Nervous about new buy
I am nervous about the amount of money a machine will cost me. I like the fact that somewhere down the road I can upgrade this machine so I am pretty sold on the Prusa. My school has a Makerbot Replicator and it is pretty awful but I can see the potential for projects I want to do. I have actually taken the MakerBot Extruder apart and tried to fix it. I have been successful several times but then something else goes wrong so I am pretty much done with that machine.
I am wondering how out of the box user-friendly this machine is for someone who has mostly been playing around with a machine for about two weeks. I will mostly be printing board game inserts to start, so nothing too complicated. I will be buying the machine pre-assembled if I get it. I don't mind tinkering a little but I am hoping the learning curve is not to steep. I have printed a few board game inserts with the MakerBot but they never turn out well (I am pretty sure it is the machine but not positive).
Best Answer by bobstro:
[...] buying the machine pre-assembled if I get it. I don't mind tinkering a little but I am hoping the learning curve is not to steep. I have printed a few board game inserts with the MakerBot but they never turn out well (I am pretty sure it is the machine but not positive).
If you don't enjoy building the hardware and the time you have to spend on assembly is worth more than the cost difference, there's nothing wrong with buying a pre-built. For one thing, you get a different level of warranty as well as 5% more discount on some items in the Prusa online store. There's a lot be be said for unboxing and start printing within minutes. In my case, I just want to print and don't really care about the tool (the printer). It's interesting, but certainly not my focus.
As to the notion that you have to build the printer to understand it, that's simply not true. For one thing, building something without knowing what you're doing can be risky and a sure road to frustration. Prusa's kit and support are excellent, but things can go wrong. You're the best judge of your level of enjoyment and skills.
I bought a pre-built in Jan 2018 (delivered in April 2018). I have had no issues going back and incrementally learning the hardware at my own pace while still being able to print immediately. I have no concerns about swapping nozzles, and have done complete extruder and hotend teardowns and replacements, all made easier by having spent time learning how the thing should work properly before it broke. I've read plenty of accounts from people that have built the kit yet still hesitate to swap a nozzle and can't get a good print to save their lives. The key is to develop an understanding of how all the printer components work together to give good prints. How you develop that understanding will vary by individual. Do what works for you.
RE: Nervous about new buy
My first 3D printer was a M3D Micro which I will say was ok at the start but I wanted more flexibility so I got Octorint which allowed me to adjust settings and experiment the only problem was the printer it’s self was not good enough for what I wanted which is why I got a CR10S. This was a mistake however as I had to many problems with the bed not being flat so had to get replacement glass and heated bed itself which didn’t work out in the end. Finally I settled on a Prusa MK2S kit, and within 2.5 days including on and off assembling and calibration I had my first print. That was two years ago now and I do not regret my purchase, this printer is so reliable only a handful of prints have failed some of which were my fault due to incorrect slicer settings. However everything can be very simple at the start and you can get used to more settings and try to adjust them in PrusaSlicer as you go along. Of course you will have some issues along the way everything does, like my print fan was making rattling noises and my LCD broke due to static electricity however I contacted support on the live chat and had replacements send to me after a few days. And if you become stuck for what slicer setting you should use or any question the forums have many active members that are more than willing to help.
To conclude this story if you do get a Prusa I’m sure you won’t be disappointed and I hope this helps you decision.
RE: Nervous about new buy
@sam-d10
Thank you very much. I am pretty sure I am going to get it. I actually made a couple of board game inserts with what was clearly an inferior model that I was happy with. I have close to 300 board games that I am planning on building inserts for. If I bought someone else's inserts the cost would be astronomical. So I feel fairly secure I will be okay on cost just making game inserts. I think my main hesitation is the machine I am working on now is clearly not good. Although I have learned a lot because I have taken it apart and put it back together a couple of times. However, it belonged to my school and no one was using it. So it was like found money. Now that I am going to spend my own I am being a little cautious.
Thanks again. Your comments really did help.
RE: Nervous about new buy
Also I understand that you may just want to get the printer up and running as soon as possible however I would actually suggest that you may want to consider a kit as putting this together will give you the confidence to do replacements in the future if something was to break and the MK3 is much easier to put together than the MK2 was and even someone like me who hasn’t had much experience with putting this level of equipment together managed to assemble the MK2 with the fantastic instructions online.
RE: Nervous about new buy
I'll add that people have also purchased the assembled printer and had issues where they had to replace things, and lack of assembly experience lead to a bad experience. That said, unless you have some confidence in your mechanical abilities, building from scratch can also lead to bad things. One common problem with builders is they seem to think it is a race to complete the build in less time than the last guy.
