Buying a 3D Printer this Christmas? Advice from the Makerspace.
It is getting closer to Christmas and this year’s hot present is. A 3D Printer! Children want to print amazing toys, parents want children to learn STEM skills. It is a match made in heaven. At Lancaster and Morecambe Makers we have been asked many questions about which to buy. Here is some hopefully useful advice! Should I buy a second-hand printer? Online marketplaces such as Facebook and eBay have had a recent influx of temptingly cheap 3D printers, often 60-70 pounds and advertised as ‘ Fantastic for a Christmas Gift! ’. We can absolutely say do not buy these printers . They are usually older models and are being sold at a discount. Old Prusa 3D Printer. Great for its time! Not so much in 2024. We love it, but you might not. Why? Older 3D printers lack features such as automatic Bed Levelling, which can make even basic 3D prints frustrating and time consuming. Some 3D printers do not have up-to-date software, the company may have ceased trading and instead rely on the enthusiast community to provide updates, which isn’t guaranteed. Older pri