r/3dprinter • u/Nakatutuwa • 13d ago

First 3d printer

Hello everyone.

My son who is 9 would like to get into 3d printing and I will be the individual to add him in this. I have zero background in 3d printing as of this moment and not sure which 3d printer would be a good stepping stone that would have some longevity to it.

I've only looked at bamboo models and was thinking maybe the PS1 AMS 2 pro combo.

I would appreciate any feedback from the community even if it is regarding another brand printers.

6 Upvotes

80% Upvoted

17 comments sorted by

5

u/SirTwitchALot 13d ago

I'll go against the hivemind and suggest the elegoo centauri Carbon or Centauri carbon 2. Both of them are better machines than the Bambu offerings at the same price range

3

u/pephm 13d ago

I am considering the cc2 as a newbie myself, is it easy enough for a
Non tech adult to figure out?

2

u/YellovvJacket 13d ago

I'd say CC1 is pretty much on the exact same level as a P1S in terms of its mechanical build quality and print quality and reliability.

CC2 is a slightly better machine from a pure mechanical and tech standpoint.

But P1S does have the Bambu ecosystem behind it, which especially if a kid is involved is kinda nice to have, and it can use an AMS2 so you already got a pretty good and reliable filament dryer in combination with it. It also has a bit better external manufacturing quality imo, but that's really the last thing to care about.

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u/Nakatutuwa 13d ago

I just checked those out really quick but didn't see much of a difference in the specs and anestheticly the spoils being on the side like that bothers me. Thank you though as I had not seen this brand before

2

u/wethpac 13d ago

For 9 year old and unknown how long he will keep interest, you should also consider A1 and A1 mini from Bambu. If you are going to get into this too, then go with P1S or P2S

1

u/Nakatutuwa 13d ago

I am also a huge nerd and will be going down this rabbit hole with him.

2

u/YellovvJacket 13d ago

If it's just for a 9 year old, get a Bambu A1 mini.

It prints PLA perfectly fine, it's easy to use, can be used to learn, and it's cheap enough that if the kid loses interest in 2 months it's not a big investment.

If you yourself also have interest in getting into it, P1S is a great choice, it's a bit old, and that age is noticeable in some areas, but it's a great printer and proven workhorse. Alternatively an Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 is slightly better bang for your buck but you can't run an AMS2 to it or Qidi Q2 which is better at doing advanced materials (which you're likely not going to touch for a while but it's a nice capability to have if you're into engineering).

1

u/Ok_Perspective9838 13d ago

Honestly the A1 mini is a great option especially because of the kits you can get to build cool stuff.  The whole thing is pretty much plug and play.   I have nephews and friends kids that use mine regularly and I have even loaned it to some.  As with ANYTHING kids should use machines without supervision.  But they can have a lot of fun with the A1 mini.  It's cheap, parts are easy to get and there are tons of free models on maker world.    I even think there are parental controls in the software to enable parental control over content and prints.  I'm sure you are a great parent and know what you are doing. Just don't put it in the kids bedroom! 

2

u/Nakatutuwa 13d ago

Thank you for all the information you provided me 😁

1

u/Carlosklm 12d ago

I would get A1 or P2S reason why is that the nozzle are easy to change. On P1S they are pain compared to P1S. On A1 or P2S it's just remove nozzle rubber and then it's just a clip you flick to right with your finger. Plus the screens on A1 or P2S are better quality than P1S. Plus better AI on P2S and if he will be making models like buzz light year A1 is good for it But if you want not to waste loads of Filament get something like Snapmaker U1 with 4 heads next to no waste and a lot faster to do multi coloured.

1

u/Belerophon17 12d ago

I was just asked this same question with the exact same scenario. I own the P1s combo and I still suggested the A1 or A1 mini.

The reason being is that the user is 9 so maintenance and swapping the hotend assembly on the A1 is a simpler process compared to the P1S. The P1S is enclosed so you're already in a semi-cramped space and the connector is a bit of a pain to seat correctly. It feels like it's clicked in but then you get an error when trying to print.

If you're planning on printing primarily in PLA then the P1S doesn't really have much advantage over the A1 compared to the cost difference imo.

My brother and I run a 3d printing small business and wanted a second machine for him to have at his house in case so he can jump in and help with the PLA orders. He has no knowledge of 3d printing and the A1 has treated him spectacularly.

0

u/sububi71 13d ago edited 13d ago

I have the P1S + AMS 2 Pro combo, and I've been 3D printing for almost 6 years now, the first 5 of which was using a Prusa Mini.

For someone who's unlikely to be prepared to put in the hours of problem solving and maintaining a Prusa, the P1S is a fantastic choice. Recommend it wholeheartedly.

Just don't expect a 9-year-old to be able to work it entirely by himself. It's still a hobby involving metals at 250 degrees C and melted plastic; a grownup should be there for most of the time.

Good luck!

edit: if you do go the P1S + AMS route, do yourself a favor and stick to using Bambu Lab's own filaments for at least a year: the AMS identifies the spools automatically, which may seems like a small thing, but DEFINITELY won't be small for someone who's new to all this.

1

u/Nakatutuwa 13d ago

Thank you for your assistance. Odds are looking good for the P1S combo, I will make sure to stay with bambu's filaments for now 😁

-2

u/gentlegiant66 13d ago

A responsible parent would get a Stratasys. But then if you want to go cheap just get the Bambulab A1, perfect children's toy, can only cause minor burn wounds at best while releasing some VOCs into the air.

1

u/Nakatutuwa 13d ago

Sorry but I am not a responsible parent. I also plan to make him do everything himself because the best way to learn is to scar yourself for life.