Best low/mid budget 3D printer for private usage?

Hi, I'm a school student with 3D modelling as a hobby, looking for a 3D printer that's got a decent price and a decent performance.
I've got the patience to save up from about 300 to 800 USD, but I may be able to extend it a little.
I'd love to be able to print some of the things I design, and actually be able to hold it in my own two hands.
We've got 3 Makerbot Replicator 2's at the school I attend to, which I frequently use, so I'm not new on the subject, the only thing I'm unsure about is the price vs. performance ratio on various models, which is why I'm here.
I'm not looking for a statue sized monster with 0.01mm precision, I'm looking for something a little.. cheaper and smaller, but still got a decent perfomance.
Thank you in advance.

//Marc

If you are new to this, Printrbot has decent machines with a very good and reactive support. Plus, they're in the US so it's easier for you from there.

I'm not new to the whole 3D printing thing, I use 'em on a daily basis due to my current/previous school projects. Right now we're printing parts for a drone arm. I don't live in the US though, I live in Denmark. However, support may not be the biggest of my concerns since I'm confident I can DYI fix any potential breaks or flaws. But I'll look in Printrbot!
//Marc

Buy a second hand Makerbot clone, a CTC, Wanhao or similar from ebay. You will have to learn how to mend it sooner but you will have to even with a new one eventually. Save $300, buy one at $200 saving $100 for any bits to make it work right.

like mj says - a flashforge or similiar is essentially the same machine you're using at school - just updated and cheaper :-)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3D-printer...item51c06457d2

can't find an ebay for denmark.

never seen any second hand ones - but nw ones are so cheap - why buy a broken one ?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by curious aardvark

never seen any second hand ones - but nw ones are so cheap - why buy a broken one ?

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Because it's fun.

lol - for you maybe :-)

Flash forge creator pro.

Seems a little expensive for my budget

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...r?ref=category
I've been looking at this, and it seems really promising. Is it any good or is it just a load of bollocks? Thinking of getting the early bird package, which is a 100 bucks.

EDIT:
I just stumpled uppon this, https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...tegory_popular Seems great too

it's on kickstarter - so you've got at least 12 months before anyone knows whether it's any good or not.

The question is: do you want an actual real printer now ?
Or a virtual one in 1-2 years time ?
I say virtual as many kickstarter printers either fold before main production or just trundle on with delays and 'improvements' for years, never quite getting to the point of sending printers to all the people who gave them money.

The duo looks good - but then the point of a kickstarter campaign is to make the product look good.

Personally owning a 3d printer I wouldn't now be without one (checked out my pop up awning yesterday, needed a new coupler clip. I've now got a design file and can make spare couplers in 40 minutes - even made mine stronger than the originals). So I'd opt for the buying one now approach.
You can always get a tiko later - if they actually manage to go full production.

The duo looks good - but you can't buy one now.

There are any number of virtual printers out there you can throw money at. Me I'd get a cheap replicator clone now. And put a few euros/pounds/bucks aside every month for when the kickstarter machines actually stop being virtual and become real.

Errr, let's not bring back the story of Makibox.
They end up failing so miserably.....

The actual goal for the Tiko was 100 000$ and ends up 2.6M$ +
I'd be surprised if they can manage that ammount of printers to deliver.

I've just Pre-ordered a CreoPop 3D printing pen. I wasn't looking for anything big and fancy. Just for something cool to play around with. It's only for $119.

Moderator note: hyperlink removed

Kickstarter is more like a betting parlor than a department store. If you want an actual 3D printer and not a chance to be an investor in a project that may or may not ever result in an actual product that works as advertised, you're much better off paying for a machine that's already on the market and has a track record of successful performance than buying what's essentially a lottery ticket. If this machine really does get to market, it will still be cheap. If you want to wait for it, go ahead. But a lot of projects ask for crowd-funding by promising more than they can really deliver; then the delivery date stretches out further and further and sometimes never arrives.

Andrew Werby
www.computersculpture.com

Quote:

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Originally Posted by richardphat

Errr, let's not bring back the story of Makibox.
They end up failing so miserably.....

The actual goal for the Tiko was 100 000$ and ends up 2.6M$ +
I'd be surprised if they can manage that ammount of printers to deliver.

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Did I mention makibox ? ;-)
Or the phoenix, or theb half dozen others that probably won't deliver in the next 12 months.

Makibox was slighlty different. They actually got past the crowd funding stage and were delivering units - what they didn't do was budget for unforseen costs. And they just ran out of money after spending the postal money on replacement hotends and wages for people they hadn't envisaged needing.
That and making a machine that couldn't print pla.

It's often not the mechanical side of things that lets crowdfunding down - but the fact that the people involved just don't know how to run a business or budget properly.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by curious aardvark

Did I mention makibox ? ;-)
Or the phoenix, or theb half dozen others that probably won't deliver in the next 12 months.

Makibox was slighlty different. They actually got past the crowd funding stage and were delivering units - what they didn't do was budget for unforseen costs. And they just ran out of money after spending the postal money on replacement hotends and wages for people they hadn't envisaged needing.
That and making a machine that couldn't print pla.

It's often not the mechanical side of things that lets crowdfunding down - but the fact that the people involved just don't know how to run a business or budget properly.

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I'd be kicking myself if a printer can't even print one of the easiest to print filament.....

After a lot of research, I just ordered a CreoPop 3d Pen for this same purpose.

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