You can go far beyond the standard 1.75mm PLA filament most consumer 3D printers use, and it's set up out of the box for 3mm filament of various materials. The automated calibration tools are also much more precise than other printers I've tested. Printing is fast, and the built-in settings option goes far beyond what normal consumer printers offer. But the instructions and documentation, at least in English, are thin, and the setup is nowhere near as plug-and-play as some of the simpler printers on this list. The build quality, menu system and bundled custom version of Cura (a 3D slicing software) are all excellent. The build volume is also huge, at least compared to the simpler models listed above, at 420 by 300 by 200mm. That lets you either 3D-print two copies of something at the same time, or use two different colors of material to create a multicolored 3D object. It's still cheaper to shop at Anycubic directly, but you can save $110 at Amazon by activating the instant coupon on the product page.Ī smaller, desktop-size version of its more industrial large-format 3D printers, this recent model from BCN is a dual extruder printer, which means it can use two different spools of material at once. Because resin prints the entire layer in one shot, they tend to be quicker than traditional FDM printers in the first place, but the Mono X takes this to the extreme with layers printing in as little as 1 second. For example, I managed to print the entire blade of a Dune Crysknife, something that would have needed to be split into three parts if it wasn't for the extra build volume. For more oversized cosplay items, practical models or collections of gaming miniatures, you're going to need a bigger build area.Įnter the Anycubic Mono X, a resin printer that solves that issue by having a build plate nearly three times bigger than the standard Anycubic models. Standard resin printers are fine if you want to print small items or miniatures. If you're willing to put a little effort into getting it set up correctly, it's a great printer for the price. I especially liked the auto-leveling, which worked well, and the color touchscreen, which is a feature that often gets chopped from low-cost models. It would make a great second 3D printer, or if you need to fit one into a small space. The included microSD card was so cheap and corrupted it never worked, the built-in Wi-Fi was never able to connect to my network, and the machine's arms got caught on some poorly installed plastic wire covers (I just ripped the paper-thin covers off).īut once I had all the problems ironed out, it was a reliable little machine for quick jobs. It required some tweaking and troubleshooting to get up and running.
This is not the great low-cost entry-level printer I was hoping for. And I do like it, but it's for a specific audience. It's usually under $200 and requires no additional assembly. I had high hopes for this dirt-cheap 3D printer with a tiny footprint. And once you've decided to take the plunge into additive manufacturing (that's what 3D printing essentially is), there's an FAQ below.
This list includes both small and large 3D printers, with attention paid to print speed, the size of the build plate, the cost of PLA filament, the kind of print head included and other important details. We've taken a deep dive into many of the best 3D printers available today. These models by Fotis Mint are extremely detailed Even better, they're great for you to craft your own personalized designs if you're looking to open an Etsy shop or something similar. If you are new to the hobby or wondering if you should start, there has never been a better time.īecause 3D printing technology has come a long way in recent years, I've doubled down on being creative and gotten into 3D scanning and laser cutting as well, which lets you sculpt real-world designs from leather and wood.Ĭurrent 3D printers, which range from affordable (under $300) to high-end (over $4,000), are also great gifts for a creative person in your life. The barrier to entry for the hobby is at its lowest ever, with prices sinking fast and even the least expensive printers working well out of the box. In the last few years, 3D printing has reached something of a renaissance.
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