Originally Posted by
DavidS
Well first off:
No 3D printer I know of supports any form of 3D model format (not StL, X3D, OBj, etc). They all use G-Code or something similar, that is output from a slicer program that reads in the model and outputs the command language for the printer.
So you want a slicer program that supports more formats. There are a couple that support both StL and WaveFront (.OBJ). Though the best way about it is to convert the model you are working from into a StL format, most 3D modelers support exporting to StL (including Blender, which it sounds like you may be using). There are also command line tools for converting from one 3D model format to another.
As to the printer to use:
I ask you what is the maximum size you will need to print (x, y, z all three ways)?
As to material:
I see no reason it would make a huge difference for your application, so long as the printer you use does well with the material you use.
As to budget:
There are 3D printers that cost as little as $250, and some that cost upwards of $400,000.00, so I do believe that having some idea of your budget is important, at least a range.