Getting into 3d printing has been a goal of mine ever since I started reflecting in A desire to do more engineering, where I decided I wanted to pivot slightly to improve design skills, and possibly apply some of the things I am learning in the world of CS to be more practical.
Why 3d Print?
I believe we are on the cusp of a revolution in consumerism. We have gotten so used to buying every single cheap and small trinket we see online, just because they are cheap. This is a huge waste of mass production, and it has taken away our freedom to not only use what we need, but our ability to be creative and apply ingenuity.
I want to both find a way to explore my side passion for engineering, while also being productive with it and solving real issues in my life. I have decided that getting into 3d printing is the best way for me to do this.
Actually Choosing the Printer
This was a difficult choice for me, but not for the reasons some may think.
I want to preface with the fact that I am a true supporter of the Open Source world, and by all means I feel as though this is where the 3d printing world should be. But there are some issues.
For one, I want my 3d printer to be a tool. As much as I love the process of working on something and making it your own through troubleshooting(like Linux in a way), I am a University Student and don’t have time to spend all day getting something to work that I just want to work.
Looking at the market, this leaves me with two real choices. Bambu Lab and Prusa.
Prusa is the reliable, established, and most importantly Open Source choice for a 3d printer. They work well, are well established as a reliable brand, and give you the freedom to do whatever the hell you want with your 3d printer, as you often build it yourself. But that is just it, you DO have to build, troubleshoot, and sometimes frankly babysit the printer until it gets on its feet, and then some. And on top of that, despite most of the parts in the Prusa kits being 3d printed, they are just as expensive if not more than the competition.
-Prusa MK4 ~ 800$ when DIY assembled
Bambu Lab is the new kid on the block. But despite their youth in the industry, they have cemented themself as the consumer standard for 3d printing. Bambu Lab printers just work, no real setup, no babysitting, and with cutting edge features that Prusa would make you pay a grand for. And on top of that, they are really cheap for a 3d printer, and have disrupted the market in the few years that they have been around. There is a catch though, as they are sort of like the Apple of the 3d printing world. While it isn’t impossible to modify/tinker with these printers, they are closed source, and share the walled garden philosophy of Apple. This doesn’t mean the printers are bad, however it is a matter of principle for some people. In addition, for this price range, I can get a printer that has an enclosure included and supports more engineering filaments(carbon fibre filled, abs, etc).
-Bambu Lab P1S ~800$ with AMS multi material system
In the end, while I will always be one for open source nature, I decided to go with Bambu Lab, more specifically, the P1S.
I need a tool, and it seems like the best choice. Looking forward to printing!