this post was submitted on 19 Jan 2025
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3D Printing
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what printers are the best then?
If you want a printer to "just work", have an upgrade path to the next version when they come out, and don't require a cloud account, then Prusa is a good choice.
If you want open source, open schematics, and open everything, then Voron based printers are a good choice.
There's also tons of printers out there, just don't support these shady lock-in manufacturers. Let's not let 3d printing become what inkjet printing did.
Remember, you can download schematics, firmware on github, etc for Prusa as well. https://www.prusa3d.com/page/open-source-at-prusa-research_236812/
thank you, you understood my question correctly. thank you for your advice.
As a relative novice Prusa was great. Also they sell the printers cheaper if you're willing to assemble yourself - not only is it fun, but it gives you a much better understanding of the product. I feel like I really know how mine works because I built it!
Prusa if you want to buy something ready to go.
Voron if you want to build something from a kit.
And for a cheap starter printer the basic Ender 3 and variants are good.
Everyone either forgets or hasn't found RatRig, as an alternative to Voron.
I'm slowly gathering info to upgrade to a new gen printer, as my tricked out Ender 5 plus is kind of feeling obsolete.
Qidi seems to be pretty plug and play, performant, bullshit-free. Also, the new stuff from Creality seems to target Bambu
For better or worse I just ordered the ankermake m5c as it was cleap, fast and seemly easy. Let's see if chose right.
Apparently it depends on your priorities.
If privacy, right of ownership and right to repair matter to you, then Bambu Lab printers ain't for you. But besides that, I hear good things about those printers.