best 3d printers
Note: Our best 3D printers round-up has been fully updated. This feature was first published in May 2015.
3D printers print 3D models, in a process called Additive Manufacturing or AM. This process uses computer control to lay successive layers of material to build a 3D model.
ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) and the more eco friendly PLA (Polylactic acid or polylactide) both plastics, are the most common materials used, but increasingly almost any material can be printed, from food to metal, just not necessarily at home.
The most widely adopted 3D print file format is .stl which can be exported from most 3D modelling and scanning applications. As well as creating 3D models yourself you can download a huge selection from sites such as makerbot's Thingiverse.com.
As with conventional 2D printers resolution and size is all important. A high resolution will produce a higher quality print than a low one, and a large print bed may be more convenient enabling you to print your objects in one go rather than splitting the print over several parts.
If you're in the market for a home 3D printer then there's a lot to consider: single colour, dual or more, do you need a 3D scanner, physical size and weight is always an issue if space is at a premium, high quality or speedy printing and of course price. Here we take a look at ten of the best based on price.
1. CubePro Trio
Best for three colour, three material printing at an incredible price
Price: About £3075 / $4299
Buy: Amazon | Dabs | Nigel OHara | Cubify
The bulk of home 3D printers are limited to one or two colour printing, but the CubePro Trio has the capability to print three different materials in one session. This can be especially useful if you want to create an enclosed mechanism. Nylon can be used for the gears, ABS for the surround and PLA for the support structure that can then be dissolved with caustic soda. The CubePro is an ideal solution for modellers and engineers who need to create 3D prints with moving parts.
2. AirWolf 3D HD2x
Recommended for dual stand alone printing
Price: £2685 / $3995
Buy: Amazon | AirWolf 3D
The AirWolf 3D HD2x is a sleek multi material printer designed with prototyping at its heart. The dual material and colour printing make this printer stand out as does the huge 11" x 8" X 12" print area, an ideal choice for prototyping. The design features a semi enclosed structure to protect the plastic during the print process and for absolute convenience print files can be loaded direct from an SD for autonomous printing without a computer. A great choice for product designers who need a large print bed and choice of colour and material
3. MakerBot Replicator 3D Printer (5th Generation)
Great for higher level education
Price: £2,639, $2,899
Buy: RoboSavvy | Amazon | MakerBot
Makerbot are one of the best known 3D printer manufacturers, and that's all due to the Replicator. It was one of the first production printers to look like a conventional product rather than something that had been built in a garage. Its ease of use, consistent print quality and auto calibration features make this a popular choice. Now on the 5th generation the semi-enclosed enclosure, slick design and huge support community make this a very tempting choice for anyone in the education market as well as high end home enthusiasts.
4. Ultimaker 2 Go
High resolution compact printer
Price: £1,070 / $1450
Buy: Robo Savvy | Ebuyer | 3D Gbire
The Ultimaker 2 took print quality to a new level with an incredible minimum layer height of just 20 micron. It has now been joined by two further models – the Extended, a tall version, and the Go which is a small compact edition. The Go is by far one of the smallest 3D printers on the market with a footprint of just 258 x 250 x 287.5mm, which makes it an ideal desktop printer.
Unlike the two other Ultimaker models there is no heated print bed which does restrict the compatible materials to just PLA. The print quality, as with the entire Ultimaker series, is excellent and still hard to match for any other Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) printer.
5. Wanhao D5S Large
Ideal for tall prints
Price: £1,596.00 / $2373
Buy: Amazon | RoboSavvy | Technology Outlet
Print size is a consistent issue across printers, so if you want a larger print it often means splitting your models into several different sections and then fixing them together later. The Wanhao has a decent size print base of 29cm x 19cm but it's the height of 59cm that really stands out. The Wanhao doesn't feature a heated print bed so is best used with PLA for fine printing rather than the stronger ABS plastic, but if you're into printing figures, building or just want to print big then the price is exceptional.
6. SeeMeCNC - Orion
Amazing to watch and optional touch tablet
Price: £1,320.00 / $1964
Buy: Amazon | RoboSavvy | See Me CNC
The SeeMCNC Orion takes a different approach to most other 3D Printers with a mechanism that sees the print head suspended between 3 legs, it also features a circular rather than more common print bed. Watching it create a print is spectacular. This printer also packs in a heated print bed and the ability to be controlled with the use of the Android based MatterControl Touch pad. This is the choice if you want something a bit different.
7. Ooznest PRUSA i3
DIY 3D Printer
Price: £450 / $785
Buy: Ooznest | PRUSA3D
The vast majority of 3D printers have evolved from the Open Hardware community as variants of the original RepRap project. The PRUSA i3 is at present the ultimate example with complete builder guides available online for free.
However rooting around electrical stores and ripping parts out of old printers isn't everyone's idea of a good time, so the guys at Ooznest have compiled a complete kit that's ready to go, or at least will be once you've built it.
Build times vary depending on experience and the kit comes with clear instructions on the build process. Once complete print quality is set to rival that of many printers at twice the price, and the great thing is, because you've built it yourself you can really get a feel for how the technology works and how it can be improved.
8. BEEVERYCREATIVE - BEETHEFIRST
One for work and home
Price: £1,140.00 / $1643
Buy: RoboSavvy | Amazon | Go Print 3D
In general terms 3D printers are designed as boxes with purpose, however BeeTheFirst has created a printer with both quality of print and actual design in mind. This is a machine that really wouldn't look out of place in any modern living room. They have also thought about how and where people will be wanting to use their printers at work, home or both, so have incorporated a thin design with handle that enables the printer to be easily lifted and transported.
9. LulzBot Mini 3D Printer
Recommended for the true home print enthusiast
Price: £925 / $1350
Buy: Amazon | Lulzbot
LulzBot printers are based on projects from the Open Source community and the printers and company reflect this ethos. 3D Printed components are part of this printer's build and while this is a nice acknowledgment to its RipRap project origin, it also gives this printer a bit of street cred, while not forsaking quality. The Mini's compact size and 15.2cm x 15.2cm x 15.8cm print area and exceptional price make this an ideal home printer.
10. XYZprinting Nobel 1.0
Affordable SLA printer
Price: £1175 / $1499
Buy: RoboSavvy
The Nobel 1.0 features Stereolithography (SLA) 3D printing technology, a process capable of producing prints of far greater detail than the more common Fused Deposition Modelling process (FDM). The Nobel 1.0 produces fine quality prints and is bolstered by XYZprinting's own software and excellent support.
However, this technology is more common in the professional 3D printing industry so this high quality comes at a price – resin is expensive, the choice of materials limited, print times are slow and each model requires both cleaning and setting to finish. But if you can overlook the time it takes to get your final print the Nobel 1.0 is a more than capable high quality 3D printer at a great price.
from www.techradar.com
