Open Source 3D Printer Questions

[dankim0911]

My team is currently looking to it's third year and we wanted to really get into 3D Printing. I considered open source printers since our budget seems a little tight for the upcoming season. Our main focus is on education of 3D printers and using them to help teach CAD to the team, not embarking on any major projects or using them to create parts for the robot.

Would getting an open source printer like RepRap be effective for it's cost? How difficult is it to build and maintain models like RepRap's Prusa Mendel (or another other model). Or would we be better off getting a cheap kit from say Printrbot or any other model? Any comment, advice, or experiences would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!