tl;dr: What is the best quality consumer 3D printer available (NOT bambu labs)?
Hello,
I'm relatively new to 3D printing (<6 months exp) and am in need of advice.
Background: I purchased a used Prusa MK3S+ as my first printer (got a good deal from a neighbor, not a print farm). I had great experiences with it for a few months. However, recently several components keep breaking one after another. I've spent ~$100 over the last month replacing parts, and now it seems the power supply and/or mainboard needs replacing. (I promise I've followed every guide and been very careful. I think I'm just unlucky.) I'm sick of fixing my printer. I just want a printer that works. I've decided it's time for me to just upgrade.
- What is currently the best consumer level printer available? I do NOT want a Bambu Labs printer. Otherwise, I would just get the X1C. Here are some things that are important to me:
- Open source software available (even if rooting is necessary)
- Very high quality prints
- Enclosure would be nice
- The bigger the better
- Reliable
- Ideally can be made quiet for overnight prints, even if I need to turn down the speed.
Currently I'm looking at the Qidi X-Max 3 and the Creality K1C. I'm hesitant though because both are new and both brands have had QA issues on other products. I'm also looking at the Rat Rig V-Core 3.1, but I'm scared it'll be a mess of tinkering like my Prusa was.
Any input or recommendations from more experienced people would be greatly appreciated.
- What should I do with my Prusa MK3S+? I don't want to throw it out, but I'm not sure its worth anybody's time or money if the mainboard and power supply are dead. I definitely don't wanna put any more time or money into fixing it myself.
Sorry for the long post, but I felt adding context would help specify what I'm looking for.
Thanks in advances for any replies!
I own a Qidi X-Max 3. It's been bomber so far. I run the thing pretty much nonstop.
I only had one part failure, and it wasn't really a failure as such. One of the fans in one of the two power supplies got noisy after a while. I can't really fault Qidi for that -- they didn't make the fan, it's just a random OEM component. Qidi sent me a whole new power supply, but while I waited for that to show up I just replaced the noisy fan with a regular 80mm computer fan. I still have the replacement power supply sitting on my printer parts shelf... just in case.
I did some more rambling about it here.
Qidi also sent me, without prompting, a replacement hotend housing with fans that I have likewise not yet bothered to install. Once I have some downtime, or if I switch to a high temp material, I guess I will. Their support has been very responsive with the only minor inconvenience being nagging me incessantly to write them 5 star reviews everywhere.
Thanks for the reply! That kind if customer service is a big deal. Definitely leaning towards the Qidi at this point.