Blogtrepreneur’s 3D Printer Reviews – Our Guide To The Best 3D printers of 2016

When it comes to new technologies, no field is more exciting than that of 3D printing. There seems to be no end to the things you can create using a 3D printer: models & prototypes, human tissue, even food. And it seems like almost every month there are a slew of new 3D printers to choose from, and every manufacturer claims their product is the best 3D printer on the market. That coupled with emerging printing processes can make choosing the right printer a daunting task. To give you a better understanding of what to look for, we have created a buyers guide to take some of the guesswork out of your shopping.

3D Printer Comparison Table

Image

Model

Max Build Size (Inches)

Layer Resolution

Material

Price

Rating

flashforge finder

FlashForge Finder

5.5 x 5.5 x 5.5

100-500 microns

PLA

$$

xyzprinting da vinci jr

Da Vinci Jr

5.9 x 5.9 x 5.9

100-400

PLA

$$

OneUp

4 x 4 x 4

50

PLA

(ABS, Nylong, Ninja Flex, Laywoo, PVA, HIPS if you upgrade)

$$

qidi tech 3d printer

QIDI Tech

9 x 6 x 6

100-300

ABS, PLA, TPU

$$$

FlashForge Creator Pro

8.6 x 5.7 x 5.9

100-300

ABS, PLA

$$$

lulzbot mini

Lulzbot Mini

6 x 6 x 6.2

50-500

ABS, PLA, HIPS, Nylon and more

$$$$

MakerBot Replicator 2

11.2 x 6 x 6.1

100

PLA

$$$

sindoh dp200

Sindoh's DP200

8.3 x 7.9 x 7.7

50-400

PLA, ABS

$$$$

maker gear m2

MakerGear M2

8 x 10 x 8

20

PLA, ABS, PET, Flexible and more

$$$$$

ultimaker 2

Ultimaker 2

9.1 x 8.9 x 8.1

20

PLA, ABS,

$$$$$

However, before you go looking for a new 3D printer, there are a few specializations you should be paying attention to:

Key Specifications for a Great 3D Printer

Resolution

The resolution of your unit will determine the quality and detail of your print. Lower end units are typically only capable of lower resolution printing – roughly the 400 micron range. Higher end units will go as low as 100 microns and may have more than 1 extruder, which will also help with print accuracy.

best 3d printer

Print Bed

The print bed size of your unit will determine the maximum size project you can create on it. 5 x 5 x 5 is a fairly common size for most desktop units.

Additionally, lower cost printers typically come with unheated print beds, which can limit the types of materials you can print with. This is due to the fact that rapidly cooling plastic shrinks. If it shrinks unevenly in certain places, warping will occur. A heated print bed will prevent this by allowing the finished product to stay at the right temperature during the entire printing run and allow it to shrink more evenly as it cools. Here is a video explaining the differences:

Printing Process

Another consideration is the printing process. 3D printers use a variety of different methods to build and layer the finished product. By far the most popular are fused deposition modeling (FDM) units, due to their cleanliness, ease of use, and cost effective design.

Stereolithography (SLA) is an older technology that is more for suited for industrial use, however some consumer models do still employ this type of printing processes.

Materials

Lastly, 3D printers can use a variety of different plastic materials. The most common types are ABS or PLA. There are pros and cons to each type, so it comes down to user preference. Aim for a multi-function type printer with switchable nozzles – this will allow it to be compatible with other materials and other types of plastic polymers.

Ready-Made or Build Your Own?

Depending on your preference for learning; you can either buy a 3d printer already assembled or buy one that involves a bit of construction work.

The advantages to building your own are numerous. By building your 3d printer you will learn a lot about it and its set up. If anything were to go wrong you would be more likely to fix it yourself as you put it together. Even a simple task like cleaning a blocked hot end can seem overwhelming to someone who has never seen a 3d printer in pieces or built up.

Home built 3d printers also tend to be cheaper than already assembled ones. Some of the best home 3d printers are self build.?

The only real downside to building your own is the time it takes to do so. It can be quite difficult to do and require a lot of patience. Many self-builders do proclaim how rewarding it is though and how much you learn from it. Of course it is entirely down to your own strengths and weaknesses.

If you want to learn more about the basics of 3D printing check out our write up here.

The Top 10 3D Printers Reviewed

Our list below contains a buyer’s guide with the top 10 3D printer reviews. First-time buyers and experts alike should be able to use this resource to purchase the best printer for his or her needs.

Beginner Models 500 or less

This category is for the newcomers to 3D printing, or if you’re just looking for a low-cost unit.

flashforge finder

1. FlashForge Finder

The Flashforge Finder is a pre-assembled 3d printer that will have you printing in minutes! The Finder is user friendly, home friendly and wallet friendly too.

Despite its cheap price, the Finder offers a slide in build plate, making it easy to remove prints. Flashforge has also improved the extrusion compared to other models and the noise level is very low.

