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Best 3D printer for a 12 year old....
Posted on 3/9/26 at 1:41 pm
Posted on 3/9/26 at 1:41 pm
I asked the Tech Board, but I think all of the techies are at work at Rent-a-Nerd so no replies....so turning to the professionals of the OT.
My son is turning 12 later this month and wants a 3D printer. Does anyone have any recommendations for a 3D printer for a 12 year old? TIA
My son is turning 12 later this month and wants a 3D printer. Does anyone have any recommendations for a 3D printer for a 12 year old? TIA
11
Posted on 3/9/26 at 1:45 pm to The Hamburglar
I got my kids an Ender 3 a few years ago. They really seemed to enjoy it. It has more manual controls than some of the newer ones but i think it is good to learn the manual way.
Posted on 3/9/26 at 1:45 pm to The Hamburglar
We have the toy box one that was pretty basic. Easy to use for my kid and his iPad.
Posted on 3/9/26 at 1:45 pm to The Hamburglar
quote:
work at Rent-a-Nerd
Well those nerds know how to get their 12 year old the best 3D printers and you don't
Posted on 3/9/26 at 1:47 pm to The Hamburglar
I got my son close to that age a Bambu Labs A1 Combo for Christmas. From the research I did, it seemed to be the most user-friendly, and there's an app with a ton of preloaded models that you can use. I've had a couple of minor issues with it, but I've been able to troubleshoot them fairly easily.
Posted on 3/9/26 at 1:52 pm to The Hamburglar
LINK
My son got this one for Xmas in 2024. Have had zero problems and he’s taught my 10 yo how to use it. They print all kinda stuff. Highly recommend
My son got this one for Xmas in 2024. Have had zero problems and he’s taught my 10 yo how to use it. They print all kinda stuff. Highly recommend
Posted on 3/9/26 at 2:00 pm to The Hamburglar
I bought my 8&9 yo a "Creality" for Christmas
Posted on 3/9/26 at 2:01 pm to Glock17
We got the A1 mini at Christmas for the kids...it was such a good purchase that we just recently bought the full size A1. It's like a damn printing factory in our house now. Those things are constantly churning something out and haven't encountered any issues yet.
Posted on 3/9/26 at 2:06 pm to WhoGeaux
Buy a Bambu product, preferably a A1 mini or the regular A1
Posted on 3/9/26 at 2:06 pm to The Hamburglar
A rock and a chisel
Posted on 3/9/26 at 2:15 pm to The Hamburglar
Had to take my son's 3D printer away after we found out he was making pocket pussies and selling them to his friends at school.
Posted on 3/9/26 at 2:18 pm to Schmelly
That's the same one we got our son. Only printed a few things, but I like it.
Posted on 3/9/26 at 2:21 pm to burdman
Why are you stifling his entrepreneurial mind?
This post was edited on 3/9/26 at 2:22 pm
Posted on 3/9/26 at 2:32 pm to burdman
quote:
Had to take my son's 3D printer away after we found out he was making pocket pussies and selling them to his friends at school.
Sounds painful
Posted on 3/9/26 at 2:35 pm to burdman
quote:
Had to take my son's 3D printer away after we found out he was making pocket pussies and selling them to his friends at school.
This is why I come to the OT.
Posted on 3/9/26 at 2:37 pm to burdman
This is why I have wasted 20 years of my life on this website 
Posted on 3/9/26 at 2:41 pm to The Hamburglar
A1 Mini Bambu- we got one for my 13 yo for Christmas and he needs a shipment of filament every week to keep going. He’s in 24/7 production and has developed quite a side hustle at middle school peddling all this crap he makes.
Bambu is the iphone of 3D printers- you can run it off your phone, and their Maker Lab programs? I guess that’s what you call it- have unlimited things to print.
10/10 would do again.
Bambu is the iphone of 3D printers- you can run it off your phone, and their Maker Lab programs? I guess that’s what you call it- have unlimited things to print.
10/10 would do again.
Posted on 3/9/26 at 2:46 pm to subMOA
Bambu would always be the 1st choice for someone not tech literate.
Elegoo Centauri Carbon will give him a much more capable printer for the price of the A1 mini and would be what I would suggest if you want to stick below $300.
Elegoo Centauri Carbon will give him a much more capable printer for the price of the A1 mini and would be what I would suggest if you want to stick below $300.
Posted on 3/9/26 at 3:01 pm to The Hamburglar
quote:
Buy a Bambu product, preferably a A1 mini or the regular A1
This is the only correct answer. It would just be a matter of how much you want to spend for either choice.
If they love it, then it leaves you plenty of room for growth with some of the higher end Bambu Lab printers.
Posted on 3/9/26 at 3:03 pm to The Hamburglar
Is your kid's name Wyatt or Gary?
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