Cheap 3D printer

[knave]

I couldn't resist ordering one of these. Small 3D printer for $170. In case any of you want to take a stab too...

Monoprice Select Mini 3D Printer

List price is $199.99
Use code: TRIPLE15 for 15% off...comes to $169.99

[BadMouth]

...almost pulled the trigger last time it was that price.
Not sure I have enough spare time to learn how to use it. 

[Slippyblade]

Review here makes it sound like a pretty darn good deal... 

http://hackaday.com/2016/06/13/review-monoprice-mp-select-mini-3d-printer/

[Slippyblade]

ROFL!  The price on that link has jumped up by almost $100 since you posted it.  Order directly from Monoprice.

http://www.monoprice.com/product?c_id=107&cp_id=10724&cs_id=1072403&p_id=15365&seq=1&format=2

[Howard_Casto]

I'm tempted, but I think I would find a cnc more useful. 

[HaRuMaN]

I'm tempted, but I think I would find a cnc more useful.

You find a $200 CNC, let me know.   

[05SRT4]

I'm tempted, but I think I would find a cnc more useful.

Just slap a Dremel on the hot end and your good to go.

[PL1]

I'm tempted, but I think I would find a cnc more useful.

You find a $200 CNC, let me know.   

The MPCNC is pretty close . . . if you already have a 3D printer and a spindle like a Dewalt 660/Dewalt 611/Bosch Colt.



Buying the small^* printer mentioned in the OP and enough filament (<2 spools) would cost just a bit more than buying the $190 printed parts bundle.


Scott
^* Be sure to check if any of the MPCNC parts are too large to print on that machine -- not sure about the minimum required print volume.
EDIT: On second examination, the black Z-axis piece in the middle looks too large.
Probably better to buy the printed parts and add the $60 extruder so you'll have a large 3D printer and CNC.   

[Generic Eric]

I look forward to sending you warhammer 40K files to print.

Do you have a method to scan?  UPS suggested an app to use to scan a thing and send it to them to be printed.

[05SRT4]

I tried an app on my android and the results were terrible. Check out Thingiverse they usually have a ton of models ready for printing. Im down to mail you out something if its not ridiculous.

[05SRT4]

I couldn't resist ordering one of these. Small 3D printer for $170. In case any of you want to take a stab too...

Monoprice Select Mini 3D Printer

List price is $199.99
Use code: TRIPLE15 for 15% off...comes to $169.99

OP is this going to be your 1st 3d printer?

[Howard_Casto]

I'm tempted, but I think I would find a cnc more useful.

You find a $200 CNC, let me know.   

The MPCNC is pretty close . . . if you already have a 3D printer and a spindle like a Dewalt 660/Dewalt 611/Bosch Colt.

That's a nice kit!  I doubt I could make one for that price.  Hmm.... I might have to set some money aside. 



Buying the small^* printer mentioned in the OP and enough filament (<2 spools) would cost just a bit more than buying the $190 printed parts bundle.


Scott
^* Be sure to check if any of the MPCNC parts are too large to print on that machine -- not sure about the minimum required print volume.
EDIT: On second examination, the black Z-axis piece in the middle looks too large.
Probably better to buy the printed parts and add the $60 extruder so you'll have a large 3D printer and CNC.   

[knave]

OP is this going to be your 1st 3d printer?

Yes, this will be my 1st 3d printer. I did Kickstart one a while ago but it won't ship until the end of the year at least.

I mostly hope to learn with this printer. Nice that it has a heated bed. I ordered 3 spools of filament and the printer for just over $200.

The most practical things I will print will be Quadcopter parts. But Folks are pretty creative. Thingiverse has a ton of cool stuff to print.

Edit: Just received my shipment notice late last night 2-5 days.

[05SRT4]

Nice, let me know if you have any questions. I have been using the PrintrBot Simple Metal for a few years now. It sucks cause I just spent another 150 just to upgrade the print bed size and add a heater. Whats the print bed size of the one you got?

Also I am actually thinking about starting a quad copter build myself. I bought some carbon fiber filament hoping that would work well.

[BadMouth]

Bah, broke down and ordered one too!  (it's your fault)

The learning experience is worth $200 to me.
I'll see how I get along with this before dropping the money on a CNC router.

Worst case scenario is that I can't wrap my head around the software and only print a couple things.
Best case scenario is that I design and print parts to convert an arcade joystick to analog.

[pbj]

3D printing Warhammer figurines.  It's like you nerds don't even have to try anymore. 

What happened to casting your own pewter knock offs?

[Slippyblade]

Whats the print bed size of the one you got?

From what I've read, about 4.5" cubed.

