@ Carl. I appreciate what you're saying and you're right to give caution because while the machine is relatively cheap, there are certainly issues one needs to be prepared for.

That being said, I'm still satisfied having spent all of $450 to buy a decent, fully assembled machine that looked good and performed reasonably well with my (none) experience.

When I first started thinking about getting into 3d printing about a year ago, I was prepared to budget about $1000. I was happy to find the Da Vinci. I feel it's a great machine to start with. I've learned a ton in the short time I've had mine without the issues that would dissuade me from continuing my new hobby.

Now I feel I'm ready to assemble a Delta kit.

Still, some people are buying Makerbots at $2500+ a pop as their first machine!!!!

Ah the Delta kit. Boy could I tell you some stories about that.

That being said, I'm still satisfied having spent all of $450 to buy a decent, fully assembled machine that looked good and performed reasonably well with my (none) experience.

When I first started thinking about getting into 3d printing about a year ago, I was prepared to budget about $1000. I was happy to find the Da Vinci. I feel it's a great machine to start with. I've learned a ton in the short time I've had mine without the issues that would dissuade me from continuing my new hobby.

Now I feel I'm ready to assemble a Delta kit.

Still, some people are buying Makerbots at $2500+ a pop as their first machine!!!!

Thanks galaxy99 for that very helpful image as well!

Ok I get it, I and 5 others or so got lemons. Forgive me for putting the awsome Da Vinci down. Was trying to offer yhe OP a little caution as not all of these arrive in a bed of roses and we all know how the warranty hurdle is if a claim needs to be made.

I own one and am happy with it now. But only after completely freeing it of all XYZ chains.

I think it is appropriate to give caution.  There is a learning curve with 3d printing as we all know.  Hardware/firmware issues can certainly be part of the headache.  I think it is fair to say that you need to be prepared to tinker/tweak and perhaps in some cases mod your printer to get the desired results.

Sure, your gonna have issues with your printer. They All will... It's got moving parts and things that move wear... The Mega money Stratasys at work gets constant repair...

$350 will get you a cheap i3 prusa kit that you will need to assemble and still have issues down the road... Not that they're bad... Or a davinci... Get it from amazon, and if it comes broke return it... Try that with a eBay kit...

Good Luck with your purchase and happy printing....

I own one and am happy with it now. But only after completely freeing it of all XYZ chains.

Other than a few niggling equipment failures due to cheap parts, it has made a few hundred prints like a champ.

With the tweaks I've made, I can now make prints as smooth as a baby's bottom

Oh, depending on firmware, don't use "Unload Filament" from the front panel. It seems to not heat properly when you do that. I have switched to always using Load, then, just pull the idler lever back, and, remove the filament.

At this point i have replaced all the major components with the exception of the PSU and the Mainboard and have learned a lot about 3d printing in general.

Personally, I am going to build my next printer instead of getting a pre-fab one, for various reasons.

I think the Da Vinci is the perfect printer for beginners because you do have the choice to keep it stock and plug it in and go or you can modify it and open up new possibilities.

I agree completely with that browning!  The Da Vinci is a great beginner printer, and afterwards with getting your feet wet you can then mod it and hack it.

My Da Vinci 2.0 came in with absolutely no problems, even the printbed was level!  I would not think the people who get theirs in with no issues are as carl calls us "lucky"...

I hope you enjoy your new printer.  If you run into issues, many of them are solvable with some tweaks.  If in doubt search the forums as recommended and don't be afraid to ask.

If you use XYZware (that came with the machine) you can adjust some parameters (click the Advanced button).  XYZware is plug&play and does a good job, especially for those not interested in off-brand filaments and best/custom print for a given part.  It’s certainly the best place to start - It’s sort of like the difference between Android and IPhone.

Attached photo shows Two prints of the same part with different infill percentage.
I recommend finding a small part to print and try different settings to compare…

You got lucky with yours. Have you not seen all the recent post of my new Duo this or my new 1.0 that. I can about 6 in the last month all new, all out of the box and not working or having issues.

The only way to make the Da Vinci printers truly reliable is to get rid of their firmware, their software, their extruder, and even possibly their board.  My board began feeding too much current to the extruder motor and majorly over heating to the point of stalling. Could have been the driver but the current is digitally controlled on this board, not by pots. So I opted to pull the stock board for a ramps.

Mine were both used, but I have 2 roommates that have bone stock ones with no issues at all, as well as a couple at a school I work with. Honestly most of the people who post here either have a lemon or they are like us and WANT to mod and make things complicated. A testament to XYZ's quality control really. 6 reports of broken machines in a month is really not bad considering the volume they are doing and the logistics involved in shipping something so large and fragile.

carl_m1968 wrote:

To be honest you may have picked the wrong printer to get your feet with. Most of the Da Vincis arrive or will shortly have certain issues you will have to deal with that will require some messing with wires and maybe even replacing connectors. I am a #D printing Veteran so the Da vinci and it's issue was no big deal for me. But for some they have had it for several months and have yet to be able to print successfully or er even print at all.

Maybe you will get lucky on yours. There have been a few without issues. Just get ready because 3D printing is not a plug it in an go hobby. It will require tinkering and tweaking all the time.

Uh huh.... Well I have a different opinion. I think the Da Vinci is the perfect printer for beginners because you do have the choice to keep it stock and plug it in and go or you can modify it and open up new possibilities. Frankly the machine can adapt as you learn.

As for the no successful print for several months thing, the only way that could possibly be true is if they bought it used. Out of the box a Davinci should be pretty much turn key.   

Any way OP don't get intimidated, and remember to have fun! If you need any help soliforum is typically more NOOB friendly, but for more technical stuff, the Voltivo forums are the place to look. And honestly If you are a younger guy who has been around tech your whole life these printers and the software that run them is pretty darn simple. The biggest challenge is learning the technical terms and what they apply to. For that I suggest google lol.

You got lucky with yours. Have you not seen all the recent post of my new Duo this or my new 1.0 that. I can about 6 in the last month all new, all out of the box and not working or having issues.

The only way to make the Da Vinci printers truly reliable is to get rid of their firmware, their software, their extruder, and even possibly their board.  My board began feeding too much current to the extruder motor and majorly over heating to the point of stalling. Could have been the driver but the current is digitally controlled on this board, not by pots. So I opted to pull the stock board for a ramps.

To be honest you may have picked the wrong printer to get your feet with. Most of the Da Vincis arrive or will shortly have certain issues you will have to deal with that will require some messing with wires and maybe even replacing connectors. I am a #D printing Veteran so the Da vinci and it's issue was no big deal for me. But for some they have had it for several months and have yet to be able to print successfully or er even print at all.

Maybe you will get lucky on yours. There have been a few without issues. Just get ready because 3D printing is not a plug it in an go hobby. It will require tinkering and tweaking all the time.

Uh huh.... Well I have a different opinion. I think the Da Vinci is the perfect printer for beginners because you do have the choice to keep it stock and plug it in and go or you can modify it and open up new possibilities. Frankly the machine can adapt as you learn.

As for the no successful print for several months thing, the only way that could possibly be true is if they bought it used. Out of the box a Davinci should be pretty much turn key.   

Any way OP don't get intimidated, and remember to have fun! If you need any help soliforum is typically more NOOB friendly, but for more technical stuff, the Voltivo forums are the place to look. And honestly If you are a younger guy who has been around tech your whole life these printers and the software that run them is pretty darn simple. The biggest challenge is learning the technical terms and what they apply to. For that I suggest google lol.