New 3d Printer

Project page to raise money for a new 3d printer. If you would like to discuss the exact model to purchase please see the email thread in the member's list. The point of contact for this project is Joseph Cieslik.

Summary

After conferring with several members familiar with 3d printers and checking this year's Make Magazine 3d Printer Shootout I have come up with 3 options.

Lulzbot Taz 5(2200usd.)
- favored and backed by several member's testimony
- fast and high quality prints
- largest print area
- lowest maintenance and setup

Ultimaker 2+ ($2499.00 -$$2999.00 for the extended version)
- Precision
- Ease of use
- Speed
- Software
- Community

Makerfarm Pegasus 12" (~847.50-1127.50USD)
- + Resolution
- + Large build area (11.5in x 12in x 13.5in)
- + Cheap
- - Kit
- - No reviews

DIY delta printer (~600USD)
- Heath is interested in pursuing
- parts cannibalized from the copier bring this price down to ~400
- Delta printers are faster than traditional FDM printers and provide comparable detail with the most vertical print area at the cost of horizontal print area
- I worry that another DIY printer would require more time spent on the printer not on the prints

- (Apple) I'm interested in building a Tantillus that is an offspring of the Ultimaker design
- Do a google image search on Tantillus for many examples built all plastic, acrylic, plywood and, t-slot.
Form2 resin printer(3500usd.)
- resin printer
- provides the highest quality
- small prints
- expensive to maintain

I believe that the Lulzbot Taz 5 is the best option but I leave this open to the list to make a final decision. I will also make a wiki page for planning and will place links and further information there.After conferring with several members familiar with 3d printers and checking this year's Make Magazine 3d Printer Shootout I have come up with 3 options. The first option favored and backed by several member's testimony is the Lulzbot Taz 5(2200usd.) This would provide fast and high quality prints combined with the largest print area and lowest maintenance and setup. The next option is a DIY delta printer that Heath is interested in pursuing for ~600 although parts cannibalized from the copier bring this price down to ~400. Delta printers are faster than traditional FDM printers and provide comparable detail with the most vertical print area at the cost of horizontal print area. Additionally I worry that another DIY printer would require more time spent on the printer not on the prints. A third option is a Form2 resin printer(3500usd.) The resin printer would provide the highest quality but small prints and would be expensive to maintain. I believe that the Lulzbot Taz 5 is the best option but I leave this open to the list to make a final decision.