Just getting to start 3D printing. Haven’t bought a printer yet. It’s confusing for a beginner so I’m looking forward to beginning. Leaning towards the Bambu Lab A1 3D Printer. I’m sure I’ll have some questions so I’m glad I joined this forum. Good to be here !
Run away dude! 3D printing can be addictive, it’s a monkey on your back. Sooner or later you will run out of the filament you need, at night and you’ll find your self in some dark alley trying to score some over priced PLA or PETG. OK maybe not that bad.
Welcome to the forum. You will find that there is a lot to learn but people here can help. As far as what kind of printer do the research. Capability that you need, price you can pay etc. The newer generation of printers are a lot better as far as running well out of the box.
Let the adventure begin!
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Thanks Loosenut. I’m leaning toward a Bambu A1. From what I’ve heard, it’s out of the box ready and they have great support. Does it need to be connected to my computer or can I use a thumb drive with the item I want to print loaded on it ? Also, is there a site you recommend to learn the characteristics of the many types of filament ?
Thanks for your reply. Last thing I need is another addictive hobby. I am a knife collector with about 400 in my collection. So I understand what you mean by it’s an addictive hobby.
Maybe time for a 12 step program ?
Nah….
Bambu Lab A1 is one of the best starter printers out there! You can focus on designing, check out 3D software like Fusion! 
It depends on the printer but as a rule of thumb (I really have no idea what that actually means) most printers made today can be connected directly by
- USB cable to a computer
- have the print files loaded onto the printer by USB drive
- files loaded by WIFI.
In 3D printing YouTube is your friend. For most things that you want to know about most of the more common printers and generic printing info there are videos on the tube by someone. There are a lot of videos on filament also. You can go to filament producers web sites for specific info, with luck there might be some. Be advised that many of these “web heads” are sponsored by printer and/or filament companies so until you know better assume what they say is commercially compromised.
As Samca said Fusion is a good CAD program, free with limitations but there are others. Onshape is another online CAD program that has a following. Personally I don’t like the online approach, I don’t trust their security as in “we don’t look at it”, not that I have anything to hide but I like my privacy. I really can’t see how that business model will work since any reputable design firm isn’t likely to take a chance and put propitiatory info on the web. I know that doesn’t apply to us, just a bitch.
Freecad is another and it is open source, has a good following.
Design CAD seems decent enough.
There seems to be a way you can get SolidWorks for a reasonable annual fee.
Personally since I no longer have access to Autodesk Inventor (my favourite program) and I won’t use Fusion 360 for the above reason even though it would have been easy to switch to I now use Solid Edge by Siemans. This is a full featured CAD program that is given away to non-commercial users IE: amateurs. Completely free and will do anything that any other CAD program will do.
There are more popping up all the time. Just try a few.
If your married don’t piss the wife off!
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