Help picking beginner kit for my son

Hi, I’m getting my son a 3D printer kit for his birthday and I’ve been searching for an inexpensive beginner kit. I have it narrowed down to these two options:

[www.ebay.com]

[www.ebay.com]

I was hoping someone more knowledgeable could point out any significant differences between these kits since they appear to be comparable to me.
Is there a different kit out there I should be considering instead of these? I can go up to $500 if there is something I should look at that is a significant improvement over these kits. I’m looking for something that ships from the US since his birthday is in a couple weeks.

Thanks!!!

There is a thread somewhere on the Folger Tech i3 you might want to read through. Supposedly there have been great improvements since the thread was first started, though I think it is all covered over the course of the thread.

Keep in mind that you have selected two $300 kits that are put together with cheap Chinese electronics, cut from acrylic which will wear down, and might have questionable quality printed parts. In other words, you get what you pay for, not that it means they will be bad kits.

But depending on the age of your son and the goals the two of you have for a 3D printer, you might be better off starting with something like the PrintrBot Simple Metal. I believe it comes complete and the should have great support. If you check out the 3D Printing Show on YouTube from Adafruit today, you should also be able to get 10% off and free shipping ordering from them. They are based out of New York.

I am not an expert. But, a friend of mine purchased the Prusa I3, which is what you are looking at. I am now in the process of getting it working for him. Some of the printed parts were terrible. The hot end is not very good at all. Hopefully, I can make his machine give him at least a decent print. Not saying it is bad, but, for $300 you are not going to get much.

Milt

Man, If I knew now what I knew then....

1. $19 hotends suck.
2. Sourcing my own parts was not cheaper than a kit.
3. Print replacement parts as soon as you get it printing.
4. If it bends, rattles, wobbles, chatters, grinds, it will probably cause you problems.
5. Clean all your metal rods thoroughly (break parts cleaner) and use a PTFE based spray lubricant. It won't attract dust and dirt like grease or wet lube. WD40 is not a lubricant.
6. Cheap smooth rods will wear out fast.
7. it is the most fun, addicting, and some times soul crushing hobby, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Because when you get that first print it's like TOUCHDOWN! Then the VERY NEXT PRINT will probably fail. And you will be like whaa?
8. Almost forgot. You will have to add $100-200 more parts to it to make it a decent printer. E3D v6 hotend, aluminum build plate is better than glass but you can get by on glass; better smooth rods (maybe)

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/07/2015 06:49PM by thetazzbot.

Thanks for the advice! As I suspected these kits are really the absolute minimum to get you started. This is really just our first venture into the arena of 3D printing.

The main reason I'm looking at a kit is because I wanted to make sure I have everything I need on the first try. If there is a recommended list of the best part type/brand you all could point me to here on the forum? I wouldn’t mind buying everything separately if I can be sure I get it right the first time. I just wanted to make sure I get everything I needed on the first try and that everything is the right part for my build.

Usage wise it will be mostly be my son playing around so the quality is not too much an issue though I don’t want it to be so bad he gives up on it. I do want to prototype a couple ideas for my other hobbies but if those products ever went into production I would build bigger higher quality unit anyway.

Thanks!
Matt

I've read a lot about the folger i3 and looked at it's printed parts, they are very good. I like that they have a sturdy X axis adjustable belt end. The one i have has already cracked.

look at the reviews on youtube, theres a lot of happy customers.

ps avoid the "Prusa I3 Rework" variants. that's what I have and I'm not a happy customer lol. Slowly replacing them with the folger ones as i get them printed.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/08/2015 12:25AM by thetazzbot.

If you are in the US, get a high quality Wilson TS kit ($480) directly from its designer, Marty Rice. Assembly videos are on YouTube, and Marty's support is great.