3D Printers - difference between high-end and low cost

[callumbagshaw]

Hi all,

I've been looking at all the cool 3D printed parts people have been designing (examples here: http://www.shapeways.com/marketplace/tech/airsoft-paintball/?s=52#more-products).

I was wondering though, if 3D printers in the lower price bracket can handle stuff like this, and what the difference is between those and the high-end ones (and the prints they make).

For example, I can't afford to spend £3k on one of these: https://formlabs.com/store/eu/form-2/buy-printer/?gclid=CJTd-rzFvNECFQo6GwodmdIBkQ#buy-printer?utm_source=adwords&utm_campaign=Google-Shopping-Printers-PLA-UK-GP&utm_term=Form_2&utm_medium=cpc

But I might be able to stretch to £540 for one of these if it was worth it...

https://www.idig3dprinting.co.uk/shop/3d-printers/xyz-da-vinci-2-0a/?gclid=CLvB3a3CvNECFesK0wodDXABSA

Any help & info is much appreciated.
Cheers.

 

[Turtl3sh3ad85]

You could spend £150 on fleabay for one and get decent parts made, that's if u have time to build it.

I 3D printed a fair few upgraded parts for mine.

 

[callumbagshaw]

You could spend £150 on fleabay for one and get decent parts made, that's if u have time to build it.

I 3D printed a fair few upgraded parts for mine.

Oh that's cool!

So is there a difference in the quality of the parts produced when comparing low-end and high-end printers, or is it simply that high-end ones are faster at printing? (I assume that obviously the quality of the printing material used has a lot to do with it too...)

 

[sp00n]

With 3D printers, like most things in life, you get what you pay for, and they all have there issues

My printrite DIY, I have printed a lot parts to get it to print better, and I am just in the process of changing its controller board for a ramps board (it stopped communicating with my pc)

My davinci 1.0, I have just had to replace the bed as it cracked, I have also had to mod the carriage slightly (common fault). And unfortunately it uses expensive proprietary filament (around £30 for a 600g cartridge, but I use the refills still £24 for 600g mind).

The cheap eBay printer I ordered (impulse buy) needed a lot of parts printing, the y-axis is rubbish, and I think I may have to replace the extruder as well

 

[GiantKiwi]

http://reprap.org/ this project has been around for quite a while, slightly more than 4 years before even the first makerbot was released. It is possible to build certain of their machine designs yourself from DIY Kits for under £100.

 

[Samurai]

I was wondering though, if 3D printers in the lower price bracket can handle stuff like this, and what the difference is between those and the high-end ones (and the prints they make).

Home 3d printer quality is nowhere near shapeways'. With a lot of learning and tweaking and after print finishing you can make some decent parts, but for example you won't be able to print a railed foregrip that looks great. You can print one that looks ok-ish and works good.

 

[callumbagshaw]

Thanks for the info everyone I'll consider my options and weigh up whether it will be worth it

Cheers,
Cal.