Thinking about buying a 3D printer, need any advice.

Feels like I have spent about 20 hours in the last 2 days researching 3d printers. There are so many models out there!

I think I have narrowed it down to getting a Prusa style.

It will mostly be used afor small crafts and projects around the house. My wife is a teacher and may also use it in her classroom from time to time. We're both pretty techy and don't mind having to do some teaking.

Eventually, I'd like to add laser engraving, but it's not a show stopper.

Here are the models I am looking at and some pros and cons (that are my best guess at this point):

• Wilson II - $485 + $30 shipping
  
  • Pros:
    
    • Aluminum frame
    • Has high-quality parts - including a E3D Lite hot end (an $80 upgrade for the others)
    • Auto levelling
    
    
  • Cons:
    
    • Smaller community than some of the others, so there aren't a lot of homebrew mods. (That said, it looks like they improve the stock model with user suggestions)
    • May be a bit too different from the other Prusa-style printers to use any general Prusa mods
    • The most expensive on the list
    • Buy direct instead of through Amazon
  
  
• Alunar Prusa i3 - $295 on Amazon
  
  • Pros:
    
    • Pretty active community
    • Lots of community upgrades
    
    
  • Cons:
    
    • Acrylic frame
    • Parts may not be high quality - but may be good enough?
  
  
• Geeetech Aluminum i3 - $388 on Amazon
  
  • Pros:
    
    • Aluminum frame
    • Pretty active community
    • Lots of community upgrades
    
    
  • Cons:
    
    • Parts may not be high quality - but may be good enough?
  
  
• Folger i3 - $279 + $20 shipping
  
  • Pros:
    
    • Pretty active community
    • Lots of community upgrades
    
    
  • Cons:
    
    • Acrylic frame
    • Parts may not be high quality - but may be good enough?
    • Buy direct instead of through Amazon
  
  
• WanHao Duplicator i3 - $425 on Amazon
  
  • Pros:
    
    • Steel frame
    • Very active community
    • Lots of community upgrades
    • Parts seem like average quality
    
    
  • Cons:
    
    • Parts may not be high quality - but may be good enough? If you upgrade to the E3D Lite hot end, it's the same price as the Wilson, but with the rest of the parts might not be quite the same quality.
    • Also, when compared to the Wilson, no auto-leveling
    
    
  • Here are some details in Helpdesk & Support Platform video from Advids.

sounds like you've answered your own questions.

never heard of the wilson. But an aluminium frame i the way to go.

Also if you buy the monpprice https://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-138...rds=3d+printer
it's the wanhao i3 v2 for only $329 :-)

Take a look at the rest of his posts CA, they're just cleverly hidden spam.

They seem to be copied forum posts, with an ad tag on the bottom.

Time to drop the ban hammer.

AND DAMMIT. A spammer made me make my 500th post.

The technology is still in primary phase with high expectation in future. 3D printers are already available on the market but the list with objects taht can be built with these is still very low.

[COLOR=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)][/COLOR][COLOR=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]3D printers can help businesses significantly increase their revenues and expand their reach by launching new products at half the price and half the time required otherwise. [COLOR=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]This gives businesses greater flexibility and more money in hand to spend on other crucial business processes. If you have decided to buy yourself a 3D printer after hearing about the amazing things it can build. Few things you need to know before diving into the world of 3D Printing:

1. Types of 3D Printers
2. Price
3. Materials used to Print (PLA, ABS)
4. Safety
Playing with Heat
Beware of Fumes
Food grade Plastic

5. Quality
6. Obtaining a 3D Model
7. STL Files
8. Slicing Software
9. Community

[COLOR=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Just like any other product, there are a few things to be careful of when you buy 3D printers. And there are good 3D Printers [/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR][COLOR=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)][COLOR=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)][COLOR=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]available here.
1. Mankati E180 3D Printers
2. Doogle Sirius
[COLOR=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)][COLOR=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)][/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR]