3D Printer Systems
for Less Than US$20,000

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THERE IS NO strict definition of a price below which a rapid prototyping or additive manufacturing machine becomes a 3D printer. Some individuals include any machine that sells for below US$60,000, and others US$40,000.

Considering that a large fraction of customers at present are in educational institutions, small companies or even single proprietorships and individuals, for whom price is of primary importance, we've decided to compile all the more interesting choices below about US$20,000.

Here's what available today and its general qualities in the order of increasing price. To widen your choices beyond this, explore the commercial listings by technology.

Compare the specifications of the 3D printers
listed on this page in our very complete chart...

Listings Color Key...

Open-source Hobbyist & Do-It-Yourself Systems Fully-Assembled or Commercial Systems Available Limited Availability

Do-It-Yourself & Open-source 3D Printers
Vendors of parts, kits and systems based on open-source hardware and software are sprouting like mushrooms after the rain. It is hoped they will not disappear quite as quickly. There are more than fifty companies worldwide selling systems at the present time. Since much of the hardware is off-the-shelf, and some of it can even be made by the machines themselves, obsolescence or dead vendors shouldn't be too much of a problem. Nearly all systems have similar specifications and are thermoplastic extrusion-based, although the mechanical implementations and materials capabilities may differ considerably.
A kit is the way to go if you wish to satisfy that deep-seated need for a 3D printer of your own at minimum cost with maximum learning. It helps to be a tinkerer, however. Many vendors that used to exclusively sell kits now supply assembled and tested systems. Both open source and proprietery systems are available. An assembled machine will cost you more, but your nerves will be less frayed. If what you want is to start printing stuff quickly, that's the way to go.

RepRap RepRap is short for replicating rapid-prototyper, an open-source 3D printer design project started at the University of Bath (UK). RepRap uses robotic thermoplastic extrusion at present, but ceramic, metal and other materials may also be possible at some point. The ultimate intent of the project is to eventually produce a machine which can make copies of itself. Darwin was the first version of the machine which has now morphed into Mendel, an improved version. RepStrap is a term describing a version of the machine capable of making parts for other machines, but not necessarily self-reproduction. Many of the outgrowths of the project available from vendors are actually RepStraps. Parts kits and individual items are now available from dozens of sources.
There are a several open-source vendors that have become popular, and most of those are listed on this page. Click here for a wider selection of the better-known and more organized open-source vendors, as well as those that are notable for one reason or another. A more complete listing can be found in the RepRap wiki.

Learn About RepRap History and Development...

Low-cost Machines, Acessories and Related Equipment and Companies in Development...
In addition to those machines on this page that are indicated by a grey background as being in development, there are a number of additional vendors which are either in the process of being crowd-funded, or expected to make products available soon. Many of these have been in the development or crowd-funding stage for a year or more. Also covered are accessories such as filament extruders, finishing systems and inexpensive 3D Scanners.

RepRap's Mendel

Pirate3D. The company is a start-up in the process of introducing the Buccaneer�, an assembled, thermoplastic extrusion-based 3D printer aimed at the consumer market. The machine is small in size with a stylish appearance, and has specifications that are fairly average for machines in this class. What really sets it apart is its price of US$347. Pirate3D is currently initiating a Kickstarter campaign to finance initial production, and it's still unknown when first units will be shipped.

Learn about the technology...

Solidoodle. A US vendor selling 3D printers based on open-source technology, but designed into a more attractive package. At US$499, it is the least expensive, fully-assembled 3D printer available anywhere - even considerably cheaper than most kits. For a few dollars more - fifty to be exact - you can get a heated build platform, interior lighting, and an upgraded power supply. For US$50 more than that you also get a fully-enclosed machine with a door. The machine is Plug and Play and operates from a USB interface. A version with a larger build volume of 8 x 8 x 8 inches started shipping in January, 2013 at a price of US$799.

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3D Systems. Unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in January, 2012, the Cube� printer has been updated for 2013 and is said to be much faster and now capable of using ABS as well as PLA. It uses thermoplastic extrusion technology and at US$1,299 is currently the lowest priced, fully-assembled machine available from an established manufacturer. The machine is a cornerstone of the company's Cubify� consumer community which was unveiled at the same time. Also new for 2013 is the CubeX�, shown immediately to the right, a machine with a much larger build volume and which can be equipped with up to three deposition heads. The CubeX� started shipping in February, 2013 and prices range from US$2,499 for a single head to US$3,999 for the three head version.

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PP3DP Company (China). [aka Delta Micro Factory, a division of Beijing TierTime Technology Co. Ltd.] Introduced the fully-assembled UP! Personal Portable 3D Printer at the end of July, 2010. The machine is based on thermoplastic extrusion and is extraordinarily small and light, weighing just 11 pounds. The selling price is US$1,499 and the device is also based on open-source efforts. The only material available is ABS which is also used to make support structures, but the machine is also capable of using PLA. The company also sells the UP! Mini for US$899. This is also an assembled unit, having a slightly smaller build envelope and slightly poorer resolution. Distributors are listed here.

