Best 3d Printer For Designers

Core77 Guides/Best Affordable Professional 3D Printers

Best Affordable Professional 3D Printers

We are building this list as a resource for designers who are looking for a starting point in picking a machine to use in the development of products. The chief criteria are affordability, reliability and capacity. Hidden aspects of affordability such as maintenance and consumables costs are something in particular that we'd like to hear about from those with experience using a particular printer. Reliability is important both to the cost of a particular machine and the utility of it as a day-to-day tool in product prototyping. Capacity is the other determinant of practical utility especially in 3D printing where output times can be large and interrupt the flow of development.

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#1

Creality3D Ender 3 V2 (FDM Printer)

Submitted by: Allison Fonder

The Ender 3 V2 is by far the most affordable printer on this list, and trusted by many. Creality's recent updates have improved on the previous model as well! Price: $279.00 Pros: - Offers a great build volume for the price - Easy for beginners to hop on and use - Affordable for most Cons: - Recommended for beginners and home hobbyists, or designers who'd like an at-home, easy printer - Doesn't support a wide variety of materials - Quality printing sometimes requires some fine-tuning

The Ender 3 V2 is by far the most affordable printer on this list, and trusted by many. Creality's recent updates have improved on the previous model as well! Price: $279.00 Pros: - Offers a great build volume for the price - Easy for beginners to hop on and use - Affordable for most Cons: - Recommended for beginners and home hobbyists, or designers who'd like an at-home, easy printer - Doesn't support a wide variety of materials - Quality printing sometimes requires some fine-tuning
#2

Prusa i3 MK3S (FDM Printer)

Submitted by: Allison Fonder

This open-source printer comes highly regarded as a great personal home printer for designers. Price: $749-$999 Pros: - Works with many different materials - High print quality - Great customer service support - Easy software - Quieter than other comparable printers Cons: - Very much for rapid prototyping (Not as much as "con" as much as this is a con-sideration!) - Although the Prusa i3 is very reliable, the overall quality of the prints may not feel worth the price tag to some

This open-source printer comes highly regarded as a great personal home printer for designers. Price: $749-$999 Pros: - Works with many different materials - High print quality - Great customer service support - Easy software - Quieter than other comparable printers Cons: - Very much for rapid prototyping (Not as much as "con" as much as this is a con-sideration!) - Although the Prusa i3 is very reliable, the overall quality of the prints may not feel worth the price tag to some
#3

Formlabs Form 2 (SLA Printer)

Submitted by: Allison Fonder

The Form 2 SLA printer utilizes stereolithography, or the process of using a laser to cure photopolymer resin, for precise and detailed 3d prints. It's a great option for smaller studios with tight budgets. Price: Refurbished starts at $2,400 Pros: - Produces a highly finished part straight out of the printer - Easy to sand and finish - Capacity to print very thin walls - Great price for the quality it provides - Software easy to navigate Cons: - Smaller footprint - Slightly slower than FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) printing - Resin can be expensive, so price per print can be higher than other processes

The Form 2 SLA printer utilizes stereolithography, or the process of using a laser to cure photopolymer resin, for precise and detailed 3d prints. It's a great option for smaller studios with tight budgets. Price: Refurbished starts at $2,400 Pros: - Produces a highly finished part straight out of the printer - Easy to sand and finish - Capacity to print very thin walls - Great price for the quality it provides - Software easy to navigate Cons: - Smaller footprint - Slightly slower than FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) printing - Resin can be expensive, so price per print can be higher than other processes
#4

LulzBot Mini 2 (FDM Printer)

Submitted by: Will Nickley

While at $1,495 the Lulzbot Mini 2 certainly rounds out the upper end of the affordability spectrum, what Lulzbot builds into their hardware (and custom Cura software) pays dividends for the right user! My own experience with Lulzbot Mini machines (two original Minis, one Mini 2) comes from nearly 3 years of on-the-road youth design programs where portability, durability, and printer "up-time" are of paramount importance. Add in Lulzbot's creature comforts, like a heated borosilicate glass + PEI print bed, intuitive material switching and minimal push-wheel LED screen, SD card capabilities, modular print head components, and that $1,495 starts to feel like a steal! If you like printing things to upgrade your printer, you'll find loads of Lulzbot Mini upgrades on the internets... but the difference between the Lulzbot Mini 2 and other printers is that this printer doesn't rely on constant upgrading and maintenance to be a top FDM performer.

While at $1,495 the Lulzbot Mini 2 certainly rounds out the upper end of the affordability spectrum, what Lulzbot builds into their hardware (and custom Cura software) pays dividends for the right user! My own experience with Lulzbot Mini machines (two original Minis, one Mini 2) comes from nearly 3 years of on-the-road youth design programs where portability, durability, and printer "up-time" are of paramount importance. Add in Lulzbot's creature comforts, like a heated borosilicate glass + PEI print bed, intuitive material switching and minimal push-wheel LED screen, SD card capabilities, modular print head components, and that $1,495 starts to feel like a steal! If you like printing things to upgrade your printer, you'll find loads of Lulzbot Mini upgrades on the internets... but the difference between the Lulzbot Mini 2 and other printers is that this printer doesn't rely on constant upgrading and maintenance to be a top FDM performer.
#5

Form 3: Industrial-Quality Desktop SLA 3D Printer

Submitted by: Frank Borsboom

Scale prototyping and production in your business with the Form 3, an affordable, industrial-quality Stereolithography (SLA) resin desktop 3D printer.

