So a few months back I found an EasyThreeD K7 in the ewaste bin at my work. Probably where it belongs tbh but I figured hey… free printer. It works okay, sometimes. Usually okay for small and simple stuff, but tends to fail on anything serious. In the process, I’ve found my way around openSCAD, Cura, learned what can go wrong, how to troubleshoot, etc. It’s been fun and educational. So, not a total loss, especially for $0 upfront. I’d feel cheated if I’d actually paid for it tho.

OTOH, I’ve wasted enough time, energy and filament on failed prints that its time to upgrade. I’d like to avoid Prusa and Bambu for personal reasons that I don’t really want to go into on this comm. This is only ever really going to be a hobby for me, I see it being useful for fixing little stuff around the house like broken buttons and catches, building small ornaments or containers for things, and the occasional functional project like stands and mounts for devices or the odd project enclosure.

I’ve also used the Ultimaker 2+ at my local library. Although, Ultimaker seem to be focused on industrial applications these days; probably overkill for my purposes.

Prefer magnetic / flexible build plate, but glass isn’t a deal breaker so long as its heated. I’m fine with manual leveling and offset so long as it’s marginally more automated than the K7. I’m also alright with tinkering, replacing parts and firmware upgrades. I’d prefer a good community and aftermarket rather than having to rely on manufacturer support.

Based on my research, I’m leaning towards an Ender 3, although I’m not entirely sure what the difference is between models because the naming scheme is confusing. It seems to be a more open platform, and the community support and aftermarket seem great. But before I go ahead, are there any other brands/models I may not have heard of that I should be considering?

  • Bluewing@lemmy.worldEnglish
    3·
    2 days ago

    Another brand you could compare the Ender3 to is Soval. The same money in the US, and runs Klipper out of the box.

  • The_Hideous_Orgalorg@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    3·
    2 days ago

    I had an FLsun Q5 that I constantly had to babysit. Now my Anycubic Kobra 3 Max is amazing, takes files over the network, prints well, and requires almost none of the physical attention that the FLsun did. I would recommend checking out a Kobra.

    • Strayce@lemmy.sdf.orgOPEnglish
      1·
      2 days ago

      I nearly pulled the trigger on a secondhand i3 Mega S but spare parts seemed to be nonexistent. How’s the support for the Kobra?

      • The_Hideous_Orgalorg@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        2·
        2 days ago

        I haven’t had to check, it’s worked great right out of the box and just prints. I helped a friend with a Kobra Max 1 that wouldn’t level. Turned out to be a damaged ribbon cable and I just trimmed it back and put a new end on it. He got that second hand, and I don’t think he even tried to contact support.

        I did preorder mine, and they were not very communicative about shipping times, but everything arrived eventually.

      • yaroto98@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        2 days ago

        Personal choice, I skipped on the ender 3 pro because it didn’t have auto bed leveling. I also grabbed a kobra 3 combo. It’s super nice having the auto bed leveling run before every print. Similar in price too.

        • Strayce@lemmy.sdf.orgOPEnglish
          1·
          2 days ago

          Interesting. Where I am the Kobra 3 seems to be either out of stock or ~160% the price of the Ender. Unless I’m missing a bargain somewhere, which is possible.

          I see auto-leveling as a nice-to-have. It’s not a deal breaker for me at this point because pretty much anything is going to be an upgrade from the K7.