this post was submitted on 11 Sep 2025
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3DPrinting

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Need some printer recommendations (sh.itjust.works)
submitted 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) by neidu3@sh.itjust.works to c/3dprinting@lemmy.world
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So I've decided to get "back" into 3d printing. I was getting into it in 2012 and I started assembling a kit, but then life happened and I never had enough time or room to complete it.

However, now I'm in a much better place (both literally and figuratively), so I've decided to dive back in. However, last time around it seemed that almost everything was some variant of Prusa, and I think I want to go in a less DYI direction this time.

  • Once calibrated, doesn't need much fidgeting or maintenance.
  • More or less prefabricated. Some assembly is fine, but I don't want to sit there an dremmel a hobbled bolt again, or build a power supply.
  • I prefer one of those enclosed printers, as it will be in a location with minimal climate control.
  • Must not rely on any software that does not run on linux
  • I'm not too worried about printing speed. Print quality matters more to me.
  • Preferably one that is fixable if it breaks.
  • Single filament is fine.
  • Don't need wifi

Any suggestions?

Oh, and I still have a spool of ABS around here somewhere.. Is this still a reasonable material choice? Any other materials worth considering if I prefer the prints to be durable and not brittle?

This is where I could list a budget or preferred price range, but purchasing power parity and exchange rates probably complicates this, so let's just say "reasonably priced"

UPDATE: I ordered a Prusa Core One. I went for the kit, as I will hopefully better understand how I can fix it later after assembly. I threw in a spool of PETG as well, as I'm curious about the material.

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[–] Bluewing@lemmy.world 1 points 17 hours ago* (last edited 17 hours ago)

An air fryer is an interesting idea if you happen to have one handy, it's clever and I like it. But even dedicated filament dryers are a bit cheaper to buy, let alone a used dehydrator. And few people are using expensive engineering filaments either to scratch build printers, though some do.

Personally, I use PETG for phone holders and other items for use in my vehicles. But, where I live it doesn't hit the 80C required for a PETG phone holder to sag inside my vehicles, even in full sun. And half of the year temps are at freezing or below. PETG lasts for years just fine. So, choosing a filament requires understanding the environment it's going to get used in and how it gets used. But other places it might be over 100C inside a car. It is, like so much in this world, a YMMV situation. And understanding that, and many other considerations is what makes for good engineering design.

The vast bulk of everything that gets printed involves PLA, PETG, or TPU. They are inexpensive and easily available filaments that are "good enough" for 90%+ of all the things most people print.

*******I must apologize for bad spelling, punctuation, in possibly in comprehensible sentences. I seem to have an orange kitten that wants to have his a=say right now. I think I got things cleaned up.