I am interested in getting a 3D printer but I have no idea where to even started. Is there such thing as a multi-purpose printer? What’s a good source to read up on printers, software, filament?
I am thinking small replacements items like drawer guides, funnel for espresso machine, essentially little parts and pieces that break around the house and farm. Also maybe some device cases (including outdoor ones) etc.
Ideally I don’t want a closed system. I have a Cricut for 10 years or so and I hate being locked into the app so much. Unless there is a really, really good reason.
Edited to add: Thank you all! What an amazing community!
It’s probably not the best, but I started with an Ender 3. I kinda like it for not being the best. While you’re dealing with bed leveling issues, and hot end issues, and extruder issues, and Gcode issues, and filament issues, and adhesion issues, you’re learning about the core aspects of the technology.
Sure, you could get something that’s basically plug-and-play from the start, but then you won’t really understand what’s going on. And eventually, you’re going to want to do something that requires you know what’s going on.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s not abusively bad or anything. It’s just simple, it doesn’t have modern creature comforts.
You can probably pick up an E3 secondhand, pre-assembled, for pretty cheap. It may be the most extensively troubleshot, documented, and modified printer ever. You can ship-of-Theseus it into basically any specification you want, and I’ve never had a problem that didn’t have dozens of solution threads.
Even if you eventually replace it, and you probably will, the lessons you learn fiddling around with it will carry on into the hobby.