Hi all.

My venerable ender 3 has likely printed it’s last benchy. Plus side, the tech has advanced significantly since I bought it. Down side, I’ve not kept track of the newer options.

Can anyone give me a rundown of which are worth looking at, and which to avoid?

I’m mostly concerned with reliability, but a speed boost would definitely be welcome. A heated chamber and/or multi material would also be very nice to have.

I would like to keep the costs closer to £500 ($680) but can stretch that, if there is a machine worth it.

I also have a complete no on bamboo printers. I don’t like what they’ve done regarding abuse of the open source movement.

Thanks all!

Edit to add. I’m not against non open source printers. I just have an issue with companies trying to burn the ladder behind them and lock their customers into a bubble.

Double edit: The snapmaker U1 seems like my best option. Ticks all the boxes, while remaining well in budget.

  • Deacon@lemmy.worldEnglish
    2·
    1 day ago

    I got into 3D printing purely because I anticipate it being locked down or outlawed so I went into this with minimal research and no use cases.

    Someone on here recommended the U1 based on being open source and some other things I didn’t understand at the time like being a tool changer. I wish I could remember who gave me that recommendation because I owe them a great debt of gratitude.

    I’m quickly becoming obsessed with 3D Printing and I attribute a lot of that to how easy and capable the U1 is.

    I have the opposite of buyer’s remorse with the U1.