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Shop the Best Large Format 3D Printers in 2022 (Including Best Large 500mm 3D Printer)

Welcome to the Thomas guide to the best large format 3D printer 2022. Thomas has been connecting North American industrial buyers and suppliers for more than 120 years. When you purchase products through our independent recommendations, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Printing larger items with most at-home or small-scale 3D printers is possible but consists of separately printing different parts of the project and then connecting them all together afterward to make the much larger finished product. In this way, many 3D printing enthusiasts, such as cosplayers, for instance, are able to get past the 3D printing size limitations and use their machines for much larger products than the print bed will allow.

A large-format 3D printer in action

Image credit: Shutterstock/asharkyu

However, purchasing a large-format 3D printer can provide an increase in opportunities for creativity and a decrease in the amount of "putting together" necessary for those larger projects.

Large-Format 3D Printer—Buying Guide

With the average printing bed size of a 3D printer intended for general use being around 150–300mm, if you wanted to scale up the size of your 3D creations, a printer of 350mm–500mm would be ideal, and luckily, there are a few worthy large-scale models available on the market for you to choose from.

Benefits of a Large 3D Printer

Development in 3D printing technology means that we've recently been presented with 3D printed houses, cars, bikes, camper vans, life-size statues, and even sofas and other pieces of furniture.

Obviously, the "large format" we're referring to in this article is less about making grand-scale structures, and more about moving on from miniatures, ornaments, and other small objects or parts that an ordinary, non-industrial-sized 3D printer can produce.

Since you'll have a little more print bed area to play with, with a large-format 3D printer you can create detailed products that don't require a magnifying glass to really appreciate and also larger parts that would otherwise need to be printed in separate sections.

Thomas’ Top Picks for the Best Large Format 3D Printer 2022

If you're ready to step up your 3D printing game, and have a blast doing it, here are some of the best large format 3D printers currently available to buy now.

Best Large 500mm 3D Printer: Creality CR-10 S5 Plus 3D Printer | Buy Now

Best Large 400mm 3D Printer: ANYCUBIC Chiron 3D Printer | Buy Now

Best Large 3D Printer Under $1000: Creality Ender 5 Plus 3D Printer | Buy Now

Best Industrial Large 3D Printer: Snapmaker 2.0 Modular 3-in-1 3D Printer | Buy Now

Best Large 3D Printer under $500: SUNLU S8 3D Printer | Buy Now

Best Cheap Large 3D Printer: LONGER LK1 3D Printer | Buy Now

Scroll down to see more on our top picks for the best large format 3D printer, according to many happy buyers.

*Prices listed in this article were as shown in US$ on Amazon. com (USA) and other online retailers as of February 2022

1. Best Large 500mm 3D Printer—Crealty Large 3D Printer 500x500x500mm

As one of the 3D printers with the largest printing beds currently available, the Creality CR-10 S5 3D printer has 500x500x500mm of printing space meaning you can really let your imagination run wild.

Installation is super quick and easy as the machine comes in three pre-assembled parts with clearly labeled wires and instructions. Other features include a resume-printing function in the event of loss of power, and you also get a one-year warranty from the manufacturer.

One buyer who gave this machine five stars helpfully mentioned that you need to have plenty of room to accommodate this huge printer, writing, "The main thing to consider is its sheer size. It requires over a yard, possibly a full meter of depth to move the build plate."

BUY NOW: US$719, Creality 3D

2.

Best Large 400mm 3D Printer—ANYCUBIC 3D Printer 400x400x450mm

A large-format 3D printer from a trusted brand, the ANYCUBIC Chiron is for anyone who doesn't mind spending some extra time and effort on leveling the bed or working out the settings.

Users have reported this as being rather tricky, but the trade-off is a great 400mm 3D printer with impressive capabilities, plus, a superb customer service department that helped with any and all issues pertaining to the printer, from setup to product completion. One fan wrote, "It took me a long time to dial in my settings and get high-quality prints but I was able to get the printer working and printing decent quality the same day I put it together."

