im 16 years old and im soon going to start studying to get the education i want (gunsmith) and since i have to learn a lot about prototyping and i am generaly verry interested in 3d printing i am concidering getting a velleman 8200 bechause it isnt too expensive and it is open Source With loads of after market support. (i have a radio amateur lisence and some technical experience working With Technology so im fairly certain i can build the printer)
Great to hear that you want to start 3d printing! I’m a student myself too (currently 19 years old) and my 3d printer is the velleman 8200. This actually is my first 3d printer too.
One of the main reasons I bought this particular 3d printer is: you assemble it yourself! With this you get to know your 3d printer very well! This is the main advantage in comparison to buying a ready to print version. Because when something stops working or breaks you know where to look.
The kit itself is great and comes with good (online) instructions. I didn’t have any problems assembling the printer and because you have technical experience i think it won’t be a problem for you!
Althought it is a good printer, in time I made a lot of adjustments to make it work very well. There are a lot of “velleman approved” upgrades to this printer. Here are the ones I did:
With these upgrades my printer is now working like a charm! I am NOT saying that you must install these upgrades the minute you get your kit. I would highly discourage you to do so! You have to see it as a longer term project. First get to know your printer and the piece by piece upgrade it.
If you consider a Velleman printer, you should perhaps think of the Vertex K8400. It is the evolution of the 8200. The printer is really easier to mount and more reliable. I have one and sell some.
It is easy to upgrade (I am adding e3D hotends and a silicone heated bed).
The printer is quite cheap (CHF 589.-) and the frame is very robust.
However, if you think you are technically able to mount a printer from scratch, you should perhaps consider sourcing parts by yourself (by buying through e3d-online for example). With a bit of search and time, you’ll mount a great printer that you will know by heart.
Do not hesitate to contact me for further information and… have a great print!
My comments are based on personal experience. I was told that all support was through the velleman forum and was not given a tech support e mail address. I have posted on the forum several times and have never had a reply from velleman, it has always been other users that have helped me out.
As for repairs, I had to return the main circuit board as it was supplied damged and it took 6 weeks to get it back. This is not great service and I will not recommend velleman to anyone and will actively tell people to buy other printers.
Hi The K8200 is a very easy printer to start with. The printer is very easy to build. The build manual is very detailed with over 500 pages. The good thing with the velleman K8200 is that there are alot of easy upgrades at Thingiverse.com that will make the more reliable and making better print. I have upgrades mine with a aluminium heatbed for faster heating. E3D extruder which make it able print alot of different filament and also different nozzles. 0,25mm and up. I am very satisfied with the K8200 and I am sure this printer is a good printer to start with, if you like DIY kits.
Im not that technicaly experienced, i do put togethr the odd diy kit from velleman or adafruit and i have fooled around with the raspberry pi a bit. (Also built a custom watercooled computer last summer)
Then you will really like the K8200. Y ou will find a lot of upgradding possibilities on Thingiverse. Just be aware that upgrading this printer can cost a lot of money depending of which solution you choose. My blog (http://www.3d-couverte.fr/ 2) lists some upgrading solution only with printed parts, but this kind of upgrading is less effective than buying hight quality parts.
