Getting into the hobby

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Cornofdacobz

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Hello,

I’m getting into the hobby of exercising my right to create my own firearm .

I’m trying to find the best mid range printer that’s very capable and reliable. My budget is around 1300$

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

I’ve seen the Enders the Bambu’s and I’m just coming up short on which one I should get to be versatile but still have all the right things like a chamber and high enough heat ect ect.
 
Someone more qualified than I will be along to set you on the correct path. DO use the "Search" feature before you ask a lot of questions as it quite robust. Be advised that there will be a fair amount of "trial and error" and experimentation involved to get it just right. A setup that works for one person may not work for someone else. You will have to work at it to get it right...

Welcome Aboard! :)
 
Hello! Thanks for joining the forum and participating by posting!

I run this joint, but I know nothing about 3D printing. BUT... we have many people here who ARE very qualified to help! Someone who is knowledgeable should be along soon enough. :cool:

When you get a chance, please write up a quick “introduction” (or RE-introduction if you were a former MGB forum member) of yourself over in the Introduce Yourself! section. Tell us about yourself, your building experience, and how you found the forum.

Jump into other threads, too! Come on in... the water's fine! 😊
 
I started less than a year ago. When I was researching models "mid-range" seemed more like $600 or so.

My thought was it doesn't make sense to splurge until I know what I'm doing. I went with the Qidi Q1 Pro which is quite a bit less than $1300. I have had good luck with it so far. It did clog once and I was able to fix it without too much hassle. It can do the basic materials but also some of the more esoteric filaments that require heating.

You want to avoid brands that "phone home" especially in light of soon-to-come or already-arrived tyrannical legislation in blue states. I'm not sure but I think that rules out Bambu, or one of the other big brands.
 
I have an ELEGOO Centauri Carbon 2 Combo that I just recieved, so I am still learning how to use it.
The only reason I turned on the wifi is so I can slice from my living room and print in the basement.
So, if you don't want it to "phone home" you don't need to enable wifi.
 
I have been printing for almost 2 years and have just been using a Ender 3 V3 SE. It has been upgraded but i have been printing on it since the beginning. i am currently looking to upgrade to a new printer and have been eyeing the Bambu H2C and the Sovol SV08 and have not decided what one i want to go with because my ended just works
 
rationale said:
You want to avoid brands that "phone home" especially in light of soon-to-come or already-arrived tyrannical legislation in blue states. I'm not sure but I think that rules out Bambu, or one of the other big brands.
Click to expand...
I have a Bambu and I can take it off the internet anytime I want.
I don't know of any printer that requires hooking it to the internet to print.

The only company that I know of, who has specifically come out against using their products for 2A is FlashForge,
1000010788.jpg


I would not support them by buying one of their printers, but even those can be run with an SD card and no internet.
 
James Moore said:
I have a Bambu and I can take it off the internet anytime I want.
I don't know of any printer that requires hooking it to the internet to print.

The only company that I know of, who has specifically come out against using their products for 2A is FlashForge,
View attachment 38606

I would not support them by buying one of their printers, but even those can be run with an SD card and no internet.
Click to expand...

Didn't someone post a retraction from that company? Maybe I saw it somewhere else. Not that I'd trust them or the retraction. But apparently, their business dropped off a cliff after posting the prohibition message.
 
Racer88 said:
Didn't someone post a retraction from that company?
Click to expand...
It wasn't really a retraction,
1000010790.jpg

Notice the phrase "we do not collect any unauthorized data"

What's unauthorized?
If their end user agreement specifically prohibits using their equipment for firearms and components, is that data authorized or unauthorized?

The statement doesn't even touch on the "referral to authorities" bit.

Especially if say you live in a State that prohibits printing firearms.
 
James Moore said:
It wasn't really a retraction,
View attachment 38607
Notice the phrase "we do not collect any unauthorized data"

What's unauthorized?
If their end user agreement specifically prohibits using their equipment for firearms and components, is that data authorized or unauthorized?

The statement doesn't even touch on the "referral to authorities" bit.

Especially if say you live in a State that prohibits printing firearms.
Click to expand...

Yeah... definitely not a retraction. And the mention of being "offended" or "upset" is a backhanded and condescending insult in itself. OBJECTING to a policy or stated position is NOT "offended." I don't find it "offensive." I find it objectionable to the point that I would not do business with them. Simple as that.
 
I bought a Centauri Carbon with 2A printing in mind. It lacks multi color (may still come out in the future) but wasn't concerned with that at the time. It will print 85% of the materials out there presently. It could use a chamber heater though I have seen a few mods adding one in. If your budget is $1300, then the CC will leave you around 900 for material and a dryer. The new CC2 has multi material printing available and a higher hot end temp (350 vs 300 I think).

I know a few people that have a Bambu X1 Carbon and according to them, they are slightly more user friendly in regards to replacing nozzles and hot ends and have multi material systems available.

These are all enclosed printers which you don't necessarily need to print pew pews but are if you plan on printing the higher end filaments used for a lot of automotive parts.

In regards to using Wi-Fi to print, this can be done without having to be able to access the Internet.
 
