3d printer tft lcd setup pricelist

Many libraries today provide 3D printing service. But not all of them can afford to do so for free. While free 3D printing may be ideal, it can jeopardize the sustainability of the service over time. Nevertheless, many libraries tend to worry about charging service fees.

In this post, I will outline how I determined the pricing schema for our library’s new 3D Printing service in the hope that more libraries will consider offering 3D printing service if having to charge the fee is a factor stopping them. But let me begin with libraries’ general aversion to fees.

Charging fees for the library’s service is not something librarians should regard as a taboo. We live in the times in which a library is being asked to create and provide more and more new and innovative services to help users successfully navigate the fast-changing information landscape. A makerspace and 3D printing are certainly one of those new and innovative services. But at many libraries, the operating budget is shrinking rather than increasing. So, the most obvious choice in this situation is to aim for cost-recovery.

(a) First, you need to list all cost-incurring factors. Those include (i) the equipment cost and wear and tear, (ii) electricity, (iii) staff time & expertise for support and maintenance, and (iv) any consumables such as 3d print filament, painter’s tape. Remember that your new 3D printer will not last forever and will need to be replaced by a new one in 3-5 years.

Also, some of these cost-incurring factors such as staff time and expertise for support is fixed per 3D print job. On the other hand, another cost-incurring factor, 3D print filament, for example, is a cost factor that increases in proportion to the size/density of a 3d model that is printed. That is, the larger and denser a 3d print model is, the more filament will be used incurring more cost.

(b) Second, make sure that your pricing scheme is readily understood by users. Does it quickly give users a rough idea of the cost before their 3D print job begins? An obscure pricing scheme can confuse users and may deter them from trying out a new service. That would be bad user experience.

Also in 3D printing, consider if you will also charge for a failed print. Perhaps you do. Perhaps you don’t. Maybe you want to charge a fee that is lower than a successful print. Whichever one you decide on, have that covered since failed prints will certainly happen.

(c) Lastly, the pricing scheme should be easily handled by the library staff. The more library staff will be involved in the entire process of a library patron using the 3D printing service from the beginning to the end, the more important this becomes. If the pricing scheme is difficult for the staff to work with when they need charge for and process each 3D print job, the new 3D printing service will increase their workload significantly.

Which staff will be responsible for which step of the new service? What would be the exact tasks that the staff will need to do? For example, it may be that several staff at the circulation desk need to learn and handle new tasks involving the 3D printing service, such as labeling and putting away completed 3D models, processing the payment transaction, delivering the model, and marking the job status for the paid 3D print job as ‘completed’ in the 3D Printing Staff Admin Portal if there is such a system in place. Below is the screenshot of the HS/HSL 3D Printing Staff Admin Portal developed in-house by the library IT team.

It’s always helpful to see how other libraries are doing when you need to determine your own pricing scheme. Here are some examples that shows ten libraries’ 3D printing pricing scheme changed over the recent three years.

From the examples above, you will notice that many 3d printing service fee schemes are based upon the weight of a 3D-print model. This is because these libraries are trying recover the cost of the 3d filament, and the amount of filament used is most accurately reflected in the weight of the resulting 3D-printed model.

However, there are a few problems with the weight-based 3D printing pricing scheme. First, it is not readily calculable by a user before the print job, because to do so, the user will have to weigh a model that s/he won’t have until it is 3D-printed. Also, once 3D-printed, the staff will have to weigh each model and calculate the cost. This is time-consuming and not very efficient.

For this reason, my library considered an alternative pricing scheme based on the size of a 3D model. The idea was that we will have roughly three different sizes of an empty box – small, medium, and large – with three different prices assigned. Whichever box into which a user’s 3d printed object fits will determine how much the user will pay for her/his 3D-printed model. This seemed like a great idea because it is easy to determine how much a model will cost to 3d-print to both users and the library staff in comparison to the weight-based pricing scheme.

Unfortunately, this size-based pricing scheme has a few significant flaws. A smaller model may use more filament than a larger model if it is denser (meaning the higher infill ratio). Second, depending on the shape of a model, a model that fits in a large box may use much less filament than the one that fits in a small box. Think about a large tree model with think branches. Then compare that with a 100% filled compact baseball model that fits into a smaller box than the tree model does. Thirdly, the resolution that determines a layer height may change the amount of filament used even if what is 3D-printed is a same model.

So we couldn’t go with the size-based pricing scheme. But we did not like the problems of the weight-based pricing scheme, either. As an alternative, we decided to go with the time-based pricing scheme because printing time is proportionate to how much filament is used, but it does not require that the staff weigh the model each time. A 3D-printing software gives an estimate of the printing time, and most 3D printers also display actual printing time for each model printed.

First, we wanted to confirm the hypothesis that 3D printing time and the weight of the resulting model are proportionate to each other. I tested this by translating the weight-based cost to the time-based cost based upon the estimated printing time and the estimated weight of several cube models. Here is the result I got using the Makerbot Replicator 2X.

3D plastic filament is $48 for ABS/PLA and $65 for the dissolvable per 0.90 kg (=2.00 lb) from Makerbot. That means that filament cost is $0.05 per gram for ABS/PLA and $0.07 per gram for the dissolvable. So, 3D filament cost is 6 cents per gram on average.

For an hour of 3D printing time, the amount of filament used would be 15.6 gm (=0.26 x 60 min). This gives us the filament cost of 94 cents per hour of 3D printing (=15.6 gm x 6 cents). So, for the cost-recovery of filament only, I get roughly $1 per hour of 3D printing time.

Earlier, I mentioned that filament is only one of the cost-incurring factors for the 3D printing service. It’s time to bring in those other factors, such as hardware wear/tear, staff time, electricity, maintenance, etc., plus “no-charge-for-failed-print-policy,” which was adopted at our library. Those other factors will add an additional amount per 3D print job. And at my library, this came out to be about $2. (I will not go into details about how these have been determined because those will differ at each library.) So, the final service fee for our new 3D printing service was set to be $3 up to 1 hour of 3D printing + $1 per additional hour of 3D printing. The $3 is broken down to $1 per hour of 3D printing that accounts for the filament cost and $2 fixed cost for every 3D print job.

To help our users to quickly get an idea of how much their 3D print job will cost, we have added a feature to the HS/HSL 3D Print Job Submission Form online. This feature automatically calculates and displays the final cost based upon the printing time estimate that a user enters.

