Core One owners regretting their purchase?
I got my C1 when it was announced a year ago and 3-4 months ago I also bought an H2d.
So now I find myself questioning what to do with my Core One, that looks rather small compared to the H2D.
This is not a BL vs Prusa post but I am at the fork on the road, where I am questioning going one way or the other due to size, upgraded bed etc... I do worry about Prusa's FW development, considering the C1 is one year old and FW development was rather slow.
Then when adding INDX into the mix. Things gets even more unclear.
What is the general consensus? Is the Core One considered to be outdated now?
RE: Core One owners regretting their purchase?
In short, since I think Prusa have finally gotten their heads out of their arse, I will hang onto my C1. Anyway, you are not going to get a consensus on this. It's obviously highly subjective.
I never initially regretted getting on-board with Prusa. My Core One started as a MK4. So the my "cost" of the Core One was $550. Or at least that's how I justified it in my head. I also wanted to build the printer. So I'm 99% certain that if something goes wrong I can diagnose it myself, either order or print the part and I'm back in business.
When the SnapMaker U1 Kickstarter happened and BL was teasing the Vortex and the H2D I did wonder a lot why Prusa seemed stuck in the past with reprap. That my Core One couldn't do things that other printers could that were half the price. And if I look back at some of my posts from 3-4 months ago, I was getting kind annoyed with Prusa that I was in FOMO situation. I also had designs in my head I had to scratch because of limitations of the C1 (like the 290C hot end) and lack of a true multi-material setup (the MMU does not qualify in my opinion).
As of now I have about 760 hrs of print time on my Core One and no major failures that weren't user errors. So it's a reliable printer and it's very quiet (after a lot of tweaking). Had Prusa not announced (teased) the INDX system, I would have most definitely sold the Core One and either picked up a U1 or an H2D and not looked back. I did have a pre-order on a U1 but I have since canceled it. I'm now looking forward to being a proud owner (beta tester) of the INDX system in the next coming months.
RE:
OK, since you asked 🙂
I'm actually glad I got it, with the MMU. Fought many battles, learned quite a few things. Got it pipe-cleaned from "idea" (FreeCAD/Python) to "printed object" with multiple colors and cheap non-branded, moderately strong ABS / ASA. Note, PLA would be easier but is useless for me as it creeps under mechanical stress.
There's a lot of shiny things on the horizon now. That makes it much harder today to both make the purchasing decision and invest so much time when it will eventually stop being the "latest-and-greatest". I keep telling myself, the time horizon I set is maybe 5 years or longer - figure it out once then keep running it as a tool, not an end in itself. So far, Core One plus MMU fits that bill perfectly. If push comes to shove, I have built it so I can take it apart and put it back together.
What's also reassuring is to have a look at an actual industrial floor. Strangely, most of the equipment (except those machines that need to be state-of-the-art to do their job) tends to be really old, understood, reliable and written off. Completely different "feeling" compared to a consumer electronics showroom.
RE: Core One owners regretting their purchase?
These choices always comes down to how you use the printer. I use mine to produce tools and parts in my workshop and after some teething issues I have go to the point where it just works, I have no need to swap it for something else but the higher temp hot end is interesting, maybe INDX for multi material printing but I have no urge to beta test that system. My only grudge with Prusa is that they can’t keep that camera working, if that keeps up the camera will end up in the recycling bin and I will make my own.
in the end, if you find use for it keep it, if not and you are not a collector let it move on.
/Anders
RE: Core One owners regretting their purchase?
LOL
Laughing as I'm in the exact same situation! I tend to turn to my H2D for most prints nowadays - it just works and I can keep an eye on it remotely with ease. My Core One stays by my desk though, and I only use it for smaller prints here and there. Now that we have further details of the INDX system, and I feel it's better than the Vortek setup, I'm thinking of keeping the Core One, slapping on INDX later down the line, and using that for my any multicolour prints, whereas my H2D benefits from the larger bed and, as it lives outside, I can keep it running overnight for longer prints without disturbing anyone in the house. I only print as a hobbyist, but even so, something keeps drawing me to the Prusa, and although I considered it at one stage, I don't really want to let it go! lol
I got my C1 when it was announced a year ago and 3-4 months ago I also bought an H2d.