James Moore said:
The only company that I know of, who has specifically come out against using their products for 2A is FlashForge,
Click to expand...
I mean, why else would you buy a 3D printer? :D (jk) First thing I'd probably print is a Glong! :cool:
James Moore said:
It wasn't really a retraction,

Notice the phrase "we do not collect any unauthorized data"
Click to expand...
I'm sure if you read their "User Agreement" it will say they collect data for "_____________ purposes" and ANY of that data would be considered "authorized". And authorized=sharable... :rolleyes:
 
My two cents, run away from anything with the Creality name on it. I’ve own Crality’s, Prusa’s, and currently have 3 Bambu’s.

If money wasn’t as issue Prusa’s are fantastic. If you want an all around great printer that just works Bambu’s are affordable and will give you what you are looking for. Creality… I haven’t used any of their new stuff but I did rock the Ender3v2 fully upgraded and spec’ed out. Nothing but problems. I spent more time and money tinkering, troubleshooting, fixing, than I did printing. Boy did I hate that thing.. I had also had the Creality mole 3d scanner when it first came out. I used it for two days and then returned that garbage to Creality. I have since written that company off and will not waist another second of my time or energy with them. Especially with all the other better options.
 
Racer88 said:
Yeah... definitely not a retraction. And the mention of being "offended" or "upset" is a backhanded and condescending insult in itself. OBJECTING to a policy or stated position is NOT "offended." I don't find it "offensive." I find it objectionable to the point that I would not do business with them. Simple as that.
Click to expand...

Not to mention the line "Our previous post was meant to show our commitment to safe and responsible 3D printing". Being "responsible" for your own "safety" means hoping the cops get there in time, or at most asking permission from the government to own the tools for doing it. Under no circumstances does it mean just _doing_ it!
 
I've own the Lotmaxx Shark V1 and a Bambu Labs X1C with AMS. The X1C/AMS combo may be a little above your ceiling (by $100 or so) but is a great printer and with the single AMS lets you do 4 color prints. You could get one w/o the AMS and save around $300. I believe it is a discontinued model, so this one specifically wouldn't be great for you though share my perspective on the X1C just to suggest looking at the various Bambu Lab options. They do require some learning curve. I don't think as much as the Crealty and similar price range printers but I can't confirm as I had already gone though some of the pains associated with them.
 
wow!

Thank you guys so much for the advice.

I ended up going with a Bambu P2S and was able to set it up 100% offline I did and up updating firmware . Luckily fid me my state does not have any regulations regarding 3D2A so once I verified, I could set it up off-line and run it off-line. I did go ahead and create a bamboo account and do a few things there, but I will be taking it off-line in the near future. I’m looking for a second printer because the first one definitely reeled me right into the hobby. The quality of these prints are absolutely amazing. I remember seeing 3-D printed miscellaneous items in the early 2020s and they weren’t that great and now stuff just looks miraculous now. I’m sure you guys have all done this too. As far as research goes for filaments right now I’m only printing in PLA pro or PLA plus pro but I would like to give PA 6CF 20 a chance of course a kneeling it properly and all those things and also maybe be Pats CF but I’m near to the 3-D printing world and still learning but you guys seem to be really really knowledgeable and awesome thank you to everyone who replied and if you guys have any filament suggestions, feel free to throw them out
 
Pardon my thread necromancy here... but I have a question about guys who say they're using Bambu printers "offline"
Are you using the Bambu slicer? Is that a web app? Or an installed program with an online key?

Inquiring minds want to know.
 
Mainiac said:
Pardon my thread necromancy here... but I have a question about guys who say they're using Bambu printers "offline"
Are you using the Bambu slicer? Is that a web app? Or an installed program with an online key?

Inquiring minds want to know.
Click to expand...

I know nothing about this, but we've got people who do! Stand by for that. In the meantime....

Thanks for joining the forum and participating by posting! When you get a chance, please write up a quick “introduction” (or RE-introduction if you were a former MGB forum member) of yourself over in the Introduce Yourself! section. Tell us about yourself, your building experience, and how you found the forum.

Jump into other threads, too! Come on in... the water's fine! 😊
 
Mainiac said:
Pardon my thread necromancy here... but I have a question about guys who say they're using Bambu printers "offline"
Are you using the Bambu slicer? Is that a web app? Or an installed program with an online key?

Inquiring minds want to know.
Click to expand...

Bambu Slicer is a installed program and can be used with or without connecting to the internet and any Bambu printer can run totally offline by either a hardwired connection, micro sd or USB.

Also, you are not limited to only the Bambu slicer.

There is also open source firmware for some Bambu printers and I'm sure that if/when printers start being sold with this Magical code that detects firearms and firearm components, there will soon be open source firmware for all.
 
Offline means exactly that. I have an Elegoo CC1 and my slicer is installed on my computer. I can either set up a home Wi-Fi network, connect my computer and printer to it and transfer files that way OR put my g-code files on a thumb drive and walk over to my printer and insert said thumb drive and then print. The Bambu X1 Carbon and A1's could be done the same way.
Their latest printers I don't know about.
Hopefully this helps
 
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