BaggaZee I’m still using the same printer I bought 8 years ago, so can’t recommend any specific models, but here are some things to consider:

  • Print volume
    • Don’t go too small. Mine’s 20×20×20cm and I wouldn’t want much smaller. While most things aren’t massive, larger objects can be useful. Some examples I’ve printed are: lampshades, chimney cover, beer fridge drip tray, nespresso capsule holder (don’t judge me 🤣). Even the niche brush holder I shared above isn’t that far under 20cm
  • Think about the materials
    • I only print with PLA, as it’s renewal, biodegradable (eventually), and doesn’t give off any nasty fumes when printing. This is the standard material. You might want to think about others though depending on what you want to do with it.
  • Watch out for proprietary lock in or planned obsolescence
    • A friend of mine got a printer at a “really good” price. The only issue was you could only use their filament as they had nfc chips on. The manufacturer positioned it as “works seamlessly”, “the printer knows the settings” etc. In reality it meant you had less choice and overpaid. Plus if the company goes bust or decides not to support that model your printer is useless.
    • If the only way to use it is via an app or cloud website then at some point the manufacturer will need to charge you a fee, or will stop supporting. App maintenance and cloud computing cost money, and it’s simple economics that they won’t support for ever.
    • I’d take a good luck at the reprap printers. These are all open source, and designed to be made out of 3D printed parts. This means that you can upgrade or repair parts easily. One of the brackets on mine broke. It was in a place where I could hold it together with a cable tie and print a replacement.
  • learn to CAD model
    • It’s already been mentioned on this thread, but being able to model is key to getting the most out of a 3D printer. It opens up precise, cost effective and bespoke solutions for your needs. I have a leaning towards open source, and can definitely recommend OpenSCAD, but their are others.

Good luck

      DavecUK it’s definitely a potential disrupter in the construction industry.

      House building is one of the few things left that is completely hand built rather than mass produced. 3D printing could make house building much cheaper. Even more exciting is the shapes possible. Curved shapes are much stronger, as corners are weak points. This is likely to become even more important in many parts of the world as climate change causes stronger and more frequent storms.

        BaggaZee @“hornbyben” has some great advice. I went with a Prusa Mini+ for many of those reasons. Learn how to set it up, keep it clean and it should be mostly trouble free. Prusa seems to have very good documentation and support.

        Fusion 360 as far as CAD is ideal. There’s a free one for hobbyists but the learning curve is a bit steep. I’m using Tinkercad right now which is free and online.

            Cuprajake Which ones did you go for Jake? There seem to be a myriad of options at all sorts of prices, but no real way of knowing of there is a difference in the quality of plastic used.

              hornbyben Yeah so far the Mini+ has been flawless. You pay a bit more for Prusa but I think the quality makes up for it. I could probably use a bigger bed as I’ve had to turn the print diagonally a few times to fit but that’s minor.

                Its one off ebay,

                Decent De1pro v1.45 - Niche Duo - Niche Zero - Decent is the best machine ever made -

                To add my 5ct: I use a Sigma from BCN3D since a few years now, and design new things with Fusion 360 in the free edition, in case Thingiverse lacks a solution for my needs.

                And the guiding ideas from hornbyben resonate with my own experience.

                I created e.g. experimental funnels for my grinder and also some household “helpers” and spare parts …

                  12 days later

                  thusband

                  Thanks for the recommendation. I see it’s just like coffee kit. I started looking at the Prusa Mini+ and now I’m eyeing up the i3 MK3S, avoiding the XL. 😁

                      BaggaZee Like the coffee thing you’ll need more stuff. For me it was a heat gun, soldering kit, shelving, etc. It’s all good though.

                        Msmk0 Nice! Clever idea for the WTD. I might have to copy you on that.

                          a month later

                          Finally got some prints done. Thanks to @hornbyben for the design details for the WDT and brush holder. Sits beautifully at the back of the Minima.

                          Will paint it black on the weekend