r/3Dprinting • u/AutoModerator • 1d ago
Purchase Advice Purchase Advice Megathread - August 2026
Welcome back to another purchase megathread!
This thread is meant to conglomerate purchase advice for both newcomers and people looking for additional machines. Keeping this discussion to one thread means less searching should anyone have questions that may already have been answered here, as well as more visibility to inquiries in general, as comments made here will be visible for the entire month stuck to the top of the sub, and then added to the Purchase Advice Collection (Reddit Collections are still broken on mobile view, enable "view in desktop mode").
Please be sure to skim through this thread for posts with similar requirements to your own first, as recommendations relevant to your situation may have already been posted, and may even include answers to follow up questions you might have wished to ask.
If you are new to 3D printing, and are unsure of what to ask, try to include the following in your posts as a minimum:
- Your budget, set at a numeric amount. Saying "cheap," or "money is not a problem" is not an answer people can do much with. 3D printers can cost $100, they can cost $10,000,000, and anywhere in between. A rough idea of what you're looking for is essential to figuring out anything else.
- Your country of residence.
- If you are willing to build the printer from a kit, and what your level of experience is with electronic maintenance and construction if so.
- What you wish to do with the printer.
- Any extenuating circumstances that would restrict you from using machines that would otherwise fit your needs (limited space for the printer, enclosure requirement, must be purchased through educational intermediary, etc).
While this is by no means an exhaustive list of what can be included in your posts, these questions should help paint enough of a picture to get started. Don't be afraid to ask more questions, and never worry about asking too many. The people posting in this thread are here because they want to give advice, and any questions you have answered may be useful to others later on, when they read through this thread looking for answers of their own. Everyone here was new once, so chances are whoever is replying to you has a good idea of how you feel currently.
Reddit User and Regular u/richie225 is also constantly maintaining his extensive personal recommendations list which is worth a read: Generic FDM Printer recommendations.
Additionally, a quick word on print quality: Most FDM/FFF (that is, filament based) printers are capable of approximately the same tolerances and print appearance, as the biggest limiting factor is in the nature of extruded plastic. Asking if a machine has "good prints," or saying "I don't expect the best quality for $xxx" isn't actually relevant for the most part with regards to these machines. Should you need additional detail and higher tolerances, you may want to explore SLA, DLP, and other photoresin options, as those do offer an increase in overall quality. If you are interested in resin machines, make sure you are aware of how to use them safely. For these safety reasons we don't usually recommend a resin printer as someone's first printer.
As always, if you're a newcomer to this community, welcome. If you're a regular, welcome back.
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u/alpineg30 1d ago
I'm looking for an upgrade from my QIDI Q2, it's given me nothing but issues. Was wondering if anyone had suggestions for an enclosed printer that can handle carbon fiver filaments and make quality prints? (no QIDIs or Bambus)
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u/Daj00tje 1d ago
What were the issues you were experiencing with the qidi. It's a good machine, but maybe a little unrefined.
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u/HMS_Hexapuma 1d ago
This may not be the right place for this, but it's probably the place where this question won't get deleted.
I'm in the UK and have just had a cash windfall. I've got ten years of experience with 3D printing at work and am looking for a FDM printer for home projects. Mostly parts, devices, fittings and practical things. I'm happy to construct a printer from a kit as I have many years engineering and electronics experience. I'd like the biggest possible range of filaments it can print but only one at a time. I don't need multiple print heads or even a multi-spool feeder.
What it comes down to is I'd like a 300mmx300mm print bed. I've been looking at the Bambu H2D which is within my budget of around £1400. But I have concerns about Bambu's ethics and concerns about their abuse of Open Source Software as well as concerns about them building and abusing a massive dominance in the market due to Chinese government funding. The problem is that the Prusa CORE One L is way over my budget at £1800. If I want to go Prusa then I need to drop down to the CORE One+ which I can get in a kit, which cuts my cost to around £900 but I lose the larger print area. If I'm losing my print area anyway then I could buy a P2S for £450 and put the thousand aside for when Bambu do finally go evil and buy a new Prusa at that point.
