High-quality 3D printers
It’s been around for more than 30 years — 3D printing began in 1984 when Chuck Hull filed for a patent on additive manufacturing (the technical name for 3D printing). For the subsequent 20 years, the expensive technology focused primarily on industrial manufacturing.
Then, in 2007, 3D Systems released the first 3D printing system under $10,000 — still too expensive for widespread consumer use, but with a price headed in the right direction.
Over the past seven years, 3D printing has exploded, and today, a competitive consumer market offers reliable 3D printers as low as $1,000 (and some priced even lower).
While the technology is still used primarily in design studios, on shop floors and in community centers and schools, 3D printers are increasingly found in hobbyist’s living rooms and kitchens.
So, which 3D printer is best for your application?
How to choose a 3D printer
Whether you are buying your first 3D printer or upgrading from a basic model, there are several factors to consider when making your selection.
What objects do you plan to print?
Before you purchase a 3D printer, you should have a good idea of what you want to print. Consider where you plan to use the printed objects, how often you will print them, and how much time you have for the printing process.
Printer type
The three most common 3D printer types:
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) printer: Preferred by hobbyists and one of the least expensive printer types, the FDM printer heats and extrudes plastic. An FDM printer is used in medical device design for early concept development and prototyping.
Stereolithography: Ultraviolet light and vats of photosensitive liquid resin are used to harden a model. 3D printing is often used for prototyping parts due to its relatively low cost. In addition, it can produce accurate irregular-shaped prototypes.
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS): Uses lasers that melt a powder instead of resin to make the print. The printer allows engineers to create prototype parts early in the design cycle, then use the same 3D printer and material to produce the final product.
Resolution
3D printer resolution determines the quality of your print, measured in microns. More detailed results have a smaller resolution or fewer microns.
The resolution consists of two components: XY plane and Vertical (Z) resolution. The minimum distance a stepper motor can move for a given step determines the XY resolution, while the vertical resolution or layer height refers to the extruding material thickness used to print your object.
Higher quality, more detailed prints with smoother surfaces result from lower resolutions. The trade-off is longer processing times and more filament usage. Printer resolution can be adjusted on FDM machines, but the precision of their laser limits resin printers.
Materials
The filament material is first heated and then extruded through a nozzle to create the desired objects. Several filament types are used for 3D printing, but most printers are limited to just a few materials.
The most common materials are the thermoplastics PLA (Poly Lactic Acid) and ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene). However, high-end 3D printers support more materials, such as TPE, TPU, HIPS, nylon, PC, ASA, PETG, PP, PVA, carbon fiber infused, glass fiber infused and metal fill. Each filament material is rated by its strength, flexibility and durability.
Print Bed
3D printers are available with a heated or non-heated bed. The PLA filament can be used with a non-heated bed, while the ABS filament requires a heated bed.
Leveling the heating bed is another consideration. Manually leveling is tedious and time-consuming, but an Auto-leveling feature does the work for you and allows you to start printing right away. However, auto-leveling adds significantly to the printer price.
Software
Most 3D printers accept the STL file format (named for stereolithography). The files are produced by Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software from free or open-source products, such as Blender and Google SketchUp, and expensive commercial packages like AutoCAD or CorelCAD. 3D object databases like MakerBot’s Thingiverse offer various 3D object files that can be downloaded for those users less inclined to create their own 3D files.
Safety
The use of a 3D printer comes with some safety risks, including moving mechanical parts, burns from hot extruders and hot beds, and toxic fumes from the heated plastic. Look for a 3D printer with well-designed safety features to reduce the risk. Some FDM printers cool the heated bed and nozzle once a print job is finished. Others reposition the nozzle away from the object when the printing ends.
An enclosed 3D printer safeguards against many safety hazards, but it comes with a high price tag compared to open framed models.
Best 3D printers
Best value for the money
Flash Forge 3D Printer Creator Pro: available at Amazon
Our take: A quality machine at a good price point, this machine offers good stability and output.
What we like: Key features include a pre-installed front door for easy access to prints. The metal platform and 10 mm guide rod ensure precise Z-axis rotation for accuracy and product protection.
What we dislike: It’s quite noisy.
Best for schools
Dremel DigiLab 3D45: available at Amazon
Our take: Designed to be dependable and easy to use with a maximum build volume of 10.0W x6.0H x 6.7D inches and a resolution up to 0.05 mm, the DigiLab 3D45 produces excellent results when staying within the Dremel ecosystem.
What we like: An ideal design for the classroom, the Dremel features a HEPA filter and closed print chamber for safety. Features include an easy-to-navigate touchscreen and print monitoring camera.
What we dislike: The print quality suffers when using a third-party filament.
Best large build volume at a medium price
Creality CR 10-S FDM 3D Printer: available at Amazon
Our take: Designed for hobbyists, designers and home users, this model has a large printing size. It will also save prints and resume at the last layer if there is a power outage or interruption, making it a good beginner model.
What we like: The upgraded dual axis allows the user more control, which leads to better positioning and faster printing. It’s easy to assemble so you can start printing quickly.
What we dislike: Some users note temperature fluctuations in printing.
Best 3D printer under $250
Monoprice Select Mini 3D Printer: available at Amazon
Our take: The Monoprice Select Mini 3D Printer with a resolution of 300 microns is not suitable for professional use, but it is ideal for a student or beginner.
What we like: The compact size with a maximum build volume of 4.7W by 4.7H by 4.7D inches makes it ideal as a desktop 3D printer, and it supports any filament type, from ABS to conductive PLA, including composite wood and metal.
What we dislike: It lacks the advanced capabilities of more expensive 3D printers.
Best quality and quiet operation
Ultimaker S3: available at Amazon
Our take: Network connectivity makes this printer easy to manage, and the use of a wide variety of materials, including less expensive third-party filaments, saves on production costs. The Ultimaker S3 also permits the use of two different materials on one print job.
What we like: The Ultimaker S3’s build volume of 230 by 190 by 200mm and a minimum layer resolution of 20 microns is impressive. Equally remarkable is the heated bed with a removable glass sheet and the Active-Bed Leveling feature, which ensures even extrusion across the surface.
What we dislike: This one has a high price tag.
Jeffrey Harper is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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