10 Best 3D Printer Reviews – Beginners, Hobbyist, Professionals | Buyers Guide

3D printers are powerful machines that allow you to exhaust your creativity and imagination by printing 3D objects. These come at different models, sizes, and prices. 

The 3D printer is the evolution of printers that uses additive manufacturing technologies. It offers you three-dimensional and functional objects.

For instance, if you want an organizer, with a 3D printer you can create one for yourself. Moreover, these machines are versatile; they can manufacture simple objects to complicated ones including a working gun, car or a residential building.

With a 3D printer, almost anything you have in mind is possible. The only limitation is your imagination. If you want to know more about 3D printing machines, you are just on the right page.

At the end of this article, I will also give you a list of the top 3D printers on the market today. Whether you’re looking for an SLA, FFF or FDM printers, we have it all in our list.

3D Printer	Price	Price Check	Rating	Weight	Build Volume (mm)	Print Speed	Max Resolution	Temp	Filament Diameter	Print Method	Warranty	Type
FlashForge Finder	$$$$$	Click Here To Check Price	4.9/5	16 kg	140 L x 140 W x 140 H mm	40 to 200 mm/sec	100-400 microns, adjustable	220ºC	1.75 mm	FFF (Fused Filament Fabrication)	1 year limited	Beginner
FlashForge Adventurer	$$$$$	Click Here To Check Price	4.8/5	28.7 lbs	150x150x150mm	100mm/s	100-400 microns, adjustable	200°C	1.75 mm	FFF (Fused Filament Fabrication)	1 year limited	Beginner
M3D Micro+	$$$$		4.2/5	2 lbs	110 x 107 x 73.5	55 mm/s	50 microns	ABS - Up to 265 ºC; PLA - Up to 210 ºC	1.75 mm	FFF	1 Year	Beginner
Zortrax M200	$$$		3.9/5	16 Kg	200 x 200 x 185 100 mm/s	100 mm/s	90 microns	20 ºC to 35 ºC	1.75 mm	LPD	2 Years	Beginner
LulzBot Mini	$$		3.5/5	24.25 lbs	152 x 152 x 158	275 mm/s	50 micron	Up to 260 ºC	1.75 mm	FDM	90 Days	Beginner
FlashForge Dreamer	$$$$$	Click Here To Check Price	4.9/5	24.2 lbs	230 x 150 x 150 mm	up to 200mm/s	100~500 microns	255ºC	1.75 mm	FFF (Fused Filament Fabrication)	1 year limited	Hobbyist
Ultimaker 2	$$$$		4.8/5	11 Kg	230 x 225 x 205	300 mm/s	20 microns	15 ºC to 32 ºC	2.85 mm	FDM	1 Year	Hobbyist
FlashForge Creator Pro	$$$$	Click Here To Check Price	4.8/5	24.3 lbs	227 L X 148 W X 150 H mm	60mm/s	100~500 microns	220-240ºC	1.75 mm	FFF (Fused Filament Fabrication)	1 year limited	Hobbyist
LulzBot Mini 2	$$$		3.9/5	9 Kg	160 x 160 x 180	300mm/s	50 microns	Up to 120°	2.85mm	FFF	1 Year	Hobbyist
Makerbot Replicator	$$		3.5/5	16 Kg	252 x 199 x 150	150 mm/s	100 microns	15 ºC to 26 ºC	1.75mm	FDM	6 Months	Hobbyist
FlashForge Guider	$$$$$	Click Here To Check Price	4.9/5	83.8 lbs	280 x 250 x 300 mm	100 mm/s	50–400 microns	300 °C	1.75 mm	FFF (Fused Filament Fabrication)	1 year limited	Professional
Ultimaker S5	$$$$$		4.5/5	20.6 Kg	330 x 240 x 300	300 mm/s	0.25 mm nozzle:60 microns 0.4 mm nozzle:20 micron 0.8 mm nozzle:20 micron"	180 - 280 °C	2.85 mm	FFF	1 Year	Professional
Formlabs Form 2	$$$$$		4/5	13 Kg	145 x 145 x 175	1-3 cm/hour	25 microns	Auto-heats to 35 ºC		SLA	N/A	Professional
Zortrax M300	$$$		3.9/5	30 Kg	300 x 300 x 300	100mm/s	90 microns	Up to 290˚ C	1.75 mm	LPD	2 Years	Professional
Makergear M2	$$		3.8/5	12.7 Kg	200 x 250 x 200	450 mm/s	50 microns	Up to 300˚ C	1.75 mm	FFF	6 Months Limited	Professional

3D Printer Buying Review Guide

Choosing a high-quality 3D printer can be a daunting task especially that there are tons of manufacturers claiming to deliver the best 3D printers on the market.

