After watching the development of 3D printing for some time, I finally broke down and started my 3D printing journey in 2011, buying a MakerBot Thing-O-Matic. Over the years, I have upgraded to newer and more powerful printers multiple times. Here are some highlights of my 3D printing journey.

Thing-O-Matic MakerBot

My MakerBot Thing-O-Matic shortly after initial kit assembly in front of a mirror.
July 2011
  • Ordered: 2011/05/15
  • Received: 2011/07/10 (final parts)
  • Assembled: 2011/07/23

The initial kit was missing some parts. A few back-and-forth communications with MakerBot resulted in the rest of what I needed to assemble the kit.

With this printer, I was printing ABS (2.81mm) pretty much exclusively. It was the easiest filament to get hold of then and it was all I knew.

MendelMax 2 Maker's Tool Works

MendelMax 2 shortly after kit assembly on my project table. Filament behind and a few tools to the right.
July 2013
  • Ordered: 2013/01/22
  • Received: 2013/02/20 - 2013/07/22
  • Assembled: 2013/07/15

Despite multiple rounds of communications with Maker Tool Works to get all of the parts I needed, I still received some upgrade parts after I finished the initial assembly.

Part of the reason for getting this printer was a much larger print bed than the Thing-O-Matic (which was about 10cm square). The main reason for the upgrade was degradation of the heatbed connector on my previous printer.

I continued printing in ABS with this printer because I had quite a bit of it on hand.

MendelMax 3 Maker's Tool Works

MendelMax 3 shortly after initial assembly on project table. Scene is dark.
July 2015
  • Ordered upgrade kit: 2015/05/11
  • Received: late 2015/06 - 2011/07/02
  • Assembled: 2015/07/12

Once again, the kit did not contain all of the parts needed for the upgrade. Lots of communications before I finally got all of the parts I needed.

I continued printing in ABS with this printer, despite the fact that the hobby was definitely moving away from ABS to PLA and PET as the preferred filaments.

i3 MK3S+ Prusa Research

Prusa i3 MK3S+ years after assembly, sitting on project table. Spool of black filament on holder at top.
August 2022
  • Ordered: 2022/07/17
  • Received: 2022/08/03
  • Assembled: 2022/08/23

The long gap between the previous printer and this one was the result of Hurricane Harvey, which left us without a house for a while (with much of our stuff in storage). On the plus side, it also wiped out my ABS supply, making it easier to transition to PLA and PET.

This was the first kit I received that had everything I needed for assembly in the initial delivery.

CORE One+ Prusa Research

Prusa CORE One+ months after initial kit assembly. Sitting on sheet of cardboard on project table.
January 2026
  • Ordered: 2025/11/11
  • Received: 2025/11/20
  • Assembled: 2025/12 - 2026/01 (turning of the year)

I'm very happy with this printer. It's a really solid build. A significant upgrade from any of my previous printers. I'm assuming it will be my workhorse printer for a while.