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	5.5 x 5.5 x 5.5	100-500 microns	PLA	$$
	Da Vinci Jr	5.9 x 5.9 x 5.9	100-400	PLA	$$
	OneUp	4 x 4 x 4	50	PLA (ABS, Nylong, Ninja Flex, Laywoo, PVA, HIPS if you upgrade)	$$
	QIDI Tech	9 x 6 x 6	100-300	ABS, PLA, TPU	$$$
	FlashForge Creator Pro	8.6 x 5.7 x 5.9	100-300	ABS, PLA	$$$
	Lulzbot Mini	6 x 6 x 6.2	50-500	ABS, PLA, HIPS, Nylon and more	$$$$
	MakerBot Replicator 2	11.2 x 6 x 6.1	100	PLA	$$$
	Sindoh's DP200	8.3 x 7.9 x 7.7	50-400	PLA, ABS	$$$$
	MakerGear M2	8 x 10 x 8	20	PLA, ABS, PET, Flexible and more	$$$$$
	Ultimaker 2	9.1 x 8.9 x 8.1	20	PLA, ABS,	$$$$$

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.

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.

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.

CLICK HERE FOR CURRENT PRICING

2. XYZPrinting Da Vinci Jr

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.

CLICK HERE FOR CURRENT PRICING

Mid-Range Models 500 – 1500

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

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.

CLICK HERE FOR CURRENT PRICING

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.

CLICK HERE FOR CURRENT PRICING

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

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.

CLICK HERE FOR CURRENT PRICING

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.

CLICK HERE FOR CURRENT PRICING

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.

9. MakerGear M2

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

3D printing is an exciting technology. To be able to create your own 3D models using a printer is amazing. There is a very wide variety of 3d printers available on the market for consumer use. Whether your budget is tight or whether you have a lot to spend, there is definitely plenty to choose from.

Here we are going to look at the best 3d printers under 1000 – the mid range of consumer 3d printers. Generally, the top 3d printers for under 1000 offer similar layer resolutions and reliability in printing. Below we have a look at the top 5 best 3d printers for under $1000.

1. FlashForge Creator Pro

2. Flashforge Finder

3. QIDI Tech

4. ROBO3D R1

5. Dremel Idea Builder

Product Images Sourced From Amazon.com

It was only a decade ago that buying a 3d printer would mean spending no less than $100,000! Nowadays it is quite easy to get your hands on a low budget 3d printer for under $500. The home market for 3d printers continues to expand and offer the best cheap 3d printers money can buy. Of course even the best 3d budget printers for under 500 come with their limitations but they still offer a great way to test out the world of 3d printing.

Image	Model	Print Size	Layer Resolution	Materials	Price	Rating
	FlashForge Finder	5.5 x 5.5 x 5.5	100-500 microns	PLA	$$
	Da Vinci Jr	5.9 x 5.9 x 5.9	100-400	PLA	$$
	Da Vinci 1.0	7.8 x 7.8 x 7.8	100-400	ABS/PLA	$$
	HICTOP Prusa I3	10 x 8 x 7	100-400	ABS/PLA	$$
	Printrbot Play	4 x 4 x 5	50	PLA, flexible and some experimental	$$

Some of the limitations of the cheapest 3d printers usually include build volume and no heated build plate. This means that your creations will be smaller on the cheapest 3d printer compared to a more pricier model. Cheap 3d printer reviews also reveal that the build plates are not heated. This will usually mean that the quality of your 3d print maybe compromised.

However if you have the patience and the ability to problem solve and tinker like a mad man – it is very possible to make real great prints on a good cheap 3d printer.

To help you get the most from your money, below we take a look at the best cheap 3d printers. We hope our cheap 3d printer reviews will help you get the best low cost 3d printer you can afford.

1. FlashForge Finder

The Flashforge Finder has an impressive 5 out of 5 stars for its reviews.  This is because it is very user friendly, home friendly and also pretty nice on the wallet too.

The quality of print can be between 100-400 microns and its print bed size is ok.  Its print bed is 5.5 x 5.5 x 5.5 inches which is a small set up to get started.

The Finder has a very clean design which hides all cables out of site.

2. XYZprinting Da Vinci Jr

The Da Vinci Jr is the smallest 3d printer available from XYX printing. Despite its puny size it makes it to the top of our category for best 3d printer for under 500.

The Da Vinci Jr offers a build volume of 5.9 inch x 5.9 inch x 5.9 inch. It does not have a heated build plate but has an enclosed working chamber which helps keep heat distribution level. It also self calibrates too.

The Da Vinci Jr is the of the cheapest 3d printer on the market because in order to use it you have to buy their priorietary filament. This costs more than open source consumables.

Pros

• Easy to set up and use

• Self calibrates

Cons

• Bulky despite its small build platform

• Uses XYZ proprietary consumables

• Can only use PLA

The Jr is a great entry-level 3d printer for anyone to use.