There is a clear benefit in running through all cost-incurring factors and communicating how the final pricing scheme was determined (including the verification of the hypothesis that 3D printing time and the weight of the resulting model are proportionate to each other) to all library staff who will be involved in the new 3D printing service. If any library user inquire about or challenges the service fee, the staff will be able to provide a reasonable explanation on the spot.

I implemented this pricing scheme at the same time as the launch of my library’s makerspace (the HS/HSL Innovation Space at the University of Maryland, Baltimore – http://www.hshsl.umaryland.edu/services/ispace/) back in April 2015. We have been providing 3D printing service and charging for it for more than two years. I am happy to report that during that entire duration, we have not received any complaint about the service fee. No library user expected our new 3D printing service to be free, and all comments that we received regarding the service fee were positive. Many expressed a surprise at how cheap our 3D printing service is and thanked us for it.

To summarize, libraries should be willing to explore and offer new innovating services even when they require charging service fees. And if you do so, make sure that the resulting pricing scheme for the new service is (a) sustainable and accountable, (b) readily graspable by users, and (c) easily handled by the library staff who will handle the payment transaction. Good luck and happy 3D printing at your library!

Resin 3D printers are more affordable than ever – you can now pick up a great quality resin printer with a 4K LCD screen for just a few hundred dollars. So if you’re a home maker who wants to make detailed miniatures for your next game, or have more professional ambitions, it’s never been easier.

With 2K, 4K, and even up to 8K LCD screen quality available under $1,000, and sub-35-micron resolution becoming increasingly common, with the right settings you can create incredible-looking miniature models, as well as key uses in jewelry molds and in the dental industry.

We’ve split our recommendations into the best cheap resin 3D printers with recommendations for $200, $300, $500, and $700, as well as recommending a couple of clear winners for professional resin 3D printers if you’re looking to start a business or scale things up.

Whereas the Mars 2 Pro has a 6.08-inch 2K LCD, the Mars 3 and Mars 3 Pro both have 6.6-inch 4K screens, improving XY resolution from 50 microns to 35 microns – a 30% accuracy improvement.

The latest entry-level Photon 3D printer, the Anycubic Photon M3 takes everything we loved about the series – fast print times, excellent resolution, and a user-friendly printing experience – and levels it up with a few choice enhancements.

The Anycubic Mono X 6K allows makers to craft exceptionally detailed 6K prints at 34 microns XY resolution without sacrificing build volume (or vice versa), which inches close to standard FDM printer sizes at 197 x 122 x  245mm. A max print speed of 80 mm/h also prints the most complex minis and models at a blistering pace.

If you’re not constrained by a tight budget and want some of the best quality offered by any consumer-grade printer, there’s no question the Anycubic Mono X 6K is a sensible buy. The same goes for those piecing together the kit needed to take a budding minis business to the next level.

Featuring an 8.9-inch 4K monochrome LCD screen for fast layer curing, the Elegoo Saturn comes much upgraded on standard models, printing 60% faster than the Elegoo Mars Pro, printing a layer every 2-3 seconds.

For your money, you get a number of other key upgrades, most notably the larger build area, turning the Elegoo Saturn into a solid resin 3D printer for larger resin models or terrain for miniatures, as well as for printing more minis in one batch and taking advantage of resin printers’ abilities to print entire layers at once.

If this isn’t enough, you have two upgrade options:Elegoo Saturn S: a slight improvement across the board, with an 9.1” 4K LCD, and a slight build volume increase to 196 x 122 x 210 mm

Elegoo Saturn 2: upgrades to a 10” 8K LCD, 28.5nm XY resolution, and a larger 219 x 123 x 250 mm build area.Elegoo SaturnElegoo Saturn SElegoo Saturn 2LCD Quality8.9″ 4K LCD9.1″ 4K LCD10″ 8K LCD

Phrozen’s flagship resin printer capitalizes on a sleek 7.1″ LCD screen and 22-micron resolution to deliver frankly outstanding print detail and surface quality that more budget-priced printers simply can’t provide.

As consumer printers go, the Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K has the potential to produce the most intricate, detail-rich models of any printers currently on the market.

One thing we really want to drive home is how important it is not to get tunnel vision when looking at the specs of printers when choosing which to buy. As we explain in the buyer’s guide portion below, a well-made printer made from high-quality parts that can handle precise movements and stability will outperform a printer with a higher-spec LCD screen but worse build quality.

The 5.96” monochrome LCD is smaller than some lower-priced printers like the Elegoo Saturn 2, but it is capable of fantastic accuracy, even for tiny miniature models smaller than a penny. It’s made from high-quality parts to minimize vibrations, with a rigid aluminum body, and features a quick release mechanism to maintain z-axis calibration.

You can buy the printer on its own, or as a bundle with the CW1S 4-in-1 wash and cure machine. It pre-heats your resin before use, washes resin prints, dries them off, and cures them, all in one add-on. The bundle is available here.

Formlabs make professional resin 3D printers, but at desktop resin printer prices. The US manufacturer sells the Form 3 SLA 3D printer for $3,499, with its quality making it key for super accurate prototypes, as well as being adopted in the dental and jewelry industries.

The Form 3 comes with a huge variety of new features as compared with the previous Form 2. It comes with new LFS technology advantages as well as a new Light Processing Unit (LPU) to improve resin part surface finishes, as well as better layer registrations. The Form 2 was already fantastic, and these added features elevate the Form 3 to a whole new dimension within desktop SLA printers.

In addition, it has a scanning system for the resin tray after each layer, and automatically adjusts based on the type of resin used. Furthermore, its got a fantastic touch screen and can be operated remotely via a WiFi connection, as well as operable as part of a factory with Formlabs’ industrial multi-printer ‘Form Cell’ solutions.

This UV 3D resin 3D printer has a print volume of 145 x 145 x 185 mm, and is extremely precise with 25-micron XY resolution. The Formlabs Form 3 is compatible with a large number of resins, from ceramic, to flexible resins, to castable resins, though Formlabs also sell their own high-quality resin materials.Formlabs resins are availablehere.

With washing and curing an unavoidable part of resin 3D printing, we’ve rounded up a few choice washing and curing stations well worth weaving into your printing setup to take some of the sting and mess out of post-processing.

The Anycubic Wash & Cure is an all-in-one station compatible with the overwhelming majority of resin printers. Thanks to a nifty recent price cut from Anycubic, the Wash & Cure sets you back under $100.

