I've been thinking about getting a 3D printer for making sculptures that would end up being molded for plaster and resin casts. I wouldn't be doing prints too often, only when I design a new sculpture - only one or two would be printed. Some articles I read suggested using an online service for art sculptures (instead of buying a 3D printer), but I found it too expensive to go this route. The model I uploaded at Shapeways was priced around $260 and it represents a below average size of what I'd print.

I'm looking for something that can at least do 6x6x6", though height could go a little lower I suppose. My budget is at $1000 at the moment. Would I be able to get a decent one at that price? I noticed that most of the 3D printers out there have a lot of problems with them, especially the cheaper ones. I'd need to get one from a company that has good support. Any suggestions?

Also let's say I get a decent one, how often should I expect it to break or have to do maintenance?