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Which is the best 3D printer?
There's no such thing. The best 3D printer or rapid prototyping system is the one that meets more of your criteria than the others. All additive fabrication machines come with limitations and unknowns - some more than others. This is especially true of the low-cost market segment where several entries are still quite new.
The most important thing is to first ask yourself what you will be doing with the machine.
The important point is that no additive manufacturing machine or 3D printer does it all. You'll need to trade-off what you need and want with what you can afford. Look over the related information presented on this site. That will save you a lot of time. But once you have made two or three preliminary choices, get your hands on some real parts or models made by those machines. That will tell you more than anything you'll ever read. |
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| Listings Color Key... | ||
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(Self-replicating RP Machine) |
(second generation) |
[Complete mechanical parts kit only. Can be less if user supplies parts.] |
(a little lubrication, once in a while ) |
WxDxH approx. 16 lbs |
PLA, HDPE, ABS & more. Uses 0.125" dia filament | 0.080 in min. feature size; 0.004 in positioning accuracy; layer thk 0.012 in |
 Lowest-cost
Highly-adaptable: allows customization for specific applications
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Slow process
Do-It-Yourself from top to bottom. - Not appropriate for the mechanically, electronically, software-ally disinclined
Only fair quality parts and models so far
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[Owned by 3D Systems] |
[fully-assembled] A kit version is available for US$1,165. |
WxDxH approx. 15.5 lbs. |
ABS; PLA; other plastics possible | 0.92 cu inch per hour |
Low-cost
Highly-adaptable: allows customization for specific applications
Heated build platform
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Slow process
Kit version not appropriate for the mechanically disinclined
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[kit] $2,500 |
WxDxH approx. |
ABS, PLA; other plastics possible |
Low-cost
Highly-adaptable: allows customization for specific applications
Heated build platform
Ability to eject finished parts
Web-site for users to exchange designs, but that's open-source so anyone can use it
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Slow process
Kit version not appropriate for the mechanically disinclined
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[Owned by 3D Systems] |
[kit] [assembled versions available from other vendors at about $3,000.] |
WxDxH 40 lbs. |
ABS, High density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), unplasticised polyvinylchloride (UPVC), and polylactic acid (PLA) | 7 mm3 / sec (typical) |
z axis: +/- half the processed z resolution; 0.005 in layer thickness |
Low-cost
Highly-adaptable: allows customization for specific applications
Good material selection
Low-cost materials
Quiet, clean operation
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Slow process
Do-It-Yourself - Not appropriate for the mechanically disinclined
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[kit] |
WxDxH 18 lbs. |
Primarily PLA (polylactic acid) & ABS. Also tried with HDPE, PP, PMMA | > 5 times as fast as similar competitors.) |
0.0004 in (10 microns) layer thickness |
Large build volume for outside dimensions
Fast operation relative to similar machines
Improved finishes relative to similar machines
Material can be changed while printing
Low-cost
Highly-adaptable: allows customization for specific applications
Good material selection
Low-cost materials
Quiet, clean operation
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Slow process
Do-It-Yourself - Not appropriate for the mechanically disinclined
Lacks heated build platform
Hand finishing and post-processing of parts required
No second head for a support or additional material
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[assembled] +$250 [second extruder] |
WxDxH approx. Shipping weight: 30lbs |
ABS, PLA; other plastics possible | 40 mm/s; Material flow rate: approx. 24 cc/hr |
2.5 microns on Z-axis; 11 micron on X&Y-axes; actual part res. not spec'd; typ. z-layer ht. is 0.008 to 0.012 in |
Low-cost
Capable of depositing 2 colors or materials simultaneously
Highly-adaptable: allows customization for specific applications
Heated build platform
Web-site for users to exchange designs, but that's open-source so anyone can use it
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Slow process
Kit version not available for lower cost
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(Your home!) |