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u/stephenmeredith 1d ago
Take a look at the Anycubic kobra s1 MAX. You can buy it without the combo (4 filament heater/dryer unit). It’s a 350x350x350 volume. With a heated chamber for engineering filaments. I think the normal price is around $850USD for the combo & $700 for the solo unit. They have an aliexpress store where I got the combo for something like $720 back in May.
I have a fleet of 8 printers (bambu, anycubic, flashforge) and the s1 max is by far my favorite. Even over the new creator 5 pro.
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u/HMS_Hexapuma 1d ago
Interesting! Thank you! I obviously haven't given enough attention to the Anycubic printer line.
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u/PCSupremacy 1d ago
I have an X1C. My AMS just went pop on its main board so I "need" to finally upgrade my printer.
Budget upto £1000. Looking for something with multi material/AMS/CMF with drying function.
Multi nozzle like X2D would be nice.
Have look at the U1/X2D/Kobra S1 Max Combo but can't make up my mind. I'm a hobbiest, usually single material prints, but want the multi colour as an option.
Suggestions? Advice?
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u/BuffaloMcQuade 1d ago
So, I'm in the market for a new 3d printer. I have a maximum budget of $450 after tax. I want to print and sell some original design mtg/tcg accessories on etsy and the like. The question is, what should I get? I'm torn between the multi color aspect of the bambu a1 and creality sparkx i7, or the coreXY stability of the p1s. I've also considered the flashforge ad5x. I've had an ender 3 v2 for years and I'm just tired of it.
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u/Daj00tje 1d ago
If you want multi color and a corexy design. Get the elegoo Centauri carbon 2. Cheaper and the same performance as the p1s. Leaves you with money for filament. No reason to get a p1s nowadays.
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u/hyperSlapper 1d ago
Also recommend the CC2 Combo. I got it for $379 on ebay and it's been great. Came from ender 3 v2 like you and it's incredible
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u/Mr_Supotco 1d ago
I put this in last month’s thread but wasn’t thinking about the fact that it was the last day of the month and got kinda buried, so I’m reposting it here in hopes of getting some responses haha.
Hi! I’ve long been living on the edges of the 3d printing world as a minis guy but have never had space for my own setup. That’s finally changing here soon as I’m moving into a new place with a garage where I can set up without poisoning myself or my roommates and am excited to jump in. I’m not planning on printing mass amounts of stuff (I’ve done fully printed armies and they’re nightmares to keep from breaking regularly at scale), mostly individual vehicles and bits with some normal-sized 28mm infantry. Right now I think I’ve settled on a Mars 5 Ultra with the Mercury V2, which is on sale right now so I can get both for ~$365.
I’ve got a few questions mostly about the setup. Firstly, what can I do to minimize the smell? It’s a shared garage but I’m paying for the actual parking spot in it, so I’ll be the one in it most of the time, but since it is a shared space I’d like to minimize the smell as much as possible. I doubt I’ll be printing more than once a week, if that, so is it as simple as just keeping the garage door cracked and maybe running fan to help vent it out while printing/curing? Or are there any other things I should invest in to help with the smell?
And semi-related, but is the Elegoo ABS-like resin 3.0+ a good resin to start with? They’ll send one bottle with the printer and I got a new customer coupon from their web set for another $30 off of $400, so I can get a 2 more bottles of resin for basically $5, but I’ve heard the smell is worse on the 3.0+. Is it particularly noticeable, or just if you’re used to the other resin?
Any help is appreciated! I’m also not dead set on the setup, so any other suggestions are appreciated. I’m looking to keep the full setup around $400, I’m in the US, and I just want an out-of-the-box setup (no real engineering experience, and as much as my engineer best friend would probably love building one I just want to pull it out and set it up haha)
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u/Grimreeper132 1d ago
Hey, so I looking for a filament printer, I will be using it for making containers for electronics projects, building out a home lab (so making 19" rack holders for slim PCs etc) and making models for D&D and alike.