There are tons of DIY and kits that you can find online and it can be confusing what to get. I suggest that you consider this buying guideline first to find the best quality 3d printer.

Price – 3D printer cost differs. There are affordable and expensive machines but its price is determined by its features and specifications. When it comes to price, you better consider your budget and the type of printer you need. You might also need to consider the timing when a brand offers a discount.

Materials – Determining your intended application and the material characteristic is a significant factor in selecting a 3D printer. For instance, for concept modeling applications, the physical properties of the object are not very significant. However, materials for rapid manufacturing applications need to be castable or should be high-temperature resistant. Thus, consider your application whether it is for concept models, verification models, pre-production applications or digital model or manufacturing.

The two most common materials are Poly Lactic Acid (PLA) and Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) but there are also ceramic, wooden, bronze and more. There are 3D printers that combine multiple technologies and can accommodate a number of materials, which adds to its flexibility.

Print Speed – This refers to the time required for printing a finite distance in the z-direction because 3D printers build a component layer by layer. High print speed is always an advantage especially for concept modeling because it will allow you to quickly make an alternative of your digital 3D model for comparison and improve it in a short span of time.

Part Cost – This performance attribute is determined by how much total material a 3D printer consumes to print a given set of parts. You can find the lowest part cost with powder-based 3D printing technologies like gypsum powder, where the unused powder is recycled and re-used.

Some popular 3D printers blend expensive build material into support material during the 3D printing process to create support but this will increase your total cost of materials consumed. In addition, this produces more in-process material waste. So when choosing a 3D printer, learn how it operates before purchasing it or you might spend more when using it.

Detail Resolution – This 3D printer attribute is usually stated in dots per inch (DPI), Z-layer thickness, pixel size, beam spot size, and bead diameter. You can double-check the resolution by visual inspection. Use a digital microscope and examine the edge, corner definition, and texture. If you need a 3D printer for verification testing, you need one with a great detail resolution because the printed parts need to follow the design accurately.

Accuracy – This attribute refers to the quality of the printed parts. Accuracy is critical for printing-specific measurement test parts and in producing objects with solid print quality.

The process allows you to produce each part additively and you may have to deal with material shrinkage, which needs to be compensated to produce accurate results. Power-based 3D printers have the least shrink distortion and are generally accurate. Meanwhile, plastic 3D printing technologies that use heat, UV light or both are subject to more variables that can reduce its accuracy.

Now that you know the important details that you need to learn, it’s time to check the different 3D printer reviews to see what machine suits you best.

3D Printer Reviews: What’s the Best 3D Printer?

Beginners’ 3D Printers

The 3D printers in this category are mostly plug-and-play. These machines don’t need any assembly and rarely fails which makes it a great printer for beginners.

#1 FlashForge Finder | Best Entry-Level 3D Printer

FlashForge Finder is a good start for beginners because it has a simple design, it is very easy to use and the price is affordable. Everything about this 3D printer is very attractive for novices.

It comes with a sturdy, slide-in build plate for easy set-up or removal. This also contributes to its stability and good print. This also comes with the FlashForge integrated assist leveling system for precise and easy calibration. It provides straightforward and easy to follow directions to tighten and loosen the leveling screws

As for the operation, this includes a full-color touchscreen with user-friendly control that is very simple and easy to use. It also shows the preview control and supports different languages including English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, French and more.

This also operates quietly because it is equipped with a silent printing function. If you are new to 3D printing and you can’t stop printing day and night, this will work for you because it won’t disturb your household even if you work late.

Check Price

#2 Flashforge Adventurer III

Flashforge Adventure III is another great 3D printer for beginners because it is easy to use and it is affordable compared to most competitors. Also, it has a user-friendly and safe design that novices will surely appreciate.

This 3D printing machine has a removable buckle design that provides a faster way for replacement and a convenient solution to clogging issues on the extruder. You don’t have to disassemble or remove the full extruder when it requires maintenance.

This is also safe because it has a built-in enclosed filament cartridge. It also comes with a patented extruder structure, stable filament loading, ready to use and non-leveling printing technology to prevent incorrect leveling issues and automatic filament feed technology. All of these features are added for a smoother and enjoyable 3D printing experience that beginners will surely love.

Considering its price, features, and performance, I must say this goes beyond my expectations. I highly recommend this 3D printer to those who are new to 3D printing.

Check Price 

#3 M3D Micro+ Review 

For those looking for a great-performing and cheap 3D printer, this one is for you. M3D Micro 3D Printer is affordable and it’s competitive. Some even dubbed this as the “best 3D printer for beginners” that’s why this tops our list for entry-level 3D printers.

If you want working and affordable 3D printers, this is the best choice. This 3D printer looks like a toy but, it’s definitely functional. It has a super compact and cube-shaped design and is very easy to operate.

However, due to its low price tag, it also comes with a number of drawbacks. This 3D printer needs to be physically connected to a computer the whole time to be functional, which I assumed would not be a big deal if you simply want a 3D printer to get started. In addition, it can only print small objects and has a slow printing speed but with good print quality.

If your budget is tight and you desperately need a 3D printing machine to get started this is a great starter kit.

Check Price at Amazon

#4 Zortrax M200 Review

This 3D printer is popular due to its reliability, efficiency, and precision. It features an integrated system and comes with a wide selection of professional materials with a variety of qualities and colors.

With its dimensional accuracy and precise repeatability, Zortrax M200 will meet every inch of your expectations. Moreover, it is offered at a more reasonable price, which makes it one of the most competitive 3D printers on the market.

Zortrax is very simple and easy to use. Print failures are incredibly rare which makes this a great entry-level 3D printer. Those who are new to 3D printing will surely love these qualities.

If you can’t decide what 3d printer to buy and you don’t want to encounter any problems in the future while 3D printing – Zortrax is the best 3D printer. It is reliable, effective and delivers good print quality outputs!

Check Price at Amazon

#5 LulzBot Mini Review

LulzBot Mini is a high-quality and high-performance desktop 3D printer that used the so called fused deposition modeling which is a type of rapid prototyping.

This is pre-assembled and fully calibrated. In addition, it has a self-cleaning nozzle and a self-leveling tray so it’s ready to print out of the box. This quality 3D printer is very easy to operate and is great for rapid prototyping. You can use it after unboxing and within minutes you can have your first 3D print.

This comes with straightforward software and easy to read and comprehensive documentation which is very helpful for newbies who are still treading water in this activity. Also, you can bank on its community for support because they are always willing to help. This is one of the best FDM printers on the market.

Check Price at Amazon

Hobbyists 3D Printers

The 3D printers in this category are more demanding than 3D printers for beginners but not as advanced as those designed for professionals. Check out the best 3D printers for hobbyists in this section.

#1 FlashForge Dreamer 3D Printer

FlashForge Dreamer is a beginner-friendly 3D printing machine. It is very easy to use that even first-time users won’t have a hard time operating it and it is very versatile which makes it a good option for hobbyists.

Simply turn on the 3D printer and touch the LCD screen menu to operate. It also offers multiple connectivities including a USB cable, SD card and a WiFi connection for easier access to your 3D files, designs, templates, and projects.

Its second-generation wireless connection guarantees a more stable wireless file fetching and transmission. You can even send 3D files from your computer directly to the printer through the WiFi network and under STA or AP modes.

You can bank on this when it comes to quality because Dreamer meets the global users’ requirements with its multilingual operating interface and built-in language packages that include English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and more.

Overall, this delivers an efficient and powerful print. It is also functional and very handy. So, I highly recommend this.

Check Price

#2 Ultimaker 2 Review

Ultimaker 2 is engineered to perform which makes it a great option for 3D printer hobbyists. So, if you are planning to take your 3D printing experience to a higher level and you are looking for FDM printers, you should check this out.

This 3D printer is not fully assembled, but it’s almost completely assembled. Some directions are not clear and you may need to do quick Google searches to make this work. That’s why we don’t recommend this for beginners, only to hobbyists whom we consider to have enough 3D printing experience.

It has different nozzles allowing you to conveniently switch to achieve the speed and resolution you desire. You can also save your digital 3D model to an SD card for stand-alone printing.

This rapid prototyping 3D printing machine can be used for a variety of applications from prototyping to customizing tools. Thanks to its technology you can enjoy the rapid prototyping advantages including lower cost and more efficiency by enabling you to realize concepts more quickly.

Ultimaker 2 is perfect for those who want to get a dual extruder 3D printer with a bigger build area and better performance. However, you’ve got to prepare a huge sum of money as this is more expensive compared to other brands.

Check Price at Amazon

#3 FlashForge Creator Pro Review

FlashForge Creator Pro 3D printer is one of the impressive 3D printers for intermediate users. This is mostly pre-assembled, so you’ve got to do a few things to make this work. Also, we believe that you need to have enough understanding of 3D printing to maximize its results.

FlashForge Creator Pro only supports limited software. Setting this up and finding the perfect software can be time-consuming and challenging. But once you’ve figured this out, you will love this rapid prototyping 3D printer.

This 3D printer has striking similarities with the MakerBot Replicator 2X. This model is a better version of the entry-level Flashforge Creator, only that it comes with a metal frame and enclosed chassis.

It also comes with an improved platform leveling system, metal build plate and a guide rod to help with stabilization and durability. Furthermore, it is more flexible than most 3D printers because it has dual extruders, but you’ve got to make your way around this as sometimes this may fail. FlashForge Creator Pro 3D printer can accommodate different printing materials including ABS, PLA, and PVA plastic filaments.

Overall, this 3D printer is stable. It is easy to use and delivers quality output. The manufacturer also offers full warranty and lifetime support. Considering its price and quality, this is a steal! So, for those looking for the best 3D printers, this is highly recommended.

Check Price 

#4 LulzBot Mini 2 Review

LulzBot delivers hardware improvement in Mini 2. This 3D printer includes Einsy RAMBo electronics with Trinamic 2130 stepper motor drivers for a more silent printing operation.

Mini 2 comes with a redesigned tool head. However, changing a printing material can be a bit challenging as there’s a tendency that the plastic filament would get stuck below the extruder hobb.

It took some time for us to eventually maneuver the tip of the filament to get out without too much effort. Thankfully, after toying around we eventually solve the clogging issue. This is the reason we recommend this for hobbyists and not for beginners.

Aside from the aforementioned, among the new things we love about this is its redesigned PEI print bed that worked like a charm. We tried printing different materials and models and didn’t encounter any issues with adhesion or warping.

Overall, this 3D printer is compact, reliable, and has additional features than its predecessor Lulzbot Mini which we recommend for beginners. It also allows you to print from SD card.

Check Price at Amazon

#5 MakerBot Replicator Review

MakerBot Replicator offers you the easiest and most versatile process of getting your models 3D printed. It embodies the new standards of convenience, quality, and reliability with its smart extruder, motion controllers and gantry design.

Aside from this, it is equipped with Wi-Fi, USB and Ethernet connectivity for seamless production workflow. It also comes with an app, is cloud-enabled, has onboard camera and diagnostics, and has assisted build plate leveling.

MakerBot Replicator is highly recommended for those hobbyists especially those who want to improve their 3D printing experience because this machine delivers unmatched print quality. In addition, 3D printer enthusiasts will surely appreciate its extra features.

For instance, this includes an onboard camera inside the printer that enables you to monitor the progress of your project remotely. So, if you want a convenient, easy to use and versatile 3D printing machine, MakerBot Replicator is one of the best 3d printers to buy.

Check Price at Amazon

Professional 3D Printers

These 3D printing machines are designed for serious 3D printing enthusiasts, professionals, skilled designers, engineers, and businessmen.

#1 Flashforge Guider 2S 3D Printer

FlashForge Guider 2S is a large build volume 3D printer that delivers professional and high-quality 3D prints. It comes with high-level FFF technology that is created for better stability when you print your 3D designs.

This is equipped with a heated build plate that supports flexible platform temperature that is suited for different types of filaments including PLA, ABS, Carbon-Fibre Filament, TPE, Metal Filament, TPU, Wood Filament, Conductive Filament, Elastic Filament. This also works well with 3rd party high-temperature filaments.

