<div dir="ltr">I own a Makerbot Replicator 2X and an Ultimaker 2. There are lots of great printers around right now, but after doing my own research I recently settled on the Ultimaker 2. Not cheap, but it's open, great quality, has all the points that Stephan mentioned (standard filament, heated bed, large print area, open, etc.) great community, good software, hackable and very reliable (as this gen of printers goes) and takes lots of different filaments. I've done many successful ABS and PLA prints with it - no problems so far. In my opinion, it's a solid, no regrets choice if it's within your budget.<div>My Makerbot 2X is getting a brain transplant - the main board fried after the stepper cable came loose - too many demos. I've replaced it (almost done) with a smoothie board since I (like many others) have become quite disenchanted with Makerbot of late.</div><div><br></div><div>Jeff</div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Aug 24, 2015 at 3:42 PM, Tom Burns <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:tom.i.burns@gmail.com" target="_blank">tom.i.burns@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr">I own two 3d printers*<div><br></div><div>* if you consider kickstarter payment to be "ownership".. Neither have shipped yet. Peachy printer's a year overdue, and the Genesis Duo's now talking about being 4 months or so late.</div><div><br></div><div>The technology's changing very quickly so I'd suggest you buy the best available printer when you're ready, and not buy into a project that will likely be out of date by the time it's ready.</div><div><br></div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div><div class="h5">On Mon, Aug 24, 2015 at 3:23 PM, Stephen Burke <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:steve@envirolaser.com" target="_blank">steve@envirolaser.com</a>></span> wrote:<br></div></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div><div class="h5">
<div dir="ltr">
<div dir="ltr">
<div style="FONT-SIZE:12pt;FONT-FAMILY:'Calibri';COLOR:#000000">
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<div style="FONT-SIZE:small;TEXT-DECORATION:none;FONT-FAMILY:"Calibri";FONT-WEIGHT:normal;COLOR:#000000;FONT-STYLE:normal;DISPLAY:inline"><span>Hi
Benoit,</span></div></div>
<div>
<div style="FONT-SIZE:small;TEXT-DECORATION:none;FONT-FAMILY:"Calibri";FONT-WEIGHT:normal;COLOR:#000000;FONT-STYLE:normal;DISPLAY:inline"><span></span> </div></div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE:small;TEXT-DECORATION:none;FONT-FAMILY:"Calibri";FONT-WEIGHT:normal;COLOR:#000000;FONT-STYLE:normal;DISPLAY:inline"><span>My
personal experience over the past 6 years has taught me that if you want to
build one, and this is your first 3D printer, make sure it is a VERY simple kit,
otherwise it may become one of those unfinished projects.
</span></div></div>
<div>
<div style="FONT-SIZE:small;TEXT-DECORATION:none;FONT-FAMILY:"Calibri";FONT-WEIGHT:normal;COLOR:#000000;FONT-STYLE:normal;DISPLAY:inline"><span></span> </div></div>
<div>
<div style="FONT-SIZE:small;TEXT-DECORATION:none;FONT-FAMILY:"Calibri";FONT-WEIGHT:normal;COLOR:#000000;FONT-STYLE:normal;DISPLAY:inline"><span>It
would make sense in high school only if the focus was assembling a device, not
necessarily using it. You can expect to put 30 to 40 hours into assembling
a 3D printer, and another 10+ making sure it works properly and
consistently.</span></div></div>
<div>
<div style="FONT-SIZE:small;TEXT-DECORATION:none;FONT-FAMILY:"Calibri";FONT-WEIGHT:normal;COLOR:#000000;FONT-STYLE:normal;DISPLAY:inline"><span></span> </div></div>
<div>
<div style="FONT-SIZE:small;TEXT-DECORATION:none;FONT-FAMILY:"Calibri";FONT-WEIGHT:normal;COLOR:#000000;FONT-STYLE:normal;DISPLAY:inline"><span>If
the need is to have a working 3D printer for use in class as a tool to make
projects, then buy a printer that allows for generic filament and uses open
source components and software. Find something that can handle multiple
materials (PLA, Nylon, ABS, Carbon Fibre, etc), has a heated build plate, and a
large print volume (8” x 8” x 6” or larger is nice). A machine like this
will have very few limitations so it could be used for multiple
projects.</span></div></div>
<div>
<div style="FONT-SIZE:small;TEXT-DECORATION:none;FONT-FAMILY:"Calibri";FONT-WEIGHT:normal;COLOR:#000000;FONT-STYLE:normal;DISPLAY:inline"><span></span> </div></div>
<div>
<div style="FONT-SIZE:small;TEXT-DECORATION:none;FONT-FAMILY:"Calibri";FONT-WEIGHT:normal;COLOR:#000000;FONT-STYLE:normal;DISPLAY:inline"><span>I
sell 3D printers from MakerBot, ROBO, 3D Systems, Cubify, Full Spectrum and,
maybe soon, Printrbot. I also sell a wide variety of filaments from
Taulman 3D, ColorFabb, FlashForge, Proto-pasta and MakerBot.</span></div></div>
<div>
<div style="FONT-SIZE:small;TEXT-DECORATION:none;FONT-FAMILY:"Calibri";FONT-WEIGHT:normal;COLOR:#000000;FONT-STYLE:normal;DISPLAY:inline"><span></span> </div></div>
<div>
<div style="FONT-SIZE:small;TEXT-DECORATION:none;FONT-FAMILY:"Calibri";FONT-WEIGHT:normal;COLOR:#000000;FONT-STYLE:normal;DISPLAY:inline"><span>Chances
are, I will have the 3D printer and material that will suit your needs for your
high school.</span></div></div><span><font color="#888888">
<div>
<div style="FONT-SIZE:small;TEXT-DECORATION:none;FONT-FAMILY:"Calibri";FONT-WEIGHT:normal;COLOR:#000000;FONT-STYLE:normal;DISPLAY:inline"><span></span> </div></div>
<div>
<div style="FONT-SIZE:12pt;FONT-FAMILY:'Calibri';COLOR:#000000">Stephen
Burke</div>
<div style="FONT-SIZE:12pt;FONT-FAMILY:'Calibri';COLOR:#000000">3D Artist
<div style="FONT-SIZE:small;TEXT-DECORATION:none;FONT-FAMILY:"Calibri";FONT-WEIGHT:normal;COLOR:#000000;FONT-STYLE:normal;DISPLAY:inline"></div></div> </div></font></span></div></div></div>
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