So now I find myself questioning what to do with my Core One, that looks rather small compared to the H2D.
This is not a BL vs Prusa post but I am at the fork on the road, where I am questioning going one way or the other due to size, upgraded bed etc... I do worry about Prusa's FW development, considering the C1 is one year old and FW development was rather slow.
Then when adding INDX into the mix. Things gets even more unclear.
What is the general consensus? Is the Core One considered to be outdated now?
RE:
After initial regret and buyers remorse in the first few months what with all the teething issues, im really quite happy with my C1 as it is. Havent needed to mess around with belts for months, very happy with the print quality, and finally at a stage where I can start a print with complete confidence it will complete successfully and look great.
Now with the INDX, it's what Ive been waiting a long time for. Economically it makes complete sense to stick with the C1 and upgrade to INDX. When you look at the other options for multi-material I think they've nailed it with the INDX integration.
Of course there will be teething issues, but Im quite looking forward to being a beta tester.
Overall I'm very glad I stuck with the C1, if I'd returned it and gone over to Bambu, I'm 99% sure I'd now be looking over enviously at what Prusa will soon be offering.
RE: Core One owners regretting their purchase?
I moved from an mk4s into the core one but, due to the shipping delays I was able to profit from a bunch of best practices / tips discovered by the early adopters. Sofar, the printer has behaved in an excellent way, I can print everything I need: PLA, PETG, PCBlend, PCCF, ASA, ABS and FLEX. The INDX prospective is so good that I already ordered it 😀 so I am staying for sure.
RE: Core One owners regretting their purchase?
I moved from an mk4s into the core one but, due to the shipping delays I was able to profit from a bunch of best practices / tips discovered by the early adopters.
Same thing for me. Had I gotten it 2 months earlier than I did I would have thrown it off a cliff. Still some teething issues as of now but they are minor.
RE: Core One owners regretting their purchase?
Hi there. I was about to post a question about the state / maturity of Core One and this thread looks good too.
I originally ordered a Core One in spring and since the wait time was 5 weeks or so I ended up changing my order to a MK4s. Not because I could't wait, but because I got the impression that it still needed some time to mature. I thought I'd wait a bit and then get the conversion kit maybe.
I'm quite happy with my MK4s, but I think the XY construction might be better in the long run...also having ignored MMUs so far, the INDX looks tempting.
I didn't get the Core back then because it looked like people still preferred the MK4s in terms of print quality and maybe overhang performance (but I usually don't do drastic overhangs anyway).
Some people also complain about maintenance being a pain if you need to tweak something and have to disassemble way more stuff to get to the components.
Would you say times have changed enough to make the upgrade and not regret it?
RE:
Well, I think having an MK4 for PLA/PETG and the Core One for more advanced materials is the way to go. Core One is of course a more versatile machine, but it starts the prints much slower because of the heat absorption and much noisier also because of the chamber. When you print PLA and PETG the vents and/or the door should be open. Also the fan tries to cool down the chamber, so it blows. I have the advanced filtering unit and that fan is a beast.
Maintenance is also a lot more involved. Cleaning out the print area, opening the top to reach the printhead better, plus the belt tension adjustment is much more critical. Also there is the gantry which has to be squared or at least checked regularly.
I have a Mini+ besides my Core One and I often just start a quick print on the Mini what -for smaller prints- finishes quicker, than the Core One because there is much less prep time. Also much quieter.
So I think an open printer beside the Core One is a great thing.
RE: Core One owners regretting their purchase?
Would you recommend only owning the Core at this point?
I only print stuff as a hobby and I really don't have space or need for 2 printers. I had the impression that people print PETG and PLA on Cores as well. There was this talk of them being more glossy or what not, but not painful. I tried printing PC filament on the MK4S and I had trouble with bed adhesion, but mostly print from regular boring stuff. Maybe it was the INDX announcement that got me excited. I guess being a new technology it might also come with some initial quirks, but it sure sounds great.
RE: Core One owners regretting their purchase?
