Hello all! I've been researching 3D printers for a couple months now, and have decided that building my own would be best practice and offer the most satisfaction. Of all the kits I've seen, they say building it yourself is the best way to learn how they work and allows for the easiest troubleshooting during use. I agree with that wholeheartedly. Now most all these kits require you to either purchase and/or print upgrades to get it at top performance. At that point, I might as well just build it myself with the best parts from the gate. The problem is, the best designs I've found all assume you have a 3D printer, CNC machine or cutter to make a good portion of the parts! The one build I'd really like to do is the OneZ i3 by Keith Davis, but I still need printed parts for it to be usable (from what I can tell). The minimum printed part list was showing from $80 - $280 and even as high as $460, from 3dhubs. With prices that high, I question the quality I'd get for $80... I guess the question I need the answer to is: Is there a build that is a good quality, solidly built, intermediate level, Cartesian style 3D printer build that doesn't require printed or machined/milled parts to work?
I was in the same boat as you. I really wanted to build one, but I didn't have one to make the parts. I gave up and bought a highly rated sub $400 one. I couldn't wait any longer because my daughter really wanted one to make game pieces for a game she is making. She is 8 years old and is designing the game pieces herself in Sketchup and I wanted to encourage her. That being said, now that I have one, I plan to build a better one out of OpenBuilds parts. I have learned that 3D printers are slow, so if i want to build a larger project quickly, I need multiple 3D printers.
There has to be a build out there that I can build and have it at least good enough to print the parts myself!! I guess I'll just have to get a kit... was hoping for a different scenario, but I guess not.
The Voxel Ox build uses mostly off the shelf OpenBuilds parts so If you did have to pay for a few printed parts, it would be cheaper. Some of the 3D printed flat plates could easily be cut out of sheet plastic or aluminum and drilled on a drill press or hand drilled. Go with that build and buy an off the shelf extruder. I had planned on going this route, but in the end, I got impatient. Voxel OX - Extendable 3D Printer and CNC Platform
Like Giarc, I was in a bind and needed a 3d printer. I assembled a DIY Hictop prusa clone kit a couple of weeks ago. The first print was flawless and it has been running great since. It came with some really nice parts. Nothing structural was 3d printed. Gantry bearing slides are injection molded. I did print a few minor upgrades. I recommend it. It sure beat chasing down parts and building a 3d model first.
Like others have mentioned, it's way easier to build a kit for your 1st printer. I grabbed an FLSun i3 type off AliExpress, used it to print parts for my Ox-Metal router build, and am now using it to make a TrueUp Glide, one of Keith's other builds. There's about 30 hours of printing on the parts for the Glide and I'd think there's probably the same if not more for the OneZ. If you REALLY want a OneZ i3, I'd suggest posting in the thread. Keith may have all the parts to kit one together, or print a set of the parts for you. He's been extremely helpful to other DIY builders. Or you may find someone close to you willing to help you out at a reasonable price.
My first build was the Voxel OX. You can build it without printed parts and then replace and modify it after it starts printing. I did have to buy my extruder pre-built, but later modified it and printed spares.
I am looking for a build myself and I decided that it will be a CoreX-Y printer. Designed by Tec2C and a very detailed buildlog. www.thingiverse.com/thing:1752766 It is easy to adapt the buildvolume to your needs. Personally I aim for a 300 x 300 x 500 buildvolume. good luck with your search for a new printer.