Another happy user who has "completed more than 4,000 hours of printing" and "used many hundreds of rolls of filament," described, "The results I am getting are amazing even with some prints taking over 300 hours to complete. In fact, I have just started a seven-part 700-hour print which is going very well. "

BUY NOW: US$623.75, Amazon

3. Best Large 3D Printer Under $1000—Creality Ender 5 Plus 3D Printer 350x350x400mm

With pretty much the same capabilities as its equally highly-rated sister model, the Creality Ender 5 Pro, including an automatic bed leveling sensor, bed stabilizer, color touch screen, and easy assembly, the Ender 5 Plus has one major difference; its huge size which accommodates its large build plate.

This sturdy thing works straight out of the box, and in addition to great customer support, there is also a massive Creality community to quickly get any answers and assistance you may require.

"I have printed several large helmets with great results," one happy purchaser wrote, and another added, "I love having the bigger print bed for very big projects. There is some fine-tuning you will have to do but after that, you are ready to rock and roll."

BUY NOW: US$599 (Was US$649), Amazon

4.

Best Industrial Large 3D Printer—Snapmaker 3-in-1 3D Printer 320x350x330mm

For advanced hobbyists or pros who want to up their 3D printing game, the Snapmaker 2.0 will make a proud addition to your workspace and open up a world of 3D opportunity and creativity. In addition to its large printing capacity, it is fast, powerful, and also allows you to do much more than 3D printing, like engraving, cutting, and CNC carving.

At this price, it's a unit for those who are pretty serious about 3D printing, but for small businesses that rely on the craft, it will end up paying for itself in no time. One reviewer who bought this to enhance their graphic design business, wrote, "It's been a valuable asset so far. We are making our own business cards on metal which is super unique and our customers love the added services we can now offer."

Another happy buyer who raved about its versatility and build quality, added, "I have been making non-stop with this machine. .. [It] allows for the imagination to go absolutely wild with ideas!"

BUY NOW: US$1,799, Amazon

5. Best Large 3D Printer under $500—SUNLU S8 3D Printer 310x310x400mm Upgraded

Another good printer with a large print bed, and a tiny price to boot, the upgraded SUNLO S8 only weighs around 26 pounds so is not as much of a task to move as some of the other large 3D printers.

At under US$300, you get many features like high stability, accurate printing, filament runout detection, a Z-axis dual linear rail, and simple assembly. There's also a resume printing function for power failures.

"This printer provides great value for the cost," one buyer explained. "Not only is the print size large enough to do just about anything you can think of, but at 310x310x400 it is the largest in its price class." Another happy customer wrote, "Awesome printer for the price. Can't beat it. It's open-source so it's super easy to add upgrades if you want. Huge build size."

BUY NOW: US$279.99, Amazon

6. Best Cheap Large 3D Printer—LONGER LK1 3D Printer 300x300x400mm

With an even smaller price tag, the Longer LK1 3D printer is another option for those wanting to dabble in 3D printing but unsure whether to fork out the big bucks just yet.

It provides plenty of features to learn the art, and the customer service is helpful with any questions you may have. The leveling is not the best, but it is easy to assemble and users have been satisfied with the print quality.

"This is an awesome entry-level printer," one satisfied shopper explained. "I was pleasantly surprised, how easy it was to set up... If you're looking for bang for your buck and [to] familiarize yourself with 3D printing, then don't go wasting money on expensive printers; this one works great."

BUY NOW: US$270.39, Walmart

The Best Large Format 3D Printer—Summary

With one of the largest printing beds currently available for a non-industrial 3D printer, the Creality CR-10 S5 3D printer (US$719, Creality 3D) provides an impressive 500x500x500mm of printing space. The Anycubic Chiron (US$623.75, Amazon) is another large-format printer with impressive capabilities and has a superb customer service department too.

We hope our review of the best large format 3D printer has been helpful. For more 3D printers and other 3D printing suppliers, including 3D printer filaments suppliers, additive manufacturing suppliers, 3D photographic printing services, and 3D sand printing additive manufacturing, consult our additional guides, or visit the Thomas Supplier Discovery Platform.

Other 3D Printing Articles

The Best 3D Printers under $300
The Best 3D Printers under $200
The Best 3D Printer Under $1000
The Best 3D Printer Under $500
Top 3D Printing Services Companies in the USA
Origins of 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing
Overview of 3D Printing Technologies
Top 3D Printing Manufacturers and Suppliers (Publicly Traded and Privately-Owned)
Top Suppliers of Additive Manufacturing Consulting Services

What manufacturers don't want you to know: The truth about 3D printer maximum print areas

One of the most fundamental decisions you can make when choosing a 3D printer is the size of the build area. While printer prices vary for many different reasons, it's pretty much a constant that the larger the build area, the more expensive the printer.

