What's the difference between the original Prusa and the Amazon generic make?  

RE: What's the difference between the original Prusa and the Amazon generic make?

The difference you pay is for better quality/genuine parts, and support. Note that "i3" is a genericized name for the style of motion system in the printer; it's not a specific model or specification. So the answer to the difference could be anything from "not much" to "everything" depending on how much they altered the components to cut costs. The amazon kit is probably no different than the hordes of other sub $400 printers out there. 

How much is $250 of your time worth in terms of having to troubleshoot knock-off clones or undocumented issues?

I'm sure others will chime in with their stories fighting i3 with other brands/i3 clones.

RE: What's the difference between the original Prusa and the Amazon generic make?

If you want cheap and cheerful, don't mind correcting a few dodgy design design decisions and adding a bunch of stuff (mainboard, bed leveling sensor, filament sensor, bowden etc) you can get and ender3 on ebay for E100-150. Big project for noob (like me and I suspect you) though.

It's probably true that mostly you get what you pay for. Hard to put a price on Prusa support, community and the availability of upgrade kits. If you are on a tight budget look at the Prusa Mini, it looks like a lot of bang for your buck.

RE: What's the difference between the original Prusa and the Amazon generic make?

I see plenty of people upgrading from a cheap printer to a Prusa, very few going the other way.

RE: What's the difference between the original Prusa and the Amazon generic make?

@kuchbananekliahinahitha

If you can't afford the original Prusa Kit then go with cheaper printers like Ender 3. The benefit is bigger user base and most flaws are already known. If you buy a Prusa i3 knock-off, you're on your own with all the issues (and there will be some like for any 3D printer).

RE: What's the difference between the original Prusa and the Amazon generic make?

In my every vacillating search for a 2nd 3D printer, it looks like the Sovol SV01 ($279) and Artillery Genius ($320) are worthy successors to the Ender 3 line, both offering direct drive extruders and a host of other upgrades. With the release of the Prusa Mini, these are less stellar values than they were a few months ago, but if I need the extra bed size, these would be my choice over the Ender 3. Sovol uses Creality parts if not actually manufactured by Creality. Check out the YouTube reviews for more info. As a first printer, I'd definitely recommend a Prusa.

I'm knocking back-and-forth between a Delta of some sort and a Mini. Analysis paralysis has set in.

RE: What's the difference between the original Prusa and the Amazon generic make?

@bobstro

The Genius looks quite nice, has a decent mainboard and mains bed, pity about the hot end only 240C

RE: What's the difference between the original Prusa and the Amazon generic make?

Posted by: @towlerg

The Genius looks quite nice, has a decent mainboard and mains bed, pity about the hot end only 240C

I suspect they're using an E3D V6 Lite knock-off hotend. Replacing that with an all-metal design should be easy. 

I'm all over the place on what I want. The Mini is really a good fit for my needs, but the cheap printers are really interesting. 

RE: What's the difference between the original Prusa and the Amazon generic make?

@bobstro

I guess though by the time you factor in the Bl Touch or EZABL  and the lack of info, is it worth it. I see they publish firmware for earlier printers so maybe just not done yet.

I wonder in time if it becomes the new Ender3 then more stuff will be available. As with the mini, I'm prepared to wait till second production run when a few of the bugs will shake out.

RE: What's the difference between the original Prusa and the Amazon generic make?

@bobstro

What is your opinion of the double Z (do I have the terminology correct? up and down) screws joined together with a belt?

Edit Do you know what mainboard is in the Sovol?

RE: What's the difference between the original Prusa and the Amazon generic make?

Ooh I'm realy torn now Banggood have the Genius for 253,01€ free 7-15 day delivery.

RE: What's the difference between the original Prusa and the Amazon generic make?

I only know what I've seen in the various video reviews. The double Z looks more robust. I don't know much about the electronics, other than that they seem to be using quieter stepper drivers.

TBH unless you really need it now, the Mini is probably the best option overall.