Anycubic has simplified the whole wash and cure process thanks to a set-and-forget design – choose either wash or cure on the touch button interface, and off it goes. The station blocks 99.95% of UV light and comes with an auto-pause function if the cover inadvertently comes off. The station has an adjustable bracket that can latch onto an Anycubic build platform if you’re working with a Photon Mono series printer.

The accepted max print size is 125 x 85 x 160 mm for washing and 140 x 165 mm for curing. You can either use the provided cleaning basket or mount an Elegoo build plate with models still attached, making it compatible with most if not all resin 3D printers, not just with Elegoo machines.

A 385 nm and 405 nm UV light set and 360-degree rotating curing turntable do all the curing work with the option to key in and monitor curing time up to 30 minutes on the TFT touchscreen. Safety’s covered with an anti-UV lid that blocks 99.95% of UV rays and a suspend operation function should the cover come off during curing.

However, while a higher resolution makes a clear difference to print results, even the highest resolution 3D printer will not perform as well as a lower-res 2K screen if it is built from low-quality parts.

As a general rule, resin printers feature smaller build volumes than more common FDM machines, hence why makers and professionals use them to create small intricate parts with high precision.

If you do need extra printing space for duplicate part printing or larger figurines and models, consider larger format resin printers such as the Peopoly Phenom and Phrozen Sonic Mighty 4K.

Resin 3D printing is a messy business, and post-processing is a core part of the printing process. Post-processing breaks down into two parts, washing and curing.

Your resin printer’s LCD screen uses the same UV light as the sun but in a more stable indoor environment, flashing light at certain parts of the resin to selectively cure parts, based on your model’s features.

The screen sits under the resin vat, and projects light upwards into the build platform. An FEP screen (fluorinated ethylene propylene) protects the screen from damage – though these FEP films themselves need to be replaced more often than any other parts of the printer.

As each layer is cured, the resin printer’s z-axis platform, lifts up one layer, for the next resin layer to be cured. The cured model sticks to the build platform as it moves up out of the resin (if it sticks to the resin, the print fails), with the layer on the edge cured and moved up each time.

Good cheap resin 3D printers start at around $200, with either a 2K or 4K screen that can still print precise features on miniature models. 6K and 8K screen resin printers cost from $600 to $1000+, and professional resin 3D printers from companies like Formlabs cost $3500 and up.

Budget resin 3D printers are typically used by hobbyists to make accurate figures and miniatures at details FDM printers just cannot reach. They’re commonly used for 28mm miniatures, D&D figures, and other similar projects for tabletop models.

However, these low cost options can sometimes be used for creating wax molds for jewelry casting. For better quality casting with precious metals however it is recommended to use a more professional resin 3D printer capable of better resolutions and precision.

Resin printers are commonly used in the dental, audiology, jewelry, and medical industries. For example, within dentistry resin 3D printers can print orthodontic models and implants, and within audiology, almost 100% of custom hearing aids are now 3D printed.

For the home resin 3D printing $200-600 range, the best resin 3D printer brands are Anycubic, Elegoo and Phrozen, who make high-quality printers capable of accurate details. In the professional resin printer range, Prusa, Formlabs and Peopoly are well-reputed, as well as industrial brands like 3D Systems, Carbon 3D and EnvisionTEC.

Resin 3D printers can print incredible-looking details for miniatures that FDM simply can’t compete with, so for anything precise and detailed, resin printers can’t be beaten. However, if you want a simpler printing experience without washing or curing prints, or want to print large-scale models, go for an FDM 3D printer instead.

Curing is an equally important part of the process. When a printer completes a part, the resin is in a transitory state: hard enough to retain the desired shape and detail but lacking overall rigidity, making it prone to scratches, scarring, and blemishes. By curing the print with UV, or even sunlight if you’ve got time on your side, the resin reaches its optimal, finished state.

There"s never been a better time to join the world of 3D printing or, for experienced makers, to upgrade. With the right printer, you can make models, toys, hooks, stands, replacement parts for electronics or a new case for your Raspberry Pi. You can get one of the best 3D printers and plenty of material for well under $300 in 2022, so consider what you’ll be making with it and read on to learn more.

The two most common types of home 3D printers are resin MSLA (Masked Stereolithography) and filament FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling). The best 3D printers for beginners or those with children, FDM printers use reels full of plastic filament that is fed into a hot nozzle and extruded out layer-by-layer to form a solid model. MSLA printers use a UV-cured resin material to form a model layer-by-layer as it rises from a vat of liquid that requires very careful handling.

There are several factors to consider before buying the best 3D printer for you, so be sure to consider the questions before making a choice.Resin MSLA or Filament FDM? The two most popular styles of desktop 3D printing, resin MSLA and filament FDM 3D printers offer various strengths and weaknesses, and choosing the style more suited for your application will help you get better results. For many , especially beginners, filament 3D printers are a better choice because they are easier to use and offer a wide variety of colors. They are also far safer for anyone with children or pets around.

Resin 3D printers can provide a bit more detail, so they are popular among folks printing out game pieces. However, you need to handle toxic chemicals and wear a mask when setting up a print and, after the printing is over, you must wash and cure your prints. We have some resin printers on this list but also maintain a more detailed article where we name all of the best resin 3D printers.

How much build volume do you need? If you want to print out large parts in a single print, you’ll need a printer with ample build volume. This is usually directly tied to the price of the machine, so a larger printer is going to cost more money. Printers with a 100mm cubed or less build volume are on the smaller side, 150 to 220mm cubed are average, and 250mm inch cubed and above are considered large format.

Manual or automatic bed leveling?Leveling the bed of a 3D printer is an important but very annoying part of the process. Many printers have auto-leveling capability, which saves you most of the work.

What materials are you printing with?If you"re buying an FDM printer, you"ll want to use one of the best filaments for 3D printing so you can get good models. However, some substances require higher temperatures that not every printer can achieve. PLA filament, the most common type, can print on anything but more durable or flexible plastics such as PETG or TPU need extruders that can hit 220 to 230 degrees Celsius while ABS and Nylon require 240 or 250-degree heat. Resin printers have fewer material choices.

Creality’s Ender 3 S1 Pro is the latest, and most impressive, iteration of the popular Ender 3 line. Not a cheap DIY 3D printer in need of upgrades like its predecessors, the $479 S1 Pro arrives fully loaded, delivering an out-of-the-box experience that’s simple for beginners and powerful for experienced makers

High-speed 3D printers are the new hotness, with the AnkerMake M5 leading the way. Launched as a Kickstarter campaign in April, the machine is now available for retail with a price of $799. The printer has a standard speed of 250 mm/s, which is five times faster than the average 50 mm/s recommended for Cartesian type printers.

