Not in the US, not many options to choose from, please advise

Hey there,

Looking to buy a first 3D printer. I don't live in the US so there aren't that plenty to choose from here in the EU.
Don't mind building one from a kit.What I am looking for is to learn 3D printing(I do 3D modeling in my spare time) and to get a printer that has a very good cost to quality ratio, that can allow me to also build small bot rather solid stuff like cogs, keychains or even phone cases, and a 3D printer that's easy to upgrade later on and that won't die on my anytime soon.
My budget is below 700 USD. I'd be glad if there are any quality DIY kits on ebay that require more tinkering than prusa (e.g. building your own frame) but cost much less.


Below are my options so far, but any other proposal available on ebay is welcomed.

1. The latest and greatest but it is around 700 USD for me + shipping
http://shop.prusa3d.com/en/3d-printe...-with-lcd.html


2. a local guy selling what looks like a very old version of prusa, around 460 USD
Attachment 9493

Quote:

---

aluminium chassis 6mm
-minitronics electronics with drivers DRV8825
-cogwheels and drive belts T2.5
-motors 0.4Nm
-hotend JHead with termistor, 1.75mm filament and printing head 0.5mm
-mechanical endstops
-no hotbed
-power from the computer it is connected to

---

3. These look like the original prusa but I inderstand that I should avoid plexiglass frame and go for the steel version, around 360USD plus shipping
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PRUSA-I3-H...UAAOSwp5JWYO5J

4. A lot of 3d printers from Geeetech that look like prusa knockoffs, around 360USD plus shipping, will I notice the difference between these and a more expensive prusa original? Are these the chinese knock-offs everyone says we should avoid?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2016-Burst...EAAOSwdrRXGc5N


Thanks in advance

well to start with there are a lot more 3d printer manufacturers in europe than the us anyway.

Many of the good ones are all imported into the states.
Most of the rest come from china.

There are a few notable us manufacturers, but way more in europe :-)

Buy a wanhao duplicator i3.
Should be someone selling them in your country. If you're in the uk - well we won't be in the eu much longer :-)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3D-printer...AAAOSw5dNWtIzU

get one of those.
Or get one from these guys : https://www.technologyoutlet.co.uk/p...-duplicator-i3

marginally more expensive than a kit. but solidly built and pretty much solid reviews for the mk2.

£300 for a good machine with a respectable build volume, ready to go in 5 minutes. :-)

If you want a slightly smaller build volume but two extruders, consider one of these: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CTC-3D-Pri...0AAOSwBs1XMZXh

can't believe how cheap these things have got.

Thanks for the tip, the Wanhao was under my radar but as you said, reviews are quite positive.

Do you happen to know if this printer is capable enough to print parts that are strong enough to be used as cogs or maybe a headlight housing for a motorcycle?
Or is this just a matter of the infill ratio?

You have a lot of printers to choose from and there are so many threads discussing the pros and cons of each one.

Dremel do a printer which is pretty high quality. I would check this out if I were you but it might be on the limit of your price range. The cheaper printers are certainly very good but you might find that after a while of 3D printing, they lack the functionality or quality you require.

Oh, and i3s are very popular so you won't be short of advice if you ever get stuck with one of those!

Hope this helps.

If you do go the kit route, make sure you have access to the source code for the firmware. Based on other forum threads here, there are some printers out there where all the seller will provide is the executable for the printer (typically a .hex file for reprap machines). That hinders your ability to modify the printer firmware.

I've got a good deal on a geeetech acrylic pro b so, waiting for that to ship, wish me luck on assembly :)

Luckly from what I found out online, the firmware can be tinkered with so that's good.

I wish the Wanhao duplicator had an open source as it was next on my list.