Guide to Buying a 3D Printer

3D printing technology is here to stay. The industry around it is already estimated to double in size every 3 years and with the 3D printers becoming more affordable by day, it may not be long before they become household items such as a refrigerator, a microwave and so on.

Well, that may be so. However, as of now, operating a 3D printer requires somewhat more skill than operating your refrigerator! Technology is developing every day, the terminology is expanding and all of this may lead to a good deal of confusion in the mind of someone who is still trying to get his feet wet in the world of 3-dimennsional printing.

Am I to go for FDM or SLA? Dual or single extruder? What type of filament—ABS or PLA? What material—plastics, resin or metal? All these questions can crowd upon someone looking to get his first 3D printer.

So, here’s our Bying Guide for a 3D Printer where we discuss some of the basic issues related to this relatively new technology and we hope the knowledge you gain herein will help you to make an informed decision on what type of machine to buy first time—one that will meet your present needs, desired applications as also your current 3D printing skills.

However, before we go on to our Tips section, let’s see what types of 3D printers are there, especially ones that are suitable for beginners or hobbyists.

Types of 3D Printers

At present, there are about 10 major 3D print technologies. Sounds pretty overwhelming, does it? Well, the good thing is, as a beginner, you really need not concern yourself with all that stuff. After all, you’re not planning to invest in a $10,000 (or more!) industry-grade metal 3D printer, presumably. So, for our purpose, it will suffice to know about two principal types of 3D printer models, namely FDM filament printers and SLA resin printers. These are also the two types that are overwhelmingly used by individuals, small businesses and by educational institutions.

[In the above list, all of the models we’ve discussed fall into one of these two categories.]

1. FDM Printers

When it comes to desktop 3D printing, FDM or the Fused Deposition Modeling is the most common method used for printing (or creating) objects. The method is also sometimes referred to as FFF or Fused Filament Fabrication. These models are basically Material Extrusion devices that you load with a spool of thermoplastic filament which is then fed into the printer nozzle located in the extrusion head. Once you start printing, the nozzle is heated to a specified temperature and this causes the filament to melt and the molten plastic is then deposited along the X and Y coordinates. As this happens, the machine starts to build the object on the build platform layer upon layer along the Z axis and finishes once the object is fully formed.

FDM printers are commonly used for rapid prototyping and product development since they are capable of creating robust parts quickly and reliably, and in a cost-effective manner. If you choose to go for a FDM 3D Print model, you’ll have a lot of options to choose from as there are a host of companies offering great models at affordable prices.

Price Range: $150- $6,000

2. SLA Printers

These are what are commonly known as Resin 3D printers. These models use SLA or stereolithography technology that works by exposing photosensitive liquid resin to an ultraviolet laser beam. The beam solidifies the resin once it sweeps a layer of it in the specified pattern and as the resin hardens, the laser starts on the next layer on top of the first one. And thus the object is completed again in a layer-by-layer method.

DLP or Digital Light Processing printers are another kind of resin printers that are almost similar to SLA printers and use the same kind of technology, the only difference being a DLP printer uses a digital light projector instead of a laser beam to shape the resin.

SLA printers are great when it comes to creating objects with smooth surfaces and containing intricate details and are popular in industries like cosmetic dentistry, jewelry, etc.

Generally speaking, a resin printer is harder to operate than a FDM printer and we recommend you buying one only when you’ve good reasons to do that.

Price Range: $250 – $10,000

3D Printer Selection Tips

Printing Technology

Well, as we’ve already discussed in the preceding section, the only relevant 3D printing technologies for semi-professionals or beginners are FDM and SLA, though we highly recommend that you go for a FDM model (used extensively in the education sector and by small businesses) unless you have good reasons to choose a SLA or DLP Printer.

Printing Material

If you’re using an extrusion 3D printing device (FDMs), the two most common filaments are ABS and PLA. Both are thermoplastics materials which means that you can repeatedly heat and cool them until you obtain your desired shape.

ABS, made from fossil fuels, is strong, durable and offers greater resistance to high temperatures. As such, it is popular for mass manufacturing projects. However, it is non-biodegradable and gives off a strong, pungent smell like when you burn plastics.

PLA, on the other hand, is derived from renewable sources and is biodegradable. It is also the preferred choice for hobbyists and semi-professionals as the material is available in multiple colors and is able to print objects with sharp corners and thin layers.

Other choices include Resin, Nylon filament, Carbon Fiber, Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) and more. For beginners, however, we strongly recommend either PLA or ABS, but especially PLA. Or, if you’re using a SLA printer, Resin.