3. XYZprinting Da Vinci 1.0

For a little bit more but still under the $500 mark, you can get the Da Vinci 1.0. This offers a larger build volume of 7.8 x 7.8 x 7.8 inches compared the Jr. According tyo XYXprinting, this is 15-75% larger than other 3d printers in the same price range.

Like the Jr, the 1.0 has a closed system to help keep temperature distribution levl as it doesn’t have a heated build plate.

Pros

• Easy to use

• 3d printer/scanner

• Large build platform

Cons

• Uses proprietary consumables

• Print platform not removable (thus hard to clean)

The 1.0 is easy to use, reliable and one of the best affordable 3d printers available.

4. HICTOP Prusa L3

The HICTOP’s build capacity is quite substantial at 10 x 8 x 7 inches and impressive for such a low cost option. It also has an LCD screen which is helpful for beginner printers to see what they are doing.

The downside to hte HICTOP Prusa is that it isn’t entry level. Assembly is definitely required for this one but if that is something you enjoy doing it maybe ok. Many users state that assembley is fairly straight forward but don’t rely on the instruction video as its poor.

Pros

• Quality prints

• Auto levelling

• Spare components included

• Some assembly done

• Easy and fun – For some users assembling the printer was a lot of fun and gave them an opportunity to learn a lot about the printer.

Cons

• DIY assembly - Considerable amount of time to build

• Steep learning curve

CLICK HERE FOR CURRENT PRICING

5. Printrbot Play

The Printrbot Play is perfect for both beginners and enthusiasts. It is also marketed at kids too due to some of his features, e.g. it has a fan shroud to prevent little hands from getting burned.

It also features a 4 x 4 x 5 inch build volume – which compared to others in the lower price range, is quite small. The Play doesn’t have a detachable bed which can make getting pieces off difficult.

Pros

• Reliable

• Great for beginners

• Very portable

• Micro SD slot

Cons

• Very small build plate

• For beginners, kids and enthusiasts.

• Requires assembly

• Bed not detachable

CLICK HERE FOR CURRENT PRICING

Conclusion

There is a great range of affordable 3d printers available to choose from on the market. 3D printing is much more accessible and you can’t go wrong with one of the models above. Whether you are looking for something fully assembled or want an assembly challenge – you will find it in the budget range.

Product Images Sourced From Amazon.com

To avoid paying a fee for the privilege of using his University's 3D printer, Coby Kabili created the Robo R1 3D printer. After creating a prototype the Robo 3D printer hit the mainstream after a successful punt on the popular crowdfunding site Kickstarter.

ROB3D’s ethos and goal was to produce an affordable 3D printer so that anyone who wanted to could enjoy the benefits of a relatively new technology. ROBO3D is a very young company with one model of 3d printer: the Robo R1. This has been upgraded and improved upon to create the Robo R1 Plus model.

Criteria for a Great 3D Printer

When choosing a 3D printer or looking at a robo 3d printer review, there are several things to look for to make sure you are getting something you are happy with!

• Print Area - On many budget 3d printers, the print area can be quite small and quite disappointing. The bigger the area the bigger the objects you can create – so if you have some wonderful larger creations, you may need to factor this in. Generally for home 3d printers, the area doesn’t usually go above 380mm

• Layer resolution - High resolution objects will be smoother and have very thin layers. Some 3d printers will even let you enter a value for layer resolution if you want to play about with quality.

• Extruders - If a printer has more than one extruder this will let you print an object in different colors and/or different materials as well.

• Printing Speed - Printers are general between 40mm/s and 150mm/s. Generally though the higher the resolution the slower than the speed. Many users feel that it is worth the wait for a quality object.

Product Review

This Robo 3D printer review is of the ROBO 3D R1 Plus model. The new improved version of the original R1 model. The printer features a heated print bed which prevents uneven cooling and warping. The print bed is also large creating models up to 8 x 9 x 10 inches. It has automatic calibration and levelling to ensure precise printing. The print layers up to a max of 100 microns.

Looking at robo 3d reviews there are a few pros and cons to the Robo R1 which we have listed below in our Robo 3d printer review.

Pros

• Easy to use with auto-calibration
• Open source
• Auto-levelling
• Large heated build plate

The R1 3D printer is reasonably priced and very affordable. It is a good quality 3d printer and a fraction of the price of the high end brands which can be bought for thousands. The printer is also open source meaning you can run your own software and use your own equipment. You can also use a variety of materials with it too and are not limited by one of two like other models. One robo 3d review mentions the printers autoleveling function which will make your life a lot easier if you are a beginner or someone who hates tweaking this constantly.

It also has a large heated print platform allowing you to print models up to 8 x 9 x 10 inches. This is much larger than the majority of budget printers.

The Robo R1 Printing

The ROBO3D printer is also very easy to set up and calibrate. It has an automatic calibration process to make things easy and ready to go. Many users also found the printer to be very easy to use. One of the frustrations of using new equipment can be the length of time it takes to learn how to use it. However with the ROBO R1 this learning curve was minimal. If you do find you are not easily getting along with your 3d printer, ROBO2D also have great support to help you get quickly up and running. There is a small but active online community available to help. This makes the ROBO R1 a great printer for beginners.

