3D Printer suggetions

Hello everyone,

I am in the market for a nice 3D printer. I was considering buying a Bambu Labs P1S, but due to their recent firmware issues, I prefer not to support a company that makes decisions like that.

I’m thinking about getting one of the following models: Creality Ender-3 Plus, Creality K2 Plus, Qidi Plus 4, or Prusa MK4S. While the K2 Plus looks fantastic, it is quite expensive.

A bit about my situation: I have zero 3D printing experience, and I would like a printer with a larger print bed. Additionally, I only use Linux, but I see that Orca Slicer has an AppImage available, so that shouldn’t be an issue as long as the printer can work with Orca. Multi-color printing would be nice, but it’s not a necessity. I will probably be printing with PLA and PETG mainly but the option to print with other materials would be nice.

Please share your suggestions! I appreciate any advice you can offer. Thank you!

I would reconsider the Bambu Labs though I’d wait to see how they handle this before making the purchase. Bambu has always been closed source and though I don’t agree with it they have the best option for price to performance. Hopefully they see the error of their ways and reverse course on some of the shenanigans but it looks like enshitification creep has already taken hold and they’ll end up becoming the HP of the 3d printing community.

Im running an X1C and A1 mini and both are amazing printers. I came from Creality starting on an ender 3. I have 3 ender 3’s, an ender 3 modded with ender extender, and the ender 5 pro all of which I haven’t touched since I bought my X1C.

I spent more time working on the Creality printers than actually printing anything functional with them and I never intended 3d printer to become the hobby.

The other, what I would consider “real”, option is Prusa but if you’re like me it may be a little on the expensive side.

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Yeah, I don’t want to be tinkering on a printer more than I am printing. I worry that this door Bambu has opened can’t be closed once it was opened. Prusa MK4S is on the top of my list just because of their support and community. The Qidi Plus 4 also looks neat but the 1 star reviews on Amazon are terrifying.

At work right now, there is a prusa XL (5-tool) downstairs working away right now. it seems to be an excellent large format (multi-tool is optional) all things considered. I(personally) do not and will not recommend a bed-flinger(MK4S and ender3 you mentioned) to someone especially as a first printer. Though i WILL admit that if you are going to get a bed-flinger the MK4S is basically the best one you can get(fresh from box, ie not upgraded by user).

My suggestions would be either the Creality K1-series, or the Prusa Core One. the “AI” features of the k2-series from creality(and others) seem to ME to be mostly a gimick and reason to increase the price.

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I like both of those, I was only considering the K2 because of the AMS. I’ll do some research on the K1 max, mainly because of the bed size and the price I am leaning that direction. I like the Prusa Core One kit because I will learn everything I will need to know about it during the building process. Hmmmmm, decisions decisions… @SquirrelMan5k what would you pick between the K1 Max and the Prusa Core One?

if you need the slightly bigger build volume then the k1max might be better but, most of the literature on their site has started talking about cloud and ai. Creality hasn’t shot themself in the foot YET, but it could be a matter of time.

I will suggest the Prusa if you don’t need that slight bit of extra build volume, it IS more expensive but one is made in EU and the other in China.

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I don’t need the extra build volume, just wanted it. I think Prusa Core One would be the best for me, I just have more faith in the company. Thanks @SquirrelMan5k, I appreciate your responses.

No problem.

Further advise, don’t listen to me and my words as if they are gospel. there are many videos reviewing 3d printers available on youtube. Some of those users may encounter something that i haven’t seen, some might encounter/point out something about a printer that I might not even notice, but could be a complete “deal breaker” for you.

never rely on a single source for reviews.

I’ve spent hours watching them already, that’s how I learned about the Qidi Plus 4. It’s hard to tell if a lot of them are being genuinely honest or if they are saying good things about a printer because they were paid or given a free printer to do so.

check their channel for “upgrades” videos, is one way to see if they modify the printer for some reason(could be valid issues or aesthetics).

check if they have any “update” videos where they use the printer for a period of time and give a “second review” of the printer. that can point out long-term issues.

i am pretty sure there is more, but let’s have someone else chime in.

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Have you used Prusa’s MMU3?

Quidi or Prusa Core if Bambu is out of the running. If your budget allows I’d get a Prusa both on principles and their support is top notch.

I have a Bambi X1C and am completely satisfied. But as soon as they completely eliminate any third party integration or ability for me to run offline I’ll be the first to rip out the main board or flash open source firmware.

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i have not used the MMU, sorry bers.

there is already(and has been) an open-source firmware for the x1c. that doesn’t mean you should support the company by buying a new one, but you may not need to toss it in the dumpster just yet!

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It can be picky
Prusa probably better solution than Bambu but you need to tinker with it occasionally

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not so much “tinker” as “maintain”… sure you might growl and groan and look at “upgrades” the next time one of the bearings starts making noises… but it just needs some love to get it back up and running.

creality (non k#-series) printers are bad for NEEDING tinkering because maintenance can’t fix a bearing, but prusa doesn’t build their printers with parts they find on the floor… i hope

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I thank everyone who chimed in, Prusa Core One it is. Funny enough I had ordered a Bambu P1S before their firmware announcement and canceled it before it shipped. Once I get my money back from Bambu I will buy the Core One. Im and fine with a little maintenance here and there, ive owned crappy cars my entire life so fixing things isn’t a problem. Kinda therapeutic honestly. Probably should have asked this a few days ago, can the Core One print carbon fiber?

I plan on getting the MMU3 from Prusa as well. Ill try to document everything but thats not my strong suite. Need to become comfortable being filmed and this is a great opportunity to do so.

Time shall tell

The stock nozzle appears to be brass, so at the very least you would need to replace it with a hardened one. Carbon fiber filaments are highly abrasive and would destroy a brass nozzle very quickly. Other than that, as long as the base material of the filament is printable within the 290c max temperature of the hotend it should be fine, barring any fine tuning needed.

Also as a safety recommendation, if you plan to work with this kind of filament frequently, any cutting or grinding of the filament or prints made with it would be done with good ventilation and breathing protection. Carbon fiber dust is not something you want to be breathing in.

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that, that right there!!! but it is true for more than JUST carbon fiber filaments. Keeping the dust from sanding ANYTHING out of your lungs and eyes should be something learned at the earliest age in school. It really IS THAT IMPORTANT!

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Thank you @Raastefer and @SquirrelMan5k for this tip, im bad about that when working with metal. I will invest in a nice face mask as well. Hobbies are money pits but such is life!

And @wendell thank you for making this community, you are like a real life superhero.

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