Single or Dual Extruder?

Dual extruders are simply FDM printers with two extruder heads instead of one. This gives you the opportunity to print with two colors or two materials. Normally, we would suggest that you go for a single extruder. However, if you are confident about your 3D printing skills, you may as well settle for a dual-extruder FDM model (also, if you really need it).

Assembled or a printer kit?

A couple or so years ago, 3D printer kits were decidedly less expensive than assembled models. However, since the gap has significantly narrowed in the meantime, our suggestion is you opt for an assembled model. Assembling a kit requires some basic knowledge on the part of the user and can prove to be quite a hassle at times. So, unless there is some definite advantage with a kit, a fully assembled model is, in our opinion, a better choice.

Build Volume and Printing Speed

A printer’s maximum print size is indicated by its build volume (commonly expressed in millimeters or inches). You can print bigger objects with devices that come with larger build volumes. Now, most budget or entry-level printers come with moderate build volumes and that somewhat restricts you in your choice of objects in terms of their size. That said, you can still bypass this limitation by printing an object in several parts and then assembling them together.

As for printing speed, keep in mind that normally speed is inversely proportional to a 3D printer model’s resolution. So, higher the resolution, slower the speed. Also, with extrusion-based models, the size of the nozzle plays an important part in determining the speed. For example, smaller nozzles deliver fine and detailed prints but at a slower speed while a larger extrusion head will work fast but will sacrifice the print quality to some extent.

Or, if we’re talking SLA printers, they usually work faster than FDMs, without however compromising the quality of the print.

n a final note, it is important that you understand your needs and desired applications well before you make your decision to purchase any particular model. Also, make sure not to overestimate your 3D printing skills. 3D printers come with a somewhat steep learning curve, so we strongly recommend that you visit a Makerspace or a Fablab near your location and familiarize yourself with the technology and get hold of some basic knowledge before you make your purchase.

3D Printer Brand

There are virtually scores of manufacturers offering decent entry to mid-level 3D printers. However, in terms of volume and choice of models and the price-to-performance ratio, we think the current top 6 brands are:

MakerBot

Comgrow

FlashForge

Ultimaker

LulzBot

Monoprice

Average 3D Printer Pricing

Budget models: around $200

Decent Quality Entry-level models: $250 -$600

Mid-level/Intermediate/Semi-professional models: $700 – $4,000

Buying a 3D Printer: FAQs

What can you make with a 3d printer?

With some skill, you can make a variety of objects with a 3D printer. Most commonly, you can use a 3D printer to create a wide array of home décor pieces, plastic toys and 3D figurines, designer shoes and jewelry and even some intricate food treats. In fact, 3D printed foods are becoming increasingly popular. And with higher level skills, you can even produce your own 3D printed acoustic guitar (with a plastic body and not wood) or a camera lens. As long as you can strike upon some innovative ideas, the possibilities are endless!

Which 3d printer brand is best?

It is rather difficult to tag any single brand as the best one. However, for hobbyists and amateurs, we strongly recommend Comgrow and Monoprice chiefly due to the price-to-performance ratio of their models.

What is the best 3d printer for beginners?

There are many suitable models for beginners and one should pay heed to his own needs when choosing a model. Generally speaking though, you should look to settle for a FDM model under $200 that deliver good overall quality and decent surface finish. The idea is to get a model that will aid in your understanding of the general workflow of 3D printing and will also help you have a good idea of the material capabilities of the machine.

The Monoprice Mini Delta model from our list is a good choice as are any of the two Comgrow models.

Are enclosed 3d printers better?

Yes, there are several advantages that you can enjoy from using a fully enclosed 3D printer instead of an open-frame one. The former provide better protection for the machine parts; help with noise and heat reduction; and are safer to use since your hands cannot go anywhere near the moving parts.

An enclosure also offers a stable and more consistent output and this is especially important if you’re using specialty printing materials such as nylon filament and the like.

Can I make money with a 3d printer?

Yes, you can. Once you have acquired some skill in 3D printing, you can offer your printer as a commercial service both online and offline. 3D Hubs, for example, is one of the most popular websites offering commercial 3D printing services.

And of course, you can offer the items you make with your 3D printer directly for sell.

Is 3d printing expensive?

Well, it primarily depends on the material you’re using to create and object as also on the cost of the machine that is creating it. Metal and metal powders are extremely expensive for example. To give you an idea, ABS plastics cost about $50/kg but titanium powder will cost you 10 times that figure! Also, to state the obvious somewhat, the bigger the object, the more it costs you.