What happened to casting your own pewter knock offs?

I remember doing that.  I used a lot of lead though.  Tire weights are free...

[HaRuMaN]

I used a lot of lead though.

This explains... a lot. 

[Slippyblade]

I used a lot of lead though.

This explains... a lot. 

Not like I was chewing on them!

[HaRuMaN]

I used a lot of lead though.

This explains... a lot. 

Not like I was chewing on them!

[knave]

Whats the print bed size of the one you got?

From what I've read, about 4.5" cubed.

Close:
Specs list 120mm x 120mm or about 4.7" x 4.7"

That said. It has arrived. Now I have to find some time to set it up.
From what I've seen on Youtube...The Cura 3d Slicing software is not to tough to use or and one can always just print models from the internet.
There seemed to be some arcade related stuff on thingiverse. Time will tell.

[05SRT4]

Right, Cura is super easy to use. There is also an expert menu that opens more options.

For super super easy and basic 3d designing I use TinkerCad its free and web based so no installing anything.

You can also import STL's from Thingiverse and make simple modifications.

[knave]

I have partially set up the printer. Their was not enough time last night to finish and start a test print.

...It will just have to wait. I'm out of town this weekend.

I am impressed with the quality and feel of this printer. I'm no expert but I buy a lot of cheap gear and this does not feel as inexpensive as it is.

[JDFan]

Looks like too many of you guys placed orders !!! --- Jet raised the price another $100 to $275 and Monoprice is out of stock but still lists it at $199 but who knows what it will be when they restock !

[BadMouth]

Glad I got it when I did.  I screwed up by adding a couple rolls of filament to the same order though.
The 15% off tops out at $30, so that was maxed out by the printer alone.
Doing the filament as a separate order would have saved me another $6. 
My cheap bastard game is getting weak.   

[knave]

Glad I got it when I did.  I screwed up by adding a couple rolls of filament to the same order though.
The 15% off tops out at $30, so that was maxed out by the printer alone.
Doing the filament as a separate order would have saved me another $6. 
My cheap bastard game is getting weak.   

Ah, me too...I was wondering why the Out the Door price of the printer was $172 after I added the filament. My consolation is that it all got here together, and was pretty quick.

Still a pretty sweet deal.

[knave]

I have been pretty pleased with the printer so far.

I have printed some Fate Dice, a personalized keychain for my wife, a toy car with rolling wheels, a 40K Space Marine and a child lock for a lever doorknob.

Here is a pic of the dice, car and Space Marine.

[pbj]

So you spend $200 to make dollar store trinkets?

[Howard_Casto]

Well my concern on those things has always been the cost to size ratio.  Like the little toy car.... how much filament did it use?  I mean a spool is 20-30 bucks, so unless it's mere pennies worth of plastic, it would be cheaper in most circumstances to just order a part. 

I've been wanting to get one for prototyping.... perhaps print out positives for sand casting or something. 

[vwalbridge]

So you spend $200 to make dollar store trinkets?

This ^ sentence should be required on the sides of all 3D printers.

With the exception of Arcadenut's brilliant Any Coin mech, I have yet to see a 3D printer yield anything useful.

[Howard_Casto]

As the prices continue to drop on these things I think you will see that change.  The main problem is people that invent things typically don't have a lot of money.... they make their own solution because they have to.  Anyone inclined to buy a 3d printer just for the heck of it are probably going to throw money instead of ingenuity at a problem. 

Don't get me wrong, this one is super cheap, but then again the print quality isn't all that great.  Precision printing costs money. 

[knave]

I have yet to see a 3D printer yield anything useful.

Useful is a broad term. 3d Printed stuff can be useful, pointless or it can be junk.
But lets get this straight. this 3d printer is mostly a toy. Granted it can make other toys. 

Bottom line, the sum of all the parts of the 3d printing experience make it totally worth $200.
For me, its an entry fee into a hobby that is going to drive me to learn 3d modeling, expand my knowledge of hardware and electronics plus let me print out dollar store trinkets with the occasional useful item thrown in. Printing repair parts is just one example. I've spent more $$ on arcade parts that are just sitting around the garage doing nothing.

As for cost of ownership...time will tell. So far the spool of blue PLA filament cost me $15 and I had the printer running all weekend and have yet to make a dent in the 2.2 Lb roll.
I estimate the car took .15¢ worth of material. (probably less, I am guessing I can print out at least 100 of those little cars, it could easily be more)
The lever doorknob child lock is ~5-10$ on amazon and I printed one out for ~$1. 

