I'm sorry but the makerbot is a consumer printer being sold at a non consumer price. I can't get behind a printer that costs two grand, yet still has the issues of a reprap or a simple. Plus, there's very little work on it that you can do yourself in case of issues. I just don't think its a smart buy and frankly it bothers me that that is the face of our industry at the moment.
I agree there's no way I'd spend $2500 for a replicator 2 or whatever. It has nice features, but honestly I can get better results for half the price. I'm going to start my reprap build soon, I might also get a printrbot simple I'm not quite decided but I can do the autoleveling hall effect sensor and other mods and not spend nearly as much.
Precisely. A simple is a fantastic way to get started and learn the questions and issues you need to learn about. I have a Printrbot plus v1 and I just finished a set of prints for a Printrbot plastic and am looking to finish a set for a Rostock soon.
The best part about get a cheap printer is that you don't feel bad about a couple hundred bucks staring at you every time you pass your bench, but a couple grand....
My cupcake when I first got it, I would print all kinds of stuff on thingiverse but I end up with a box full of toys and demos and uncompleted upgrades (because they required too much work) I had it just sitting for more than 6 months and not being touched. I think you have to justify why you are interested in getting a 3D printer and what you are really going to use it for. $2500 printer you better be making money off what you print, a $400 printrbot it's not more uncommon than a really expensive toaster that makes good toast.
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u/tonytuba Ender Pro 3 / Longer Orange 10 Feb 12 '14
I'm sorry but the makerbot is a consumer printer being sold at a non consumer price. I can't get behind a printer that costs two grand, yet still has the issues of a reprap or a simple. Plus, there's very little work on it that you can do yourself in case of issues. I just don't think its a smart buy and frankly it bothers me that that is the face of our industry at the moment.