (and me, LOL) are wanting to get a 3D printer. Im lost on what to get, I dont need a super high end one. Just something to make random parts they find and mostly for them to experiment with. Any suggestions?
Click to expand...
.
 
Can't complain about my creality cr10 that I got from @Tacoma747 .I need to fire it up, it's been a while.
 
LBZ_Duramax said:
My sons (and me, LOL) are wanting to get a 3D printer. Im lost on what to get, I dont need a super high end one. Just something to make random parts they find and mostly for them to experiment with. Any suggestions?
Click to expand...
Agree Bambu. A1 or A1 mini.
If you think you want to make multi colored things and don't need more than 180mm cubed then get the A1 mini combo.
 
Another vote for Bambu Labs. They just work if you don't want to tinker with things. (yes it's on the internet and they are watching)

us.store.bambulab.com

Buy Bambu Lab P1S: Your Best Budget 3D Printer with Enclosure and Filter

Bambu Lab P1S is an affordable, reliable fully enclosed 3D printer with fans and carbon filters, ideal for advanced filaments and odor-free FDM 3D printing.
us.store.bambulab.com us.store.bambulab.com

or

us.store.bambulab.com

Bambu Lab A1 mini 3D Printer

Fully Automated, Multi-color Printing with AMS lite, Bed-slinger with CoreXY Speed, Bambu Lab latest 3D printer A1 mini makes 3D printing easier and better with cutting edge features and reliable performance.
us.store.bambulab.com us.store.bambulab.com

Sale going on until 7/14/25. Other things might go on sale in the next few weeks but Bambu Labs seems to be the brand if your interested in printing parts without tinkering with printers.
 
Sean_gt said:
Another vote for Bambu Labs. They just work if you don't want to tinker with things. (yes it's on the internet and they are watching)

us.store.bambulab.com

Buy Bambu Lab P1S: Your Best Budget 3D Printer with Enclosure and Filter

Bambu Lab P1S is an affordable, reliable fully enclosed 3D printer with fans and carbon filters, ideal for advanced filaments and odor-free FDM 3D printing.
us.store.bambulab.com us.store.bambulab.com

or

us.store.bambulab.com

Bambu Lab A1 mini 3D Printer

Fully Automated, Multi-color Printing with AMS lite, Bed-slinger with CoreXY Speed, Bambu Lab latest 3D printer A1 mini makes 3D printing easier and better with cutting edge features and reliable performance.
us.store.bambulab.com us.store.bambulab.com

Sale going on until 7/14/25. Other things might go on sale in the next few weeks but Bambu Labs seems to be the brand if your interested in printing parts without tinkering with printers.
Click to expand...
Looks like the P1P is 43% off. Any reason not to get that one and stick with the A1? main things I would like to print is organizer stuff and 2A
 
jeepyjman said:
So should pony up for an x1c?
Click to expand...
The P1 series would work very well for what you're doing, that said if you really don't want to have to do any thinking and just hit go with it making great quality prints then X1 and ams would be the ticket.

I personally though would start looking on marketplace, bambu just released their new $2500 flagship printer and a lot of x1c's will be for sale.
 
I got the X1C, you can upgrade a P1s to essentially be an X1C, but I just figured I would start with the X1 in case I ever wanted to print nylon, etc. I print ABS often, and have printed nylon a time or two. I have about 1600 print hours on mine, I literally have had I think 1 clogged nozzle, and have pretty much never had to 'tinker' with it. I sold the CR10 to JJ not really knowing what I was diving in to with the X1 (as I didn't have it yet I don't think), but I remember having to constantly tinker with the CR10, level the bed, etc (granted, there were some functions on it I didn't figure out till I was getting rifle of it).

I'd love to have an H2D for the dual nozzles, and maybe one day when I have more Bambu gift cards I will buy one. I currently have about $300 worth of gift cards from Makerworld points.
 
Tacoma747 said:
I got the X1C, you can upgrade a P1s to essentially be an X1C, but I just figured I would start with the X1 in case I ever wanted to print nylon, etc. I print ABS often, and have printed nylon a time or two. I have about 1600 print hours on mine, I literally have had I think 1 clogged nozzle, and have pretty much never had to 'tinker' with it. I sold the CR10 to JJ not really knowing what I was diving in to with the X1 (as I didn't have it yet I don't think), but I remember having to constantly tinker with the CR10, level the bed, etc (granted, there were some functions on it I didn't figure out till I was getting rifle of it).