It also operates smartly with its filament run-out detection system and automatic resume function that works after a power failure. It is very easy to operate and it comes with built-in multiple language settings to cater to a variety of users.

It has secured longer printing with a turbofan that evenly circulates the air and helps you get better molding results. It has an impressive large build volume too that is 70% larger than standard printers.

Overall, this 3D printer has well-balanced features and durable build which make it perfect for professional users. So, if you are looking for a large 3D printer that delivers high-quality results, this is highly recommended!

Check Price

#2 Ultimaker S5 Review

Ultimaker S5 is a powerful, reliable, versatile 3D printer. With its large build volume, industrial-grade parts and materials, accurate and high-resolution prints this is a complete professional 3D printing solution.

S5 is the most advanced 3D printing machine from the company. This is built with the capabilities of Ultimaker 3 but with lots of improvements.

It has a simple and sturdy built with a stylish enclosure that features tinted glass doors for optimal temperature and airflow. It is also equipped with an intuitive touchscreen and helpful interface that displays the detailed status of your printing.

It also has a responsive and full-color touchscreen that gives you full control at your fingertips. Loading, unloading and changing material is effortless with its ergonomic locking lever built into each feeder.

It has a smart system, too. It has a built-in filament flow sensor that intelligently detects when material stops moving or nearing an end. When the material runs out, it automatically pauses and prompts you to take action.

With Ultimaker S5, you can print large scale and technical parts in high quality with dual extruders. You also don’t need to worry about its adjusting its setting when printing complex projects because this comes with pre-configured settings.

Check Price at Amazon

#3 Formlabs Form 2 Review

Forrmlabs Form 2 is a professional 3D printer that uses stereolithography SLA technology. It is one of the few resin 3D printers in the market and is even considered by many as the champion of desktop SLA 3D printers. This is great for skilled 3D printers or those who are into 3D printing service businesses because its resin-based process allows for higher resolution and more precise prints than FDM.

Aside from delivering high-quality prints, this 3D printing machine is very intuitive. It is engineered with precision and is designed with your comfort in mind.

It comes with a new touchscreen interface and wireless connectivity, so you can easily send prints over Wi-Fi, reprint your previous jobs and manage print queue wherever you are because you can access Form 2 anytime and anywhere.

Overall, this SLA 3D printer is one of the best SLA 3D printers in the world. It produces laser-sharp prints with a stunning surface finish, not to mention the comfort and convenience it offers. Peopoly Moai is another SLA 3D printer that you can try on.

Check Price at Amazon

#4 Zortrax M300 Review

Zortrax M300 is a desktop 3D printer with a large print volume. This produces big prints with remarkably high quality making it a great option for professionals.

This 3D printing machine is an upgrade of the renowned M200 model. Plus, it is equipped with the production capabilities of large industrial-class machines. So this is a perfect choice for those who are into 3D printing services.

M300 is used by professionals. This is designed to be an indispensable prototyping and manufacturing tool for high-profile designers including the NASA Johnson Space Center engineers.

I love the quality and build of this 3D printer. From the look and feel, it is reliable. You will be an instant fan when you see its output because it produces incredibly clean and detailed prints. Unfortunately, you need to have a good grasp of the 3D printer because it is not fully assembled.

M300 requires a bit of assembly and some heavy lifting, so this is for serious 3D printing enthusiasts only. It’s not that easy to set up, but not that difficult either as long as you’re capable of reading and following basic instructions.

Overall, M300 is highly recommended for professionals. It is expensive, but worth it especially if you are making money out of it. This is the best desktop 3D printer in terms of

Check Price at Amazon

#5 Makergear M2 Review

Makergear M2 is manufactured in the US, this is the third generation of the company’s 3D printer. This is designed with high-quality components and combines it with industrial-level precision which is the reason this makes it into our professional 3D printer category.

This is built with a solid metal chassis that gives it a sturdy structure. This is also equipped with a heated platform that uses various plastic filaments including ABS PLA to build objects.

M2 is durable and completely modular. Maintenance is a breeze which means less time troubleshooting and more time innovating.

