3D printer kits

[grog68]

Ok really out of my area of knowledge here.

I was going to buy something from ebay the other day for £6, but then thought if I had a 3d printer I could print that so started looking and am really tempted to buy the Anet A8.

Before I do though I have a couple of things to consider:

1. How do I convince the wife that buying a 3d printer for £120 instead of the original item for £6 makes total economical sense?

2. These printers come in kit form, from what I have read they are pretty easy to do, there are youtube vids available, but time consuming, some saying 5 to 6 hours. Has anyone on here bought a 3d printer kit? are they as easy and/or time consuming as I've read?
Thanks

 

[StrawDog]

They are amazing! get one, so much fun (get her to pick a pretty vase or something and then give it to her, she'll love it! lol) then you can print what you want!

here's mine in action....

Once you get carried away and get an airbrush you can come up with some amazing stuff.

 

[grog68]

wow, what printer do you have? I still haven't got one yet. Did yours come as a kit or prebuilt?

 

[StrawDog]

thanks :) I bought the pulley version, but trust me for even more of a finer print go for the linear version, that uses gravity, and, you get smooth as **** prints....

you MUST have a heated bed, with out one your pissing in the wind.......and auto level....well that's also a must.....for this price it's a no brainier!

EU ANYCUBIC Delta Kossel-4 Upgrade 3D Printer Linear Plus Auto-Level DIY Kit PLA

 

[grog68]

thanks :) I bought the pulley version, but trust me for even more of a finer print go for the linear version, that uses gravity, and, you get smooth as **** prints....

you MUST have a heated bed, with out one your pissing in the wind.......and auto level....well that's also a must.....for this price it's a no brainier!

EU ANYCUBIC Delta Kossel-4 Upgrade 3D Printer Linear Plus Auto-Level DIY Kit PLA

did you have to change firmware or strengthen it to make it more rigid? I like the look of it as the kit looks alot more simple to assemble but reading that it's not very rigid then the firmware is carp.

 

[StrawDog]

it was an entry level printer for me, cheap and I thought for the price why not.

I think i installed some firmware for it, actually I did, pretty easy if your a member of this board though...ha!

I've had it a while so I'm sure the new ones will be more up to date. as for the prints well as you can see pretty mint for my first go. (as for simple....i think i pushed 8 - 10 hours over 2 days, and then setting it up...lol) how ever, not that hard. more fiddly with the tweezers they send you for holding the bolts....lol Happy with the results though.....

here's a couple more random prints for the hell of it.

(you can print supports for it, how ever I've never really needed them as for as I can see) I did print the yellow parts here though....



BABY FACEHUGGER



HUGE FACEHUGGER



PRINTED FROM STAR CRAFT 2



SOME RANDOM SKULL



AN INDIAN HALF PAINTED

 

[grog68]

I was looking at the A8 as my entry level printer but it does look like a lot of hassle putting it together and the one you have may be easier to put together, I'm not great with fiddly bits.

now to convince the wife lol

 

[StrawDog]

matey, this isn't easy, I don't think any of them are, un-less there pre-assembled, bits of this was, but as I say you have a pair of tweezers to hold little bolts in place to then tighten a screw into it....

 

[grog68]

I may well pm you if/when I get one LOL

thanks

 

[StrawDog]

np :)