The quality of print layers is up to 500 microns which is great for such a budget printer.

The Finder has a clean design with concealed cables and smart plastic body. The heated elements are all protected from touch and the printing material is non toxic PLA. This makes it perfect for the classroom environment.

xyzprinting da vinci jr

2. XYZPrinting Da Vinci Jr

The Da Vinci Jr. is easily the best 3D printer for the money. This no frills unit comes fully calibrated and has an auto feeding filament reel.

The Da Vinci Jr offers a build volume of 5.9 x 5.9 x 5.9 inches. It is also fully enclosed and easy to clean. With a fully assembled price of 349$, this printer is about as plug and play as it gets.

oneup printer

3. OneUp

Special mention also goes to the OneUp series of printers - these have to be the most cost effective units on the market. The basic unit starts around $199 and they go up from there. They come in a variety of sizes (OneUp, TwoUp, ThreeUp) and resolutions/print beds that will suit anyone's needs.

The OneUp range offers self build kits which is why they are so cheap. If you don't want to build your own we suggest the Da Vinci Jr instead.

Mid-Range Models 500 – 1500

If you need a bit more features, this is the category to focus on.

qidi tech 3d printer

4. QIDI Tech

The QIDI is a fully enclosed 3d printer with metallic body, which makes it sturdier than other models that use plastic or wood for their framing. It also has a build plate made from aluminium that helps prevent warping during the heating process.

The QIDI Tech has a print area of 9 x 5.9 x 5.9 inches and prints using ABS and PLA filaments. It is a dual extruder printer which is an important feature because it simplifies the usage of support material and designs with different colors.

The QIDI is a great price for everything that it offers.

5. FlashForge Creator Pro

The Flashforge Creator Pro is a step up from the original Flashforge Creator. It comes with an enclosed chassis and metal frame. It has a guide rod for stabilization and heated build plate. You can use a variety of materials to print with including ABS, PLA and PVA.

The build plate offers a 8.6 x 5.7 x 5.9 inch maximum build size. It also has dual extruders for supporting designs with different colors.

Looking at reviews for the Creator Pro suggest that this is a very reliable machine.

That was the top 5 3d printers now for the next 5.

lulzbot mini

6. Lulzbot Mini

By far the best 3D printer for the money is the Lulzbot Mini.  Set up takes literally minutes to do and you can have your first print done very quickly.

A base area of 6in x 6in x 6.2 inches makes it one of the larger units in this price range. It will support pretty much any material you throw at it, with the exception of carbon fiber based filaments.

To top it off, the Mini is also self-calibrating and self-cleaning.

7. MakerBot Replicator 2

Our honorable mention in this category goes to the Makerbot replicator 2. With 410 cubic inches of volume capacity, it is the largest printer in this price range by far. As if that weren’t enough, it also comes with an amazing 100-micron layer resolution. Additionally, It includes some of the best 3D printer software we’ve ever seen. A simple 1-2-3 (add, prepare, preview) step printing process makes this printer a great starting point for novices and experts alike.

sindoh dp200

8. Sindoh's DP200 3DWOX

The 3DWOX has an enclosed structure to help maintain consistent temperatures for an evening print.

It auto loads the filament for you to make things easier.  It also has an LCD screen for print monitoring. It also has assisted bed levening and a wid variety of ways to connect the printer.

t has a fairly large print bed at 8.3 x 7.9 x 7.7 inches and great resolution at 50-400 microns.

Professional 1500 and Up

Here are our top picks for those with a larger budget.

maker gear m2

9. MakerGear M2

The MakerGear M2 is a semi professional 3d printer with a lot to offer if you have the money to spend.

The M2 has a solid steel frame designed to resist temperature fluctuations. The M2 sets itself apart from other models with its high resolution printing. Print layer resolution is as low as 20 microns.

You can print both with PLA and ABS. You also get 1K spool of PLA plastic to get your started.

The M2 comes pre-assembled but there is plenty of room to tweak it to your specifications with dual-extrude upgrade, interchangeable nozzles and onboard controls.

ultimaker 2

10. Ultimaker 2

The Ultimaker 2 is a robust machine and very quick to set up and get going.  It offers great quality prints with a minimum of 20 microns for print layer resolution.  It also is very quick to print too.

The Ultimaker 2 uses Cura software which is open source.  It can print with both ABS and PLA.  It is very easy to upgrade as well with their upgrade kit, which means you don't need to buy a whole new machine.

You can read a more indepth review about the Ultimaker 2 here.

In Closing

Regardless of the 3D printer you choose, you should ensure that you are purchasing a quality filament. Even the most well-built printer will struggle when fed with poor quality plastic. If you notice your printer jamming up frequently or producing poor printing results, it’s time to look into a new filament.

Product Images Sourced From Amazon.com

 

Kelly
 

I am absolutely nutty about running and fitness. I am a competitive runner always looking for my next challenge. I also love playing guitar and lounging around with my son.