We've been talking about getting a new 3d printer. This is a wiki page to store ideas, thoughts, views and stuff. Hopefully we can decide and maybe pick up a deal on the chosen one in the black Friday 2025 sales.

Elgoo Neptune 4 max

• https://uk.elegoo.com/products/neptune-4-max-fdm-3d-printer
• £285
• 420 × 420 × 480 mm Build Volume
• Maximum Acceleration 8,000 mm/s²
• Filament Diameter 1.75 mm
• 500 mm/s Max Speed
• Filament Compatibility: PLA / TPU / PETG / ABS / ASA / Nylon

Pros

• Some members ones from this range already, so in-house knowledge
• Big print size, so useful for people who have a smaller one at home
• Open source software for the printer

Cons

• My (Alex) experience of Neptune Pro 3 - making sure the bed is evenly heated before calibration else it doesn't work. So a bigger bed on NP4 might make this more of a hassle? Looking into this, it seems like care with bed heating and calibration is needed.

Elgoo Centauri carbon

• https://uk.elegoo.com/products/centauri-carbon
• £240
• Build Volume 256 × 256 × 256 mm
• Maximum Acceleration 20,000 mm/s²
• Filament Diameter 1.75 mm
• Filament Compatibility: Carbon/Glass Fiber Reinforced Filaments/PLA/PETG/ABS/ASA/TPU/PET/PC/PA

Pros

• Faster

Cons

• TBC

Bambu Lab X1C

• https://uk.store.bambulab.com/products/x1-carbon
• £950, maybe £870
• 256 × 256 × 256 mm
• Maximum Acceleration 20,000 mm/s²
• Filament Diameter 1.75 mm

Pros

• Fast
• Reliable (Kairi: haven't had to do that with mine since I ran the initial self test, had the X1C for over a year now with almost 2k print hours)
• 4 colours at a time

Cons

• Expensive

Bambu Lab P1S 3D Printer

• https://uk.store.bambulab.com/products/p1s?id=578772891943051270
• £470 (Combo, inc AMS)
• £329 (printer only)
• 256 x 256 x 256 mm
• Maximum Acceleration 20,000 mm/s²
• Filament Diameter 1.75 mm

Pros

• Fast
• Reliable (Kairi: haven't had to do that with mine since I ran the initial self test, had the X1C for over a year now with almost 2k print hours)
• 4 colours at a time

Cons

• Expensive

Bambu Labs P2S

Store page. I'd suggest this over the X1C, this is a new printer and part of Bambu's second gen. series. I think it would be a better buy compared to the X1C, plus a little cheaper. If a X2C ever comes out then that'll be better but until then not sure the X1 series offers much over the P2.

• £699 including the AMS 2 Pro (4 colours and heater), or £479 for single filament.
• 256 x 256 x 256 mm³ Print Volume
• Quick swap nozzles
• Reliable (Kairi: haven't had to do that with mine since I ran the initial self test, had the X1C for over a year now with almost 2k print hours)

Same Pros and Cons as X1C probably. Bambu labs has built itself a reputation of “it just works” - with auto everything and now even some AI thrown in for good measure. Although at the expense of becoming more and more closed source. If you want to just print stuff, it's good, if you want to play 3D printer - it's not the one.