Best Prusa i3 (or Reprap in General)

I have decided to get a Prusa i3 (or simlair), but I have had trouble finding a good kit. There are a couple things that I'm looking for.

Build Volume - At Least 8” cubed if not more
Durability - I would love metal
Ease of Assembly - No soldering please
Documentation - I’m not very good with this stuff…..
Print Quality - As good as possible, with good resolution and speed
Expandability - A board that is easy to expand on (like Ramps or Sanguino) - also expandable build volume. Dual/Triple Extruders?
Extra Parts - I’m fine to buy a Power Supply or glass bed (link what you think I should get if I need to buy anything), I just don’t want to buy a lot
Compatability - Lots of materials please
Ease of Use - I don’t want to be constantly fixing this.
Look - I said metal before, and that’s REALLY important. I’d like this too look good.
Filament Size - 1.75mm is a MUST

Price Range - $500-900

I was looking at the Achatz (http://bit.ly/1mbcLV8) and the Makergear (NO METAL and not Presoldered so probably not) but I’m open to anything. I’m also open to a Mendel90 or other Reprap.

Thanks,
Lucas

Hi
I can recommend buying it from 3dLabteK in Poland.
I just bought my first printer from theme and i´m very pleased with that.
They have an option that you can customise you own printer.
And they are very good in supporting there customers.

//Peter

I would reconsider your budget and have a look at the Mendelmax 2:
[store.makerstoolworks.com]
I don't think you will find an easily expandable kit in your price range.

How has Labtek treated you? Are you in the US? They don't seem to reliable and I don't speak polish so it's a bit worrysome.

Definetly can't stretch to a MendelMax kinda level. I wish......

What about the Fusematic? It's within your price range even with heated bed. I have no idea how good it is.

We offer decent i3 variant kits in our shop if you're in the US.

---

Through self sustaining actions comes freedom

DIY Tech Shop

Quote
LucasGelf
How has Labtek treated you? Are you in the US? They don't seem to reliable and I don't speak polish so it's a bit worrysome.

They treated me very well. I´m from Sweden and don´t speak polish either. I get all my support in English.
They done everything they promised.
I can just say that i´m satisfied, Then it´s up to you to desire.

//Peter

@pettib:

How well does the 3D Labtek hot end heat sink work.
I noticed that instead of having a fin near the thermal break, it instead has a larger mass.
I like the idea of a larger mass at the thermal break, but how well does it work in that configuration.


[3dlabtek.weebly.com]

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/18/2014 03:04AM by A2.

Quote
A2
@pettib:

How well does the 3D Labtek hot end heat sink work.
I noticed that instead of having a fin near the thermal break, it instead has a larger mass.
I like the idea of a larger mass at the thermal break, but how well does it work in that configuration.

[3dlabtek.weebly.com]

I don´t bought there hotend. I bought E3d V5 hotend instead from reprapuniverse.com. And LabteK supported me on that one instead.
It is up to each individual to choose, I´m just telling my experience.
I got some bad components from LabteK on my order but they send me new ones without any problem.

//Peter

Quote
LucasGelf
...

Ease of Assembly - No soldering please
Documentation - I’m not very good with this stuff…..
Ease of Use - I don’t want to be constantly fixing this.

Price Range - $500-900
...

I'm not sure you're going to find a kit that doesn't require at least one of these things. Even if you got a replicator or UP! you would still need to read the documentation

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/18/2014 05:53AM by eci22.

Anybody have experience with ReprapUniverse?
[reprapuniverse.com]
This looks like a great kit with the exception of the build volume of 7.9 in * 7.9 in x 6.7 in.

For the Labtek, I can't seem to find documentation on the LabTek website.....

The mentioned i3xl also looks fantastic, but the picture of it was blurry and the documentation link was dead.

I'm currently leaning strongly towards the RepRap universe kit and i3xl, more towards the i3xl if it's good.
Also, TBH, I would like to replace all of these hotends with an E3D V5.


To diytechshop, what makes your i3xl better than other ones? Are there any other pictures? Could "Prusa i3" be engraved across the top? What other specs are available?

Thanks for all of the insight guys,
Lucas

Quote
LucasGelf
This looks like a great kit with the exception of the build volume of 7.9 in * 7.9 in x 6.7 in.

Lucas, that's the standard build volume for maybe 95% of the RepRaps out there. Most people don't need bigger.

There are other RepRaps with a lot bigger build volumes (notably the Lulzbot TAZ), but they are out of your price range.

I'd prefer a bit bigger but you seem to be right

Quote
pettib
Hi
I can recommend buying it from 3dLabteK in Poland.
I just bought my first printer from theme and i´m very pleased with that.
They have an option that you can customise you own printer.
And they are very good in supporting there customers.

//Peter

I can also vouch for the 3dlabtek kit. I used a different extruder and hotend however (using printrbot geared extruder with a ubis hotend, but will soon be upgrading to an e3d hotend... Their communication and goods are very impressive.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/21/2014 12:37PM by THE_SHRUB.

I am very pleased with the ORDbot Hadron I just finished building, and It matches well with your description. Mostly metal parts, reliable, relatively easy to build.
The kit I had from Automation Technologies was good quality with no missing or broken parts. All you need to buy separately is an extruder for this one.