We added another Prusa i3 Hephestos to our Workshop.
This time we sourced the parts instead of buying a complete kit.
If you are interested to see how it got assembled you can follow the whole process on YouTube.
Please feel free to ask us if you have any questions!
For quite a long time I was looking into 3D Printers and following how they evolved from hacked together machines to actually pretty streamlined machines.
At the start of this year a family member rewarded me more than generously for putting a gaming PC together and I decided to use the opportunity and buy one.
Before I purchase something I usually spend a few days/weeks going over options, reading reviews, etc. before I actually make up my mind and get it.
So the process started…
Get an already built machine or a DIY kit?
My budget was not allowing a machine like an Ultimaker or similar priced options.
Looking at various stores, there were other options, but either the build size was very small, they had proprietary cartridges for the filament, or similar caveats.
While looking into those machines, I often read about modifications people made and issues they had to solve.
The more I read the more I decided for myself that a DIY kit is the better option.
There are less restrictions on which filament to use, and those implied are technical and not because someone wants to sell overpriced stuff.
I will actually know and understand how the machine is built and how it operates.
And that is the most important part, because it allows you to troubleshoot more easily and see where modifications make sense.
Apart from what many people believe, the 3D Printers affordable for the average person are not “press a button and get a perfect piece anytime” machines.
But with so many ressources and good kits out there, the learning curve gets less steep all the time.
Wanting to learn and having a lot of interest in 3D printing are a must (at least in my opinion).
Otherwise frustration will set in rather quickly.
What kit and where to get it?
Should I get one of the rather good priced kits from China, or one sold with a brand name?
Looking at the China ones the first thing was to add import taxes and such and see how much cheaper they actually are.
Once you add taxes they are not that bargain anymore, but still good priced.
Looking at YouTube videos where people assemble such printers I quickly realized that quite often the documentation, or rather lack of documentation, is the biggest problem.
Apart from no real support if parts are bad, missing, or other things.
There are things to get from China and things to get in other places, 3d Printers fall in the second category.
Well…
most models sold with a brand name are ready assembled ones, and alot of others are rebranded printers from china.
One exception I found was the Prusa i3 Hephestos from BQ.
It comes with really good assembly instructions, warranty on parts, etc.
And to make my life easier and get good Support I decided to spend a few bucks more and buy it at a local store in Vienna (about 45 minutes of driving).
Actually getting the Printer
I went to the website of the 3D store i had chosen and ordered the Hephestos with the heatbed add on and some filament.
All is in stock and I get my order confirmation and an info that I can pick it up at the store.
Cool!
Or not so…
Arriving at the store it isn’t in stock.
But hey, Errors happen!
The clerk tells me that the shipment with printers will arrive shortly and then they mail it to me.
No Problem for me, i pay the full amount and head back home.
I’d lie if I say I was not disappointed, but again, I do understand the problem.
Soon I got a call, they tell me the printer is in, but not the heatbed. That one will come in a few days.
No Problem, just send it when you got all parts!
Another call a few days later… the heatbeds are still not in… but they will send the printer.
The printer arrives, I assemble it and start printing without a heatbed.
Some time later the heatbed arrives and I am happy.
So far everything went rather smooth, so adding that should be no Problem!
Ummm. There is a problem, the heatbed doesn’t get hot.
But hey, I bought it at a store which told me several times they support their customers!
When I called them i spoke to two people and described what the problem is and what I already tried in detail.
They had no clue what I was talking about! BIG disappointment.
I was told to email the Serial number and copy of the Printers invoice and they will send me a replacement board.
Which I did and never heard from that again, no board and no support!
I was able to solve it by researching on the Internet and rechecking everything I did about 10 times.
It was a small error on my part and if they would have known about the product they sell it would have been solved in minutes.
But hey, I learned about the printer, I solved it within 2 days, and with my heatbed it is alot easier to print.
Well, beside that the same store told me the supplied power brick is good enough to heat up for PLA, I’d only need a stronger one for higher temperatures for ABS.
Anope…. it ended up with a smoking and melting connector which could have been really ugly!
Replacing it with a stronger one wasn’t an issue, but I started to be angry with myself that I paid more for the unit than I had to.
So rather buy it online and ask somebody you know to help (if needed).
You don’t know anyone with a 3D Printer?
Ask around, these days it is very likely somebody knows a geek who can help.
Maybe even for just a few cups of coffee and some good bakery along with it.
At least with the BQ Printers the manuals are awesome and doing it step by step.
They also have a YouTube Video showing how to do it!
I never regretted buying a BQ 3D Printer, it is a really nice unit.
And YOU would have no problem putting it together either!