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A 3D printer opens up incredible possibilities for a person. The first prototype of such a device was born back in 1984. The idea of the invention belongs to the American Charles Hull, he received a patent for it only two years after development. The printer was a rather massive industrial installation and, despite many inaccuracies and shortcomings in operation, the technology was used.
Hal co-founded 3dsystems, a leader in industrial 3D printers. However, this material is not dedicated to these large machines. 3D printing is becoming more and more part of everyday life. Thus, the technology is used to create unique toys, various models, figurines, packaging, clothes, shoes and jewelry. For these purposes, it is not at all necessary to purchase a large-sized printer. You can get by with a small device. It has a compact size, and its technology is completely identical to the industrial one. Through the nozzle (spout) of the device, heated plastic is supplied, which is laid out on the surface in accordance with the drawing specified in the program. And if earlier such a device was a luxury that only a few can afford, today a 3D printer is available to everyone.
Editor’s Choice
1. Creality3D Ender 3
Our rating opens with a model from the world’s largest manufacturer of 3D printers. Ender 3 features include an elegant and thoughtful design, excellent print quality and a wide build area. Manufacturers have provided a good arrangement of wires that do not get confused during operation. The small control unit of the device is located to the right of the work surface. The gadget prints perfectly with various types of plastic. In particular, we are talking about varieties of ABS, PLA, TPU and PETG. The scope of this printer is quite wide. It can be used to produce minifigures, do artistic modeling, and make small prototypes of parts and functional elements.
Price: from 21 000 rubles
Key Features:
| Printing technology | FDM/FFF/PJP |
| Application area | for home/DIY |
| Design | open camera |
| Print material | ABS, PLA, Wood |
| Working space width | 220 mm |
| Working space height | 250 mm |
| Working space depth | 220 mm |
| Features | heated table, display, active cooling, nozzle change, USB connection, micro SD |
| Print speed (extruder speed) | 180 mm/s |
| Number of extruders | 1 |
Advantages and disadvantages
2. FlashForge Adventurer 3
The second position in our rating was taken by a model from the Chinese developer FlashForge. The device is equipped with a Wi-Fi receiver, a removable heated pad for printing. In addition, manufacturers have provided a built-in webcam, a closed case and a color touch-screen display. The latter, although it does not support the language, is intuitively understandable. The ergonomics of the device is provided by the filament sensor: if the printer runs out of plastic, it automatically goes into standby mode and does not idle.
Price: from 40 000 rubles
Key Features:
| Printing technology | FDM/FFF/PJP |
| Design | closed chamber |
| Print material | PLA |
| Working space width | 150 mm |
| Working space height | 150 mm |
| Working space depth | 150 mm |
| Features | heated table, display, active cooling, nozzle change |
| connection | WiFi, USB |
| Number of extruders | 1 |
| Compatible with operating systems | Windows, MAC, Linux/Unix |
| 3D Model File Format | STL, OBJ |
Advantages and disadvantages
3. FlyingBear Ghost 5
The FlyingBear printer is ideal for semi-professional use. Uniform supply of filament (plastic) provides good opportunities for creating three-dimensional figures with a fairly high resolution. High productivity is achieved thanks to the transparent Dual Drive extruder with BMG double drive. The gadget has a body closed on three sides. Its walls are made of heat-resistant non-toxic ABS plastic. This protection prevents the accumulation of dust on the working parts of the device, which greatly facilitates the maintenance of the printer. The device is controlled using a 3,5-inch color TFT display.
Price: from 31 400 rubles
Key Features:
| Printing technology | FDM/FFF/PJP |
| Application area | for home/DIY, entry level |
| Design | open camera |
| Print material | ABS, PLA, Wood, HIPS |
| Working space width | 255 mm |
| Working space height | 210 mm |
| Working space depth | 210 mm |
| Features | heated table, display, active cooling, speed control, nozzle change, temperature control |
| connection | Wi-Fi, USB, SD |
| Print speed (extruder speed) | 150 mm/s |
| Number of extruders | 1 |
| Accuracy of printing | X, Y 0.01 mm |
| Positioning accuracy | From 0.002 mm |
Advantages and disadvantages
What other 3D printers should you pay attention to?