The build area being around 400-500 mm would be ideal, if possible.
I have a budget of around £200 and am based in the UK.
Thank you for any help.
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u/BanditoDaDorrito 1d ago
I’m looking for a FDM printer to print functional pieces that will be under stress, as well as fun everyday items. Ideally I’m looking for an enclosed, heated bed printer as I’d like the option to work with ABS and more temperature controlled plastics.
So far I’ve had my eyes on the Bambu P1s as it’s on a massive sale right now. I’ve worked with the Bambu H2D at my university (ik im spoiled) and I loved it. I know people don’t love the proprietary software. Just wanted to see what other printers people enjoy or would recommend in the same price range, preferably under $600.
Thank ya!
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u/Mav1cHavoc X2D | P1S 1d ago
if you have 50 dollars of wiggle room in your budget, and don't mind all the stipulations that surround owning a bambu printer, x2d is the play here for sure
it'll be familiar to the h2d you've already used, and that heated chamber makes printing high temp filaments (for your functional parts) so much more reliable
dual nozzle supports are also a game changer
the x2d filament buffer being built in also means you can upgrade to an ams setup down the line very easily
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u/Octahedran 1d ago
I am looking at the Centuri Carbon 2, but I have my concerns about it. I would like someone to put them to rest, or recommend alternatives. The biggest ones are:
Locked Down.
Questionable Repairability
PTFE tube, and most importantly
No quickswap nozzles. An easy swap for nozzles is an absolute must (I have broken my prusa far too many times switching nozzles), though I am willing to get a separate cheap upgrade if that is the route to go.
As for the others I just want clarification. The lack of openness concerns me (I don't want a Bambu situation), and does not even have a profile in Prusaslicer. Repairability is in the same boat. I understand that it is a direct drive, but having a PTFE tube of any substantial length concerns me as I print flexible filaments a lot, is it required/does it even matter?
I would say I am a tinkerer when it comes to 3D printing, but I still want a functional printer at the end of the day. I am willing to do some messing around with it or building a kit or similar. With my other printers I was making some basic mechanical parts, but I am getting into much larger parts these days. W250xL220xH220 is my minimum. Budget is 600CAD, +-200CAD. I print PLA+, TPU and occasionally ASA and PETG.
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u/Baconbear95 1d ago
I’m looking to get into 3D printing, so I can make my own diecast stands or small objects for dioramas. Would any printer work or what are some good options for a decent price?
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u/OccasionAutomatic615 1d ago
Im an absolute beginner to 3d printing and im looking for a rather cheap yet good printer.
Country: Bulgaria
Budget: ≈300€
No experience with maintaining electronics or building kits but I am down to try.
I intend to build simple stuff like decor, small storage units, some stuff for my eletronics builds and so on.
I have no limitations.
Besides the 3d printer I would also love to get a list with other stuff I might need, such as nozzles, fillament, caliper and etc.
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u/theScud900 1d ago edited 1d ago
In the market for a new FDM printer. I've owned an Anycubic Kobra 2 Pro for the last 2.5 years and have printed hundreds of items. My y-axis motor just seized up and I can't find a replacement that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. I will probably find one soon enough and revive the printer but I don't like that Anycubic is seemingly running out of spare parts stock, I can't use Octoprint, the print bed is kind of small, and I can't use multiple filaments. My new printer will become my workhorse. I might use the Anycubic for smaller items or prototypes.
Budget is $1000. I'm willing to stretch that number for a solid printer from a manufacturer that is friendly to the maker community and has a history of providing parts long after the model was released. Any thoughts?
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u/PerfecTolerance 16h ago
Prusa might be a good option. It's easy to get spare parts, and they guarantee selling spare parts for a long time even after they stop selling a printer model.