It's clear that the CoreOne is the winner if only one printer is possible. But if someone only prints PLA, PETG and TPU, the MK4s is a much more convenient machine. Also the MMU works better and more simpler to use on the MK4, than on the Core One.
INDX is a big plus for the CoreOne, if someone needs multi material and of course the whole upgrade path is more secure as it is the preferred development path Prusa has chosen.
In short, if one printer, then of course, CoreOne. But you will regret the ease of use and simplicity of the MK4 for sure later on 🙂
RE: Core One owners regretting their purchase?
I'm in a weird situation in that I've ordered a C1+ to replace (I'll need to sell it for funds) my MK3S. But I'm worried that the print quality for PLA and PETG could be noticeably worse than my MK3S. How do you find these materials please?
The videos I've watched that criticise overhang performance are from a few months back... have things improved? Can I just take the lid off for PLA? Leaving the door opening won't really be possible in the room I have.
I could keep my MK3S, but I love the idea of MUCH faster prints for quicker trialling of designs, and that I could use more tricky materials in future. But really PLA and PETG will be the main things I print most of the time. And yes, INDX is very tempting.
Maybe I should cancel the order while I still can. Maybe I should just upgrade my MK3S to a MK4S, but that doesn't seem that great value really – for £350 more I have the C1+...
I'm just really worried that I'll look at the excellent torture toaster I printed on my MK3S in PETG and regret getting rid of it. I'd really appreciate a steer please...
I moved from an mk4s into the core one but, due to the shipping delays I was able to profit from a bunch of best practices / tips discovered by the early adopters. Sofar, the printer has behaved in an excellent way, I can print everything I need: PLA, PETG, PCBlend, PCCF, ASA, ABS and FLEX. The INDX prospective is so good that I already ordered it 😀 so I am staying for sure.
RE:
I have my Mk3(mostly S) working along side the C1. Not unhappy I have a printer that works first time every time. I'm at that point the speed of the Core One makes me avoid the Mk3, but honestly, the Mk3 gives superior prints - superior as in plastic fusion quality and corner precision. Speed has costs.
Also, some of the older plastics are not what we'd call "high speed" plastics, so some of the tribulations may be related to the plastics I have not being suitable to higher volumetric flows, but then I see similar issues with Prusament, so that isn't all of it.
If I had it to do over, I'd reconsider and might buy the Core One L ... the extra volume would be worth the pains; and that Prusa is coming out with the Bondtech INDX system sooner or later (Prusa it's always later more than sooner, sigh).
But I'd also give that new Bambu H2C a close look. I'm sure it also would bring growing pains, but there are some nice ideas being put together there. ps: you can use the Bambu eco-system without the internet. It's actually fairly easy to do.
RE: Core One owners regretting their purchase?
Most definitely the MK4s will have a superior print quality with low temp materials, looking at the overhangs, but realistically you don't print 70 degree+ overhangs without supports anyway.
but even if you open the doors and take off the top, it will lock in heat much more, so the cooling suffers. Thats physics we cant alter.
Also the added speed needs to be considered if it worth it a lot of times as low quality or older filaments tend to suffer. But it is also a problem for the MK4s as well.
RE: Core One owners regretting their purchase?
I also have an MK4S and am going to convert it into a C1+. The idea of using something existing to build something new immediately excited me.
Of course, converting and building the C1+ is a whole different ball game than unpacking, connecting and getting started. It depends on the person themselves and their technical understanding.
The experiences of all users who have used the C1 / C1+ so far are very useful for all other use
I also like the fact that the online assembly instructions have a comment function and that changes that are reported are incorporated.
I'm excited. According to the delivery information from Prusa, the kit should arrive before Christmas.
I moved from an mk4s into the core one but, due to the shipping delays I was able to profit from a bunch of best practices / tips discovered by the early adopters. Sofar, the printer has behaved in an excellent way, I can print everything I need: PLA, PETG, PCBlend, PCCF, ASA, ABS and FLEX. The INDX prospective is so good that I already ordered it 😀 so I am staying for sure.
RE: Core One owners regretting their purchase?