Speed is a hard number to nail down, as you also have to factor in time for acceleration and slowing down for corners. Let’s put it this way: I normally run my bed slingers at 65 mm/s, and using a .2 mm layer height I can print Cinderwing3D’s Crystal Dragon (seen above) in roughly 25 hours. The delta style FLSun V400 running at its normal speed of 150 mm/s can do it in 11 hours. The AnkerMake M5 did it in 9 hours and 37 minutes at its standard 250 mm/s.

The AnkerMake impressed us not just with its quality and speed, but with its ease of use. This is a machine aimed right at the 3D printing novice who doesn’t mind splurging on a smart printer that works right out of the box. It has one of the best auto bed leveling systems, a smooth filament path that loads easily, a filament break detector and a built-in camera that can alert you when a print goes bad. Paired with WiFi and a smartphone app, it can tell you when a print is failing and let you cancel the run – even if you’re miles away. We didn’t experience any failed prints during our testing, but when we deliberately cut the filament to see what happens, we got a phone alert.

If you’re getting into resin 3D printing for the first time, you have an overwhelming number of options and price points. The good news for beginners is you don’t have to sacrifice your budget for quality. You can find the easy-to-use Mars 2 Pro on sale for as little as $200.

Its smaller build volume is perfect for gaming miniatures and trinkets but not larger models. And though its 2k resolution may not be the most detailed among resin printers, it is miles ahead of the quality you can achieve with a filament-based machine.

The Anycubic Kobra Go is the perfect budget 3D printer for new makers wanting to learn the craft as well as seasoned pros who want a trouble free second (or third) machine. Sure, it doesn’t have a fancy touch screen, but it does have two features that make life easy: auto bed leveling and a PEI coated flex plate.

Anycubic kept the cost low – a remarkable $219 – by making this version a DIY Kit with a cheaper Bowden style extruder. Its tiny knob controlled screen might seem like a step backwards, but it’s so easy to navigate I didn’t even mind. The extra half hour or so spent assembling the printer is well worth the $100 dollars you’re saving when compared to the standard Kobra or the similarly kitted out Creality Ender 3v2 Neo(opens in new tab).

Any 3D printer can handle PLA, but when it comes to engineering grade material, you want a printer that gets hot and heavy. The Ender 5 S1 is a cube style printer with a titanium alloy heatbreak, an extra large cooling fan and a high-flow nozzle borrowed from the new Creality Spider hotend. It’s capable of reaching 300 degrees at the nozzle and a toasty 110 degrees on the heat bed.

The Ender 5 S1 is a good all around printer with auto bed leveling, a PC coated flex plate and easy to use touch screen. It has an all metal direct drive that tames squirrelly filament – we printed completely string free flexi toys in both TPU and PETG, something not easily done.

We have a bone to pick with so-called experts who recommend cheap, unassembled kit printers to raw beginners. The theory is that building a printer from scratch is the only way to learn about their new machine. The truth is that kits can be frustrating to build, and bare-boned machines are a pain to get working correctly.

Instead, we’re recommending that beginners pick up the Neptune 3 Pro, a 3D printer that is reasonably priced, quick to assemble and easy to level. Anyone can have this machine up and running in less than an hour and have beautiful prints the same day.

Considered the best 3D printer overall by many aficionados, the Prusa MK3S+ has received countless industry accolades and awards, and with good reason. The MK3S+ is a powerhouse 3D printer that combines reliable hardware, feature-rich software, and a support channel that makes the Prusa signature black and orange hardware a common sight in 3D printing farms. The MK3S+ is based on the i3 platform and has benefitted from several generations of incremental upgrades which have resulted in one of the best 3D printers on the market.

Silent stepper drivers, removable textured build platforms, automatic bed leveling probe and more; the list of features that come stock on the Prusa MK3S+ is certainly impressive, but that’s only part of the story with the MK3S+. Prusa has developed their own slicer app, PrusaSlicer, for processing 3D models and is actively adding new features requested by the community. Features like the ability to paint-on support material, create variable layer heights and generate custom printer profiles are examples of how PrusaSlicer enables the MK3S+ to leap ahead of the competition.

If you’re looking for the most precise prints around, the Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K is your best choice. This MSLA resin 3D printer sports a 7.1-inch mono LCD screen that operates at 7500 x 3240, which results in a show-stopping 0.22mm XY resolution, the highest on the market. It comes fully assembled and is easy to use, just calibrate and go.

If you’re looking for your first 3D printer and don’t want to spend a lot of money, the Ender 2 Pro is a great choice. The machine retails for $169, but can often be found on sale for much less (we bought it for just $129 at Micro Center). Many printers at this price point are novelties built of cheap plastic, but the Ender 2 Pro is a solid workhorse (or perhaps pony) that shares many parts with its big brothers of the Ender 3 line.

In our tests, the Ender 2 Pro delivered great print quality when used with decement filament and a slicer. Our prints of 3D Benchy (a model of a boat people often for testing) and a crystal dragon looked fabulous.

Need to move the printer around the house? The Ender 2 Pro is a compact machine that weighs under 10 pounds. Its top mounted handle makes it portable enough to be stashed in a closet when not in use – perfect for the weekend hobbyist. The main trade-off is that the 165 x 165 x 180mm build volume is tiny compared to most printers.

When you want a little more elbow room than the average 3D printer, the Anycubic Kobra Plus has your back. With a generous 300 x 300 x 350mm build volume and a near perfect auto bed leveling system, the Kobra Plus is the perfect tool for big projects.

Competitively priced at $499, the Kobra Plus has a lightweight Bowden extruder paired with a Volcano-style hotend for faster printing. Big glass beds can be a problem on some printers, but Anycubic’s formula for carborundum coating is just right. When it was heated up, we found the Kobra Plus bed to be tacky to the touch, which really grabbed onto the prints. If you allow the bed to cool thoroughly, prints release easily and only need a tiny bit of persuasion from a scraper.

The Anycubic Vyper is designed for high-throughput 3D printing, and impressed us with its rock-solid build construction and impressive list of features. Silent stepper drivers, dual Z threaded rods and a high-airflow part cooling system are just a few of the many features that make the Vyper an easy choice for anyone interested in printing out large quantities of parts.