Although this is easy to use, this is more appropriate for experienced users because this allows you to adjust and tweak the machine to your like. It has interchangeable nozzles and swappable dual-extruder. It takes a certain learning curve to maximize the full potential of the machine.

This has open chassis design and is not the quietest 3D printer you will ever find in the market. But this doesn’t turn us off considering the precision and reliability it offers. We highly recommend Makergear M2 for those looking for 3D printers with dual extruders for business.

Check Price at Amazon

Buying 3D Printers

All of the brands mentioned above are great 3D printers, but take in mind that it has different features, specifications, sizes, and prices. The best 3d printing machine for you is the one that fits your budget, requirements, and needs. Don’t worry as there is always one for you.

The 3D printer is a great investment especially for engineers and designers because it enables you to produce any 3d design you have in mind be it a small organizer, clothes for your fashion collection, a household tool, a vehicle or a building.

Where Can I Buy A 3D Printer

For those who are asking themselves this question “where can I find a 3d printer” or this “where can I get a 3d printer” the best place to buy 3D printer is by visiting the website of the brands, we mentioned above because they have a 3D printer for home that is for sale. They have customer service that is expert on their product, so you can guarantee their after-sales support.

You can also search for “3d printers for sale near me” to find 3D printers sellers near you. The good thing about buying the machine near you is that you can test it before your purchase.

You can also visit e-commerce corporations like eBay and Amazon as some retailers offer 3D printer kits on the site. The good thing about buying from these sites is that you can read a lot of reviews about the product prior to buying one, so you will be guided accordingly as to what particular model to purchase.

What is a 3D Printer?

The old printers only print an object in two dimensions. You can see and touch it but you can’t feel its edges and curves. Two-dimensional objects are devoid of texture, weight, and volume but 3D printers have it.

On the other hand, 3D printing machines produce things that you can touch and feel. It produces objects with texture, volume, and weight. More importantly, they are usable.

3D printing, on the other hand, is an additive manufacturing process that helps you realize a three-dimensional object from a two-dimensional digital design. It builds the three-dimensional physical object by dividing the digital model into layers.

The 3D printing machine prints each layer and it piles up. As a new layer is added to the object it gains weight and volume. For this reason, the term additive manufacturing is also used to refer to 3D printing.

If you can’t afford a 3D printing machine, you can start 3D printing with 3D drawing pens.

Types of 3D Printers

There are two main types of 3D printers for additive manufacturing: the small and large.

Small 3D Printer – This type of printer is usually used to print small objects like mini figurines, cartoon characters, tools, utensils, shoes, gadget accessories, keychains, and more. These devices only have a small printing area and can even be placed on your desktop. Learn more about portable 3D printers here.

Large 3D Printer – This machine can print large objects like vehicle parts, music instruments, furniture, and even a house. Learn more about big 3D printing machines here.

Significance of a 3D Printer

If you are a businessman who wants to present a new project to your potential client, what’s the best thing to do than bring a prototype? Of course, you can present papers but bringing a model that your client can touch and feel is different. It is better, more convincing and effective.

Initially, if you want to build a model or prototype you have to carve it or sculpt it. The process is tedious and may take days. This is the reason why the overall process tends to be expensive. You have to pay for the raw material and labor, which could take days, weeks or months.

On the other hand, a 3D printer has the power to speed up the process and help you cut costs. With a 3D printer, you don’t need to wait for weeks to finish your prototype, deal with your workers’ inefficiency and pay for labor.

Getting a 3D printer saves you time and money. In addition, it keeps you from worries and gives you peace of mind.

3D Printer Parts

Aside from understanding the additive manufacturing processes, you have to be familiar with the printing machine’s main components to better understand how it operates.

By familiarizing a 3D printing machine, you will also be able to:

• Achieve better quality, strength and speed
• Easily maintain it
• Choose the right one that suits your needs
• Upgrade and modify a particular part for specific applications

Here are the different parts of a 3D printer that you need to know.

Z Resolution – Layer Thickness
This refers to the minimum thickness of a layer printed down in a single pass. A high-resolution 3d printer has a small number of layer thickness. The lesser the numeral, the smoother and more detailed the print is, but the slower the process.

Build Area
This is the maximum size of an object that you can create with the 3D printer. It is measured in XYZ dimension. If your 3D printing jobs are complicated and huge, you can split it into smaller parts and combine afterward.

