Reddit mentions of FlashForge Finder 3D Printers with Cloud, Wi-Fi, USB cable and Flash drive connectivity

The software is clunky and limited, the materials cost about twice as much per weight as their counterparts, it's not particularly reliable, and nearly impossible to maintain should something actually break.

As far as printers under $500, if you've not seen any, I'm willing to bet you've not looked around much, as there's plenty.

My wife and I had this same discussion we ended up buying a 3D printer, I cannot strongly enough recommend this, need a giant toad for next session boom just print one.

Personally we bought a Flash Forge finder 3D

https://www.amazon.com/FlashForge-Finder-Printers-Cloud-connectivity/dp/B016R9E7J2

Check out this guy, he's made most of the monster manual.

https://www.shapeways.com/designer/mz4250

If you Patreon him you get access to the google drive of all his models well worth it imo.

The file costs would be cheaper that a full set of the minis since there are hundreds of them, but you'd also have to buy a printer which even hobbyist quality would be [~$300](https://www.amazon.com/FlashForge-Finder-Printers-Cloud-connectivity/dp/B016R9E7J2/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=FlashForge+Finder+3D+Printers+with+Cloud%2C+Wi-Fi%2C+USB+cable+and+Flash+drive+connectivity&qid=1555526199&s=industrial&sr=1-1
) plus all the filament, so... if you don't have access to a 3d printer and you aren't planning to print a few hundred of these, it's probably not worth it due to that cost.

I'm pretty sure companies would love the idea of giving out free copies of CAD software, they can get CSR credits and can get future designers hooked while they are in the cradle. 3d printers are not that expensive anymore. I have seen cheap models for around a 1000 $.

Edit: I would recommend getting in touch with AutoDesk or Dassault (solidworks) directly. If they seem to be dragging their feet. There is a cloud based CAD system called OnShape, all you need their is an account, which if you register as a student they let you do it for free afaik.

Edit 2: Here are the three options I mentioned. Solidworks in my experience is clearly more advanced and can do a whole lot more, but their student registration process seems to be more opaque (at a glance). OnShape would need internet but they seem to be more welcoming of students.

1. http://www.solidworks.com/sw/education/6903_ENU_HTML.htm
   
   
2. https://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/students-teachers-educators?td=aexfusion
   
   
3. https://www.onshape.com/edu
   
   Edit 3 : Here is a cheap 3d printer I found on Amazon US, it seems there are plenty more in this price range.
   
   https://www.amazon.com/FlashForge-3D-Printers-New-Model/dp/B016R9E7J2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1521359741&sr=8-3&keywords=3d+printer

Fortunately, you don't have to spend much nowadays for a really good 3D printer. The first one I bought was $2200 a few years ago. Now you can get that same quality for about $300. I highly recommend something like the Flashforge Finder, but there are several options that are very similar in quality and price.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016R9E7J2/

Country: USA

Budget: $400-$500

ok so I had the Monoprice Maker Select and it just conked out on me. So I'm looking to get a replacement but my budget is limited as I didn't expect to have to replace it. I know for a fact I want something easier to level. I hated leveling the bed. SO far I have it narrowed down to a few choices:

Flashforge Finder - Pros: Guided Leveling. Cons: Small build area.

Da Vinci Mini - Pros: Super cheap, Auto-Leveling. Cons: SMall build area (though slightly larger than the flashforge.)

Da Vinci Pro - Pros: Guided Leveling, Large build area, can use multiple different types of filaments. Cons: None that I can see.

PowerSpec 3D Pro 2 - Pros: Dual extrusion, Fully enclosed, medium sized build area, good with flexible filament. Cons: Manual Leveling. I don't know anything about this one, only that it is a rebranded Flashforge Creator Pro.

Before I make the purchase I would like to get some opinions from some people that have or had these printers. If you know of a better suggestion feel free to post it. If you have reasons why these are crap, etc.

Thanks for the great question! I'll answer the way my mother always answer my long emails...

• Background? My background is in actually more on the visual creative side rather than the game design side! I graduated from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design with a degree in Illustration. My thesis project was to create and illustrate an entire game on my own ("Landfall" mentioned in a couple other places in this thread). Of course I ended up focusing on (and enjoying more) designing the gameplay and player experience aspects of the game.
  
• Motivation? I really just want to design games and have people play them! If I'm lucky I'll break even on this project, haha. I've tried to keep everything as minimal and efficient as possible, to get the game to the people is my only real intent. It is incredibly satisfying when demoing the game to watch people truly enjoying something I've poured my blood, sweat, and tears into.
  