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LeapFrog. A Netherlands-based company, it started sales of 2 versions of an extrusion-based machine in May, 2012. The Creatr� is the bare-bones, but fully-assembled version that is now shipping and costs � 1,250 (US$1,588). The Xeed�, see below, has higher resolution and thinner layers, as well as an extraordinarily large build build chamber. It was originally scheduled for shipment in August, 2012, but it's still not available. It will eventually cost � 5,460 (US$6,880) and come with a built-in tablet computer to which you can simply WiFi a file for printing. Either machine can be equipped with a second extruder for about US$200. Unlike some other machines, adding the second extruder doesn't decrease the build envelope volume. An added advantage from the customer's point of view is that the company is a venture of AV Flexologic bv, a small, but 45 year old manufacturing company making professional 2D printing products rather than an inexperienced start-up.

Learn about the technology...

Ultimaking Ltd. (Netherlands). An interesting variation in the open-source arena, Ultimaker differentiates itself by moving the deposition head rather than the build platform. This is said to enable up to five times higher speed operation while depositing layers as thin as 10 microns. This also permits a large build volume of 8.25 x 8.25 x 8.25 inches while retaining reasonable outer dimensions. Kits are priced at � 1,194 (US$1,564) and are aimed at individuals who'd prefer to keep tinkering at a minimum with no soldering required. An assembled version is also available at � 1,699 (US$2,226).

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Aleph Objects, Inc. Aleph Objects' LulzBot may be a good choice for small businesses looking for a sturdier and more business-like alternative in a low-cost 3D printer. The machine has but a single extruder and a somewhat smaller build volume than typical, however. Aleph also supplies Mendel and Prusa part kits, hot ends, etc. The company makes its plastic parts using a farm of forty of its own 3D printers, which it claims is the largest operating cluster of 3D printers in the world. Whether or not it is, it's certainly an interesting practical example of additive manufacturing in action.

Learn about the technology...

Mauk Custom Creations (Netherlands). For those seeking more flexibility and easier expandibility to larger build volumes MaukCC offers the Cartesio M. Built with robust mechanical components, this RepRap-based machine can be changed into an engraver, miller, plotter, etc., with an easy tool change. Larger sizes can be accommodated by changing just a few components and the machine can print its own upgrades. The basic thermoplastic extrusion machine kit sells for � 1,450 (US$1,827) and an assembled version can be had for US$2,970. The Model LD kit with a build volume of 7.9 x 15.8 x 7.9 inches is available at US$2,330.

Learn about the technology...

MakerBot Industries. The Replicator� 2 is a fully-assembled machine that sells for US$2,199 with a single extruder and uses PLA exclusively. This represents the company's fourth generation machine and it offers improved layer thickness of 100 microns (0.004 inches), a larger build volume for making multiple items at once, and faster, more powerful software software. MakerBot has also gone away from wood-frame contruction providing a more robust steel frame. However, unlike all the company's preceding machines, including the original Replicator� that preceded it, this machine and its software are no longer fully open-source.

A more capable version of the Replicator� 2 is also available. Called the Replicator� 2X Experimental 3D Printer, it comes with two heads, a heated build platform, and is capable of using both PLA or ABS. The price is US$2,799.

The company also has a web-site for users to exchange designs called the Thingiverse. It's open-source, however, so anyone can use it, not just MakerBot customers. Thousands of designs are available for free.

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Magicfirm LLC (China). There are several Chinese companies that have cloned MakerBot's original Replicator� design. Magicfirm LLC is representative of this group. It was founded in 2009 and has been selling a fully-assembled CupCake clone at US$699 since 2011. The CupCake was MakerBot's first kit-based machine and its clone is shown at the far right. Dubbed the MBot Personal 3D Printer, a version is also available that replaces the wood frame construction with colorful plastic for an additional US$50.

Their recently-introduced second machine was derived from MakerBot's Replicator�, but isn't an exact copy according to the company. The fully-assembled Cube 3D Printer's specs are basically very similar to the Replicator's, but the build volume is larger - nearly 8x8x8 inches compared with 8.9x5.7x5.9 inches. The price of the Cube is US$1,199 with a single head and US$1,399 with twin extruders. Delivery is said to be two weeks. Other Chinese clone manufacturers can be found by searching Alibaba.

Learn about the technology...

Fab@Home. An open-source project to design, develop and manufacture an inexpensive syringe-based additive fabrication machine and related software. The components to build the device can be had for as little as US$2,500, and a variety of materials can be used for building, from silicone to chocolate. The project is led from Cornell University, but there are participants from all over the world. A good choice for real pioneers and do-it-yourself fans who may be satisfied with parts and models that will not achieve a high level of precision, durability or speed of fabrication for some time to come. Syringe-based deposition does, however, provide the ability to use materials that might be impossible otherwise, an important consideration in many fields such as biology.

Learn about the technology...
Learn about Fab@Home...