[parts only, if purchased by user] |
WxDxH |
Anything you can squirt. Tried so far: silicone, epoxy, cheese, chocolate, frosting, clay, PlayDoh, plaster |
Low-cost
Highly-adaptable: allows customization for specific applications
Low-cost materials
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Slow process
Slow hardening times for materials tried so far
Do-It-Yourself - or at least some assembly required - Not appropriate for the mechanically disinclined
Poor quality parts and models so far
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[assembled] |
WxDxH 11 lbs. |
WxDxH |
ABS | 0.010 to 0.014 in layer thickness |
Low-cost
Low-cost materials
Quiet, clean operation
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Slow process
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[Owned by 3D Systems] |
[US price] [assembled] |
WxDxH 79 lbs. |
WxDxH (single head; decreases with add'l heads) |
ABS, High density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), unplasticised polyvinylchloride (UPVC), and polylactic acid (PLA) (PLA also used for supports) | print & polymer dependent |
Up to 3 deposition heads (+$385 ea)
Low-cost
Good material selection
Low-cost materials
Quiet, clean operation
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Slow process
Lacks heated build platform
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[assembled] |
WxDxH 22 lbs. |
WxDxH |
Choice limited to 2 photopolymers | 38 micron (0.0015 in) pixel size; Z-axis increments as small as 1 micron (0.00004 in) |
Low-cost for extremely high resolution
Fast operation
Quiet, clean operation
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Very small build envelope
Expensive materials but small parts so still moderate cost per part
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140 lbs |
accuracy: 0.008 in over 4 inches, 0.040 min feature size |
Strong, durable parts
Technology has reputation for reliability
Quiet, clean operation
Dual nozzle head for dispensing support materials
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Slow process
Limited material selection
Material cost somewhat high
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in HxDxW; 145 lbs |
cost is approx $9/cubic in or $214/lb. |
(Z-Axis) |
resolution: 768x1024x2000 DPI (xyz), equiv. to: +/-0.009 in (x-y); min. vert. wall thickness approx. 0.025 in (0.64mm) |
Low cost for stereolithography-like quality
Accuracy, resolution & finish; (potentially improvable, as well)
Speed
Mechanical components subject to wear included in materials cartridge
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Limited material selection
Materials mechanical properties & durability
High-cost Materials
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ProJet™ 1500:$14,500 |
in WxDxH; 122 lbs |
ProJet™ 1500: 6.75x9x8 in |
0.8 in/hr high speed mode (Z-Axis) for ProJet™ 1500 |
resolution: 1024x768 DPI (xy) ; min. vert. wall thickness 0.025 in (0.64mm); min. feat. size 0.010 in (0.254mm) |
Low cost for stereolithography-like quality
Accuracy, resolution & finish
Speed
Choice of color materials
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Limited material selection
Materials mechanical properties & durability
High-cost Materials
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| Details here... |
WxDxH; 132 lbs |
Strong, durable parts
FDM reputation for reliability
Quiet, clean operation
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Slow process
Material cost is relatively high
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Details here... |
WxDxH; 132 lbs |
Strong, durable parts
FDM reputation for reliability
Quiet, clean operation
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Slow process
Material cost is relatively high
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[64 color-capable version $24,900.] |
365 lbs |
elastomeric, direct casting, investment casting |
[0.8 inches/hour] |
layer thickness 0.004 in |
Fastest of all available technologies
Moderately wide material selection
Low-cost materials
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Removing parts from machine and cleaning them can be messy
Poor material mechanical properties
Finishes not as attractive as other technologies
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(Objet24) |
205 lbs |
11.58 x 7.58 x 5.85 in (Objet30) |
(Objet24) |
layer thickness 0.0011 in; positional accuracy: +/- 0.0039 in typical |
Low cost for stereolithography-like quality
Accuracy, resolution & finish
Speed
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Limited material selection
Materials mechanical properties & durability
Secondary Finishing Operations, (although less onerous than some competing technologies)
High-cost Materials
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