About 10 years ago, 3D printers were clumsy, expensive machines designed for factories and the needs of large corporations. And only a narrow circle of professionals knew about them. And now these amazing devices are familiar to a wide range of users and are quite accessible for home use. With their help, you can print toys for a child, create prototypes or models of new products, parts and structures, study the creative potential of 3D objects and do many more interesting and useful things.
Introducing 3D printer rating 2017. It involves models in the price range from 270 to 900 dollars, which have earned positive recommendations from experts with 3D Hubs and Pcmag
7.XYZprinting da Vinci Mini
Cost - 270 dollars.
The cheapest 3D printer in our review. It has small dimensions: 35.5 cm × 38 cm × 33 cm (height, width, depth) with a working area of 12.7 cm × 12.7 cm × 12.7 cm. The case is open, without any door or window in front; the print zone is mounted on a carriage sliding along the edge of the housing and extending beyond during printing. The extruder nozzle is located behind the extruder mechanism. Therefore, it is difficult to hurt, which protects the user from accidental burns.
The combination of bargain prices, simple setup and decent print quality is enough to make da Vinci Mini a favorite for beginners looking for a cheap and cheerful device.
Advantages:
- Good print quality.
- Easy to set up and operate.
- Quiet.
- There is a print function via Wi-Fi and USB.
Disadvantages: from time to time there are problems with the start of printing. Sometimes it can be difficult to remove a printed object from the work platform. Prints exclusively with polylactic acid (PLA) filament.
6. New Matter MOD-t 3D Printer
Cost - 400 dollars.
Simple and elegant 3D printer. Its white base is crowned with a removable rectangular hood made of transparent plastic. The dimensions of the working surface are 15 cm × 10 cm × 12 cm. Due to the design features, the working surface can move in X (right or left) and Y (in or out) directions. The extruder moves vertically. The print head aligns automatically.
Advantages:
- Prints with PLA and Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) filaments.
- Easy to handle.
- There is a print function via Wi-Fi and USB.
- It works very quietly, emitting a barely audible squeak.
- Good print quality.
Disadvantages: no matter which connection method you use, you will have to work through your library in the New Matter store to start printing. Therefore, the printer requires an active Internet connection. If your Internet connection is often disconnected, MOD-t 3D Printer would not be a good choice.
5. Flashforge Finder 3D Printer
Cost - $ 458
This device with a bright design does not have sharp corners and visible wires, but there is a 3.5-inch touch screen, easy operation and instant viewing of 3D model files. The dimensions of the working surface are 23 cm × 15 cm × 15 cm.
Advantages:
- Quiet.
- Good print quality.
- Connect using a USB 2.0 cable, USB flash drive, or Wi-Fi.
- The extruder does not clog.
- Reasonable price.
Minuses: Only PLA printing.
4. Wanhao Duplicator i3
The price is $ 400.
The best 3D printer from China, affectionately nicknamed "Vanka" by Russian users. The printable area is 20 cm × 20 cm × 18 cm.
Advantages:
- Can print from PLA, ABS, PVA, HIPS, Stainless Steel, Nylon, NinjaFlex and others.
- There is a heated platform.
- There is a display.
Disadvantages: there is no way to connect via Wi-Fi, there are only USB and Card Reader (microSD Card) interfaces. Noisy when working. Build quality is not very good.
3. Printrbot Simple Metal
Cost - 600 dollars.
Reliable and durable device with a steel frame and aluminum extruder. The size of the work surface is 15 cm × 15 cm × 15 cm. It has an open source architecture and is an excellent choice for enthusiasts who want to set up and upgrade their printer.
Advantages:
- Open source.
- Seal PLA, ABS.
- Print excellent quality.
- Good build quality.
- Auto-alignment sensor for easy calibration.
But for beginners, this printer is not the best choice, since the initial setup and calibration process can take several hours. In addition, the printer is very noisy, it does not have platform heating and there is no double extruder.
2. Original Prusa i3 MK2
The price is 700 dollars.
Another fully open source 3D printer. One of the most impressive features of this printer is its very fast desktop heating (it warms up to 55 degrees in 1 minute). And due to the presence of a thin PEI film on the work surface, adhesion is simply fantastic even with a large area of the part. The size of the work surface is 25 cm × 21 cm × 20 cm and this is the largest 3D printer on our list.
Advantages:
- There is an inductive sensor for automatic alignment.
- Superior print quality.
- Ability to print from PLA, ABS, PET, and a number of others.
- There is a silent mode.
- Easy setup.
Of the minuses, the absence of a double extruder can be noted.
1. FlashForge Creator Pro
The price is 900 dollars.
The leader among 3D printers is the model with a metal frame and a closed chassis, a double extruder and an advanced platform leveling system. This is a true trouble-free workhorse, suitable for both beginners and 3D printing professionals. And if you understandably grin at the words "Chinese quality", then this model will become a real break in the template.
Advantages:
- Great build quality.
- Reliability and durability.
- Double extruder.
- Active blowing parts.
- Prints from rods ABS, PLA.
- It does not require "dancing with a tambourine" when setting up.
Cons: noisy.
Video: inexpensive 3D printer from China
The optimal choice of the best 3D printer for home depends on how you are going to use it. For beginners, an inexpensive model from China is suitable, which is easy to set up and operate, does not require serious maintenance, and has good enough print quality. Engineers and artists may require special features, such as the ability to print objects with multiple colors, or use several types of bars. Designers need excellent print quality. We hope that our top 7 best 3D printers helped you make the right choice.
