Another damn newby asking dumb questions
Well...youi go to start somewhere!
I have done more research than I care to mention, and tried posting on a few other forums, but some of them seem pretty dead and replies hard to come by. This place seems much more alive!
Basically, I am about to take my first steps in the worls of 3D printing. I have a budget, I have a good idea what I want to do with the printer and what sort of things are important to me. What I don't have is the luxury of enough diospoable income to buy something that won;t work, as I literally can only take one shot at this over hte next year or so. Makes me a little nervous!
As far as what I wish to print goes, I want to print custom RC parts for 1/16 rc tanks and 1/72-1:35 model kits, non structural RC parts and parts for small projects at home. Would also be nice to turn some of my 3d modelling projects into desk ornaments http://www.3dprintersforum.co.uk/ima...on_e_smile.gif That would mean PLA and ABS capability up to a max of 150mm x 150mm by 100mm. 100 micron 'resolution' should be fine, but as I am not printing huge sized models, a finer 50 micron print would be a nice option but not essential. If the printer can't cope with the finer detail to start with..being able to upgrade it would be a nice option when funds allow.
I have no problem building a kit, as I have tools aplenty and experience building models/machines at all scales, can solder and know when NOT to use a big hammer... but I do worry about setting up and getting printing as it's virgin territory, and some of the manuals can be a little bit....vague....I hear. Have had to cope with a few clone chinese manuals put together by people who did not speak any language I recognise.
I don't want a printer that uses 'proprietary' cartridges for filament, and don't need multi-colour printing as all the bits would get primed and painted anyway.
Budgetwise, I can spend up to around £400 and maybe squeeze a bit more if the benefits are there, but would much rather spend less if I can. I am distrustful of the build quality of the sub £200 kits flooding out of China, but have heard better things said about some of them like the Anet A8 and Anycubic I3. I know they are all clones of the Prusa I3, but the budget won't stetch to a 'genuine' one. I presume they save costs using cheaper electronics ( something I know well from RC electronics ) but as long as you don't push them to the limits, they can be OK. They can also be utter rubbish.....
I have read some good reports on Qidi here, and they do a 'mini' printer that is in budget, but they are all shipped from China, so there is the fear of ...c.u.s.t.o.m.s....
Any thoughts or advice to help me choose?