• What resources did you seek/find? I am lucky enough to have a fantastic day job to afford to keep the lights on (and the 3D printer running), and have done lots, and lots, and lots, and loooots of research. The thing they don't tell you is that when you want to get your game published through KS, its like getting a third whole new job (in addition to my day job and my board game design job). It is so in depth you can practically major in crowdfunding. I read a ton of stuff from Jamey Stegmaier, have been reading this book andthis book, and have done lots and lots of trial and error.
  
• Which resources were most helpful to you? Probably the 3D printer was one of my best investments as a tabletop game designer. It reaaaaally helps immerse the player (and myself) in the game I am creating if I can basically instantly create whatever components I want. (I purchased this affordable 3D printer and have had great success with it)
  
• What approach worked for you personally, and how is it different from other boardgame designers? This is a really good question. Board game designing isn't typically something that becomes someone's full time job. Each person who has made the leap usually starts somewhere vastly different from game designing, and I believe that gives each designer a very unique perspective to their games and the way they go about creating them. For me, those things are mostly visually creative-related. At work I do illustration, graphic design, photography, videography, video editing etc etc. So making a decent looking prototype is something that I was able to do (mostly) on my own, and similarly making a nice game trailer and digital ads was relatively easy for me. While I had the visual components down, I differ from other designers who have different characteristics that they bring into play like business experience, industry contacts, an in depth understanding of Kickstarter (I am pretty familiar with KS, have backed a few things, but I am by no means a superbacker myself).
  
• The biggest challenge you are proud to have overcome? Even though my campaign isn't at its goal just yet, I am proud at the amount of people I have been able to spark some interest and connection with through my game when starting basically from scratch. They say to have a successful campaign you need to have at least 10,000 emails when you launch, I had about 150 (I lucked out when my game trailer ended up blowing up on Reddit about a week before launch). It was very hot in that pigeon suit I wore for 4 days straight at PAX East promoting Crumbs, and it was exhausting taking a 5 day trip to NYC and demoing the game every day, but it was so worth it. This is my first game, and for someone starting with a near zero fanbase, I am proud my game has been able to touch this many people to begin with.

I'm looking at this model as a first machine: https://www.amazon.com/FlashForge-3D-Printers-New-Model/dp/B016R9E7J2/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1475269581&sr=8-4&keywords=flash+forge

Still need to do more research and raise funds, but I think this may be my starting point. I work business and residential IT work and I'm getting questions about 3D printing more and more. I can see where things are going, might as well get my feet wet!

I have a Flashforge Finder and I highly recommend it. It's right at $500. It's incredibly user friendly compared to a kit. There's almost no setup and fiddling, it prints well out of the box. The software is good, the touch screen interface is cool, and it's been reliable.

https://www.amazon.com/FlashForge-3D-Printers-New-Model/dp/B016R9E7J2

[I think it might be more than 330 euros I don’t know the conversion](FlashForge 3D Printers, New Model: Finder https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016R9E7J2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_1li.AbYGZ918M)

https://www.amazon.com/FlashForge-3D-Printers-New-Model/dp/B016R9E7J2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1502825957&sr=8-1&keywords=flashforge+finder

And it has free two day shipping for prime members ;)

I've got a 3D Printer

I've been thinking of buying my first 3D printer, and found the [FlashForge Finder] (https://www.amazon.com/FlashForge-3D-Printers-New-Model/dp/B016R9E7J2/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8). Do you think it is a good first buy?

Well this Millennium falcon is $800 wheras you could get a small 3D printer for $300 so assuming you print 7000. So if you print more than 2700 bricks it's already breaking even.

Right now I'm looking at possibly getting a 3D printer, and these are the 2 I'm looking at.


Anycubic Upgraded Full Metal I3 Mega 3D PRINTER with Ultra Base Heated and 3.5" Touch Screen


And


FlashForge Finder 3D Printers with Cloud, Wi-Fi, USB cable and Flash drive connectivity


Which of these two is best?


​

Just to add on, I was looking at these...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I8NM6JO/_encoding=UTF8?coliid=I3MX1XJ2F9XGZ7&colid=30UBVRH3KC9LH

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07421SR9J/_encoding=UTF8?coliid=I3SEAHNKKLM0QY&colid=30UBVRH3KC9LH

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016R9E7J2/_encoding=UTF8?coliid=I205Z5A0OGO6ZD&colid=30UBVRH3KC9LH

I always recommend the FlashForge Finder as someone's first 3D Printer. Comes fully assembled and ready to print (aside from levelling the bed). 14 x 14 x 14 cm build area, high quality prints. I use one for PLA orders for my online shop. It's also built like a brick shithouse.