Getting a printer kit

Hey guys, I've been thinking of buying and building a 3D printer for a long while and I was wondering what model you guys would recommend and where to buy the kit from. Personally, I've been eyeing the Mix G1 model because it's cheaper and smaller, but the stores that carry the full kits (like A2Aprinter and mixshop) have been getting mixed reviews. Are there any other models and/or shops you would recommend? Thanks in advance!

Really we would need to know what your requirements are as well as what you are going to be using it for. Also things like budgets, size, etc are important for a good recommendation.

Without knowing any of that I recommend going with companies that people on here have already bought from and recommend as a good company. Just like anything else their are bad companies that sell sub par kits and parts. Nopeheads mendel 90 kit is always a good buy. He has great and detailed instructions as well as being available for questions. I can give other recommendations with more info from you.

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Thanks for the response. Specifically, I want to use this printer for personal projects. For example, one thing I want to do is try to build an arduino controlled quadcopter with a printed frame. Being a student, budget is always a problem but I do have a job and I am hoping to find a kit under $700. Also, I'm living in an apartment right now with 3 other roommates, so size should be minimized, but I don't really have any strict requirements for this. Also, I notice that many of these vendors are located outside the US and I am concerned that I may not have time to assemble the printer before school starts (which is in roughly 12 weeks). Should this be a problem?

Also, I am unfamiliar with Nopehead. Is this a website? A user? Anyways, again thanks in advance for the help.

Nopehead is a user and has been around since the beginning. He designed, sells and built the mendel 90. 700 is doable but at that price you are right at the cusp of the starting price for many repraps. I would recommend looking into an enclosure with a vent to your window or a charcoal filter. PLA plastic isnt usually an issue as it has a sweet smell and is easier to print with. ABS plastic has a rather bad smell and your roomates prolly wont like u. The prusa i3 and i2 is a great platform. I would also look into a printrbot LC or an LC Plus. They are right around your price range and are made in the US. Lincoln California to be exact. Thats what I own is a Printrbot plus v2. You can check them out at Printrbot.com. im on the run but if you have more questions feel free to ask. If you click on my signature under the new one wordpress blog you can see my slightly modded brand new pb plus.

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---------| For Everything Prototype Related |------
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Printed frame quadcopter? Cool! I'd love to see that.

Thanks for the help! The Printrbot LC looks right up my alley as a starter kit. Just wondering, how long did it take you to build the printer?

As for the quadcopter, if I do get it working I'll definitely let you know about it. I don't have any concrete plans yet, but I still have the whole summer to think about it...

I have the lc plus which is a bigger version of the lc. It took me an estimated weekend of asymboly and a few days to calibrate. Printrbot is in the midst of making more detailed instructions to make putting it together easier. I would check out the pb forums at printrbottalk.com you can find me there as I am very active in the forums.

---

--------------| For Everything |--------------------------
Check it out here:
[reprapsquad.wordpress.com].
---------| For Everything Prototype Related |------
Now featuring comp case mods:
[RepRapLab.wordpress.com]

--------------| Find us at Twitter|------------------------
@REPRAPSQUAD (RS Main)
[mobile.twitter.com]
@REPRAPSQUADHQ (ProtoLab)
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Cool, I think I'll be placing my order in the next few days. Thanks for the help and I'll see you on the forums, both this one and the printrbot one!

I built quadcopter frame out of wood, G10, before. I finished building a printRBot thinking using it for quad/tricopter too. Have not had time to get back to RC yet because the printer and its working become a new hobby that takes quite some time. So be prepare that you would be away from RC for sometimes .