The strain-gauge bed leveling system allows the Vyper to quickly and accurately complete an automatic mesh bed calibration. This form of calibration is ideal for anyone who doesn’t want to spend a lot of time tweaking or calibrating the printer, and it worked well during testing and didn’t require any further adjustments to get an even first layer.

If you’re interested in printing models with lots of fine detail, the Phrozen Sonic Mini 4K should be on your short list. Using a 4K mono LCD screen, the Sonic Mini 4K is capable of printing high resolution models with a per-layer cure time of just over 2 seconds per layer. This translates to high detail and high speed, but you’ll pay for it in the difference in cost between the Sonic Mini 4K and other MSLA 3D printers like the Anycubic Photon.

In our testing, we found the Sonic Mini 4K’s ability to produce fine features to be as-advertised, so printing table-top gaming miniatures and small sculptures is something this printer excels at. In addition to the high XY accuracy, the Z-stepping is barely visible even at a standard 50-micron layer height due to the software-enabled anti-aliasing provided by the ChituBox app.

Do you want to print helmets, props and large pieces of cosplay armor – but you don’t want to slice them up into a jigsaw puzzle? Then the Anycubic Kobra Max is your dream machine. It has an enormous 400 x 400 x 450 mm build volume that can only be beat by the endless CR-30 belt printer.

The Elegoo Saturn is the counterpart to the smaller Elegoo Mars series of printers, which offer solid build quality for a reasonable price. The Saturn takes this formula to the extreme by offering a large 7.55 x 4.72 x 7.87-inch build volume while simultaneously increasing the resolution of the masking LCD. This, combined with the 2.5-second per-layer cure time from the Mono LCD, means that the Saturn can print more parts in the same amount of time as the smaller format Mars series of printers.

Creality’s Sermoon V1 Pro is a plug-and-play 3D printer with safety options useful for families, schools and libraries. Unlike cheap “toy” printers aimed at young makers, this $539 deluxe machine delivers quality results with a simple-to-use interface.

The Sermoon V1 Pro is fully enclosed in a white case with several windows, making it look more like a counter top appliance than any DIY kit. The case serves to hide all it’s moving parts, while also keeping the print area warm and draft free. The door has a sensor that pauses the printer – further protecting curious children from moving parts.

As 3D printing continues to become cheaper and more accessible, resin 3D printers have become a popular choice for anyone interested in making highly-detailed models that wouldn’t be feasible using a filament-fed, FDM 3D printer. These MSLA (Masked Stereolithography) resin 3D printers typically only have a single axis of motion, and this simple mechanical system means these machines can regularly be found for less than $300. With so many models on the market, we’ve made this list to help you find the best resin 3D printer for you.

The best resin 3D printers are capable of making high resolution models by curing a liquid resin using a UV light source. This MSLA process uses a masking LCD to selectively block the UV light on a pixel-by-pixel basis, allowing these printers to create models that have a resolution of down to .035mm on the XY axes. This high resolution comes at a price, as parts made on a resin 3D printer require post-processing after printing, and UV resin requires caution when handling. Because resin requires gloves and a mask to handle, we recommend beginners or anyone with young kids consider one of the FDM (fusion deposit modeling) printers on our overall best 3D printers page.

Why you can trust Tom"s HardwareOur expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.Mono or RGB LCD? The type of masking LCD on your resin 3D printer can have the single largest impact on your overall print speed. Because they are commonly used in other electronics, RGB masking LCDs are cheaper, but slower because they don’t allow UV light to pass through efficiently and need more exposure time per layer. For example, the RGB LCD on the Creality LD-002R requires 9 seconds per layer, while the Mono LCD on the Elegoo Mars 2 Pro requires only 2.2 seconds per layer.

How much build volume do you need?Most resin 3D printers have smaller build volumes than FDM 3D printers, so you may find yourself limited by this relatively small build volume. If you are interested in printing large parts, you’ll want to look at a large format resin 3D printer such as the Elegoo Saturn or theAnycubic Photon Mono X.

2K, 4K, or Beyond?A resin 3D printer that uses a 6.08-inch 2K screen like the Elegoo Mars 2 Pro is capable of an XY resolution of .05mm as well as a layer height of .05mm. For context, this means even a relatively low-resolution resin 3D printer is still capable of making extremely fine details that simply wouldn’t be possible on an FDM printer. If you need even more resolution, a 4K screen is capable of making finer features, but is typically more expensive.

Post Processing Equipment? Resin 3D printers create parts that require post-processing before they are completely finished. Typically, this workflow involves rinsing the parts in a solvent to dissolve any excess resin on the surface of the part, followed by a cure cycle that uses UV light to fully polymerize the part. This process can be done manually by submerging the part in a solvent and using an inexpensive UV light for curing, but some manufacturers have created post-processing equipment like the Elegoo Mercury X that automate the process and reduce the mess.

The Anycubic Photon M3 is the best all around resin 3D printer we’ve reviewed. It produces crisp details with 4K+ quality that rivals more expensive machines and has a wide build plate allowing it to make larger models than competitors in its class.

The etched build plate works really well at holding models tight during printing, but also allows for easy removal when they’re done. The metal vat has a convenient pour spout, and Anycubic includes a screen protector for the LED light source to prevent accidental drips from ruining your printer.

If you’re ready to throw some serious cash down for a decent-sized resin 3D printer with quality that will knock your socks off, the Phrozen Sonic Mighty 8K is here for you. Its roomy 218 x 123 mm build plate can accommodate an army of gaming miniatures or a gift-worthy superhero statue. Priced at $899, this printer is more of an investment than similarly-sized machines. But in return, you get crispy details, prints that practically slide off the build plate, a built-in webcam and a machine that’s WiFi ready.

We enjoyed navigating through the Mighty 8K’s menus, thanks to its large and easy-to-use touch screen display. There’s little need to consult the manual – the printer walks you through an onboard tutorial to handle leveling and your first test print. Want to rerun a test file at a different exposure? No problem – the Sonic Mighty 8k will let you change exposure settings and more right inside the printer. I found this extremely helpful while dialing in a new resin.

The Phrozen Sonic Mighty 8K size is closer to what we see in FDM printers, without being so large that it dominates your workshop. The quality and extra wiggle room would be a worthwhile investment for someone running an Esty shop or an artist wanting to showcase their work. We were able to print 12 very-detailed gaming figures at once and the process only took 4 hours and 2 minutes.