Formlabs. This start-up company's first 3D printer product, the Form 1, is a low-cost laser-based stereolithography system. The device builds from the bottom up the way many machines in this class do, but replaces the typically-used deformable mirror light modulator with a diode laser and a pair of galvanometers to expose the photopolymer resin from below. The machine design permits very fine control of exposure resulting in a layer thickness of 25 microns (0.001 inches), a minimum feature size of 0.012 inches with a roughly 5 x 5 x 6.5 inch build envelope. These specifications are similar to professional level stereolithography machines. The Form 1 was introduced on Kickstarter and funding reached US$1 million in just two days, perhaps the fastest Kickstarter take-off in history. When it was all over, Formlabs' project had garnered an astonishing total of nearly $3 million. Formlabs has announced a direct sales price of the Form 1 at US$3,299 with deliveries starting in April, 2013 after the 1,000+ sales in the Kickstarter queue are satisfied. Learn about the technology...
rdGizmo For You LTD (Cyprus). The open-source Ilios 3D printer kit is a photopolymer resin-based system that uses a digital light projector (DLP) for exposure. This Indiegogo-funded project was initiated because the owner of an open-source remote control company wanted a machine that combined a large build volume with high resolution for his own use. Now you can buy one, too, but it only comes in kit form at the moment - and beware that this is a product that is not likely to be plug and play. Layers can be as little as 0.0005 inches thick. Using the full build area of 11.8 x 11.8 inches and a high definition 1920 x 1080 pixel projector, the machine is capable of 163 dpi X-Y resolution. Zooming down to a 5 inch envelope that increases to about 385 dpi, nearly as good as many 2D laser printers. At �3,200 plus about another �900 for a projector (approximately US$5,340 total), it's not cheap, but it does have capabilities not available elsewhere. Learn about the technology...
Asiga. Start-up Asiga unveiled a photopolymer-based machine for less than US$7,000 in December, 2011. Dubbed the Freeform Pico�, the unit boasts a better than 38 micron (0.0015 in) pixel size and z-axis increments as small as 1 micron (0.00004 in). It's accuracy is specified at 50 microns (0.002 in). The machine uses a deformable mirror device to expose a complete layer using LED illumination, and the unit weighs less than 25 pounds. It's about the size of a large loaf of bread standing on-end. That's the good news. The bad news is that its build envelope is only a maximum of 30 X 40 X 100 mm. While this is quite small, there are plenty of applications that don't require a large volume. The company mentions dentistry, jewelry and medical applications. There are probably many more, as well. Learn about the technology...
Stratasys Ltd. See the company's separate web-site for the Mojo� 3D Printer. Stratasys' counterattack to the incursions made by the low-cost producers is the Mojo�, an entry-level professional machine at near-consumer pricing. The US$9,900 price includes not only the machine but a soluble support removal system and starter-packs of consumables. Stratasys has incorporated easy-change features into the material cartridges which also include a replaceable deposition head. The company is also offering leasing alternatives starting as low as US$185 per month in the US. Shipments started June 15, 2012. Learn about the technology... Learn about the company...
Beijing TierTime Technology Co. Ltd. (China) The company makes a range of extrusion-based systems starting at approximately US$10,000 and says less expensive machines are in the pipeline. They call their version of the technology MEM (Melted and Extrusion Modeling), and at present only ABS materials are available. The company has been selling in China for many years and began exporting in 2010. Their products are available in Asia and Europe with TierTime seeking representation in other geographic areas. A division of the company produces the UP! 3D printer line described above. Learn about the technology...
3D Systems. Introduced in December, 2011 at US$10,900, the ProJet� 1000, is the latest iteration of its photopolymer film transfer technology which was introduced with the V-Flash� which is now obsolete. The machine is positioned as a faster alternative to Stratasys and HP offerings, and a less-expensive alternative to the Objet machine below. The ProJet� 1500, introduced in September, 2011 at US$14,500, can produce parts in several different color materials and also has a high speed mode which sacrifices some resolution. Learn about the company...
Stratasys Ltd. Before the introduction of the Mojo� described above, Stratasys' lowest-priced entry-level system was the uPrint�, Special Edition. Originally introduced in early 2009, it now sells for US$13,900. uPrint� machines use dissolvable supports, and the uPrint� Plus is capable of printing as many as eight different colors, although only one at a time. That machine sells for just under US$20,000. Learn about the technology... Learn about the company...
3D Systems. The company acquired Z Corporation at the beginning of 2012. A low-cost machine based on the MIT-developed 3DP process selling for less than US$15,000 was introduced in July, 2010. The technology also provides the only commercially available true color 3D printing method with prices starting at US$25,000. Parts are not as functional as those produced by other technologies and they require infiltration before they can be handled without danger of breaking. They also have a sandy appearance and lack fine detail. On the other hand, the technology is considerably faster than any other and can give quick feedback and is useful for multiple design iterations. Learn about the technology... Learn about the company...

Stratasys Ltd. Introduced in December, 2010 the Objet24 and Objet30 start at US$19,900. They're based on the jetted photopolymer technology originally pioneered by Objet and offer excellent resolution and finish combined with good speed. The Model 30 offers a bigger build chamber plus support of several materials compared to just one for the Model 24, but it sells for many thousands more. Objet and Stratasys merged in December, 2012. Learn about the technology... Learn about the company...

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3D Printer Systems for Less Than US$20,000

3D Printer Systems
for Less Than US$20,000