Scale Soaring UK

I see many benefits in having a 3D printer to support various hobbies - I would be interested in practical user experience/recommendations for a modestly priced 3D printer for occasional projects that will produce decent quality parts. I have been put off in the past due to poor resolution of prints that then either need a lot of finishing work or just end up looking bad, but I suspect the printers are a lot more mature now than when I last looked.

Simon

How big a print do you want to do and do you have a price range in mind?

Hi Simon
I have recently done research and bought a Creality Ender 3 - standard model - from Banggood for around £132. They get really good reviews and there is lots of online help/discussion/videos. I used PLA for my first print and got a really cute little dog for my efforts. Then I fiddled with it by adding a self levelling system and that has buggered up the save feature in the menu, probably an easy enough thing for a techie like you but several days worth of headache for me. Getting close to reverting back to stock just to get printing. I have also bought a role of PETG and today ordered a role of Greentec Pro under recommendation for printing items that may undergo high stress.

Pat

I have three printers at present. A CEL Robox which has never given me a bad print, expensive but very reliable. The second is an Elegoo Mars resin printer. Small bed but the detail is outstanding. The most recent purchase was the Creallity Ender 5 plus. Big bed, self leveling. And again very reliable.

Simon, I've just bought my first printer, a Creality Ender 3 V2, it's absolutely superb!

I'll post a pic of what it can do when I get 5 later

Ell.

Thanks everyone for your responses. I have started writing down a few things that will help me home in on a suitable price range and specification, but I’ve learnt a few things (probably most important is that Pat M should have bought an Ender 5 not a 3 )

I would like a resin printer for doing small detailed items such as cockpit controls and instruments, but I think it would have to be a non-resin printer for starters, due to the material options and size of bed. I need to do a bit more homework now, but It’s great that this new section has been added to the forum, as I think this technology is very appropriate for scale modelling.

Simon

The most important thing is that I shouldnt have fiddled with the beggar
I am glad I bought the Ender 3 though, the bed size is planty big enough for me. If I decide to change in the coming years, or even add another printer, I may well get the Ender 5.

Pat Marsden wrote: ↑23 Jan 2021, 13:18 The most important thing is that I shouldnt have fiddled with the beggar
I am glad I bought the Ender 3 though, the bed size is planty big enough for me. If I decide to change in the coming years, or even add another printer, I may well get the Ender 5.

Ender 5 plus if you do!

What CAD software are you using for designing the bits to be printed? Thanks.

Solidworks for me.