Hi! I can't recommend Printrbot enough. Makerbot is definitely the pits. Form+1 is great for high detail prints, but the resin is awfully expensive (but again, the prints are gorgeous)
http://printrbot.com/compare-printers/
The Simple Metal is a great starter (6"x6"x6" build volume). To print anything other than PLA, you need the heated bed option. The Metal Plus gets a bigger build volume, but still needs the heated bed to print other than PLA.
Lulzbot also makes some fantastic printers, but they are more expensive than the Printrbot options.
https://www.lulzbot.com/catalog. In the same price range, with the same excellent quality is Ultimaker
https://shop.ultimaker.com/product/8/ultimaker-2.
Some words on filament:
PLA - Low melting temperature, very easy to print. Hard, not very springy. Can break down with exposure to UV.
ABS - Higher melting temperature, somewhat finnicky to print. More flexible than PLA (can use it for springs and clips to a degree). Good to temperatures around 150C.
Nylon - Higher temp than ABS, easier to print. Better all around, but is more expensive and requires a little research into the printers' hot ends to see if they can handle it.
Specialty filaments - Available from vendors like
http://taulman3d.com/ and
http://www.proto-pasta.com/, you can get flexible filaments (think stamp rubber), wood fill, clay fill, electrically conductive, carbon fiber fill, optically clear, some that are particularly good for overhangs.
PLA is by far the easiest to get your feet wet with.
Hope this helps,
-Tony
