Which would you pick? Hello everyone. I was wondering which printer you think I should get. They're both i3's, but they look quite different. One is assembled and one isn't. I have assembled a printrbot before, so I'm familiar with the concepts. Here they are and thank you for any answers: [www.ebay.com] and [www.ebay.com] https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,495776,495776#msg-495776 Tue, 14 Jul 2026 05:43:00 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,495776,496575#msg-496575 Re: Which would you pick? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,495776,496575#msg-496575
ETA: And, of course, quality parts go a long way too.]]> IMBoring25 General Tue, 14 Apr 2015 00:02:11 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,495776,496569#msg-496569 Re: Which would you pick? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,495776,496569#msg-496569
Now that said... Buying a cheap "kit" will pretty much ensure you get cheap parts. If you want to build a i3 then you might want to source the components yourself so that you know what your getting. If not, at least try to find someone that will stand behind what they sell. I think your doing good to ask questions before you purchase.

One more thing... Perspective...

I have a $500 home stereo, my friend has a $4k home stereo. Other than looking way cooler than mine and being way louder than mine, I can't really tell the difference sound wise. He says he can... I don't disbelieve him... I just don't have as good as ears as he does...

I don't need .04 layer height quality for what I use my printer for. I print most of my prints at .3 anyways... Other folks do... and sometimes they assume that everyone else does too... As sometimes I assume they don't... Even though a Porsche would be nice, my little Bug gets me back and forth to work just fine. It's your perspective...]]> madmike8 General Mon, 13 Apr 2015 23:24:53 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,495776,496565#msg-496565 Re: Which would you pick? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,495776,496565#msg-496565 fatesalign General Mon, 13 Apr 2015 22:20:34 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,495776,496554#msg-496554 Re: Which would you pick? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,495776,496554#msg-496554
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fatesalign
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the_digital_dentist
I'd stay away from anything built out of threaded rods.
Do both of them have threaded rods? If so, why are you against it? Thanks for the feedback.

If you have used nothing but computers that run Windows as the OS all your life, you think that constant security updates, frequent rebooting, frequent re-installation of the OS, frequent virus scans, and frequent crashing of the machine are all normal computer stuff.
3D printers are similar. If you're used to printers that have to be releveled and zeroed before each print and require constant tweaking and adjusting to keep them printing, you think that's normal for 3D printing. The market has been racing to the cheapest possible price point, compromising print quality and reliability with each downward step in price. What's the solution they came up with for frequent releveling and zeroing of the bed? Autotramming. Why? because adding a $5 sensor is cheaper than building a machine that doesn't require frequent adjustment. Why drive the Z axis screws with two motors? because it is cheaper than using one motor with a belt and pulleys/bearings. What do you suppose comes from doing everything the cheapest possible way? How often is the cheapest solution to a problem the best solution?

I've seen a lot of different hobby grade printers at the makerspace and used several of them and have found them to require constant maintenance, adjustment, and repairs to keep them running. I also know many kits made with threaded rod frames and laser cut plywood frames are available and many people have made them and print with them, and many people are satisfied with the quality they get from them and don't seem to mind all the adjusting and tweaking to get them to produce a half decent print (just like a lot of people don't mind Windows). You have to decide what level of print quality and the effort required to achieve that quality is acceptable to you.

Pretend you were going to build a printer from scratch. What would you do- copy a $300 machine or look at how professional/industrial machines are made and use as much of that as you could? Why do those industrial machines cost more? What does it take to optimize print quality/reliability? You're going to invest a lot of time and some money in a printer one way or the other. If you choose the path of quality you'll be spending the time and money up front to make a machine that works better. If you go cheap you'll be spending the time and money later to maintain, repair, and tune up the machine and getting it to print with the quality you get from cheap machines.

That's why I don't like machines with frames made of threaded rods...]]> the_digital_dentist General Mon, 13 Apr 2015 20:37:25 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,495776,496547#msg-496547 Re: Which would you pick? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,495776,496547#msg-496547
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tjb1
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tnert2003
I have bought two sunhockey i3's this year from them. www.3dprintersonlinestore.com. the support is good. the new acrylics are better. but still acrylic.took two weeks to arrive.but for 350 free shipping i cant complain.

