another member here is building the Folgertech Kossel kit - you can find his thread on it here:
http://www.soliforum.com/topic/11325/fo … pic-heavy/

he has run into a couple of minor problems with it, so worth the time to read thru to get an idea of what you might run into.

For glass to use on the heated bed - I use cheap 12" x 12" mirror tiles purchased at the local home improvement store - 6 tiles to a box for around $10-15... a cheap glass cutter (around $2) will cut them to whatever size you need. Have been using the same 2 pieces for several months with no problems.
since the kossel uses a round bed, the tiles can be cut to an octagon shape - start with a square and then cut the corners off at 45 degree angles.

Aqua Net Super Extra Hold hairspray (purple can) or Elmer's Washable School Glue Stick (glue is purple, dries clear) is a must have if you plan on printing with ABS. PLA doesn't require anything extra for it to stick to a heated bed, but it does benefit from a light misting of the hairspray...

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A chance they will die an early death. Although one review I read here  is the arduino is a name brand.
IMHO worth the risk. considering a kossel kit was twice the money a year ago when I was shopping for a first printer.
So you build it and use it and if a component fails you replace with a better one.
I have considered the Kossel kit myself .
fyI My first printer is a used SD4.
Tin
Funny the maker farm kit does not even include a power supply.

Its funny you suggest the Prusa. I've been continuing my google searching after I posted this and I found this page: http://www.makerfarm.com/index.php/prus … usion.html.

However, this Folgertech price is amazing! This kit does include an extruder/hotend right? It says other than the glass plate it has everything that is needed so I assume it does.

The kossel looks really cool! Perhaps I can build some of the parts for it with the Prusa

What will the downsides of a cheap aduino/power supply be? I very much like the idea that I can upgrade or mod these and the hotends.

I think you've sold me!

So a kit would be OK ?
And You want open source .
Starving student = low budget!
Take a look here.
http://folgertech.com/products/folger-t … rinter-kit
The prusaI3 is the #2 most popular printer in north America (3D hubs survey)
The price of this kit is very attractive $269 
for a few dollars more you can add a lcd/sd feature to run on its own.
this is an aluminum frame kit. At least one member here has built one.
Prusa I3 is open source you are encouraged to print spares of the printed parts.
8x8 (200 x 200 )  heated bed You likely want an enclosier for ABS
7 inch z
this company also sells a nice kossel kit for about $350. As well.
Folger tech uses the arduino mega and ramps controllers so very basic and you have a choice of replaceable drives. And at these prices you can always upgrade to a real arduino instead of the clone, better power supply , better extruder/hot end etc as time and budget permit.

A link to the build and review of the above kit.
http://www.soliforum.com/topic/11293/wh … as/page/2/
All in all the Prusa seems like a good starter machine for someone willing and able to kit build. and a hard price to beat.

Print bot simple is another solid choice.
Tin

At work I recently assembled an Airwolf 3d XL - damn that was a lot of parts. But now I'm hooked! I want an affordable model to use at home. The airwolves at work are great but damn expensive!

I have been searching around and the XYZprinting DaVinci looks good but then I read about the filament cartridges. I don't want to be fighting the manufacturer to use it how I want. Something that is open source like airwolf would be awesome.

I have no problem fiddling and adjusting and having to workaround certain limitations. Bed size is not super important to me. 150mm+ would be fine. If the control board was sorta "open" like on the airwolf so I could easily mod it in the future that would be awesome.

Thanks!