Your Recommendations Please

ashscott

Hi all,

Am interested in getting hold of a 3Dprinter to experiment on from Sketchup but I'm a little overwhelmed with all the possibilities.
A few need to haves:

I don't want to spend a fortune as I just want to learn about 3D printing
I need to be able to get it in India or at least get it shipped into India
I don't need a full on "plug and play" solution but I also don't have time to assemble something from scratch

Some "nice to haves":

Would be really cool if it had the capacity to be modified into a 2D profile cutter (however simple)
Would be great to have an online community supporting it
Cheap(ish) material inputs would be nice

Suggestions please!

Krisidious

I don't know anything about it... DukeJazz is our resident 3D Printing guru. he has literally read everything ever written about it.

ashscott

Haha,

@unknownuser said:

has literally read everything ever written about it

Thats one dedicated reader or some beautifully disrespectful use of the english language....either way, I love it.

driven

your in India now?

I'd call this local manufacture...

[web 100%,100:22xel7jh]http://www.divbyz.com/index.html[/web:22xel7jh]

john

Krisidious

It's an analogy to how many posts about 3D printing that he makes... I don't think anything has ever slipped by him.

ashscott

Did you find Divide by Zero on Google or have you had some interaction with them?

ashscott

So they have quoted me 82,000 INR (Currently around $1300 USD) for the I250 (not the I250+).
Has a build area of 250mm x 250mm x200mm - see attachments for more info.

What are the thoughts of those that are more experienced in this industry?

Short clip of the product:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJ_HmBd-nJw

Commentary from 3dprintingindustry.com: http://3dprintingindustry.com/2014/08/06/divide-zero-shows-made-india-accucraft-250-3d-printer/

Accucraft Series 3D Printers v1.1.pdf

i250 Quote.pdf

driven

@ashscott said:

Did you find Divide by Zero on Google or have you had some interaction with them?

I just did a search for a local supplier...
There's a lot of 'new' tech coming out of India these days and thought it would be worth a shot...

one of the best electric vehicle motors [that I use in my work] are now made in India to a higher standard then when it was made in the UK, Switzerland or China...

john

dukejazz

Hi ashscott

5 day ago I came aross this web site.

Welcome to the 3D Printer Overview. 3dhubs.com|

http://www.3dhubs.com/3d-printers

%(#008000)["Curious about the best of best? Find the full reviews in the 2015 3D Printer Guide"

"Here you can find all the 3D printers that received 5 or more reviews from our global community of Hubs. You can compare user ratings, reviews, prices, build volume and technology. Looking for a more in-depth review, then check out each of the individual printer pages."

Budget machine
___________________________________________________________________________ratings

CraftBot CraftBot_________________ FDM 20_0 x 25_0 x 20_0 cm $670_00 9_0

Printrbot Printrbot Simple Metal FDM 15_0 x 15_0 x 15_0 cm $599_00 8_6

Sharebot Sharebot KIW___________FDM 10_0 x 14_0 x 10_0 cm $860_00 8_6

Solidoodle Solidoodle 4___________FDM 20_0 x 20_0 x 20_0 cm $599_00 8_5

FlashForge FlashForge Creator____FDM 14_5 x 22_5 x 15_0 cm $977_00 8_4

pp3dp Up Mini_____________________FDM 12_0 x 12_0 x 12_0 cm $899_00 8_3

Printrbot Printrbot_________________FDM 10_0 x 10_0 x 10_0 cm $349_00 8_2

Robo3D Robo 3D printer___________FDM 22_9 x 25_4 x 20_3 cm $799_00 8_0

Solidoodle Solidoodle 3____________FDM 20_0 x 20_0 x 20_0 cm n/a 7_8

Solidoodle Solidoodle 2_____________FDM 15_0 x 15_0 x 15_0 cm n/a 7_7

Velleman Velleman K8200__________FDM 20_0 x 20_0 x 20_0 cm $675_00 7_6

XYZprinting Da Vinci 1_0____________FDM 20_0 x 20_0 x 19_0 cm $799_00 7_5

Solidoodle Solidoodle Original_____FDM 10_0 x 10_0 x 10_0 cm n/a 7_2

CTC LTD CTC_3D_____________________FDM 14_5 x 22_5 x 15_0 cm $700_00 6_8

Myriwell FreeSculpt3D______________FDM 14_5 x 22_5 x 15_0 cm $980_00 6_7

add to list above - CraftBot_________________ FDM 20_0 x 25_0 x 20_0 cm $670_00 9_0

add "Here you can find all the 3D printers that received 5 or more reviews from our global community of Hubs. You can compare user ratings, reviews, prices, build volume and technology. Looking for a more in-depth review, then check out each of the individual printer pages."

"]

ashscott

Thanks for the feedback folks.

Regarding items manufactured in India;

@driven said:

are now made in India to a higher standard

This is true in some instances but completely the opposite in others. I have spent some time checking out products for sourcing to various industries and the variability was intimidating.

Also, if you need to get things OUT of India it can be equally tricky with layers of bureaucracy and shipping officials needing special payments. I know several people exporting from India (locals too) and they're often tearing their hair out not being able to get a container onto a boat.

ashscott

PS. The Sharebot KIWI http://www.3dhubs.com/3d-printers/sharebot-kiwi looks great for a tinkerer like me and the fact that it should be easier for me to mess with is encouraging.

