Reply To: 3D Printing… Where do I start?

[blinky465 17028xp 1]

The only problem with “best 3d printer for miniature” as a concept is that there isn’t a single, definitive answer – everybody has their “favourite 3d printer that matches the constraints and requirements I have right now”, and it’s unlikely that two people ever have the same two sets of parameters (even if they both own the same machine!)

Don’t get too hung up on getting “the best” 3d printer – get one that you tihnk you’ll be able to cope with and just enjoy printing your own minis! The machine is a means to an end, not the be-all-and-end-all. I’ve been really impressed with my Photon, but I know of other people who were so frustrated with theirs, they gave them away!

But this week, I watched a video on speed-painting space marines (black primer, drybrush white, drybrush red, paint details). It looked quick and fun. But a box of mini is about £30 – so I downloaded a “Primaris builder” put together some different arms and legs and after four hours printing, had a squad of six marines ready to paint; if the technique is rubbish and I don’t like them (I prefer the ‘eavy Metal, clean and crisp look myself) they can go in the bin. Using the actual printer to create them was pretty boring – I couldn’t care less if it was an Elegoo Mars, a Photon Mini, a colour screen, a mono screen, an array of tiny mirrors and a laser….

3d printing should enable you to get access to exciting new minis – but I’ve started treating mine like I do any other printer; I’m less interested in the machine, I just want something that can get the job done. My home inkjet isn’t the “best” on the market – it’s the one good enough for what I need, at a price I was happy to pay. Don’t get too hung up on getting “the best” machine. Like an inkjet, look at the consumables, think about how often you’ll use it, consider if the quality of the output will be good enough for what you need – then get the one that suits your pocket.

(don’t forget to paint everything you print too!)