About to purchase a 3D printer in Chch, advice required!

Hi Everyone,

I posted up here about a year ago, looking to get a 3d printer, and it's finally come time and fundable to actually go ahead with a build!

I will be using it for prototyping, general building, and designing prototype RC car and robotics parts.

Currently, I am tossing up between a Da Vinci Ready to go printer, can get one for around the $800 mark, or buying the Prusa I2 kit listed on trademe here: [www.trademe.co.nz]

Was reading a couple of threads here earlier and a couple of people had less than positive comments regarding the Da Vinci,

What are everyones thoughts/advice between the two? I am an engineering student, with ample capability to complete the build, and would quite enjoy building/learning as i go, I suppose the biggest question is will the Prusa enable me to have a reasonable print quality to match the ready to go units?

I look forward to hearing your advice!

Cheers,
Luke

Having recently built my own i3 from a chinese kit,I doubt you could do it much cheaper than the kit on trade me.
If it had been available at that price when I bought mine,I wouldn't have bothered to get 1 from china.
Although my kit came in under $600,I've already spent $300+ on replacing parts for better quality items.
An i3 is a relatively easy upgrade from an i2 if you want to at a later stage.You could also convert it to a Mendel 90 fairly simply,mainly needing acrylic or aluminium frames.
The Da vinci is tied to it's manufacturer,s filament cartridges,not something i would want.You might think differently.
"hobbyist" on trade me sells good quality filament at a reasonable price,and you can pick it up rather than spending on freight.
A reprap type machine is more of a tinkerer's proposition though,requiring a bit of tuning to get the best out of it.
The print quality is dependent mostly on how much time you're willing to spend setting it up.
I didn't make a lot of effort in tuning mine,but the prints still came out pretty good.
You have to remember a nice high density print takes a long time,compared to a lower density,but usable print.
Btw.,do not buy anything with a Melzi controller board,I found out the hard way that it's more trouble than it's worth.
Ramps/Arduino is also much more widely supported with thousands having been built,meaning a very large amount of
information is available online.This forum being a prime example.
I'm in chch myself,and there are several other members of this forum here.

Thanks for your reply!

have just today purchased the I2 kit on Trademe. Figured it will be a place to start giving me all the parts I need. can always upgrade later!

Are there any "reprap meet ups" as such in chch?

Kartyboy94 - did you see my PM to you yesterday?

I try and get along to this meetup on Kilmore St on Sunday afternoons: [www.meetup.com]

Members are usually working on a range of electronic and programming projects. It isn't only 3D printing, although there are a few 3D printing enthusiasts who go. I take along my 3D printer and spend time either printing something or testing out design changes or new techniques. I should be there this coming Sunday.

I hope your i2 kit works out OK for you. You will learn a lot more than you would buying a ready made machine, and you won't be tied to small capacity proprietary filament cartridges.

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My Prusa Mendel i2 inspired Repstrap with welded steel frame: [youtu.be]
And my Smartrap derived Briefcase 3D printer: [youtu.be]