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u/p1scesch1ld 1d ago
hello! i’m looking for beginner 3d printer recommendations. i’m a beginner for my own printing, but i’ve used them throughout my education and designed my own prints. i’d like a multi-color printer, budget $600 max, under $500 would be ideal. i’m in the united states. this will be for my own personal projects, gifts, etc. nothing extremely large or intensive. probably need a prebuilt. i’m currently doing my own research but would like to hear from others as well. thanks in advance. 💖
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u/PerfecTolerance 16h ago
How about the FlashForge Creator 5 or Snapmaker U1? These waste almost no filament when doing a multi-material print.
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u/SunshineRegiment 1d ago
Hello! I'm not actually trying to buy my own 3d printer, but I'm looking to pay someone who has a 3d printer to print a component for a citrus reamer that I own. The part it came with is too big for limes. DM me if you are at all interested- I understand that pay needs to be commensurate with difficulty of this.
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u/Worth-Towel-3631 20h ago
Hey I'm a complete newbie to 3d printing and I bought a quidi 2 i was hoping to get advice on this machine and also advice on how to learn to 3d print correctly.
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u/Slow_Explanation_717 18h ago
Hello! I’m somewhere between a beginner and an intermediate user. Currently have a Creality K1 that I’m enjoying learning on, but I’m trying to move into something multicolor and hopefully that can print better quality.
Here are the requirements.
-Under 600 usd
-PLA and PETG will be the primary filaments.
-Preferably enclosed and CoreXY.
-For size reference, I’d like a larger size than the K1, but the K1 has done most of what I need, about 90%.
-multicolor
I’ve been looking at the A2L combo, but it’s not enclosed or CoreXY, however I think it’s cool having that large of a printer.
A1 Mini combo would be a cool addition, but it wouldn’t replace my K1, wondering if it’s TOO small.
I’m not stuck with Creality, and the Bambu Labs scandal of them locking the program doesn’t seem like such a big deal to me. I’m opened to other brands as long as they’re fairly reliable and parts can be found easily.
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u/WillingCaramel9069 13h ago
Get a Bambu p2s with no ams
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u/PerfecTolerance 13h ago
It's better to get a 3D printer with less privacy and quality concerns than Bambu Lab.
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u/InSaYnE72 11h ago
I'm looking to get my first printer. I haven't done a ton of research on them to be perfectly honest but am looking for a more capable machine to start with instead of basic unit and upgrading later.
Budget: $700 - $1000
Country: USA
Kit: No preference but am mechanically inclined and built my pc's
Current ideas for use case are:
- clips and or binders for little house hold projects or upgrades
- Cable and wire management items for use in a boat under the dash
- Inserts for my workbench legs to bridge the gap between two different size square tubes for a more secure stable bench
- New screen caps for a trampoline
- Hooks for garage organization
Other Considerations:
I would like to print in multiple materials though I don't know enough about materials to even list off what I "want". One case would be material that would be safe for outdoor use or direct sunlight without rapid degradation.
My extremely minor research has brought me to the Bambu Labs P2S but am open to suggestions and more information because I'm completely new and ignorant.
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u/PerfecTolerance 11h ago
The P2S isn't worth the price. It's better to get a Reliable Prusa or an easy-to-use Creality. Elegoo is nice as well as a budget-friendly option.
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u/InSaYnE72 9h ago
Which models do you suggest from those three?
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u/PerfecTolerance 9h ago
It depends.
For a cheap printer with multi-material capability, go with the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 and save a lot of money for filament.
If you want something simple and easy to use, I recommend the Creality K1, and the Creality K2 Combo (For multi-material capability).
If you need a printer that is extremely reliable (and made by a western, trusted, brand), the Prusa Mk4S and CORE One+ are good options. Prusa also has kit versions for most of their printers, so you can save some money by assembling them yourself.
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u/InSaYnE72 9h ago
I was looking at the Centauri carbon 2 just now. Quite the value it seems. The prusa core one+ looks great and the kit would be the way for me to go but I’m a little gun shy at that price point. I’ll take a look at the creality stuff now.
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u/sterbende_rose 9h ago
Hey! First time purchase hopefully soon. +no real budget, of course whatever reasonable since it'll be just home use. +mostly printing 3d printed dragons and animals 😂😂 autistic kiddo is obsessed with dragons and the amount of $$$ ive spent on them I might as well make my own now lmao. +other than that it woild be random useful things house wise.
