I have to proclaim that hobby 3D printing is not an enjoyable pursuit for the mechanically and technically challenged. One must be 100 percent committed to being fully self-motivated and self-sustained with all hardware and operational configurations and repair/maintenance needs.
Here are three of my ten (and more) of my 3D printers. One (not shown) is a duplicate (still in the box) of the Tiertime Cetus2 on the right in this photo. I also have a 3rd Cetus2 which is the prototype stored in my workshop. I have several UV Resin printers in the workshop.
Yes, I have too many printers.
The middle and the righthand printers in the picture had major hardware failures that put them out of operation for over a month each while trouble-shooting and trying to obtain parts from China.
China completely shutdown for a week for the Lunar New Year, so that didn’t help things at all. Their custom, the world can wait. Europe is no different (EU) as they do the same for Summer holidays. My last corporate occupation was with a French owned business. One learns to adjust to other cultures.
That is in the past. The two machines on the right are now my best and most expensive hardware. Both are dual filament FDM machines.
I thought spending a little more would provide more reliable hardware. That has not exactly been the case for non-failure reliability. They are great printers but have needed fixing. Especially as they are new and first of their kind like these machines, Cutting edge can make early adopters bleed. Remember that... It's like being a BETA tester. Later versions will certainly improve.
The middle one is a Snapmaker J1 IDEX (Independent Dual Extruder). The printer on the right is the Tiertime CETUS2 dual filament single nozzle.
Before failing and after repair, both are excellent performers as far as print quality and ability to use two spools of filament without manual switching. These are the “best” at what they do.
The other printer on the far left is an Anycubic Delta Plus single filament FDM printer. It too had teething problems when first acquired, but is now my strongest single filament printer. Not one of my ten+ printers have been problem free.
Neither condeming or promoting printers, but want to stress that none of these FDM machines have been perfect.
The highest quality (smooth) prints are produced with my UV light cured resin printers. That is another layer by layer process but a totally different operation than using plastic filament.
There are posts on UV resin printing elsewhere in this website.
All these machines produce vapors and odors when operating. I tolerate the FDM odors in house, but the UV Resin is only operated in the well ventilated workshop. One must deal with these conditions.
3D printers are not kitchen appliances that will operate for decades without repairs or general “fixing”. They are tools that need skilled operators to make mechanical and electrical repairs and the ability to manage at least a hundred variables that affect print results.
For the owners that can work though the details, 3D printing is a challenging and rewarding “making” experience. For those without the required technical abilities, blame the hardware (often the problem) and want “someone” to do something. That someone is themselves.
The “Maytag Repairman” is the face in the mirror. It’s part of the process of Hobby 3D printing