Until 10 years ago, 3D printers were clumsy, expensive machines designed for factories and the needs of large corporations. And only a narrow circle of professionals knew about them. And now these amazing devices are familiar to a wide range of users and are quite affordable for home use. With their help, you can print toys for a child, create prototypes or models of new products, parts and structures, explore the creative potential of 3D objects, and do a lot of interesting and useful things.
Introducing rating of 3D printers 2017... It involves models in the price range from $ 270 to $ 900, which have earned positive recommendations from experts from 3D Hubs and Pcmag
7.XYZprinting da Vinci Mini
The cost is $ 270.
The cheapest 3D printer in our review. It has small dimensions: 35.5 cm × 38 cm × 33 cm (height, width, depth) with a working area of 12.7 cm × 12.7 cm × 12.7 cm. The case is open, without any door or window in front; the printable area is mounted on a carriage that slides along the edge of the housing and extends beyond it during printing. The extruder nozzle is located behind the extruder mechanism. Therefore, it is difficult to touch, which protects the user from accidental burns.
The combination of a bargain price, easy setup and decent print quality is enough to make the da Vinci Mini a favorite for newbies looking for a cheap and cheerful device.
Advantages:
- Good print quality.
- Easy to set up and operate.
- Quiet.
- There is a Wi-Fi and USB printing function.
Disadvantages: from time to time there are problems with starting printing. It is sometimes difficult to remove a printed object from the build platform. Prints exclusively with polylactic acid (PLA) filament.
6. New Matter MOD-t 3D Printer
The cost is $ 400.
Simple and elegant 3D printer. Its white base is topped with a removable rectangular bonnet made of clear plastic. The dimensions of the working surface are 15 cm × 10 cm × 12 cm. Due to the design features, the working surface can move in X (right or left) and Y (inward or outward) directions. The extruder moves vertically. The device automatically aligns the print head.
Advantages:
- Prints with PLA and Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) filaments.
- Easy to handle.
- There is a Wi-Fi and USB printing function.
- It works very quietly, emitting a barely audible squeak.
- Good print quality.
Disadvantages: no matter which connection method you use, you will have to work through your library in the New Matter store to start printing. Therefore, the printer requires an active Internet connection to function. If your internet connection gets disconnected frequently, MOD-t 3D Printer won't be a good choice.
5. Flashforge Finder 3D Printer
Cost - $ 458
With no sharp corners or visible wires, this strikingly designed device has a 3.5-inch touchscreen, simple controls and instant viewing of 3D model files. The dimensions of the working surface are 23 cm × 15 cm × 15 cm.
Advantages:
- Quiet.
- Good print quality.
- Connect using a USB 2.0 cable, USB flash drive, or Wi-Fi.
- The extruder is not clogged.
- Reasonable price.
Disadvantages: PLA printing only.
4. Wanhao Duplicator i3
The price is $ 400.
The best 3D printer from China, affectionately nicknamed "Vanka" by Russian users.The size of the printable area is 20 cm × 20 cm × 18 cm.
Advantages:
- Can print from PLA, ABS, PVA, HIPS, Stainless Steel, Nylon, NinjaFlex and more.
- There is a heated platform.
- There is a display.
Disadvantages: there is no way to connect via Wi-Fi, there are only USB and Card Reader (microSD Card) interfaces. Noisy when working. The build quality is not very good.
3. Printrbot Simple Metal
The cost is $ 600.
Robust and durable device with steel frame and aluminum extruder. The work surface measures 15 cm x 15 cm x 15 cm. It has an open source architecture and is a great choice for enthusiasts looking to customize and upgrade their printer.
Advantages:
- Open source.
- PLA printing, ABS.
- Superior print quality.
- Good build quality.
- Automatic alignment sensor for easy calibration.
For newbies, however, this printer is not the best choice, as the initial setup and calibration process can take several hours. In addition, the printer is very noisy, has no bed heating and no dual extruder.
2. Original Prusa i3 MK2
The price is $ 700.
Another fully open source 3D printer. One of the most impressive features of this printer is the very fast heating of the desktop (it heats up to 55 degrees in 1 minute). And thanks to the presence of a thin PEI film on the working surface, the adhesion is fantastic, even with a large part area. The work surface measures 25 cm x 21 cm x 20 cm and is the largest 3D printer on our list.
Advantages:
- There is an inductive sensor for automatic alignment.
- Excellent print quality.
- The ability to print from spools of PLA, ABS, PET and many others.
- There is a silent mode.
- Easy customization.
On the downside, there is no dual extruder.
1. FlashForge Creator Pro
The price is $ 900.
The leader among 3D printers is the model with a metal frame and closed chassis, a dual extruder and an advanced platform leveling system. It is a true fail-safe workhorse suitable for both beginners and 3D printing professionals. And if you chuckle knowingly at the words "Chinese quality", then this model will be a real break from the template.
Advantages:
- Excellent build quality.
- Reliability and durability.
- Dual extruder.
- Active blowing of the part.
- Prints from ABS, PLA rods.
- Does not require "dancing with a tambourine" when tuning.
Cons: noisy.
Video: inexpensive 3D printer from China
Choosing the best 3D printer for your home depends on how you intend to use it. For beginners, an inexpensive model from China is suitable, which is easy to set up and operate, does not require serious maintenance, and has a fairly good print quality. Engineers and artists may require special features such as the ability to print objects with multiple colors, or use multiple types of rods. Designers want superior print quality. We hope that our top 7 best 3D printers helped you make your choice.