The Creality Halot-One Plus is the flagship of the Halot line of MSLA resin 3D printers, offering an impressive set of features while still coming in at a prosumer-friendly price of $399. Unlike other printers in this price range, the Halot-One Plus includes Wi-Fi connectivity and a slicer app which allows users to quickly process models and prepare them for printing almost effortlessly.

The large 7.9-inch Mono LCD provides 4K resolution (4320 x 2560), fast per-layer cure times (3 seconds per layer), and a solid dual linear rail Z axis to allow for fast and accurate printing. The Halot-One Plus also includes an integrated air filtration system which reduces the amount of odor when printing, a surprising addition not typically seen at this price point. Finally, the 5-inch LCD interface allows users to adjust settings mid-print (including exposure time), and also provides an accurate estimate of remaining time during a print.

It’s only available for pre-order right now, but when it’s available, Elegoo’s Jupiter printer will offer a combination of great quality and a huge build volume. And, despite its $1,300 price, the Jupiter is actually a great deal for its size, given that competitors cost closer to $1,000.

The Anycubic Photon M3 Premium set an impressive standard. Offering both high resolution and large build volume in a single machine, it effectively does the work of two separate printers and still comes in cheaper than buying them individually.

The 10-inch 8K masking LCD provides an ultra-high 0.0285mm XY resolution which allows even the finest details to resolve on printed models. We were particularly impressed when we printed a model that had a tiny, open book on a pedestal; the words on the pages were sharp and legible (though one might need a magnifying glass to see them).

If you’re looking for a reliable 3D printer to start your journey with resin printing, the Elegoo Mars 3 is a great place to start. The printer has outstanding 4K resolution for beautifully detailed models and a simple leveling system to get that first layer to stick perfectly.

Beginners should factor the high price of resin when considering their first printer, and the Elegoo Mars 3 only needs 350ml to fill its vat. The build volume is average for its class, with plenty of room for gaming miniatures and models.

When we printed mz4250"s Red Dragon model, fine ridges on the tail and bones in the wing were sharp, without any visible splotching or errors. Even the spines and beard on the head were crystal clear. Its LCD screen provides a 4098 x 2560 resolution for prints, which is higher than the 4K resolutions of competitors like the Phrozen Sonic Mini 4K and AnyCubic Photon Mono 4K.

Unlike the Phrozen Sonic Mini 4K, which is very competitive in this area, the Mars 3 Pro doesn’t suffer from any build quality issues.It’s easy to level and even has a built-in air purifier that, in our tests, mitigated but did not completely remove the resin odor that all MSLA printers emit. With a price in the $300 - $350 range, this isn’t the cheapest resin printer on the market, but it offers great quality output and strong usability for the money.Round up of today"s best deals

Looking for a fun hobby that combines creativity, STEM topics and entrepreneurship? 3D printing is as big as it"s ever been, and the additive manufacturing sector is expected to be worth $10 billion by later this decade. A large chunk of that market is hobbyists selling their creations on Etsy, so now is the right time to get on the 3D-printing train.

We recently reviewed this new entry-level printer, which offers fancy features like a self-leveling bed at a reasonable price. Many stores are offering it for under $200, which is a great value. On Amazon it"s $200, but only for Prime members. On Anycubic"s website it"s currently on sale for $190, but you"ll have to pay for shipping on top of that.

The Snapmaker 2 is not just a 3D printer; it"s a 3-in-1 fabrication machine that lets you 3D print, laser etch and carve wood with a CNC machine with just a module change. It"s big too. I managed to print a full-size Mandalorian helmet that fit my massive head in one go. Perfect for the cosplayer in your life.

If you are looking for a small but powerful resin printer, then the Mars 3 is the best in its class. The 4K LCD offers stunning detail on any model that is printed and it does so at a high speed. I love this printer and use it almost daily. Remember to clip the coupon for this to make the most of the deal.

You"re receiving price alerts for ELEGOO Resin 3D Printer, Mars 3 Pro MSLA 3D Printer with 6.66-Inch Ultra 4K Monochrome LCD, Print Size of 143.43×89.6×175mm / 5.647×3.52×6.8in and Replaceable Activated-Carbon

The Kobra Plus is in that sweet spot between a printer that is overly large, and one that is too small to be useful. You can make full-size helmets and big cosplay items without needing an entire workbench dedicated to it. With $160 off the price, it"s a bargain.

The CR-30 is one of the first commercially available conveyor belt 3D printers, and it is fascinating to use. It isn"t for the beginner hobbyist as it takes a little bit of tweaking to get right, but once you do you can print long models like swords or lots of small models on a production line.

The Photon 4K is being replaced with the new M3 series, but it could still be worth your time. With a 4K monochrome screen, the printer is very fast without sacrificing any detail. In fact, the details on this machine are superb, especially on small models like miniatures.

It"s not just the 3D printers themselves that are on sale. It"s often the accessories and materials too. While the savings aren"t as drastic -- $5 to $10 savings, maybe -- these add up over time when you have to buy a lot of materials for your projects.

While this isn"t the biggest discount, the Mintion Beagle cam is such a fun accessory that it deserves a mention here. It"s simple to use -- it plugs into your micro USB slot on an FDM printer -- and produces awesome timelapse videos that you can share using the app. It also acts as a real-time monitor so you can check your 3D print anywhere in the world.

You"re receiving price alerts for Mintion Beagle Camera for 3D Printer, Plug&Play, Remote Monitoring, WiFi Connection, Support PC/APP, Auto Generate Time-Lapse Video, with 32G Micro SD Card

Resin 3D printing can be messy and inconvenient if you don"t have the right tools. This wash-and-cure bundle lets you clean your resin prints and cure them in the special UV chamber. I like the Mercury over other wash/cure stations because of the separate stations that let you wash one model and cure another, saving you precious time.

Prices for even basic PLA filament for 3D printers have been hit by the inflationary hammer this year. Matter Hackers has a series of discounts right now across different types and colors, as low as $18 for a 1kg spool (even Amazon Basics is usually $23 or more for the same size). Many other types of 3D printer material are also available for 20% off using the code BESTDEALS through Dec. 31.

Welcome to the Thomas guide to the best 3D printer for kids 2022. Thomas has been connecting North American industrial buyers and suppliers for more than 120 years. When you purchase products through our independent recommendations, we may earn an affiliate commission.

