I’d recommend the lulzbot printers, the newest and largest version TAZ 5 is too expensive, so you can go with the limited (some features missing) KITTAZ which has to be assembled.
Alternatively a little smaller but still decent and a real workhorse would be the TAZ mini.
Those printers get used by James Bruton, a youtuber, that 3d prints life-size cosplays, like an Alien Xenomorph suit, Iron Man Hulkbuster, R2D2 and BB8.
Here’s his youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/jamesbruton
There’s barely a large printer for that pricing, because larger build volume needs larger mechanics (rods, bearings, stronger motors etc.) the price increases exponentially for each cm of build area.
Alternatively the Ultimaker 2 or Prusa i3 (hephestos) are go-to printers for beginners as they have an enormously large community, which provides improovements and help for you. I’d recommend to upgrade your printer with an e3d volcano, it’s like a normal hot-end (the part where the material gets molten and pushed out of a small hole). But instead of normal nozzle diameters, like 0,4mm the volcano can have nozzle sizes up to 1,2mm.
This increases the possible maximum layer height and can speed up your printing by a factor of 10 or more. You trade resolution for speed, but as you said, the printer runs all day long, so you might want to make this upgrade.
Parts printed with larger layers are stronger and the surface can easily be smoothed with filler paste.
Here are links for reference:
lulzbot TAZ5
https://www.lulzbot.com/products/lulzbot-taz-5-3d-printer
lulzbot KITTAZ
<didn’t find it on lulzbot.com, look for it on amazon etc.>
lulzbot TAZ mini
https://www.lulzbot.com/products/lulzbot-mini-3d-printer
ultimaker
prusa i3 hephestos
http://colorfabb.com/kit-prusa-i3-hephestos
e3d volcano (v6)
http://e3d-online.com/Volcano
Cheers,
Marius Breuer
