>>64092790
I had a pretty similar experience, made a reprap for my sister who got very into the concept around 2012. Bought steppers, ramps, wired it all together and it was a constant struggle to keep the bed level and get prints to stick to the piece of mirror covered with kapton tape. Pla was crumbly and brittle, I had no idea abs needed to be enclosed, my sister was impressed with her own 3d printer for Christmas but ultimately didn't have room for one in her apartment so it sat in my parent's garage. I got an a1mini when they were on sale for $200 to dip my toes back in and its been night and day. Pei coated plates and self leveling keep things stuck and square every time unless I try to get tricky and mess it up. If the filament runs out or jams it just pauses and waits for me to sort it out and then resumes printing. There are vastly more designs available and slicing software has advanced incredibly. Filaments have also come a long way, pla+ seems totally different to the corn plastic of old and there are tons of new options, nylon, polycarbonate. I kind of hate tpu from the experience of it degrading after 10 years in shoes, electronics cases, gas masks but now that I can make it any shape I want I bought a few spools and just keep that lifespan in mind.

Cont.