In this edition of DIY-IT's 3D Printing Discovery Series on ZDNet, we'll take a hard look at the different build areas available for different 3D printers and then I'll take you into the dark underbelly of the 3D printing world to show you what manufacturers don't want you to know: the truth about 3D printer build areas.

This was a much bigger and more complex project than I expected and it took a whole lot of filament to produce the build area samples used in my testing. So before I get started on the details, I'd like to shout out a thank you to the folks at ColorFabb for providing the filament used in these examples. I'd also like to shout out to MakerBot, Ultimaker, Lulzbot, Dreammaker, and New Matter for providing unrestricted access to their printers so I could perform these tests.

Put simply, when a manufacturer specifies a maximum print areas (also known as a build area), it's the maximum size of an object the printer can (theoretically) print. Technically, a 3D shape that's not equidistant on all sides isn't a cube, it's a cuboid or a convex polyhedron bounded by six quadrilateral faces.

The accompanying video shows what the build areas look like for the five printers I have here in the shop. I designed and printed shapes that represent the maximum build areas for each of these printers. I've posted each of these on Thingiverse with links below, you can print your own sizing templates.

MakerBot sizing template
Ultimaker 3 sizing template
LulzBot Mini sizing template
Overlord Pro Plus sizing template
New Matter MOD-t sizing template

Here they are in the printers. You can start to see how they relate to each other in size. From left to right, you're looking at the New Matter MOD-t (silver), the Dreammaker Overlord Pro Plus (blue), the LulzBot Mini (green), the Ultimaker 3 (white), and the MakerBot Replicator+ (red).

Image: David Gewirtz

Another way to look at these is by stacking them together. In the video, you can really see how they differ in size when placed inside of each other.

Also, don't confuse what may look like available build area with actual, functional build area. For example, on the Overlord Pro, it looks like the model of the Vanderbilt Mansion would print. But if you compare the model with the actual buildable area, the mansion just won't fit. A mighty fine stack of three and half Yoda heads would easily fit in the Overlord's build area, but not the Vanderbilt Mansion. On the other hand, the mansion does easily fit in the build area of the Lulzbot.

As I alluded to at the beginning of this article, there's a lot about build areas that are misleading. Of the five vendors, not one specified a maximum print size that I was actually able to print.

On the MakerBot, the full cube I started to print began to disintegrate near the end, and I wasn't able to complete that print. On the Overlord, Cura wouldn't accept the dimensions specified on the Dreammaker site, except for the vertical Y-axis dimension. When I printed a test bar, the Overlord Pro wasn't able to actually meet that height and caused a very messy jam.

New Matter's slicer accepted a model for printing, but after two tries, you can see just how messy the results were. Once I reduced the model's size, it eventually printed. In the case of both the Lulzbot and the Ultimaker, Cura simply wouldn't accept a model sized for the maximum printable area described in the specs for each printer.

After a lot of test prints, here's what I found.

Printer	Specified Width	Actual Width	Specified Depth	Actual Depth	Specified Height	Actual Height
MakerBot Replicator+	295	292	195	192	165	165
Ultimaker 3	197	188	215	185	200	200
LulzBot Mini	152	152*	152	152*	158	158
Dreammaker Overlord Pro Plus	125	79	125	79	280	255
New Matter MOD-t	150	145	100	95	125	125

*There's a trick to making this work. See the article below.

On the MakerBot Replicator+, the specified maximum print size was 295 millimeters long by 195 millimeters deep by 165 millimeters high. Actual build area was 292 millimeters long by 192 millimeters deep by 165 millimeters high, so length and width were three millimeters smaller than specified.

On the Ultimaker 3, the specified maximum print size was 215 millimeters long by 215 millimeters deep by 200 millimeters high for a single extruder. This machine supports using two extruders at once. For a dual extruder setup, the specified maximum print size was 197 millimeters long by 215 millimeters deep by 200 millimeters high.

I tested with both extruders active, and my best results were 185 millimeters long by 188 millimeters deep by 200 millimeters high, so length and width were more than a centimeter smaller than specified, at least for a true rectangle. Ultimaker says that you can increase this a bit if you have longer areas in the middle, but you can't go all the way out in the corners. In any case, like the other vendors, the company didn't meet it's published spec.

