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So the Bambu labs A1 looks like the perfect starting point.

One problem, it uses proprietary firmware and software, I'm a big advocate for owning the things you buy, and not supporting companies that don't allow you to do that as much as I reasonably can. So yea I can't buy Bambu.

The Creality SparkX i7 seems nice, it looks like a straight up clone of the A1
https://store.creality.com/eu/products/sparkx-i7-3d-printer

I've heard a lot of people complain about Creality though, so unsure. I'm a bit stuck and getting decision fatigue.

My budget is ~500 Euro.

Help.

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[-] geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml 5 points 1 hour ago

Qidi Q2 can offer magnificent value if you want something slightly bigger. It runs on open-source Klipper.

[-] BenSim@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 hour ago

In small places: corexy not only for particles (cooking produces much more than a pla/petg print and some are proven carcinogenic, but research your self) but for actual space. Bed slinger often seem smaller but once you factor in the space the bed travels, they are actually requiring more space.

Something more open like Sovol or Creality will benefit you once you want to tinker with the printer to have better cooling or sth...

[-] notaviking@lemmy.world 1 points 1 hour ago

Well this is my opinion; I have a large cr10 smart pro, it is way too big for 95% of my prints. Only a small number has ever been larger than 20cm. So don't go and buy too large of a printer initially. So don't think you are missing out with 30cm30cm30cm build volumes.

Next is speed, I am still stuck at 60mm/s speeds so get something fast, this is the biggest gripe of my printer. Not the quality, not the size... But speed. You can always make your printer print slower but not easily very faster than designed. Anything that can hit 180-200mm/s would be amazing.

Next is the multiple filament that has taken the world by storm, all I can say is I am jealous and cannot wait to get a printer which has it, call it fomo but I want it, I think it has its use cases but for you that is to decide.

Next is do you like to tinker or do you just want to print and forget. I cannot speak to either of your examples but even my cr10 is very close to print and forget, I did a bit of setup but you will do something similar while learning how to use it. So I think both your examples will be basically print and forget out of the box. If you want to tinker I do not think either your examples are very mod friendly but I might be wrong. Nor privacy friendly if you just connect and forget but that is your choice, honestly I am indifferent. If you want to maybe try and install a rpi with klipper maybe you will get past most of your privacy concerns, but that is a whole bunch of learning and say then good bye to a good weekend learning and getting everything to work, but learning is so rewarding. I did a klipper conversion on my creality and I love it.

Honestly go with your gut, there will never be a 3d printer that does everything and is perfect, just ask yourself what your needs are and what are non negotiable. Everything is evolving so rapidly in 3-5 years your new printer now will seem old, so future proofing is very hard with a plug and play.

Also check part availability where you are, in South Africa, where I assume both of us are, I chose creality because even now I can still buy parts easily at most 3d printer shops years after the model has been discontinued.

[-] notaviking@lemmy.world 1 points 59 minutes ago

So if I had to buy one tomorrow, and being a creality fan, on your budget it would be a creality hi combo, if I had more it would be any K2 with a cfs combo

[-] Skyrmir@lemmy.world 0 points 1 hour ago

If you're wanting to learn, just get the cheapest Ender3. No they're not good printers, but they're open and you can add on parts as you figure out they're needed. They take tuning to adjustment to get a halfway decent print, meaning you're going to learn how to do that. And once you've done that, you're going to have very solid opinions about what you need in your next printer.

[-] Ek-Hou-Van-Braai@piefed.social 4 points 4 hours ago

I live in a tiny apartment, so it might end up in my living room, so ascetics is also a factor, I really like the A1, but yea fuck Bambu

[-] RealisticBroccoli@piefed.social 5 points 3 hours ago* (last edited 3 hours ago)

we have a prusa mini for several years at work. i am printing quite a lot and had zero issues so far. if you buy the mini: order the wifi module.

[-] geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml -2 points 1 hour ago

Prusa is ran by Zionists so I'd definitely avoid that.

[-] PonyOfWar@pawb.social 6 points 4 hours ago

In any space where you spend a lot of time, I'd recommend an enclosed printer and an air filter or outside ventilation. While the fumes of PLA and PETG are not proven to be harmful, they do contain microplastics that you'll breathe in.

[-] Mike_The_TV@lemmy.world 1 points 4 hours ago

You can put custom firmware on the x1c and use whatever the hell you want. Make sure you put it somewhere you can vent outside, so not in the living room.

[-] Ek-Hou-Van-Braai@piefed.social 5 points 4 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago)

bambu x1c ?
I don't want to support companies that lock down their firmware. The more Open-Source the better.

[-] Creat@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago)

The are also printers that are inspired by the voron project, while not fully being a voron, but more pre-assembled. I think sovol has some, and formbot has the troodon series, including a smaller 250mm version.

I haven't used either, but it might be worth looking into. I did but a voron kit by formbot and honestly that was great. Firmware is just klipper, so fully open source, of course.

[-] depressed_lemon@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 hours ago

If you don't want to go down the e.g. "Voron route" nor that I could recommend for the first 3D-Printer, Prusa or partially Sovol Printers would be good. For what I can say Prusa MK4S would be a solid option, although more costly than the Mini.

this post was submitted on 24 Feb 2026
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