tl;dr: What is the best quality consumer 3D printer available (NOT bambu labs)?

Hello,

I’m relatively new to 3D printing (<6 months exp) and am in need of advice.

Background: I purchased a used Prusa MK3S+ as my first printer (got a good deal from a neighbor, not a print farm). I had great experiences with it for a few months. However, recently several components keep breaking one after another. I’ve spent ~$100 over the last month replacing parts, and now it seems the power supply and/or mainboard needs replacing. (I promise I’ve followed every guide and been very careful. I think I’m just unlucky.) I’m sick of fixing my printer. I just want a printer that works. I’ve decided it’s time for me to just upgrade.

  1. What is currently the best consumer level printer available? I do NOT want a Bambu Labs printer. Otherwise, I would just get the X1C. Here are some things that are important to me:
  • Open source software available (even if rooting is necessary)
  • Very high quality prints
  • Enclosure would be nice
  • The bigger the better
  • Reliable
  • Ideally can be made quiet for overnight prints, even if I need to turn down the speed.

Currently I’m looking at the Qidi X-Max 3 and the Creality K1C. I’m hesitant though because both are new and both brands have had QA issues on other products. I’m also looking at the Rat Rig V-Core 3.1, but I’m scared it’ll be a mess of tinkering like my Prusa was.

Any input or recommendations from more experienced people would be greatly appreciated.

  1. What should I do with my Prusa MK3S+? I don’t want to throw it out, but I’m not sure its worth anybody’s time or money if the mainboard and power supply are dead. I definitely don’t wanna put any more time or money into fixing it myself.

Sorry for the long post, but I felt adding context would help specify what I’m looking for.

Thanks in advances for any replies!

  • dual_sport_dork 🐧🗡️
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    39 months ago

    I own a Qidi X-Max 3. It’s been bomber so far. I run the thing pretty much nonstop.

    I only had one part failure, and it wasn’t really a failure as such. One of the fans in one of the two power supplies got noisy after a while. I can’t really fault Qidi for that – they didn’t make the fan, it’s just a random OEM component. Qidi sent me a whole new power supply, but while I waited for that to show up I just replaced the noisy fan with a regular 80mm computer fan. I still have the replacement power supply sitting on my printer parts shelf… just in case.

    I did some more rambling about it here.

    Qidi also sent me, without prompting, a replacement hotend housing with fans that I have likewise not yet bothered to install. Once I have some downtime, or if I switch to a high temp material, I guess I will. Their support has been very responsive with the only minor inconvenience being nagging me incessantly to write them 5 star reviews everywhere.

    • @[email protected]OP
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      29 months ago

      Thanks for the reply! That kind if customer service is a big deal. Definitely leaning towards the Qidi at this point.