This is just the beginning. Sure I can buy better versions of most of what I can print out myself...but the fact remains that I am turning a roll of plastic wire into objects. That is Amazing!
And the few times that I need that specific custom plastic part will be all the more sweet!. But really its to make more toys!

As I mentioned I want to print out some Quadcopter parts.

Edit:  Quadcopter examples

[opt2not]

With the exception of Arcadenut's brilliant Any Coin mech, I have yet to see a 3D printer yield anything useful.

A few items I've had printed for me that were useful to our hobby/obsession:
CPS2 replacement volume/test buttons:
http://www.shapeways.com/product/4AQJ6TAMP/capcom-cps2-volume-test-buttons?optionId=55339062

LCD Board holder for Multi CPS2
http://www.arcade-projects.com/forums/index.php?thread/420-3d-printed-cases-for-the-multicpsii-lcd-board/

Tray for the Sega Saturn Rhea mod:
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1546926

People have been printing other arcade parts like replacement gears for star wars yokes, and bits and pieces here and there. Personally I'd rather just give plans to someone who owns a printer, or a service that prints for you. Space and money are limited and unless I plan on printing out mass quantities I don't think there's a point of owning one, in my opinion.
It's the same for a CNC router.

[vwalbridge]

With the exception of Arcadenut's brilliant Any Coin mech, I have yet to see a 3D printer yield anything useful.

A few items I've had printed for me that were useful to our hobby/obsession:
CPS2 replacement volume/test buttons:
http://www.shapeways.com/product/4AQJ6TAMP/capcom-cps2-volume-test-buttons?optionId=55339062

LCD Board holder for Multi CPS2
http://www.arcade-projects.com/forums/index.php?thread/420-3d-printed-cases-for-the-multicpsii-lcd-board/

Tray for the Sega Saturn Rhea mod:
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1546926

People have been printing other arcade parts like replacement gears for star wars yokes, and bits and pieces here and there. Personally I'd rather just give plans to someone who owns a printer, or a service that prints for you. Space and money are limited and unless I plan on printing out mass quantities I don't think there's a point of owning one, in my opinion.
It's the same for a CNC router.

I stand corrected. Those parts are in fact useful for sure. 

I agree, owning one doesn't seem to make sense...no matter how cheap they are. I'll always just buy what someone else can make in higher volumes.

I'll also look forward to the day when the surface of the 3D part doesn't feel like layers of hair glued together.

[BadMouth]

I managed to print 1/4 of the included cat file with the included filament before heading out of town last week. 
It was enough to get a feel for the resolution.  The PLA is tougher than I thought it would be.

I agree with the sentiment of 98% of the stuff out there being useless trinkets.

My eventual goal is to make gears and guides to convert a Sanwa JLF to analog.
I also want to make brackets for a DIY UHF antenna.
The rest will probably just be custom PCB enclosures or sensor brackets.

Next time I use it, I'm going to plug it into an energy use monitor to see how much electricity it is using.

My primary reason for buying it was to learn the software which will carry over to using a CNC router down the road.

[pbj]

CPS2 replacement volume/test buttons:
http://www.shapeways.com/product/4AQJ6TAMP/capcom-cps2-volume-test-buttons?optionId=55339062

This is the kind of stuff I find in the bottom of a cabinet, go "WTF is this?" and then throw it away without regrets.

[opt2not]

CPS2 replacement volume/test buttons:
http://www.shapeways.com/product/4AQJ6TAMP/capcom-cps2-volume-test-buttons?optionId=55339062

This is the kind of stuff I find in the bottom of a cabinet, go "WTF is this?" and then throw it away without regrets.

I think I have a few of these as well that were in a drawer for a long time. But I got these printed to have it match the B-board of my Multi-CPS2...'cause you know,

. Pretty silly i know.

[yotsuya]

So you spend $200 to make dollar store trinkets?

I dunno, I bought a $32 laser printer,  I got a $32 laser printer. It's "good enough", which is probably what this 3D printer is - good enough.

[05SRT4]

When I first got my printer a year ago I only printed little trinket art stuff.

Now its more of building actual parts. Yesterday I needed some mounts for my HTC vive base stations. Normally they would be screwed on your walls. I wanted an easy way to move them around so I designed and printed some mounts that attach to extendable poles. I found some on amazon for 35 bucks.

35$ added to the overall list of things Ive made to save some cash.

But not just saving some dough, I always have fun putting my ideas on paper, then CAD then print.

[Howard_Casto]

I think something this cheap is in the realm of a tool you can just buy for the sake of buying it and having the option.  I just have concerns like the others is all. 

I can almost guarantee you that I'll pick one up the next time a good sale is on.  I have..... plans..... mwah ha ha ha ha ha!