Acrylic is never a good choice for a printer, it does not last.
Acrylic is just plastic right? I would think it would work.]]> fatesalign General Mon, 13 Apr 2015 19:56:50 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,495776,496435#msg-496435 Re: Which would you pick? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,495776,496435#msg-496435
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tnert2003
I have bought two sunhockey i3's this year from them. www.3dprintersonlinestore.com. the support is good. the new acrylics are better. but still acrylic.took two weeks to arrive.but for 350 free shipping i cant complain.

Acrylic is never a good choice for a printer, it does not last.]]> tjb1 General Mon, 13 Apr 2015 14:14:02 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,495776,496433#msg-496433 Re: Which would you pick? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,495776,496433#msg-496433
Wiki page can be found here - http://www.reprap.org/wiki/E1x

If you decide to make one, please stick to the Github sources as I haven't had time to update any of the repositories.]]> tjb1 General Mon, 13 Apr 2015 14:12:54 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,495776,496125#msg-496125 Re: Which would you pick? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,495776,496125#msg-496125 tnert2003 General Sun, 12 Apr 2015 23:09:45 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,495776,496044#msg-496044 Re: Which would you pick? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,495776,496044#msg-496044
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Ralph.Hilton
The threaded rod arrangement of the i2 requires a lot more adjustment to accurately set up.
I'm looking at an i3 right now, so that's good. Thank you.]]> fatesalign General Sun, 12 Apr 2015 15:30:26 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,495776,495909#msg-495909 Re: Which would you pick? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,495776,495909#msg-495909 Ralph.Hilton General Sun, 12 Apr 2015 07:54:48 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,495776,495822#msg-495822 Re: Which would you pick? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,495776,495822#msg-495822
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Dust
I3 is current design and has twice the Z height comprared to the I2

I3 also easyer to setup, less parts

I would ignore mr "I hate threaded rods".. its just his opinion.. They work fine as main machine structure.
I appreciate it!]]> fatesalign General Sat, 11 Apr 2015 23:12:24 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,495776,495817#msg-495817 Re: Which would you pick? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,495776,495817#msg-495817
I3 also easyer to setup, less parts

I would ignore mr "I hate threaded rods".. its just his opinion.. They work fine as main machine structure.]]> Dust General Sat, 11 Apr 2015 22:39:23 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,495776,495816#msg-495816 Re: Which would you pick? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,495776,495816#msg-495816 www.3dprintersonlinestore.com] They even have an auto bed leveling for $40. Thanks for any feedback. Never heard of this retailer though.]]> fatesalign General Sat, 11 Apr 2015 22:32:22 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,495776,495813#msg-495813 Re: Which would you pick? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,495776,495813#msg-495813
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madmike8
The one from 2012hictech is a i3
The one from globalfreeshipping is an i2
Oh wow. I'm assuming the i3 is a lot better?]]> fatesalign General Sat, 11 Apr 2015 21:50:24 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,495776,495812#msg-495812 Re: Which would you pick? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,495776,495812#msg-495812 The one from globalfreeshipping is an i2]]> madmike8 General Sat, 11 Apr 2015 21:42:54 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,495776,495811#msg-495811 Re: Which would you pick? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,495776,495811#msg-495811
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the_digital_dentist
I'd stay away from anything built out of threaded rods.
Do both of them have threaded rods? If so, why are you against it? Thanks for the feedback.]]> fatesalign General Sat, 11 Apr 2015 21:41:13 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,495776,495810#msg-495810 Re: Which would you pick? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,495776,495810#msg-495810
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SteveRoy
One is an i3 design, the other an i2 design
Oh wow. Which one is an i2? Each one says it's an i3...]]> fatesalign General Sat, 11 Apr 2015 21:40:39 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,495776,495792#msg-495792 Re: Which would you pick? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,495776,495792#msg-495792 SteveRoy General Sat, 11 Apr 2015 19:37:44 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,495776,495791#msg-495791 Re: Which would you pick? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,495776,495791#msg-495791 the_digital_dentist General Sat, 11 Apr 2015 19:32:29 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,495776,495776#msg-495776 Which would you pick? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,495776,495776#msg-495776 www.ebay.com] and [www.ebay.com]]]> fatesalign General Sat, 11 Apr 2015 18:19:20 -0400