r/3dprinter • u/Obvious-Ad4613 • 11h ago

Best printer after my Neptune 3 Plus exploded?

Due to costs, I’ve given up on trying to fix it after the capacitor self destructed. The only reasonable choice would be to just get a new one, but a 3 plus is nowhere to be found below $300 and for that money we can do better. I’ve pretty much ruled out the 4 plus as it’s constantly berated for being too hard to use compared to the 3.

Right now I’m looking at a Centauri Carbon for $309 on Elegoo’s website. Trying to stay in this price range. I do not need an enclosed printer, so I’m hoping to not have to pay for that, and I’d like a bit of a larger build volume. This is fine, but I can’t go below 256x256x256. The Centauri seems like a great printer, but I’d like to hear your guys thoughts before committing and it just blows up in my face again.
Thanks in advance

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1

u/braveone772 11h ago

CC2 for a little bit more money... Otherwise I'd be looking for a used P1S or something similar...

1

u/AKMonkey2 11h ago

The original CC is probably your best bet right now in that price range. You may find it cheaper at Ali Express. Sometimes Amazon has sales on it, too.

The Flashforge Adventurer 5 is a competitor. The base model (5M) sells for around $250 with multi-color function (5X) around $350. These are not high-end, premium component machines. Manage expectations accordingly.

Anycubic has the Kobra line, but I would avoid that brand based on tales of poor warranty and tech support.

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u/InternalMain7116 9h ago

I just got an Elegoo email for the ECC 1 on sale for $299 USD, but last Christmas it was down to $279.

I own 2 ECC 1s, and the quality of the prints has gone from my Ender 3 days of "eh" to full speed ahead, no torpedoes in my way!

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u/BIIIIIID- 6h ago

For $300 get the Anycubic Kobra X. 4 colors out of the box. 270x270. I'd buy this over the CC any day. Mines got 1500 hours and still solid as a rock.

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u/neuralspasticity 5h ago

Why not just upgrade to the N4?

Its klipper based so going tk be quite a bit different from what you’re a used to yet an impressive step up that demonstrates what the basic mechanics can really achieve.