While a bed slinger is generally fine for PLA/PETG, at this point I wouldn't purchase or upgrade to another. A good friend of mine is also still running a MK3s and he wont move from it. Says it does everything he needs and refuses to leave it! lol
If you do really want to upgrade a CoreXY is now the way to go. The Core One is a great unit that's being refined all the time. Are you able to keep hold of teh MK3s just temporarily while you get teh Core One set up, then sell it soon after? Or does it need to go before you make the purchase?
If you do decide to cancel and re-think, please use my link to purchase as it'll also earn you some Prusa points the you can put towards free filament!
https://www.prusa3d.com/product/prusa-core-one-kit?p2p=%40iftibashir_468393
I'm in a weird situation in that I've ordered a C1+ to replace (I'll need to sell it for funds) my MK3S. But I'm worried that the print quality for PLA and PETG could be noticeably worse than my MK3S. How do you find these materials please?
The videos I've watched that criticise overhang performance are from a few months back... have things improved? Can I just take the lid off for PLA? Leaving the door opening won't really be possible in the room I have.
I could keep my MK3S, but I love the idea of MUCH faster prints for quicker trialling of designs, and that I could use more tricky materials in future. But really PLA and PETG will be the main things I print most of the time. And yes, INDX is very tempting.
Maybe I should cancel the order while I still can. Maybe I should just upgrade my MK3S to a MK4S, but that doesn't seem that great value really – for £350 more I have the C1+...
I'm just really worried that I'll look at the excellent torture toaster I printed on my MK3S in PETG and regret getting rid of it. I'd really appreciate a steer please...
I moved from an mk4s into the core one but, due to the shipping delays I was able to profit from a bunch of best practices / tips discovered by the early adopters. Sofar, the printer has behaved in an excellent way, I can print everything I need: PLA, PETG, PCBlend, PCCF, ASA, ABS and FLEX. The INDX prospective is so good that I already ordered it 😀 so I am staying for sure.
RE: Core One owners regretting their purchase?
Thanks! Does slowing the Core One down lead to better prints? Is it as capable if that speed's reduced?
I have my Mk3(mostly S) working along side the C1. Not unhappy I have a printer that works first time every time. I'm at that point the speed of the Core One makes me avoid the Mk3, but honestly, the Mk3 gives superior prints - superior as in plastic fusion quality and corner precision. Speed has costs.
Also, some of the older plastics are not what we'd call "high speed" plastics, so some of the tribulations may be related to the plastics I have not being suitable to higher volumetric flows, but then I see similar issues with Prusament, so that isn't all of it.
If I had it to do over, I'd reconsider and might buy the Core One L ... the extra volume would be worth the pains; and that Prusa is coming out with the Bondtech INDX system sooner or later (Prusa it's always later more than sooner, sigh).
But I'd also give that new Bambu H2C a close look. I'm sure it also would bring growing pains, but there are some nice ideas being put together there. ps: you can use the Bambu eco-system without the internet. It's actually fairly easy to do.
RE: Core One owners regretting their purchase?
I also have an MK4S and am going to convert it into a C1+. The idea of using something existing to build something new immediately excited me.
Of course, converting and building the C1+ is a whole different ball game than unpacking, connecting and getting started. It depends on the person themselves and their technical understanding.
The experiences of all users who have used the C1 / C1+ so far are very useful for all other use
I also like the fact that the online assembly instructions have a comment function and that changes that are reported are incorporated.
I'm excited. According to the delivery information from Prusa, the kit should arrive before Christmas.
I find building from a bunch of parts quite an enjoyable process! For me, its one of the highlights of buying a Prusa! To build an actual complex tool from a bunch of parts is quite satisfying!
RE: Core One owners regretting their purchase?
I find building from a bunch of parts quite an enjoyable process! For me, its one of the highlights of buying a Prusa! To build an actual complex tool from a bunch of parts is quite satisfying!
I feel the same way.
Somehow, both situations are satisfying.
On the one hand, there's the satisfaction of building it yourself and understanding where everything is and what each component does, but on the other hand, there's the satisfaction of unpacking it and getting started right away. The first aspect gives you a deeper understanding of how your printer works.
I've saved your YouTube page that shows how to assemble the C1. Maybe I can contribute something 🙂
Thanks