3D printing is exploding, providing breakthroughs in sectors like medicine, architecture, aerospace, and education. With millions of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) job vacancies unfilled and on the rise, teachers are using 3D printing to easily introduce kids to STEM concepts, reshaping how they learn about these fields. From creating an avatar or designing a space rover, to making math more interesting and understandable, 3D printing is changing the world of education.

It may sound complex, but 3D printing nowadays can be as simple as owning a printer that connects to your computer allowing you to create a three-dimensional model of pretty much anything that can fit within the design plate. 3D printing has a learning curve, but once understood, the fun and possibilities are endless.

With the large variety of 3D printers available, including large-scale, or sand-printing 3D printers, how do you choose the right one for your kids? Since these machines can range in price from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, knowing what to look for is important, and we list a few points for consideration below.

Print bed: Safety is a foremost factor where children are involved, so choosing a 3D printer with a cold print bed, as opposed to a heated one, is a better option if the bed is exposed. Some print beds are magnetic making removing completed models simpler. Other bed choices are aluminum which heats up quickly and won’t break if dropped, and glass beds which provide the smoothest printing surface.

Assembly: Depending on how time and much and effort you"re willing to dedicate to assembling the product, you can choose from 3D printer options that arrive fully assembled or part assembled; the latter requiring some DIY construction meaning it’ll take longer till you"re able to start printing.

Covering: Covered 3D print areas allow consistent temperatures, are safer for little fingers, and also offer quieter operation. They also protect against any unsafe fumes released during printing. Uncovered print areas, however, provide more flexibility to adjust the model, and often have a larger print area.

Frames: Materials for 3D printer frames can be either plastic or metal, with metal frames being more durable but, in many cases, plastic versions being more economical.

Size: 3D printer sizes are measured in inches or millimeters and vary widely. For printing bigger objects, you"ll need a large-format 3D printer. Filament sizes usually come in 1.75mm or 2.85mm (sometimes labeled as 3mm) versions, and generally cannot be interchanged without the proper hardware.

Continue reading to learn more about the best 3D printers for children, from beginner options for younger kids, to more advanced levels for those who already have a little bit of 3D printing know-how.

Safety, as well as top printing quality, is what you’ll get from this FlashForge 3D printer that has a cold printing plate to ensure little hands don’t get burned. Its small size and user-friendly controls make this a great choice for younger users. This model can be used with a USB, WiFi, or flash drive, and includes 3D cloud utilities, letting you store, revise and track your production status, as well as access new design models.

This durable 3D printer from Voxelab features a large printing bed that heats up quickly, and a convenient and money-, and time-saving resume-printing capability—in case you lose power, it will just pick up where it left off before the outage. Other features include low-noise printing, a color, intuitive touch screen, and a glass plate that increases grip, reducing distortion of your printed model. It’s also pretty easy to set up.

One satisfied buyer wrote, “I have never touched a 3D printer before and found the setup self-explanatory with all information needed to assemble it correctly in the instructions given.”

Arriving almost fully assembled right out of the box, the Kingroon 3D printer includes a direct drive and an easily accessible screen. Its double rails, and two fans that uniformly dispense heat help to increase printing precision, and the external feeder makes loading filament easier.

It might be a touch pricier than some other options, but you get what you pay for with this Artillery 3D printer. This machine comes 95% pre-assembled and has a print bed stabilizing sensor to maintain a level platform, even while printing at rapid speeds. Some of its other perks are a filament sensor that pauses printing until it’s refilled, resumed printing in case of a power failure, power-saving mode, a print bed that heats in less than two minutes, and a durable and sturdy aluminum frame. It’s also one of the quietest printers on the market.

One satisfied shopper wrote, “It is wonderfully quiet, and with the volcano hot end, it prints super-fast. The cable management is something you normally only see on printers costing twice as much, and the build volume is huge.”

Its miniature size, price point, and easy-to-assemble design make this Nantfun/TTLIFE a good first 3D printer for kids. It’s so user-friendly that you’re able to finish assembling it in less than five minutes right out of the box. Its minimalist design, with just four control buttons, makes it a breeze for even young children to learn 3D printing.

Designs can be downloaded via a Google drive file and inserted directly into your printer for easy production. “This model may just be the perfect printer for a younger person looking to explore 3D printing or even an adult that wants to dip a toe into the possibilities,” described one pleased client. “It is an outstanding printer for under US$150 and can be made better with a little effort.”

Entirely covered for safety, without the risk of burns or damaging fumes, this FlashForge 3D printer has a smallish square 150mm printing space, along with many features you’d find on more expensive designs; an auto-leveler, removable plate, filament sensor, and full-color touch screen. What’s more, the releasable nozzle makes it easy to clean and unclog.

One of the many happy customers described this as an “easy budget printer for beginners,” adding, “This was my first printer and it was amazing I was able to use it straight out of the box and saw pretty decent build quality.”

With over 4,000 satisfied customers, Comgrow’s 3D printer is a simple way to enter the world of 3D printing. With an open-source network, your kids can learn, design, and share their creations with top designers. With power loss recovery, a large print area of 220x220x250mm, and large, easy-to-move nozzles for leveling the printing bed, this is a simple printer that won’t overwhelm beginners.

Putting this printer together takes quite a long time, but with the manual, and the plethora of YouTube videos available, users have reported that it is rather straightforward. One buyer reviewed, “Overall if you"re looking to get into the hobby, this printer is a great entry point… [It] has good print quality and speed, and so far, has been very reliable.”

Sporting an 8.9-inch black and white LCD screen, with fast printing speeds, remote printing administration, and accurate printing, ANYCUBIC’s 3D printer is for professional 3D artists, but is intuitive enough for kids to use too. The WiFi and USB connectors provide access to unlimited designs, whereas the covered large printing bed provides safety while printing larger models.

One reviewer mentioned, “This is a great printer that is sturdy, well built, and produces excellent quality prints,” and another wrote, “The set up was quick and easy, and I was ready to begin printing in under an hour. Even dialing in the settings for a test print didn"t take long.”

This sturdy FlashForge 3D printer has a metal frame, an aluminum plate, and a covered design that is perfect for families wanting an easy-to-use, safe, and tough 3D printer. This is a considerable upgrade from the brand’s previous wood frame model and is built to last. Compatible with almost any filament type, it also has dual spool holders that allow you to use two colors at the same time for attractive and creative prints.

The only assembly required is a simple installation of the door and glass top, and you’re ready to print. One professional, an inventor, wrote, “This machine has been rock solid for the past five years that I"ve owned it… I"ve used many 3D printers and I find that this one has the largest print volume and features of any machine in its price range.”

