So the Bambu labs A1 looks like the perfect starting point.
One problem, it uses proprietary firmware and software, I’m a big advocate for owning the things you buy, and not supporting companies that don’t allow you to do that as much as I reasonably can. So yea I can’t buy Bambu.
The Creality SparkX i7 seems nice, it looks like a straight up clone of the A1
https://store.creality.com/eu/products/sparkx-i7-3d-printer
I’ve heard a lot of people complain about Creality though, so unsure. I’m a bit stuck and getting decision fatigue.
My budget is ~500 Euro.
Help.
Qidi Q2 can offer magnificent value if you want something slightly bigger. It runs on open-source Klipper.
That’s the one on my list. I’ve been looking at the snapmaker U1, the Sovol SV08, and the Q2/Q2C. For a replacement for bambu, I think the Q2 fits that profile best.
SV08 is atractive for large prints but it’s huge and doesn’t have an enclosure. The large size can become cumbersome in a smaller house and it’s very rarely needed.
Snapmaker is attractive for multi-color or multi-material prints but those aren’t that common and it’s also much more expensive.
For a first printer the Q2 is probably good. You can run it fully locally without the Qidi cloud as well which is a big plus. Though accessing it outside of your home network would require a reverse proxy or something like Tailscale to connect to your home network first. (But you can use Qidi cloud if you wish)
I live in a tiny apartment, so it might end up in my living room, so ascetics is also a factor, I really like the A1, but yea fuck Bambu
In any space where you spend a lot of time, I’d recommend an enclosed printer and an air filter or outside ventilation. While the fumes of PLA and PETG are not proven to be harmful, they do contain microplastics that you’ll breathe in.
they do contain microplastics that you’ll breathe in.
so does every plastic packaging of your food.
@SaveTheTuaHawk hence it’s not recommended to melt your food containers while eating.
@PonyOfWarso does every plastic packaging of your food
That’s no reason to willingly add even more to your diet/environment
This is also good advice for ABS/ASA and filled plastics. Honestly, I’m way less concerned about PLA fumes than I am styrene or potential airborne microscopic carbon fibers.
we have a prusa mini for several years at work. i am printing quite a lot and had zero issues so far. if you buy the mini: order the wifi module.
Prusa is ran by Zionists so I’d definitely avoid that.
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Prusa recently partnered with Israeli company Fillament2
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Yeah very sad development from Prusa indeed, but it is what it is. Chinese companies like Sovol and Qidi provide good open-source alternatives.
In small places: corexy not only for particles (cooking produces much more than a pla/petg print and some are proven carcinogenic, but research your self) but for actual space. Bed slinger often seem smaller but once you factor in the space the bed travels, they are actually requiring more space.
Something more open like Sovol or Creality will benefit you once you want to tinker with the printer to have better cooling or sth…
Elegoo Centauri Carbon 1 or 2 would be my recommendation.