It isn't a race: take your time- read the flipping manual along the way for the essential details - and the printer will serve you well. Finish the build race in first place and I'll guaranty you won't be happy with how the printer works. I'm reasonably good with mechanical things, and it took me 13+ hours over several days, not counting time I spent reading the manuals and guides to make sure I was assembling things the right way - the manuals are pretty good, but there are places things just don't go together the way you think they should.
Is the MK3 the best printer out there? I doubt it; but for the money it seems it is one of the better valued printers available. And be prepared that it is a process to get good prints: you will need to tinker.
RE: Nervous about new buy
I totally agree with @tim-m30
RE: Nervous about new buy
Thanks, everyone. I was going to buy the assembled one because my brain actually does much better with taking things apart and then putting them back together. I couldn't tell you why but it always seems to be the case. Assembling things always really frustrates me. However, I once took apart my entire dishwasher, diagnosed the problem, and put it back together in working condition (much to the horror of my wife who came home one day to see pictures and parts all over our kitchen floor).
I am sure I could put it together but I feel fairly confident that I can take it apart after I see it in good working condition.
RE: Nervous about new buy
[...] buying the machine pre-assembled if I get it. I don't mind tinkering a little but I am hoping the learning curve is not to steep. I have printed a few board game inserts with the MakerBot but they never turn out well (I am pretty sure it is the machine but not positive).
If you don't enjoy building the hardware and the time you have to spend on assembly is worth more than the cost difference, there's nothing wrong with buying a pre-built. For one thing, you get a different level of warranty as well as 5% more discount on some items in the Prusa online store. There's a lot be be said for unboxing and start printing within minutes. In my case, I just want to print and don't really care about the tool (the printer). It's interesting, but certainly not my focus.
As to the notion that you have to build the printer to understand it, that's simply not true. For one thing, building something without knowing what you're doing can be risky and a sure road to frustration. Prusa's kit and support are excellent, but things can go wrong. You're the best judge of your level of enjoyment and skills.
I bought a pre-built in Jan 2018 (delivered in April 2018). I have had no issues going back and incrementally learning the hardware at my own pace while still being able to print immediately. I have no concerns about swapping nozzles, and have done complete extruder and hotend teardowns and replacements, all made easier by having spent time learning how the thing should work properly before it broke. I've read plenty of accounts from people that have built the kit yet still hesitate to swap a nozzle and can't get a good print to save their lives. The key is to develop an understanding of how all the printer components work together to give good prints. How you develop that understanding will vary by individual. Do what works for you.
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RE: Nervous about new buy
@bobstro
Thanks, I was starting to have analysis paralysis. Even started looking at other printers but find myself gravitating right back here. I think I will be buying it tomorrow.
RE: Nervous about new buy
@bobstro
Thanks, I was starting to have analysis paralysis. Even started looking at other printers but find myself gravitating right back here. I think I will be buying it tomorrow.
I think everyone here is always looking at other consumer printers available out there. Many have also different brands at home. Pick whatever you think will fit best for you purpose.
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RE: Nervous about new buy
Analysis paralysis is common. I have 3 brands and 4 different types of printers. The problem with having more than one type is getting confused on how to set them to print.
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3D Printer Review Blog
RE: Nervous about new buy
At NASA in my department alone.. we have 3 Prusas (2 mk2 and one 3s).. 2 Raise3D Pro 2 Plus with another on the way, Luzbot Taz6 and Luzbot Workhorse...
Our new mk3s just happens to be a world record participant.. kind of cool..
After working with all of them every single day.. and working with MarkForged x5, Anets, Crealities, Tronxys... etc in the evenings... I ended up buying the mk3s... and enjoying every bit.. and looking to get second.. will even be upgrading the mk2s to the 3s...
They are all good printers.. some require alot more than others to get going.. the Prusa is just like a Honda.. it just works.. and its right up there with the 30k MarkedForged.. believe it .. i got mine running the Onyx filament now.. step for step.. after spending time tuning.. its working it just fine...
RE: Nervous about new buy
Has your printer already arrived? Don' t be afraid even man my age is having fun with the printer. Buying it assembled or as kit always means your learning start regardless you want or not 😊.
What can help you very much to regularly visit this forum and read threads even you do not have any issue. Learning from others faults is the cheapest one and you will find here a lot to learn. I am also trying to do so.
So let us know ,when your new mate will land and share your successes with the crowd, we also like to hear about them not only about crashes and issues.
Happy printing!!!
even an old man can learn new things 🙂
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