4. Anet N4
The budget model from the Chinese manufacturer Anet N4 is equipped with all the necessary features for a small domestic production. The base of the device is made of cast aluminum alloy. The weight of the gadget does not exceed 9 kg. A transparent tinted hood protects the work surface from external sources of ultraviolet radiation. It can be removed to remove the finished product and clean the printer. Also, manufacturers have provided a removable resin bath and a working platform, which greatly facilitates the use of the device.
Price: from 24 000 rubles
Key Features:
| Printing technology | LCD |
| Application area | for home/DIY, professional |
| Design | closed chamber |
| Print material | photopolymer |
| Working space width | 65 mm |
| Working space height | 138 mm |
| Working space depth | 120 mm |
| connection | USB, USB Type A |
| Print speed (layer building) | 30 mm / h |
Advantages and disadvantages
5. Anycubic Photon S
In the middle of our rating is the Anycubic Photon S model. It is equipped with an advanced optical system and a large working camera. The device has a matrix light source that provides a uniform luminous flux over the entire plane of the desktop. This allows a very high curing speed of the layers to be achieved. In addition, the printer has an original function that allows you to simultaneously print eight identical models. According to the developers, the target audience for this device are orthodontists and jewelers. Most parts of the device are made of plastic. This factor significantly reduces the weight of the device and makes it convenient to transport.
Price: from 26 000 rubles
Key Features:
| Printing technology | LCD |
| Application area | professional |
| Design | closed chamber |
| Print material | photopolymer |
| Working space width | 65 mm |
| Working space height | 155 mm |
| Working space depth | 115 mm |
| connection | USB |
| Print speed (extruder speed) | 20 mm/s |
Advantages and disadvantages
6. ELEGOO Mars Pro
This model differs significantly from its predecessor Elegoo Mars. Thanks to the advanced Z-axis mechanics and directional UV light from the diode array, it is suitable not only for hobbies, but also for fields of activity such as dentistry and jewelry. In addition, the developers moved the USB connector to the front of the device. Now there is no need to constantly rotate the gadget in the process. The weight of the device is only 7,5 kg, which makes it very convenient for transportation. A translucent plastic cover will reliably protect against extraneous radiation and will allow you to monitor the production process.
Price: from 19 900 rubles
Key Features:
| Printing technology | LCD |
| Application area | home/DIY, entry-level, medical |
| Design | closed chamber |
| connection | USB |
| Print speed: (layer building) | 22.5 mm / h |
| Accuracy of printing | X, Y 0.047 mm |
| Positioning accuracy | From 0.125 mm |
| Light source wavelength | 405 nm |
Advantages and disadvantages
7. Two Trees Bluer
This is one of the most popular home 3D printer models. It is ideal for getting acquainted with technology, various experiments, training and prototyping. Distinctive features of Two Trees Bluer are: “quiet” drivers, which are the engine of the device, a heated table, two-way airflow and a thread break sensor. The mechanics of the printer is quite simple, and at the same time very effective. The open type case will be very convenient when cleaning the work surface. The firmware of the device provides the functions of auto-calibration and automatic resumption of printing in case the power was accidentally turned off.
Price: from 21 000 rubles
Key Features:
| Features | display, heated table |
| Design | open camera |
| Print material | ABS, PETG, PLA, Wood |
| Working space width | 235 mm |
| Working space height | 280 mm |
| Working space depth | 235 mm |
Advantages and disadvantages
8. Wanhao Duplicator i3 Mini
A miniature 3D printer does not look like other devices. However, this feature does not affect its technical characteristics. The plastic spool is located on the right side of the bracket. Wanhao branded coating is pasted over the table. There is no platform heating, so it is recommended to use PLA plastic for printing. The manufacturer clearly states in the manual that the printer is designed to work only with PLA material and nothing else. The body of the gadget is made of sheet steel. The memory card slot and all printer control elements – a monochrome liquid crystal display, a universal knob-button and a Reset micro-button – are placed on the front panel of the printer.
