3D tools

just go with the larger one if its in your budget. You can print multiple parts at a time in mini production runs vs one at a time and also just larger parts in general

 

That was my thought as well, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to get some extra input.

 

I dont know of anyone who wished they got a smaller machine but I know multiple people who wished they got a larger one. It may work for what you want to do right now but down the road it probably wont.

 

Also, those monoprice printers don't print that well right out of the box. If you are willing to do tinkering and testing, then you will be fine. Just don't expect to get a high quality print without a lot of work.

 

I call bullshit! the two I have owned have worked perfectly out of the box. I have not had to do anything with either one to get great prints.

 

Well maybe they have improved since I used them. I just had a lot of trouble with the aluminum bed warping and not being able to hold an accurate temperature.

 

A lot of the reviews, etc I have read suggest they have certainly improved over time. That said, for the money everyone seems to think these are pretty fantastic.

The question I'm debating right now is do I spring for a 3d printer, a vinyl cutter or a sewing machine first? I have projects I could use all 3 for, but don't wanna drop that sort of cash all at once right now.

 

which vinyl cutter are you looking at?

 

Ended up getting a Silhouette Cameo 3.

Def gonna need a small table.
First cuts!


Hooked up a buddy as a test mule.

 

When you have a box of parts you eventually end up with a project to build. Looking to turn this into a 48 x 96” CNC plasma. Had this box for 10 years now. Looking into an Arduino controller setup. Not sure how many months (or years) before this is up and running. It is on the list of projects for the next year.

 

@Tsumara

 

im in the same boat. I salvaged a bunch of heavy duty stepper motors and arduino controllers with a plan to build a router since wood is a no go in my vmc and plastics make too much of a mess in it.

 

how do you like it? any negatives?

 

Can’t speak for Gunshot, but I bought my wife one about 2 years ago, she uses it for everything. I couldn’t tell you how many hundreds of feet of vinyl and transfer she has put through it.

Most recently present tags for Christmas

 

what primarily do you print/cut on it? I just wonder if it would be useful to get a printer/cutter that makes bigger or smaller pieces?

 

Oh fuck, she makes tons of shit. Lots of vinyl stickers and stencils, indoor and outdoor vinyls. Paper, lots of tags like the one above. Have a friend who is sponsored and we did all his sponsors along the bottom of his doors form wheel to wheel.

She’s only made one thing that was larger than the capacity of the machine, but with some creative alignment points she was able to make a large single vinyl sticker.

I may at some point buy her a bigger machine, maybe something with a 24-30” capacity. But at that point everything gets more expensive for it.

 

My wife is interested in something like this. Shes always looking for a certain vinyl print and never finds what she wants. Maybe I'll get that for her for one of her b-day presents I dont think that will get me in trouble...

 

I've had a ShopBot Alpha 96 and currently have a Laguna SmartShop 1. Also have a cheap Creality CR-10S 3d printer. Fusion 360 has slowly become our most used piece of cad and cam software as well!

 

Be careful when purchasing a vinyl cutter. Some of the smaller hobby type ones require a monthly subscription just to print to them.

I just picked up a US cutter 34" . I haven't done more than a test print yet. I'm designing a new decal for the side of the 4Runner now.

 

I've used it for about 6 months now and still like it. Pretty low barrier to entry for simple projects.

@Martyinco said, it has a lot of uses that you don't think about. Like cutting the masking for glass etching and stuff, so there is a lot of ancillary products that you can make because you can cut vinyl to make them.

My goal is to have a makerspace part of my garage that has: 3d printer, cnc router, vacu-form, and vinyl cutting. Maybe a mini-lathe. Then I saw what that costs. We'll get there.