Filament Diameter
The most used plastic filament diameters are 1.75mm and 3mm. But this may depend on each individual’s preference.

Hot End
This is one of the most important parts of the 3D printer. It is where the plastic is melted and extruded in little tiny layers.
This is available in Peek Based Hot Ends with a maximum temperature of 230°C and All Metal Hot Ends with a maximum temperature of 320°C.

Extruder
This is the part that feeds the filament to the hot end. There are two types of extruders: Direct and Bowden.

Direct is when the filament is fed directly to the Hot End from the motor spindle. It is mounted on top of the hot end that allows for finer control over the extrusion. It is also easier to work with.

Bowden is when the filament is fed from a certain distance to the Hot End (the extruder is physically separated from the hot end). Due to the distance, the filament has to travel and it’s oozing more. Thus, this requires better extrusion and retraction calibration.

Cooling Fan
This is a must-have in every because the process requires active cooling. It can dramatically improve overhanging features, crisp the sharp edges and result in good bridging capabilities.

Cooling fans are designed differently. There are 3D printers that use 25mm, others 40mm. Some are designed to blow at the mid hot end area while others focused at the tip of the nozzle. There are also fans with different shaped ducts.

Heated Bed
This is required for all high-temperature extrusion filaments like ABS, HIPS, Polycarbonate and Nylon. This is designed to keep the plastic warm during the printing process and prevent it from warping.

In addition, this ensures better adhesion between the layers that results in better structural integrity of the printed parts. The temperature in this area usually ranges between 40°C to 110°C.

Printed Bed
This is the surface of the 3D printer where a print head lays down the material after 3D printing. This needs to be level and flat.

LCD Display
This allows you to control the printer without the need for a computer or 3D printing software like Cura. It just needs an SD card to read the G-code instructions. The display also allows for more efficient space usage and it frees up your computer for other tasks.

Multiple Extruders
Multiple extruders allow you to print in multiple colors or materials simultaneously by assigning each extruder specific material. There are printers that can be upgraded from single to multiple extruders.

The biggest benefit of this is that you can set the support structures with a different material that can be dissolved in water or other types of solvent.

How Does a 3D Printer Work?

How does a 3D printing process work? As mentioned, good 3D printers produce a three-dimensional object. However, it does so in a different way using the additive manufacturing process.

For instance, if you do a miniature of your dream house, you will need to construct it similar to how you build a real home but with different materials.

For instance, you make replicas of the walls by cutting cards and gluing them together. You make replicas of the window, paint it if necessary to follow your design and attach it to the structure you build.

While seeing a machine operating in this manner could be impressive, a 3D printer has a different approach using additive manufacturing. This is similar to an inkjet printer that is operated from a computer. However, it uses different materials in printing an object. Instead of using ink, a 3D printing machine uses layers of molten plastic or powder and fuses them together with an adhesive or ultraviolet light.

A 3D printer does not cut objects and glue it together to form a prototype instead, it uses the additive manufacturing process. It builds the printed parts by joining the material layer by layer from a CAD file.

The 3D printing process divides the whole object into thousands of tiny slices and makes it from the bottom-up repeatedly printing over the same area in a method popularly known as fused depositional modeling (FDM), a popular type of 3D rapid prototyping.

Each layer in additive manufacturing processes can be very complex but a 3D printer can execute it. It creates moving parts like hinges and wheels. You could also print a ready-to-assemble bike, handlebars, frame, wheels, brakes, pedals and chains without any tools.

The 3D printer works automatically and creates the digital model in just a matter of hours by turning a 3D CAD drawing into thousands of two-dimensional and cross-sectional layers and then sit one layer on top of another, this process is repeated until the object is done.

Conclusion

We hope that our list above will help you decide on choosing the best 3D printers for you. Always remember that this depends on your personal preference and the amount you are willing to spend on the machine. We also recommend that you check out Dremel Digilab 3D45 and Creality Ender 3 Pro because these are great 3D printers, too.

If you know other great 3D printers for additive manufacturing that should be on the list, feel free to contact us and we will consider your suggestions. If you wish to learn more about 3D printing materials, you can visit our homepage.

Other sources:
3D printer filament types and uses
3D printing materials