Posted: 3/24/2026 9:51:59 PM EDT
|
So I have the desire to get into 3d printing. I have no laptop or tablet I have no clue what printer I want I have some goals though. Print fidgets and toys for my kids Small projects at work or home. Print a silencer or dozens What do I need to get? Obviously I will have a looooong learning curve. I think I need to get a budget laptop. Doubt a cell phone is going to help out with this Budget? I could spend $6-1800 on a setup |
All things are possible.  https://www.ar15.com/forums/General/So-you-want-to-get-into-3D-Printing-/194-2837736/ https://www.ar15.com/forums/General/3D2A-FAQ/194-2834269/ Laptop doesn't need to be anything fancy. Slicing isn't all that CPU intensive. Worst case on the big models with lots of support or fuzzy skin you'll just have to wait a short time while it computes. Now, if you intend to get into 3D CAD then I'd recommend a decently specd PC. |
| Blob hit all the talking points. Read the listed articles and come back with questions. Ultimately at your budget you will be happy but will still have compromises if you want a full 2A capable setup. That's an expensive leap to get that capability in a turn key setup. It's possible, but there is hardware that makes it much easier to get excellent results but those will fall outside your budget. |
I read the thread title as "need help 3D printing a tard" But just dive in. You'll get it. But I'd say get a PC. Makes it easier. |
"According to Argonne National Laboratory, it takes 100 pounds of battery in an EV to go a distance achieved by only one pound of gasoline in an ICE vehicle"
|
Originally Posted By 20229mm: Print fidgets and toys for my kids Small projects at work or home. Print a silencer or dozens What do I need to get? https://us.store.bambulab.com/collections/3d-printer?from=home_web_top_navigation Someone call my name? Forewarning, I'm a high functioning idiot and most of the time I don't know what I'm talking about. With that said... Fidgets and toys, a simple non-enclosed Bambu A1 will suit you perfectly. A non-enclosed printer is very limited in the material choices you can print with but for simple indoor fidget stuff, the material choices are fine. For small projects at work and home, you would probably want an enclosed printer. The P1S is the outgoing model, the P2S is it's more advanced replacement. The P series printers are enclosed, and will retain some heat while keeping drafts off of the print which opens up the possibilities of more engineering type of materials. This type of printer often needs to be heat soaked for 30-60 min to warm the chamber for some filaments like ABS or ASA. This would be the minimum type printer you would need to print outdoorsy stuff. The Bambu H2S (single nozzle) is the entry-level H series that has a heated chamber and makes printing practically all consumer grade filaments super easy, but with a slightly steeper learning curve. H2D seems to be much more popular because of the added capability of having two separate print nozzles. This makes it more reliable for printing two different material types at the same time without having to purge the nozzle each time which is time-consuming and waste a lot of material. H2D is also on sale right now. For the H or P series, it's highly recommended to get the bundle with an AMS2. Pairing an AMS with your printer opens up a lot of capability and it is highly recommended. Did I mention the H2D is on sale right now? 
|
|
Originally Posted By _DR: I read the thread title as "need help 3D printing a tard" But just dive in. You'll get it. But I'd say get a PC. Makes it easier. This, get a cheap PC. Don't be the guy that downloads a model and just prints from the Handi App. Your printer set must match how the model was made (at least that's my understanding). With a real slicer it gives you a world of options. |
Y'all can go to hell, I'll go to Idaho.
|
Originally Posted By ScooterInVegas: https://us.store.bambulab.com/collections/3d-printer?from=home_web_top_navigation Someone call my name? Forewarning, I'm a high functioning idiot and most of the time I don't know what I'm talking about. With that said... Fidgets and toys, a simple non-enclosed Bambu A1 will suit you perfectly. A non-enclosed printer is very limited in the material choices you can print with but for simple indoor fidget stuff, the material choices are fine. For small projects at work and home, you would probably want an enclosed printer. The P1S is the outgoing model, the P2S is it's more advanced replacement. The P series printers are enclosed, and will retain some heat while keeping drafts off of the print which opens up the possibilities of more engineering type of materials. This type of printer often needs to be heat soaked for 30-60 min to warm the chamber for some filaments like ABS or ASA. This would be the minimum type printer you would need to print outdoorsy stuff. The Bambu H2S (single nozzle) is the entry-level H series that has a heated chamber and makes printing practically all consumer grade filaments super easy, but with a slightly steeper learning curve. H2D seems to be much more popular because of the added capability of having two separate print nozzles. This makes it more reliable for printing two different material types at the same time without having to purge the nozzle each time which is time-consuming and waste a lot of material. H2D is also on sale right now. For the H or P series, it's highly recommended to get the bundle with an AMS2. Pairing an AMS with your printer opens up a lot of capability and it is highly recommended. Did I mention the H2D is on sale right now? Originally Posted By ScooterInVegas: Originally Posted By 20229mm: Print fidgets and toys for my kids Small projects at work or home. Print a silencer or dozens What do I need to get? https://us.store.bambulab.com/collections/3d-printer?from=home_web_top_navigation Someone call my name? Forewarning, I'm a high functioning idiot and most of the time I don't know what I'm talking about. With that said... Fidgets and toys, a simple non-enclosed Bambu A1 will suit you perfectly. A non-enclosed printer is very limited in the material choices you can print with but for simple indoor fidget stuff, the material choices are fine. For small projects at work and home, you would probably want an enclosed printer. The P1S is the outgoing model, the P2S is it's more advanced replacement. The P series printers are enclosed, and will retain some heat while keeping drafts off of the print which opens up the possibilities of more engineering type of materials. This type of printer often needs to be heat soaked for 30-60 min to warm the chamber for some filaments like ABS or ASA. This would be the minimum type printer you would need to print outdoorsy stuff. The Bambu H2S (single nozzle) is the entry-level H series that has a heated chamber and makes printing practically all consumer grade filaments super easy, but with a slightly steeper learning curve. H2D seems to be much more popular because of the added capability of having two separate print nozzles. This makes it more reliable for printing two different material types at the same time without having to purge the nozzle each time which is time-consuming and waste a lot of material. H2D is also on sale right now. For the H or P series, it's highly recommended to get the bundle with an AMS2. Pairing an AMS with your printer opens up a lot of capability and it is highly recommended. Did I mention the H2D is on sale right now? As an addition the H series printers have the ability to add lasers (10w & 40w) to them as well as a vinyl / paper cutter attachment. I bought the cutter attachment with my H2D, partly because it was a capability I didn't have before and partly because it was only a $70 adder. I passed on the laser because it's much more expensive and isn't able to engrave steel....it also just seems like a messy combo to put in a 3D printer. I'm sure the kids would keep you busy making stickers and vinyl decals to put on stuff.....related to 2A stuff.....I've used precut vinyl "negative" stickers to make templates for electro etching 80% lowers with really good results. Essentially you make a sticker but cut away everything you want etched. All it takes is an old laptop charger, q-tips and salt water.....some patience probably helps.  Not my picture but gives you the general idea. 
|
EP429: Today's lesson - Don't provoke ARFCOM. People will see your butthole.