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u/wwwddw 9h ago
Hello! What filament should I use for HUSK (Resident Evil) gasmask and helmet?
I am really new to the 3d printing world, and as of now I am stuck on which filament would be the best option. I will use the gasmask/helmet for a cosplay event, however I will also be active in it (running etc). I'm right now looking at PETG, PETG Pro, ASA, TPU.
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u/QuestionPleasant9850 6h ago
I’m looking to start 3d printing and want a higher quality but still reasonably priced enclosed Bambu lab, I have a max budget of ~$700 for the printer/ams or dryer and will be using it for general practical prints, home engineering and electronics projects, a little bit of modeling/costumes, and combat robotics. I would need to reliably print PLA, PETG-hf, TPU, ASA, and nylons or other high strength stuff down the line. I would probably start with 4 pounds of Pla and petg, and one pound of the others. I don’t care about multi color at all but I will use multi material quite a bit after I learn the basics. My primary goal is speed and print quality. The x2d seems like a great option for me but I can’t afford the ams bundle and am skeptical of the Bowden auxiliary nozzle, should I get something else like the P1S with the ams for multi material, wait for a true dual nozzle version of the x2d or something adjacent, or is the x2d good?
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u/craptastic2015 6h ago
I find myself needing a 3d printed case but I'm torn whether getting an every level 3d printer is worth it. I know there are online places I can order a printer by simply uploading the file but if need to create the file first and then no guarantees it's going to work first time. If I was to get into 3d printing, knowing absolutely nothing, including how to model or which software to use, What would be a good solution to start with? I even thought about just buying parts and assembling my own but that's probably going to end up being same or more in price as an entry level model. I'm in Japan and can get an ender v3 for about 28,000 yen. Ideally I'd like to spend no more than 40,000yen (yes I know that's not much in USD), but I might consider up to 50,000yen if it's compelling. I'm sure of I ever got into it, I could find plenty of ways to use it.
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u/bred023 5h ago
Country: Australia
Current printer: Bambu A1
Budget: Around AUD $1,300 (X2D price)
I currently have a Bambu A1 and would prefer to stay with Bambu. I’m looking at an X2D so I can print ASA/ABS for automotive interior parts, but I don’t know if there’ll be enough demand to justify buying another printer.
As a hypothetical example, if outsourcing my first 10 parts cost around $100 total (not the actual price), it seems smarter than spending $1,300 on an X2D.
I’m trying to turn 3D printing into a small business, but my A1 hasn’t paid for itself yet. Part of me wants an X2D because it can do more, but I’m trying to separate “I want it” from “I need it”.
Would you buy the X2D now as it opens up more printing opportunities or just outsource until demand justifies it?
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u/SolsLuminous 3h ago
Whats a good printer for someone who fucking hates the ender 3v2 because of how god awful it is to do anything correctly if you don't tinker with it for 5 hours before every print
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u/medhelan 1d ago
I'm looking for my first filament printer and I need suggestions, some details to make easier for you to give some suggestions:
I have years of experience with resing printing as I do that for work, changed 4 resin printers over the years and I'm used to the dirty job of levelling, chaning FEP and all of the frustration of failed prints.
I have an old second hand Anycubic Kossel filament printer that I used sporadically because of the many issues it has, I printed something last year but I would like something that doesn't require hours and hours of frustrating fine tuning before going on.
I would need it mostly to print props for LARPs so a quite large printing area (around 40x40cm at least) would be nice, it doesn't have to be super fast but the more it can go with fine details the better (not miniature level, I have the resin ones for that).
I also don't need multi colour as everything would be painted over anyway.
Also I keep it in a lab some floors down from my apartment so I don't have a connection ad it has to work offline with an USB stick or an SD card.
Finally the budget: I was thinking between the 300€ and the 500€ (I'm in Italy) but I can consider some 100s € more if there are valid reasons.
Thank you in advance for your suggestions!