How to decide when to buy your next printer...  

RE: How to decide when to buy your next printer...

I never thought I would get another, but around the first of the year I was able to pick up an Ultimaker S5 for a very decent price.  I use both the S5 and the I3 regularly.  It was opportunity in my case, and not a utilization or throughput issue.

RE: How to decide when to buy your next printer...

I was saving up for another printer "maybe" in early 2020. When COVID hit, it made my mind up for me. Prusa lead times were still high, so I managed to order an Artillery Sidewinder the week Amazon started restricting orders to essentials. The Sidewinder was OK but had a lot more downtime than my Mk3. It went offline after 2 weeks and it was 30 days before I had it fully functioning again. Throughout that entire period, my Mk3 was cranking away steadily nearly 24x7. Only now, after 38 months am I having to do any sort of significant work on it. My X motor has died. I'm not a fan of working on these things but by paying careful attention to the assembly guide, I'm able to repair it without much fuss. If I ever need a dependable printer, I'm going with another Prusa. If the XL is available, I'd consider that. Until then, the Mk3 is my choice.

RE: How to decide when to buy your next printer...

I bought second MK3S when I had issue with MK3 with MMU2. Then just recently, I bought Mini+, so that I can take it anywhere to print. 

RE: How to decide when to buy your next printer...

When my wife's to-do list started interfering with mine 🙂  She's even given preliminary ok for when the XL is finally released!  Doing her projects is a full time job!

RE: How to decide when to buy your next printer...

@ssill2

Wow, your missus is a keeper!

RE: How to decide when to buy your next printer...

@towlerg

shhhhhhhh don't tell her that, it might go to her head! 🙂

RE: How to decide when to buy your next printer...

but seriously, when her stuff that takes a day plus to print started preventing me from printing stuff, it was time for a second printer.   One of my printers has the MMU fitted so for multi material prints it's still a gating factor.  I find it to be a huge pain to print tpu on the mmu enabled printer so I just use the non-mmu printer for tpu stuff.  I would argue I could already use a third printer, but my wife and I agreed a third printer would only be happening when the XL comes out.  She was even in support of me doing a proper multi extruder printer like the tool changer before I *somewhat* got the MMU tamed.

RE: How to decide when to buy your next printer...

My second printer was an Ender.  I read all the glowing reviews and watched videos on Youtube.   I got a lemon or I am spoiled by my MK3S.  It is down a lot more than my Prusa (1-2 months out of 12).  I think my son has it printing now after about $300 in mods.  

My frustrations led me to look for my second printer that works.  I ended up buying a locals printer that "got a lemon" from Prusa.  It was an e-Bay purchase available for pick up only.  The Mk3 had a few dings in the rebuild plate but was in mint condition outside of that.   It took me 24 hours to diagnose and get running (thank you, Prusa Forum).  

My advice would be to buy a Prusa.  MK3S or Mini will work for most print.  The only other brand I have found reliable is Anycubic.   

RE: How to decide when to buy your next printer...

prusa was my first printer and I liked it so much I bought a second one.  and I'll likely get a third when the XL comes out.   The only other one I was considering was an E3D tool changer because I'm not a huge fan of the MMU and the amount of wasted filament produced by it.  For the price and quality it's really hard to beat the prusa though.

RE: How to decide when to buy your next printer...

Every time my MK3s is printing and I want to start an other print, I start looking at the Mini or a 2nd MK3 again. But I have decided already not to get an other Prusa before the XL is released. Than I will make up my mind about getting that or a 2nd MK3.

RE: How to decide when to buy your next printer...

I have to concur with a lot of the posts.  I am waiting for an XL for my next printer.  

RE: How to decide when to buy your next printer...

@cwbullet

I’m curious if there will be an mmu option for the xl 

RE: How to decide when to buy your next printer...

@ssill2

If you have a tool changer, would you need it?  

RE: How to decide when to buy your next printer...

@cwbullet

For the multi material printing yeah.  Seems like way less wasted filament and the option of doing things like tpu

RE: How to decide when to buy your next printer...

@ssill2

Should be much less wasted filament.  I can see your point because it not really an MMU.  

RE: How to decide when to buy your next printer...

@cwbullet

So much waste with mmu

RE: How to decide when to buy your next printer...

E3D tool changer... I would love to have it, but my wallet won't let me buy one. 😟 

I'm in process upgrading both of my MK3S (including one that was hooked to MMU2S) and I'm going to remove MMU2S permanently.

RE: How to decide when to buy your next printer...

@jmh714

The mmu can be tamed it’s just a pain in the a$$.  I was about the point you were about a month ago.  Got it working somewhat reliably.  I still hate the waste though.  I wish prusa offered a multi extruder printer because I love their stuff.  The mmu makes using tpu a bit of a pain.  

RE: How to decide when to buy your next printer...

Pulled that trigger - new MK3S+ on order.  The order volumes have financed this one.