Hi @sn4k3 of the three printers you’ve listed, I’d say the Prusa i3 wins easily. The Wanhao is a clone of the i3 anyway, so all you’re really doing is buying a cheaper copy of a printer that’s already in your list - and the Wanhao is based upon the earlier i3, not the mk2… The Flashforge is also a copy (of the Makerbot Replicator) and I have one, but wish I’d had the option of the Prusa (I bought my Flashforge about 2 months before the i3 mk2 came out).
Dual-colour. For me it’s been a waste of time buying a dual colour printer. I’ve had no orders for any dual prints, I’ve really needed none myself and the penalty in terms of weight at the head (if you’ve got a direct-drive printer) far outweighs any possible value in terms of having two filaments “ready to print”. I’d think really carefully about whether you have enough work of your own to need dual colour, because right now I’m not convinced. IF you did demand dual-colour you could look at the BCN 3D (probably out of your price range) but it’s worth bearing in mind Prusa are working on a multi-filament mod to the i3 so if you bought an i3, you may well be able to dual print before long anyway using that and it already has the handy pause/change option.
Look at the QIDI Tech-1 as an alternative to the Flashforge. I have both and like them equally. When I got my QIDI it was a fair amount less then the FFCP.
I agree on the i3, I just ordered a MK2 - go with the original. Good support forum.
Hello @cobnut very nice tips. I know Prusa easy wins any clone still does the extrusion upgrade i have mention worth?
Dual extrusion for me is nothing more than convenience and a little future proof, i would use more to print with different colors but not in same piece, just to not have to change colors, so i had always 2 colors ready to print without the need of change the roll.
But as i look more for quality i may go for Pursa i3, still i can only find it on Original Website, does another retailer inside EU sell them?
I don’t think it’s a good idea to buy a new printer knowing you’re going to immediately “upgrade” it with new extruder(s). For a start it’ll almost certainly invalidate any warranty that comes with it, and there’s really no guarantee you’ll get the quality you were hoping for. We all upgrade every now and again, but it should be something you do when you know it’s needed from experience.
I would also say that buying a dual headed printer merely to save time changing filaments is a false saving. You only need to change filaments when you have to, and it only takes 2 minutes, perhaps less, but everything you print will be carrying the weight of those two heads and if you’ve got a reasonable range of colours/materials you’ll probably be changing filament anyway a lot of the time.
From the studies I have done and talking to others and using about 5 different printers, the Lulzbot line is very nice and very capable. Have you had a look at that at all?
Yes, it is much higher in price than the other printers. It does however give you a 2-3" (50-75mm) additional volume in each axis. The older Taz 5 is lower in price now (about $1,800) compared to the Taz 6’s ($2,500).
The Prusa has an upgrade kit to auto calibrate all 3 axis AND a kit for multiple extruders!
i started with a “closed” Afinia 3D printer thinking that I wanted a plug and play experience… once I lost the fear, I started hacking the printer to do other materials, etc.
then I bought a e3d BigBox dual kit.
great machine but still been developed. 100%hands on, tweak till you die kind of deal.
if I could start all over and had to choose just one printer: Prusa I3 with an e3d v6 extruder and a PEI bed mated to Simplify 3D software is the best personal 3D printer you can buy.
I concur. I switch filaments all the time with 1 extruder and it takes less than 2 minutes to do. I haven’t found a need for 2 extruders other than dissolvable supports. Then again, If you have your support settings correct, you shouldn’t need dissolvable supports in most, practical, cases.
OK, One suggestion: Investigate the new Volcano 3 input print head.
It allows you to switch print material or color on the fly with very little delay in the change and it mounts as one head.
I do not have anything to do with this product, I just saw an ad for it when I was looking for a replacement printer.
Root Issue: Choice of Printer; You can get a Copy of the Prusa i3 Pro B on the cheap now. This is recognised as a good printer, you will have to do some assembly, adjustment, and tuning. I’m doing the adjustment step now. Getting the Z axis set and leveling the bed was picky but not difficult. Now I’m adjusting the Drivers for the Steppers.
Mine came in 3 major sections, The Bed on the Y axis, the Z axis frame with steppers, and the X assembly with extruder.
Assembly took about 3 hours taking my time to check everything. NOTE, the width of the X axis may need adjustment, mine did, was a couple millimeters narrow. That means you might have to adjust the belt length as well.
Note: This is not my first printer, I got Burned with a Solidoodle Press on the first try. Piece of junk, now dead, I did get a few good prints after much tweaking, then the control board smoked during a print. Time for a replacement Printer.
Funny enough, the year of use on the Press let prices come down significantly.