Price: from 14 300 rubles
Key Features:
| Printing technology | FDM/FFF/PJP |
| Application area | educational, home/DIY, medical |
| Design | open camera |
| Print material | PLA |
| Working space width | 120 mm |
| Working space height | 100 mm |
| Working space depth | 135 mm |
| Features | display, active cooling, speed control, temperature control |
| connection | USB, SD card |
| Print speed (extruder speed) | 70 mm/s |
| Number of extruders | 1 |
| Accuracy of printing | X, Y 0.012 mm |
| Positioning accuracy | From 0.004 mm |
Advantages and disadvantages
9. Artillery Genius
The base of the device consists of an aluminum case, in which all the electronics are hidden. An aluminum portal is also attached to it. The latter is also a guide for the moving parts of the printer. At the top of the portal is a plastic jumper to which the spool holder and filament sensor are attached. As for the control screen, its functionality is seriously curtailed. However, it is sufficient for simple tasks, but it is impossible to configure the printer.
Price: from 30 000 rubles
Key Features:
| Printing technology | FDM/FFF/PJP |
| Application area | educational, home/DIY, industrial, professional |
| Design | open camera |
| Print material | ABS, Flex, Nylon, PLA, PETG, SBS, CopperFILL, DuraForm TPU |
| Working space width | 220 mm |
| Working space height | 250 mm |
| Working space depth | 220 mm |
| Features | heated table, display, active cooling, speed control, nozzle change, temperature control |
| connection | USB, micro SD |
| Print speed (extruder speed) | 150 mm/s, |
| Number of extruders | 1 |
Advantages and disadvantages
10 Tianfour Sparkmaker
This model is ideal for beginners, as it does not require additional settings at all before starting work. Externally, the printer has the shape of a cylinder with a height of 27,5 cm and a diameter of 17 cm. The realistic contours and smooth curves of the figures are ensured by LCD technology. The printer works with any photopolymer resins for 3D printing with a flash length of 405nm.
Price: from 14 000 rubles
Key Features:
| Printing technology | SLA |
| Application area | for entry level |
| Print material | photopolymer |
| Working space width | 55 mm |
| Working space height | 125 mm |
| Working space depth | 98 mm |
| connection | via SD card |
| Print speed (layer building) | 30 mm / h |
| Light source wavelength | 400 nm |
| Recommended Software | SparkStudio |
Advantages and disadvantages
How to choose a 3D printer
Choosing a 3D printer is not such a difficult task as it might seem at first glance. Despite the relentless interest in 3D printing and the incredible number of devices on the market, the basic requirements for models remain unchanged. Healthy Food Near Me turned to Svyatoslav Vulf, a blogger and host of a YouTube channel about modern technologies and experiments, for help in this matter. He regularly monitors new products on the 3D technology market and tests them at home.
Product size
Initially, you should decide what size of products you expect to receive in the end. The required area of the working surface depends on this. Note that the price of the device also depends on the size of the latter. For work at home, there will be enough indicators: 200 × 250 × 200 (WxHxD).
Technology
Today, there are several technologies for printing on a 3D printer. They differ significantly from each other. Let’s consider some of them.
SLA-technology – works on the basis of a liquid photopolymer, which, under the influence of laser light, changes its physical properties and hardens. It allows you to create figurines with the highest precision of microforms.
DLP technology is an alternative SLA method. However, instead of laser systems, LED projectors are used here, which significantly reduce the cost of 3D printers. When using this technology, the future prototype is formed layer by layer.
FDM method is ideal when prototypes are required that will be actively used, and not stand on the shelf. Here, high-strength industrial plastics will be used for production. Please note that there are other technologies, but they are very similar to the above.
Material
Before buying a printer, you should also pay attention to what materials it works with, as they have significant differences from each other. For example, ABS can take many different polymeric forms. This is a very durable plastic. It is easily sanded and processed. PLA plastic is considered more environmentally friendly. It is made from agricultural products – corn, potatoes, beets and others. In its original form, it is transparent and can be colored. PLA is just as strong but tougher than ABS. The ductility and heat resistance of SBS make it the material of choice in engineering and mechanical applications.
Noise level and driver
An important factor when choosing a 3D printer are drivers – device engines (not to be confused with software). They affect the overall noise level of the device. For example, if you buy a printer with cheap A4988, then even neighbors will hear its work. In this case, you should pay a little more and purchase a gadget with more expensive drivers.
Self assembly
Some manufacturers fully prepare the model before selling. The buyer can only get the printer out of the box and connect the power. However, there are some models that require self-assembly. Be sure to consider this factor before purchasing. If you are purchasing such a device for the first time, then it will not be easy for you to assemble it.