The Best 3D Printers Of 2020: Which 3D Printer Should I Buy - And What Do I Need To Know?

2023 Author: Sheila Hailey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 04:29

1. The best 3D printers: how we chose

2. The best 3D printers in detail

   1. The best 3D printer for beginners: Anycubic i3 Mega
   2. The best advanced 3D printer: Creality CR-10
   3. The best 3D printer for professionals: Original Prusa i3 MK3S
   4. The best resin printer
   5. The best budget resin printer

3. Buying a 3D printer: what you need to know

   1. What is your budget?
   2. What material do you want to print with?
   3. How big do you want to print?
   4. How easy is it to use?

The best 3D printers: how we chose

GIGA audio expert Laura has incorporated her own experience and research into forums / specialist magazines into this summary. Current 3D printer models for home use are presented here, which have received special praise from the press and customers and are therefore recommended for a purchase.

The best 3D printer for beginners: Anycubic i3 Mega

ANYCUBIC I3 Mega 3D Printer Kit

Now from € 299.99 at Amazon price comparison price can now be higher. Price from 2020-23-07 00:22 a.m.

You can rely on this 3D printer! If you are a beginner and would like to bring a device into your home that is both versatile and reliable, you have come to the right place. The Anycubic i3 Mega is an inexpensive printer that offers a consistently acceptable print quality despite comparatively inferior parts. I myself have one at home and I am more than satisfied.

The start is very easy: it is pre-assembled and prints away from the stain. Connect, install slicing software and off you go - it could be more often! Those of you who mainly want to print with PLA and PET have found a good candidate here. The ultrabase print bed also heats up quickly, the material adheres well and, when it cools off, detaches easily. Only the filament sensor did not always work properly, so I had to remove it.

Tip: keep your print bed clean, otherwise that's it with the print. (Warning: the Anycubic Ultrabase * does not tolerate acetone.)

• Advantages: Inexpensive, flexible, good print quality
• Disadvantages: low quality parts, unreliable filament sensor

View device on Amazon

The best advanced 3D printer: Creality CR-10

Creality CR-10 Prusa I3

Now from € 519.98 at Amazon price comparison price can now be higher. Price from 06.06.2020 00:50 a.m.

It's hard to believe, but the Creality CR-10 caused a stir in the 3D printing community in 2017, and even today it can easily keep up with the newer models. Not only the great price-performance ratio, but also the printing space of 300 x 300 x 400 mm makes a good impression. With a few upgrades, it can even be increased to 500 x 500 x 500 mm - making it easy for other 3D printers to eat dust.

This 3D printer is suitable for anyone who wants to enjoy maximum performance, but does not like to spend a lot of money - however, the Creality CR-10 has a small catch: It is primarily something for inventors, because the best results can only be achieved with optimal results Achieve attitudes and you have to find them first.

• Advantages: huge print room, good print quality, reliable, large user community
• Disadvantages: not very friendly for beginners

View device on Amazon

The best 3D printer for professionals: Original Prusa i3 MK3S

View device at iGo3D

Say hello to the world's most used 3D printer. As an open source printer, designed by Josef Prusa, the Prusa i3 MK3S has a large international fan base and whether you choose the kit * (769 euros) or the pre-assembled device * (around 1000 euros), you will receive a great printer who won't let you down.

In addition to functions such as the removable, magnetic print bed, it has an improved extruder, a more reliable filament sensor and a function called "power panic", which allows the printer to continue printing smoothly even in the event of a power failure or accidental disconnection. Josef Prusa is also known for constantly improving his printer. You can stay excited!

• Advantages: extremely large user base, outstanding quality, many customization options
• Disadvantages: Print bed adhesion not perfect, lots of updates

View device at iGo3D

The best resin printer: Formlabs Form 2

View device at iGo3D

Price comparison at idealo *

Are you an engineer, dental technician or do you want to make jewelry ? Then you are exactly right here! This desktop 3D printer produces excellent prints via stereolithography (SLA) and even if there is already a newer model, the Form 2 is quite impressive. The basic package is refurbished and available at a significantly lower price (around 2,400 euros) and is the best printer in its category and price range.

