Best Cheap 3D Printers

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

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

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