I'd love to have an H2D for the dual nozzles, and maybe one day when I have more Bambu gift cards I will buy one. I currently have about $300 worth of gift cards from Makerworld points.
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The CR10 definitely requires some tinkering. But compared to what I had to start with, it's a breeze lol. You can see where I started here : 3D PRINTING
 
Tacoma747 said:
For 2a stuff you will need to be able to print with stuff like Nylon, or at a minimum ABS. The A1 and A1 mini are pretty much limited to PLA.
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Well you can print PETG and CF-PETG w an A1, and that is pretty stout stuff, but in general I agree... If you want a nice library of materials p1p or x1c are the way to go.
 
Tacoma747 said:
For 2a stuff you will need to be able to print with stuff like Nylon, or at a minimum ABS. The A1 and A1 mini are pretty much limited to PLA.
Click to expand...
If you are getting into 2A printing, just look up PSR (Print Shoot Repeat). He has great advice on media to use, print setups, good patterns, and his YouTube intro is hilarious.
 
LBZ_Duramax said:
My sons (and me, LOL) are wanting to get a 3D printer. Im lost on what to get, I dont need a super high end one. Just something to make random parts they find and mostly for them to experiment with. Any suggestions?
Click to expand...
There is a very good sale on Bambu right now. P1s combo is $700. But everything is on sale.
 
Ok, I'm pulling the trigger on a printer.
Either the P1s or X1, but I really don't want to spend over a grand.

Honestly, I really don't know what would be made the most. I know it's need color since my daughter will be using it. I really think she will use it quite a bit, she's very artsy and loves to make stuff. I imagine I would want higher strength materials for automotive applications and bs around the house.

I've looked on marketplace, but the prices are high, considering the sale Bambu has.

The p1s ams pro combo is 869 and the p1s combo is 749 right now.

Any thoughts that haven't been mentioned above?

Oh, and any suggestions on upgrades.
 
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I get emails from these guys all the time. No idea how they compare. Others should have more context.

www.prusa3d.com

Prusa CORE One | Original Prusa 3D printers directly from Josef Prusa

The CORE One is a fully enclosed CoreXY 3D printer with active temperature control designed for top print quality and speed. Easy to set up and made to last, this rugged machine is perfect for beginners and professionals alike. Designed and manufactured in the EU.
www.prusa3d.com www.prusa3d.com
 
justjeepin86 said:
Bumping this to try and get an answer
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I didn't bc I don't have an answer for ys.
I have the X1c and love it. IMO it was the right thing for me.... yes, mroe expensive but I do a LOT of printing.
I will say though at home I don't think I have yet printed any materials you couldn't do on the P1S. Yes it will do Nylon, although heads up, nylon is a PITA to really tune in. There are some similar nylon-like materials now that are probably better / easier choices.
Also, I will say that 90% of my interfacing is via the windows app (Bambu studio), not the touch screen... so do you really need the fancy screen of the X1C? Probably not.
Whether the new AMS Pro is worth it, I just don't know. I personally haven't had issues w/ my OG AMS but I know some people have. If you plan to do a lot of multi-material/multicolor printing it does supposedly speed up filament changes a lot. Woth an extra $100? Maybe. You could also consider that it is compatible with the new H2D and whatevert he next thing out is.... there's probably value in getting the newest gen of something vs what has been replaced by the mfr.
 
Printed a mock up intake tube in the new P1S. I've got a lot of learning to do on something like this.

20250820_153513.jpg
20250820_153520.jpg
 
Printed and glued my whole intake tube setup out of abs. I definitely had dimentional issues vs the pla. It's ugly up close, but fits great and is functional. It's gonna get changed out, now that I gave a different intake that's stock size.

20250902_171835.jpg
 
justjeepin86 said:
Printed and glued my whole intake tube setup out of abs. I definitely had dimentional issues vs the pla. It's ugly up close, but fits great and is functional. It's gonna get changed out, now that I gave a different intake that's stock size.

View attachment 444594
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Looks great from here!! The layer texture on top is actually kinda cool.

ABS has a tendency to warp unless the environment is perfect. It also can shrink by like 3%. Not a big fan, but its great for high-heat applications like this.... PLA would never survive
 
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