Anyone got experience with them?

dukejazz

Looking for a more in-depth review, then check out each of the individual printer pages."
http://www.3dhubs.com/3d-printers

also

I just updated the table above

added to list above - CraftBot_________________ FDM 20_0 x 25_0 x 20_0 cm $670_00 9_0

added "Here you can find all the 3D printers that received 5 or more reviews from our global community of Hubs. You can compare user ratings, reviews, prices, build volume and technology. Looking for a more in-depth review, then check out each of the individual printer pages."

Most of these are new machine, so review are limited.

I'm waiting myself to see what will change when HP start selling speed to the market place.

Our Moderators: d12dozr has years of experience of runing 3d printer hardware and software with sketchup, he will way in here soon.

Sketchup will export STL with a plug-in

Make sure your new machine accept STL file format if goning to work with sketchup.

In the USA ( or if you have google.com search under Shopping )
For pricing and buying check here:
3D printer 3d printers for sale with videos 3D printing google.com| search?q=3D printer
https://www.google.com/search?q=3D%20printer%203d%20printers%20for%20sale%20with%20videos%203D%20printing%20google.com/%20search?q=3D%20printer%26amp;sa=X%26amp;rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-ContextMenu%26amp;biw=1127%26amp;bih=852%26amp;tbs=vw:l,p_ord:r%26amp;tbm=shop%26amp;ei=BUWNVIH-IJDzoATZj4L4Bg%26amp;ved=0CHUQuw0oAA

d12dozr

Hey Ash, I'd definitely recommend a well-known 3D printer like Printrbot or Ultimaker. This way you get a quality product and the online community you're looking for. Printrbot is a good beginner machine, and the best bang for your buck. I'd look at the Simple Metal edition for your needs. Ultimaker is a premium machine with excellent reviews all around.

Printrbot ships to India, and Ultimaker is on (backorder) India's self proclaimed 'largest 3D printing store'.

Both of these take generic filaments, so you're not stuck with pricey manufacturer's supplies.

I don't know anything specifically about turning a printer into a 2D profile cutter, but the Printrbot is definitely more open and 'hackable' so you'd probably have more luck with it. I have seen some cool mods done with Printerbots.

There are other printers that may work for you of course, but these are my recommendations from what I've learned over the last few years.

ashscott

Hey Printrbot has some great looking stuff.

In your experience, how necessary is the heated platform?

Was thinking about going the cheap route (since I have no idea what I'm doing) and going with this: http://printrbot.com/shop/simple-makers-kit/ what would be your reservations on that?

d12dozr

Heated platform is nearly a must for printing ABS...just a nice-to-have for using PLA. Also note that ABS is more heat tolerant than PLA (PLA will melt/deform if left in a hot car) so ABS may be preferable in a hot climate. ABS has trouble sticking to a non-heated bed during printing.

I would be hesitant to use a wood frame in India because the humidity during the rainy season would have a tendency to warp the frame and throw off calibration...however India is a biiiig place so maybe there isn't a problem with humidity where you'll be?

ashscott

Hi All,

Thank for all your feedback. I nearly bought a printrbot till I found the huge price of getting it into India. Have been looking at local option inztead.

Divide by Zero appear nice but a little pricey for a firzt time buyer

Thought on the folloing optionz appreciated:

http://www.diy-india.com/store/159-pruasi3-acrylic-edition-makers-kit-aka-woodmax-i3-v2.html

http://www.3ding.in/p/fabx

http://www.3ding.in/p/fabx2

Can you tell hich keyz are broken on my keyboard?

d12dozr

Looks like you need a W & S...if you had your printer, you could just 3D print some new ones

The first link you posted does not look good. The kit itself looks fine, but the website does not give me confidence that you will get a quality product and/or support. The product description is a bare minimum, well not even that - the printing area is not listed?? The link to the support forum is broken as well.

The Fabx machines look good as far as I can see, as does the rest of the website. Personally I would feel much more comfortable purchasing from '3Ding', given the choices you have presented.

ashscott

Thanks for the feedback, I just downloaded the sample of your book - it looks great. Like many sketchuppers I need to be doing as I learn so will buy it once I actually have a machine to implement my learnings on.

A couple more options within India:

Do you think this is a legitimate Printrbot?: http://tannaeducation.com/products/printrbot-printrbot-simple-kit-2014-model/p/101/#

I can get this Ultimaker brought from NZ - I know it was once a great machine but is it still up to standard nowadays?: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=916316839

There are also these rep-raps I can get brought from NZ:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=916729159

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=915662409

kaas

can't recommend any machine but I did read somewhere last week about one machine that's apparently having a lot of unhappy users: Makerbot.

https://blog.adafruit.com/2015/07/09/the-class-action-lawsuit-of-makerbot-stratasys-begins-makerbusiness/

d12dozr

Ash, I am skeptical of the Printrbot you linked to. Maybe you could check with Printrbot directly and see if they are legit, or if there are any 'official' dealers in India.

I would not recommend the used wood Ultimaker. None of the new printers are made of wood any more because if it's tendency to move with the changing seasons. You want a stable frame or calibration and print quality will suffer.

The build quality of your last two links looks fine, but I can't comment any further than that. I haven't had much interaction with Prusa brands. Hope that helps!