Current Options:
$550 - Full kit
You won't find this anywhere online, they never ship EVERYTHING you need. Many "FULL" kits out there usually skip stuff to cut costs, or don't include stuff you need to buy soon after you start printing.
Here's what makes my kit the best (cost advantage of my kit in parentheses):
- Precut rods and all-thread (40), many kits make you buy/cut your own...big hassle. Mine are pre-cut and my kit is modular, you can adjust the size!
- Power supply unit (PSU) (25), most kits make you get your own PSU from an old PC. My kit includes a 300w (more than enough) power supply with a large, quiet fan, and is well known for delivering enough current without hacking into the PSU.
- Teflon grease, (5) you definitely need this when assembling your own kit and for periodic maintenance. Never use WD-40!
- Bearing stabilized Z axis (10) keeping your printing head wobble-free and precise
- Heated bed (20), a lot of kits don't include this to cut costs, but it s must (for printing ABS, but either way in my opinion)
- Prewired hot end and heated bed (10) no soldering necessary! Small wires on the thermistors can be a pain and can break if you're too rough, a real pain.
- Glass printing plate (10), easy to get from Lowes, have them cut it into 4 pieces
- Everything is pre-taped with kapton (20) good for printing ABS, but hard to find. To print with ABS, just use blue masking tape.
- PLA plastic to get started (10) not very expensive once you get printing, but this should help you start, PLA is easier to start with, too.
That's at least 150 in upgrades an no kit comes close to $500, much less $400!
If you find a kit out there, I'd tell you to buy it, but there's just no way! (there must be a catch) come take a look and you'll be convinced.
$900 - Fully constructed printer, ready to start printing.
- Assembly does take a while (fun if you like doing stuff like this) that's why there's a significant price difference.
- I'll do remote tech support for 3 months, feel free to email and ask questions about designs, etc.
- I can do one service visit to make sure everything is setup and working correctly.
- I'll show you examples and tips and you'll have all the info you need to start printing .
- I'll include one roll (1kg ) of plastic if you buy an assembled or fully configured machine.
My personal touches include:
- Mounting plate for the Printrboard electronics - makes it easy to wire and very stable
- I've redesigned EVERY part based on the open-source originals so that if you want to upgrade to extrusion through a bowden tube and even multi-extrusion in the future with me (or on your own!) it's a much smoother transition. I'll soon be offering an upgrade to dual or triple extrusion, still experimental.
- I'm open to bargaining if you already have a certain parts (PSU, hardware, etc)
- If you're in the College Station area, I'll help you get started with all the instructions you'll need and any small replacement parts.