Scale prototyping and production in your business with the Form 3, an affordable, industrial-quality Stereolithography (SLA) resin desktop 3D printer.
#6

Fusion3 F410

Submitted by: matthew wade

Industrial 3D printers for production, manufacturing, and design. High Quality, High Performance, High Resolution. Made in the USA and used by companies universities worldwide.

Industrial 3D printers for production, manufacturing, and design. High Quality, High Performance, High Resolution. Made in the USA and used by companies universities worldwide.
#7

Anycubic Mega S

Submitted by: Sam Swift

Fantastic printer for the price, very well built and underrated, with a touch screen and filament sensor it's an easy to use and reliable printer. The Mega s uses an Ultrabase for excellent adhesion and easy parts removal. printer comes in two sections for quick assembly, the frame and base are solidly built with welded frame - sturdier than its extrusion profile rivals.

Fantastic printer for the price, very well built and underrated, with a touch screen and filament sensor it's an easy to use and reliable printer. The Mega s uses an Ultrabase for excellent adhesion and easy parts removal. printer comes in two sections for quick assembly, the frame and base are solidly built with welded frame - sturdier than its extrusion profile rivals.
#8

Flashforge Guider II Industrial Grade Large-Format 3D Printer, Resume Printing, Build Size 280*250*300 mm

Submitted by: manikanta polisetti C7

Flashforge Guider II is ready to print package. The full metal body design is stable and durable especially to avoid shaking of the machine when printing, greatly improve printing stability and accuracy. The enclosed design is to maintain a constant temperature. This printer supports PLA, ABS, PVA, HIPS, PETG, TPU, Wood-filled, Electric, Flexible, TPE filament. Covers 1-Year Warranty. Pros: Plug n Play Enclosed - Good for Studio/Workshops Print Quality Multiple materials Cons: Not for tinkerers Relatively small print bed size

Flashforge Guider II is ready to print package. The full metal body design is stable and durable especially to avoid shaking of the machine when printing, greatly improve printing stability and accuracy. The enclosed design is to maintain a constant temperature. This printer supports PLA, ABS, PVA, HIPS, PETG, TPU, Wood-filled, Electric, Flexible, TPE filament. Covers 1-Year Warranty. Pros: Plug n Play Enclosed - Good for Studio/Workshops Print Quality Multiple materials Cons: Not for tinkerers Relatively small print bed size
#9

Creality3D CR-10S Pro 3D Printer

Submitted by: Jared Youtsey

The CR-10S Pro offers large print volume and a more compact footprint than the CR-10S. Looks more professional too. Stable, high-quality prints consistently.

The CR-10S Pro offers large print volume and a more compact footprint than the CR-10S. Looks more professional too. Stable, high-quality prints consistently.
#10

Creality CR-10 V2 (FDM Printer)

Submitted by: Allison Fonder

The Creality CR-10 series is a popular one for a number of reasons: in addition to its super affordable price, it offers a surprisingly large print volume. Price: $324 Pros: - A surprisingly high-quality, smooth print - A very large print volume for the price - Easy to assemble and clean - Allows for detailed prints - Reliable for long prints Cons: - Setup can sometimes be tedious - Doesn't mesh with certain print materials - Can take a long time to heat up - Fans can be noisy

The Creality CR-10 series is a popular one for a number of reasons: in addition to its super affordable price, it offers a surprisingly large print volume. Price: $324 Pros: - A surprisingly high-quality, smooth print - A very large print volume for the price - Easy to assemble and clean - Allows for detailed prints - Reliable for long prints Cons: - Setup can sometimes be tedious - Doesn't mesh with certain print materials - Can take a long time to heat up - Fans can be noisy
#11

Ultimaker 2+ (FDM Printer)

Submitted by: Allison Fonder

The Ultimaker 2+ 3D printer is a great personal option for quick printing—a sturdy build makes this printer easy to fix and clean. Price: Around $2,499 Pros: - Large build volume - A solid machine that that can run long hours - Thin wall capacities - Quick prints Cons: - Can require some minimal maintenance (some suggest upgrading nozzle out for a hardened steel nozzle for best feed results) - Not necessarily for large design operations, however good for quick and easy prints

The Ultimaker 2+ 3D printer is a great personal option for quick printing—a sturdy build makes this printer easy to fix and clean. Price: Around $2,499 Pros: - Large build volume - A solid machine that that can run long hours - Thin wall capacities - Quick prints Cons: - Can require some minimal maintenance (some suggest upgrading nozzle out for a hardened steel nozzle for best feed results) - Not necessarily for large design operations, however good for quick and easy prints
#12

Picaso 3D Designer X Pro (FDM Printer)

Submitted by: Allison Fonder

Picaso's Designer X 3D Printer offers a high-quality FDM print acceptable for prototypes in small studio settings. One of its key features that guarantee smooth prints is its fan system and closed printing chamber. Price: Around $2,350 Pros: - Smooth, high-quality prints straight off the bed - Can support a variety of materials - A closed print chamber prevents warping and ups the quality - Thin wall capacity - Large build volume Cons: - More expensive than some other FDM options, but offers a higher quality of print -

Picaso's Designer X 3D Printer offers a high-quality FDM print acceptable for prototypes in small studio settings. One of its key features that guarantee smooth prints is its fan system and closed printing chamber. Price: Around $2,350 Pros: - Smooth, high-quality prints straight off the bed - Can support a variety of materials - A closed print chamber prevents warping and ups the quality - Thin wall capacity - Large build volume Cons: - More expensive than some other FDM options, but offers a higher quality of print -