(my Workshop. Image just to have a pic)
Hey everyone, this is a request for the hive mind opinion. So please don't up vote, I just really want your experience.. I'm about to buy my first fdm 3d printer. I'm going with one of the two, either the voxelab Aquila, or the ender 3 v1. For the exact same price, which would you recommend as a first time printer, which I'll be looking to upgrade in the future.
Please help? I just can't decide..
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Dear @orlev, we need your help!
The Hivebuzz proposal already got important support from the community. However, it lost its funding a few days ago when the HBD stabilizer proposal rose above it.
May we ask you to support it so our team can continue its work?
You can do it on Peakd, Ecency, Hive.blog or using HiveSigner.
https://peakd.com/me/proposals/199
All votes are helpful and yours will be much appreciated.
Thank you!
I'm very happy with my Ender. My first one was Ender 3 Pro. I had 2 and they worked both fine. When I left the Philippines, I couldn't take them with me. Now I have the Ender 5. The Ender is widely spread, so very easy to find support in case you need it.
Like @Alonicus said, Replace the bowden tube by a Capricorn one, and go for the yellow springs!
Invest some time into learning to work with the machine and finetune it. I saw a lot of people buying one, thinking that downloading a file from Thingiverse and start the download is all. I spend a lot of time in the beginning to get things the way I want. But as soon as you are at that level, nothing can stop you!
Have fun with it and oh yes, order enough filament 😂
Thanks so much!! For the tips and personal perspective! Exactly what I was looking for. Very much appreciated! And I'll make sure to get the filament. I also want to transition to using PET bottles... But I guess ti will take some time (and filament) to set up..
They are really similar printers, and I believe they both use exactly the same Creality hotend. The Aquila is a virtual clone of the Ender 3 V2, so it has one or two frills the Ender 3 V1 doesn't have (stuff like knurly knobs on the belt adjusters), but there is nothing truly must-have on it.
If they are both the same price, I'd go for the Voxelab one, but if you can get an Ender 3 V2 for the same price, that would (slightly) be my preference. If the Ender 3 V1 is more than $20 cheaper than the Voxelab, get that.
Whatever you get, though, there are a couple of upgrades which are worthwhile. Don't do the "upgrade everything" routine that some people recommend, and only change one thing at a time so that you can check it has had a positive impact. The things I'd change are;
- After you've printed the test prints that calibrate your machine, print a tool holder. Really, you'll thank me :D
- Throw away the awful cheap Bowden cable fittings and get decent ones. You'll be able to tell when you press the collar down - decent ones have a nice positive "click" to them, the standard ones feel spongy and vague.
- Later on, replace the levelling springs under the build plate with the yellow ones. They are firmer, and will make levelling the bed far, far easier.
Good luck, and enjoy ! Also, Thingiverse is your friend :)
Thank you so much for taking the time yo fully respond and give me so much info. Very much appreciated!!