I went thru this, what your OP wants… raw infomation on 3d printing and equipment. Whats the bare bones, what the “range of the middle” for intermediate use and cost and convenience and ability, and whats the “actual” quality that gives you “x” to get some particular use you have in mind done.
its all over the map when i tried, and i really dont know THAT much more than before i asked here.
SOME guys actually “like” their 200-500 dollar unit, and can show you cool stuff they made with it.
OTHER guys explain the need or usefulness of theit 550 dollsr unit vs someone elses 300 unit.
I’m sure SOMEone here feels that anything under 1000 dollars is chinese junk, best avoided, and has the cool one.
shrugs
I am FINALLY in a position to BUY ONE, and…. i know precious little than I did befoire asking, and watching their conversations develop. I know i can LIVE without one? But… i have needs that need fulfilled with fabrication, and really this looks like the best tool for certain jobs. And why lie? There is a “toy factor” involved because i think they are simply “neato”.
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i THINK, not “know”… i THINK this is like my LATHE… I went with bottom of the line chinese, a HF 7x10… because with startup tooling needed adding to the purchase cost, and my bad patch for money at the time i pulled the trigger? I had to roll with it.
now that i can reflect? The experience actually owning even my toy lathe, and actually making “real parts”, is worth it for the investment alone… even if i had to sell it and buy a big one? my education was invaluable. I am continually still amazed at what i CAN accomplish with it, rather than concentrating on what i CANT do… which is spin something over a certain size, or use a shaft thickness of TOOL too thick i get over centerline when i cant go that high for the operation, and my piece length is compromised moreso when i need the tailstock on.
my best GUESS and HUNCH is that the 3d printer world is identical in philosophy to this small lathe.But, until i start DATING a 3d printer? i cant tell you anything that means more than an opinion of a non-owner. i will watch this thread with GREAT INTEREST in case you can get information otuof them i couldnt, or, maybei got theinfo i needed, and too nooby to grasp it yet.
shrugs