3D printers and printing advice

[TripleGGG]

I'm sure several in this group do 3D printing. I've never done it so I am looking for advice, recommendations, etc. 

I am very fluent with programs like Photoshop, Excel, etc., so I don't think learning will be too difficult. 

I'm the kind of guy who prefers to buy once, cry once so the budget is open. 

[Scotty]

If you’re looking for just STL files there’s a ton of stuff out there. Pretty easily searchable. For gun related stuff search p80 forums. 
 

Very useful tool. Have printed car parts and gaskets in a pinch, audio related brackets, etc. 

 

If you have any sort of CAD or an engineering brain “fusion 360” is what I’ve always used to be able to construct custom dowels and stuff to spec. I’m sure there are others, I do not have an engineering brain and I don’t care for computers that much. It wasn’t too frustrating. It’s a yearly subscription, think it’s $100, I managed to use trade school email addresses for awhile until I ran out of people to ask. If you know anyone with a .edu (not sure if it needs to be trade related) you can possibly get a year free. 
 

I don’t have any info on what the latest and greatest is. I looked a year ago and could find “ender pro2” for under $200. That’s what I am familiar with and worked for my applications. 
 

Learn how to level the bed. It’s a pain. Google the sheet of paper method, I didn’t have good luck with auto leveling .stl. Keep the nozzle clean and make sure it goes through the proper startup and shutdown to expel pla and heat it accordingly. 
 

They can be tedious, but fun. Good luck. 

[TripleGGG]

I do have a CAD type, engineering type brain and stay eyeball deep in computers. Lol. Also a voracious reader and love learning new stuff. 

 

[Erich]

Greg, Please share where you end up!

A couple years ago I was about to buy one on the Crealty Ender series and feel off the deep end researching set up and upgrades to optimize it fit use, then the sales ended. Same happened this last Black Friday with Amazon having some great sales. There are more players now, so options are overwhelming (if you are apt to dive too deep like me)

@Capbyrd has some cool posts with things he’d done. In that time he may have wisdom to add for what he runs today. Seems like no matter where you start, the upgrades can take on a life of their own

[Garufa]

I wonder if 3D printing truck nuts and setting up a table at gun shows might be a worthy endeavor.  

Otherwise I have nothing to offer.  

Edited 1 hour ago by Garufa

[Hozzie]

Bambu Labs P1S with the 4 bay feeder is a great machine/value.   It comes with their software to print files and I haven't had any issues with it.   I use Fusion360 for designing.     The X1C gives you a couple of extra nice to have's but I have the P1S.

For me it is one of the easiest machines that just works.  No real tinkering, etc to make it work right.  Their filament is also good.

https://us.store.bambulab.com/products/p1s?from=home_web&id=583855874739507208

Edited 1 hour ago by Hozzie