We hope our review of the best 3D printer for kids has been helpful. For more similar suppliers, including suppliers of 3D printer filaments, 3D photographic printing services, specialty printers, and printer supplies, consult our additional guides or visit the Thomas Supplier Discovery Platform.

If you"re wondering how much a 3D printer costs. Or, if a 3D printer is worth it. You"re in the right place.The good news is this: These days you can find almost any 3D printer for any budget.

So is it worth it to buy a 3D printer in 2022? If yes, what is the best 3D printer for the price? And are there price range “sweet spots” that you should look out for?

How much does a 3D printer cost? Low-cost 3D printer prices start from $100 to $400. Then hobbyist 3D printers will set you back by up to $1,000. The next level of enthusiast and professional 3D printer prices range between $1,000 to $10,000. After that, the sky’s the limit – with industrial 3D printer prices starting at $10,000 but quickly reaching $100,000 or $250,000 for specialist technologies.

If you"re looking to find out exactly how much Ultimaker printers cost, you can request a quote to find out now.DIY / Low-cost 3D printer price $100 - $400

Low-cost 3D printers are all about the novelty of the technology. They exist for newbies who want to say, "Hey – check out what I just 3D printed!" Almost all will come as kits that the buyer puts together. And while these machines might have beginner-friendly price tags... It won"t be a beginner who can get them to produce a good 3D print. That"s because manufacturing problems are too common to overlook. And these lead to a painful setup and user experience. Also, when asking how much does a basic 3D printer cost? This tier can save you money. But expect to pay more for modifications, upgrades, and repairs down the line. That said, if it"s a choice between "having a 3D printer" and "not having a 3D printer", this tier offers the biggest bang for your buck.

3D printers at this price range can produce some great parts and models. But that"s only after you have set them up and dialed in their settings. In this way, they are aimed at hobbyists. (People who are happy to spend time watching tutorials and tweaking settings to improve their prints.) This also limits your flexibility. Over time, you might be able to 3D print well with a basic material like PLA. But don"t expect to switch filaments too easily. While these machines are often delivered as kits, manufacturing problems are less common.

Up until this price range, almost all the 3D printers will have had an open design. But now you will begin to see more partially and fully enclosed printers that increase safety and print reliability. This also marks the end of the hobbyist range. And the start of 3D printing becoming a useful production tool. Therefore, the enthusiast and prosumer category is great for lower and higher education customers who want to avoid spending time on maintenance. Plus, they present a smart option to 3D print cheaply at home. These machines can 3D print a handful of materials with good reliability. However, these will often be own-brand filaments with carefully tweaked settings. The best enthusiast 3D printers include hardware and software features taken from the professional 3D printer price tier. On which note...

A lot changes at this price point. Instead of being a technology to tweak and adjust, these 3D printers focus on easy use and adoption. They become one tool among many in an engineer"s or designer"s toolbox – giving a growing number of businesses a new way to innovate. And that"s why, at this price point, FFF 3D printing is at its most disruptive. The only way this can happen is for the 3D printer to work – and for it to work hard. Expect a factory-tested machine that you can leave running over the weekend and come back to a finished part on Monday morning. Plus, prints start being repeatable. For example, if you 3D print the same part on the same printer in two or more locations...the part quality should be almost identical. The user also has more flexibility. You can choose to print with a build material and a support material in the same print (called dual extrusion), offering more design freedom. And you gain a growing range of engineering-grade material options. These can include materials reinforced with carbon fiber or even metal.

3D printers that cost tens or hundreds of thousands are made to do a few things at a high level of quality. This includes production technology for specific materials, like high-temperature polymers or metal. 3D printing these materials with a high success rate often requires you to stay within a manufacturer"s material portfolio and software stack. If you are in the market for an enterprise-level machine, this will rarely be the first 3D printer your company buys. And you will know what"s required to make the investment: a strong business case, competitor analysis, and a purchase order. You or your company may be happy to pay extra for increased speed, accuracy, and reliability. But also know that, the higher you go in this price bracket, the more you chase diminishing returns.

If you consider 3D printing as a hobby, 3D printing successfully will largely be paid for with your time and patience. If 3D printing needs to be a tool for you, then you will pay extra for a user experience that saves time and attention.

But it"s also in this second category where 3D printing offers significant business value. And the right 3D printer can end up paying for itself with substantial time and cost savings.

It"s also about the software, accessories, materials, and service that go with it. Together, these contribute to an easy-to-use, time and cost-saving 3D printing experience.

The Ultimaker platform creates a seamless flow between hardware, software, and materialsFor example, every Ultimaker 3D printer works seamlessly with Ultimaker Cura, which is updated every few months. They also ship with a suite of free online tools and e-learning courses. Together these resources transform your ability to click-and-print with up to 239 materials.

So it"s no surprise that hundreds of leading companies – from Ford to L"Oréal – 3D print day and night with the Ultimaker platform to drive innovation and sustain their competitive advantage.

So, you want to get started with a 3D printer? Congratulations. It"s not an overstatement to say that 3D printing changed my life. It opened up the possibility of making custom physical objects to meet my own specific needs. It got me comfortable building in the workshop and helped me create solutions I use every day.

But getting started can be daunting. What printer should you get? How much should you spend? Should you get SLA (resin) or FDM (filament)? This article is designed to break through those questions.

Let"s start with the resin vs. filament discussion. I recommend resin printers to people who want to produce small items of fine detail. Miniature gamers are a massive market for these, as are model railroaders and modelers of all kinds. Print quality can be exceptional, but they create more mess, smell a bit more, and require careful post-processing and management of somewhat toxic liquids.

By contrast, I recommend filament printers to those who want to build objects that meet specific functional needs (rather than display needs). I use 3D printers for brackets, mountings, practical projects, and more. You can also make much larger objects with filament printers, so they"re a staple in the cosplay world for making masks and greeblies.

As for price, there are budget considerations. All the printers in this list are lower-cost printers. I have another list of pro-level printers you can check out if you"re able to spend more. Pro-level printers are more robust and -- unfortunate for beginners on a budget -- often have conveniences like automatic bed leveling that makes the printing process easier. That said, you can go very far with most of the best budget 3D printers listed here.

One final note before we kick off this list. I"ve added "Top Pick" indicators to the first few printers. These are the printers I"d feel immediately comfort