3D Printer Recomendations

[ChrisH]

If you want a pre-built Mendle type printer it would be hard to beat The Future is 3D. They build steel machines that are a little more rigid. When they were still selling kits I helped build 5 of their machines. The support is really good and EVERY component is guaranteed for a year. We have had to excercise this option several times. Mostly because we did something we shouldn't (like wire opto switches backwards). Runs either ABS or PLA. Actually we have yet to try ABS we have been too busy building with PLA

Stock price for a Mendle-based Glacier Steel (12 x 12 x 9) is $2300 + $220 shipping.

We have been pretty happy with the machines and the service.

Originally Posted by McGurky

I know that you are looking for a "trusted company", but I would suggest that you look into the reprap project. Basically what all of the Makerbots, ultimakers and all other "maker" printers are based off of (including a lot of the kickstarter projects).


Being that it will be used by an FRC team, I would assume that you have the skills necessary to build one: http://reprap.org/wiki/Main_Page.

For $3,000 you could potentially build 3-4 printers of the quality of a makerbot. As a benefit, if it breaks, you built it, so you will know how to fix it.

It may not be somthing that you could get up and running before this build season (you could actually, but it would be a crunch). It would certainly be a great offseason project for the team.