This premium device is equipped with a pull-off mechanism, a heating container, a touchscreen control panel, WiFi connection and an automatic material system. In comparison to normal printers, SLA uses a laser to irradiate liquid synthetic resin in a container in order to form a 3D model layer by layer.

Tip: With SLA printers, the 3D printing must be reworked and the resin tanks must also be replaced regularly.

• Advantages: brilliant print quality, good customer service, easy to use
• Disadvantages: prints have to be reworked, raw material costs are very high

Tip: Formlabs itself is so impressed with Form 2, you can even order a free trial print.

View device at iGo3D

Price comparison at idealo *

The best budget resin printer: Anycubic Photon

ANYCUBIC Photon Resin 3D Printer UV

Now from € 229.99 at Amazon price comparison price can now be higher. Price from 2020-26-07 11:48 p.m.

View device on Amazon

Anycubic Photon is a good choice for anyone who would like to try a resin printer, but is afraid of the extremely high costs. It's amazing how such a small, affordable box can make such good prints. This 3D printer is also delivered almost completely assembled. Like its little brother i3 Mega, the Photon is absolutely "good to go".

In comparison to other FDM printers, the Anycubic Photon with its 115 x 65 x 155 mm installation space offers little space to create dissolute models. The printer is also not suitable for dental technicians, jewelry designers or professional model builders, because one thing is definitely not: clean. If you get a photon, sticky tables and fingers are pre-programmed.

Tip: It is advisable to order an activated carbon filter because the smell that arises when processing the resin can be quite strong.

• Advantages: low price, great print quality
• Disadvantages: raw material costs are high, without filters stink

View device on Amazon

Buying a 3D printer: what you need to know

Would you like to have a 3D printer but don't know how to find your way into the confusing market? No problem! In addition to the models we have presented, there are many that are even cheaper, but all the more that blow up the budget. If you buy a 3D printer, you should know what to look for. So here are a few of the most important questions you should ask yourself before you buy a printer.

What is your budget?

If you are a beginner, advanced or would like to work with it professionally, you will plan different amounts of budget. The lowest price segment for 3D printers starts at around 200 euros and usually includes FDM / FFF technology kits (FDM / FFF refers to the classic fusion layering), which you have to assemble yourself. From 300 euros, however, there are already usable starter models, such as the Anycubic i3 Mega * mentioned above. Even up to 1000 euros, you will mainly come across printers from the FDM segment, with the difference that you no longer have to assemble most of these models yourself.

If you want to use the 3D printer professionally, it is definitely worth spending more budget. The higher price segment unlocks new technologies that enable more detailed prints. For example, 1000 to 5000 euros cost high-quality FDM / FFF printers or those that use stereolithography (SLA). (Production of 3D models from a UV-sensitive resin.) The Photon from Anycubic * is also an exception here.

What material do you want to print with?

It should now be clear that budget and materials go hand in hand. Technologies such as FDM, for example, are mainly suitable for printing with plastic. Filament spools * are available from 20 euros. However, depending on the benefits, prices can vary widely. If the material is to be soluble, with carbon fiber, flexible etc., the costs increase. The material is also available in all imaginable colors: rainbow colors * for example.

Do you want to contrast with SLA technology start employed here would resin photopolymers at etc. 70 euros upwards. So far, however, there are not many color variations.

How big do you want to print?

Once you've answered the first two questions, consider how large you want to print. It is also important to know how much you want to sell for your projects. If the print space is too small, you should consider 3D software, for example, which can cut the model into different parts that can be put together again after printing. With FDM / FFF technology, there are often larger pressure rooms, while with SLA one has to count on smaller ones.

Any questions?

Those who still have unanswered questions are welcome to leave a comment. I will take care of the answer to the best of my knowledge, so that everyone who is interested can find a suitable cover (printer).