Built a Prusa i2 from a kit with a colleage at work. It took us a while but we have it printing beautifully and consistently. The problems we had building it ha

Built a Prusa i2 from a kit with a colleage at work. It took us a while but we have it printing beautifully and consistently. The problems we had building it had to do mainly with the hot-end that came with the kit, which eventually we switched out for a new one we got cheap off ebay. I'd say the build phase was at times frustrating, but you start to build up experience and after a while you can diagnose a problem almost intuitively. As for getting good prints, the trick is to keep fiddling with Slic3r settings until you get it just right for the filament you are using, and then just keep using those settings. Also, make sure you calibrate your z-axis properly, this will get rid of a lot of problems. Currently printing parts for a second one because I want to have one at home. I use it mainly for prototyping parts/enclosures when building things like small plotters or other robotics. I strongly recommend learning openscad or another modelling tool. Printing is fun, but designing a part and then seeing it turn into reality before your eyes is just magical :)