One robo3d review also noted that the printer works consistently compared to other models.

Cons

• Slow to print: Some robo 3d reviews feel that the R1 is a little slow to print, but conclude that it’s worth waiting for because the quality is great.

• Reliability: Some users have also found that although at first the printer works well, after a few months they start to encounter problems. This does pull into question the R1’s reliability and build quality.

• Noise: Lastly many feel that the printer is a little noisy!

Conclusion

The R1 is great value for money, is very versatile particularly because its open source and has a large print area. It also has a solid customer service and support forum. Despite its cons, I would definitely recommend this based on its positives. It is significantly ahead of many of its competitors in providing a value for money quality 3d printer.

Product Images Sourced From Amazon.com

The Ultimaker was a triumph when it first hit the market. It enabled you to build your own 3D printer without having to follow open source plans. Within a few hours you could have put together and calibrated your machine ready for action.

The new model – the Ultimaker 2 now comes finished and in several different versions – the Ultimaker 2, Ultimaker Make 2 Plus, the Ultimaker 2 Extended and the Ultimaker 2 Go. The Ultimaker 2 versions are more refined and robust. In this Ultimaker 2 review, we will look at each model for comparison.

1. The Ultimaker 2 Model

The Ultimaker 2 is a very well built and robust machine. It includes everything you need for quick assembly and to get going with your printing ideas. It has an impressive 23 x 22.5 x 20.5 build plate which expands the printable materials. The models can be loaded using a supplied SD card. This is our ultimaker 2 review with pros and cons.

The Ultimaker 2 differs from other 3d printers by using a 2.85mm filament with a Bowden extruder. This takes a little longer to load and unload but it greatly reduces the mass of the print head and thus makes printing speeds a lot faster. The Ultimaker 2 also has a great user manual that is easy to understand and use.

Pros

• Great Cura software which is open sourced

• Quiet

• Fine print quality

• Fast printing speeds

• User manual - The user manual is comprehensive and easy to understand.

• You can order samples: If you are still unsure about the Ultimaker 2 (even after reading ultimaker 2 reviews) you can go to their website and order samples so you can get a good idea of the quality.

Cons

• Changing filaments can be difficult – When changing filaments you have to go back and forth between the front display and the filament feeder. With practice this should get easier.

• Can print with ABS and PLA only

• Not designed for tethered printing

2. The Ultimaker 2 Extended Model

The Ultimaker 2 Extended has the same features as the Ultimaker 2. The only difference is the addition of 10cm more height. This allows you to print objects with a height up to 12 inches. It is easy to set up and calibrate just like the Ultimaker 2.

Despite its extra height room, the build plate is still the same size as the Ultimaker 2. The Extended version was rates BEST Large Format in Make Magazine November 2015.

Pros

• Offers everything the Ultimaker 2 has.

• More height room

Cons

Pricing is quite a bit more for just the addition height room. If that is important to you than the extra cost may be worth it – if not you’d be happy with the Ultmaker 2.

The Ultimaker 2 review for the Extended version can be summed up based on the height room itself.

3. The Ultimaker 2 Plus Model

The Ultimaker 2 plus has multiple improvements over the original Ultimaker 2. It allows you to easily switch between nozzles (0.25, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8mm) for greater detail and faster printing. It has a heated bed and also allows ABS printing. The feeder allows you to swap filaments with ease and its easy to choose the correct pressure for your filament. The Ultimaker has new fancaps for better targeted airflow.

Pros

• Easy to set up and use

• Easy to change filaments

• Accepts third party filaments

• Less noise

• High resolutions

• Supports open source hardware

• Includes Olsson Block kit which allows extruders to be interchangeable

Cons

• Basic control panel interface

• No auto calibration

• Sometimes difficult to remove finished print objects

4. Ultimaker Go

The Ultimaker Go’s name automatically makes you think that this is a printer that is easy to take with you wherever you want to go. The Go is compact but still powerful with high layer resolution. It also prints fast too. The Ultimaker Go comes with a travel case too.

Pros

• It has a small footprint

• Easy menu navigation

• High quality prints

Cons

• Filament compatibility is limited

• The print bed is not heated

• Very small build area

• Temperamental print speeds (can be fast or slow)

The cons of the Ultimaker Go are somewhat expected if you are looking for a more travel size printer.

Upgrade Kit

Ultimaker have realised an Extension Upgrade Kit which allows you to upgrade your existing Ultimaker 2 or Ultimaker 2 Extended. This upgrade kit will give you all the capabilities of the Ultimaker 2 Plus. This is great as it means you can get everything the Plus models offer without having to buy a new printer.

The Upgrade Kit is available from Ultimaker.

Within the Ultimaker 2 3d printer review, it is quite obviously that the Ultimaker 2 is a great printer in all of its variations. The Ultimaker 2 caters for both the beginner and experienced user as well as those looking for a travel buddy.  Of course though you need to have quite a budget in order to afford an Ultimaker.  If you don't something a little cheaper maybe a better option.

Product Images Sourced From Amazon.com