Looking for recommendations on a 3D printer

[tonydetiger]

Hi everyone,I'm interested in starting to 3D print my own items. I'm coming at this as a totally unexerienced person. This would be for a hobby, and possibly as an educational tool for my kids as they get into STEM. I'm looking at being able to print things like small mini figures, interesting art and science projects, and creating storage solutions for the board games I own. I have zero idea where to start, but I have a few things I'd like in the machine.

- relatively affordable. $600-800 is my sweet spot. I don't think I can go much above that. If I can get a good printer for less, I'm also interested.
- simple to use. I'd like to make it where either myself or my kids could easily start a print and get good results.
- size. This is where I'd be polling the group. I'm looking at building game storage that could be 8 inches in length. What options would work well for me? For example: this is the type of organization I want to print. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3139442/files

What size of print area would handle something like these?

[curious aardvark]

have a look at the New Prusa Mini.
Probably the most plug and play machine around - also sensible price at around $400
https://www.prusa3d.com/original-prusa-mini/

That kind of storage is really simple to make - to any size.
Learn Openscad and you can write a script to generate any size and compartment number boxes in seconds.

The other machine to look at is https://www.amazon.com/Intelligent-I...ustrial&sr=1-5
QIDI TECH 3D Printer, Large Size X-Plus

$799 - but worth every penny/cent :-)

There are larger print volume machines in the price range - but those two are probably the best, easiest to use and with the best and most advanced features :-)
132 ratings at 5 star is as good as it gets !

The x-pro is also worth a look - slightly smaller, a lot cheaper but with dual extruders.
Now duakl extruders sounds like a good idea, and they can be. But they can also be a royal pita ! :-)
If you were thinking about making detailed models then it would be useful as you could use soluble support material.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076BLQWHY/ref=emc_b_5_i

[syncmx]

Get the CR-10 V2 3D Printer (300*300mmmm) its cheaper and an improvement over the previous version.

[tonydetiger]

I’m also curious about enclosed printing. I’d be interested in an enclosed printer, or at least having a cover available for a gantry style printer like the Prusa or the CR-10.

Systems I’m interested in are:

Dremel 3D45 (cost prohibitive and locked in to Dremel filaments)
Flashforge Dreamer
Robo 3D R2
Up! Box+

I’m mostly interested in print size, enclosure, and ease of use.

[curious aardvark]

look at the qidi :-)