Hello!
Currently running a Prusa i3 mk2s with MMU I came to the conclusion that:
- it’s a great printer
- the waste on the purge tower is gigantic (I lose more material than that’s used on my model) and slows the prints big time. Since I am not a shop mass producing objects (then again, mass production with a 3d printer would be a bit silly …) I can really use the “multiple copies use the same purge tower” argument.
- I don’t really use 4 color mode (except to play around, which is not really a use case 
I wouldn’t miss it tbh)
So I was contemplating selling the printer and replacing it with something that adheres to the following specs (in order of importance):
- Dual Extruders (real extruders, not MMU a la Prusa)
- 1.75mm filament support (I have lots of filament, not going to throw it away)
- Support for different material types (PETG, PLA, XT, BVOH, flexibles … no ABS)
- Heated bed
- Automatic or super easy bed leveling (if the manual states “use a piece of paper”, that printer is definitely ruled out. I hate it.)
- Build surface of around 20x20cm (8x8 inch). Can be less, but no 4x4 inch or something along those lines. The Prusa has a 21cmx25cm surface and that’s more than enough for me. I don’t plan on printing masks or huge cosplay objects.
- Hardened steel and/or Ruby nozzle supported, and different nozzle sizes.
- Enclosure.
- Connectivity to Octoprint / support for standard slicers. My printer is in another room and I don’t want to constantly run back and forward (or more precisely, up and down the stairs)
I don’t have a fixed budget, but an $8K printer is out of the question
I found a few printers that nearly meet my requirements (notably the BCN3D Technologies Sigma R17 or the Ultimaker 3), but they all require 2.85mm filament so they are ruled out.
It seems the Flashforge Creator Pro might be ok, but it’s a printer that’s nearly 3 years old and I can’t imagine that there aren’t any newer, better, printers on the market in the mean time.
Any suggestions?
Thanks!