On the LulzBot Mini, the specified maximum print size was 152 millimeters long by 152 millimeters deep by 158 millimeters high. The actual max print area area allowed by Cura was 145 millimeters long by 145 millimeters deep by 158 millimeters high, so length and width were six millimeters smaller than specified.

UPDATE: The LulzBot folks reached out to me and described a trick (changing the Skirt Line Count in Cura) that lets it print to the full 152x152 spec. I tested it and it works. Here's a short video that shows how it's done. Very cool.

The Overlord is interesting, because the Delta architecture means it should print cylinders that have a large diameter than the length and width dimensions of a cuboid. That said, for consistency sake, I went with squared edges. Dreammaker specifies 125 millimeters long by 125 millimeters deep by 280 millimeters high. The width and height weren't even close, at 79 millimeters by 79 millimeters. Even though I'm using the taller Overlord Pro, this was the only printer that completely failed at its specified height. Instead of 280 millimeters, the best I got without making a mess was 255 millimeters. Essentially, the Overlord's maximum specified print area was about 25 percent more than reality.

Finally, there's the New Matter MOD-t. Although the New Matter slicer accepted a print designed at its maximum print size of 150 millimeters long by 100 millimeters deep by 125 millimeters high, the results were a mess. I finally managed a print that was 145 millimeters long by 95 millimeters deep by 125 millimeters high, so the MOD-t lost about 5 millimeters off the X-and-Y axis.

What does it all mean?

So now that you've seen the results of my little study, what does it all mean?

My recommendation is that you do't freak out too much about the fact that the specified maximum build dimensions and the actual ones are slightly different. In most cases, the difference is a centimeter or less.

That said, if you're buying a 3D printer for a project that is tightly dependent on certain dimensions, you should make sure to factor into your decision the fact that the build area documented in the specs is lightly to be optimistic by about 5 or 10 percent. If you're particularly dependent on an exact size, ask the vendor to print a part sample to see what the machine will produce.

Beyond that, if you're in the market for a new 3D printer, think carefully about how much build area you really need. Since build area is one of the most fundamental drivers in printer price, you save money and get a lot more capabilities in a printer if you're willing to sacrifice some build area. Conversely, if you need to print larger objects, you'll definitely need to be aware that size does matter when it comes to your buying budget.

You can follow my day-to-day project updates on social media. Be sure to follow me on Twitter at @DavidGewirtz, on Facebook at Facebook. com/DavidGewirtz, on Instagram at Instagram.com/DavidGewirtz, and on YouTube at YouTube.com/DavidGewirtzTV.

Announcement of XYZprinting da Vinci Jr. multifunctional 3D printer. 3-in-1

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“British scientists recently discovered that Da Vinci was making prototypes of his inventions on an ancient 3D printer. But even he was not a pioneer in 3D printing! According to the Novgorod birch bark letters, the first 3D printer in the village of Muscovy was designed by a certain Ivashka Okovalok, for which he was publicly carved on his own 3D printer. The fate of the invention remained unknown for a long time, until its sensational ... "

In a similar vein, one could review the 3D MFP XYZprinting da Vinci Jr. 3-in-1 for some tabloid yellow edition. And he would find his audience. da Vinci Jr. 3-in-1 is not an engineering working tool, but a household appliance for a wide audience, designed primarily to make copies of all sorts of useful things. Inexpensive, easy to manage thing. Broken hook in the hallway? No problem. Blinded halves, scanned, printed a new one. Did a child break his favorite toy phone, bought many kilometers from home, on vacation? Mom already knows what to do. The main thing is to cope with a Phillips screwdriver. nine0003

Dimensions of the device - one of the pluses, and one of the explanations of the word Junior in the title. The MFP does not take up much space in the house, the device can be placed anywhere. Of course, this imposes restrictions on the working area, but still it is quite decent - 15x15x15 cm.

The print head nozzle is removable, has a diameter of 0.4 mm and can apply layers with a thickness of 100, 200, 300 or 400 microns. Also for da Vinci Jr. 3-in-1 optional extra head with 0.3mm nozzle is available and is recommended for more precise printing. The work table is not heated. nine0003

This is what the extruder of the printer looks like

On the left you can see the result of printing with a standard 0. 4 mm head, on the right with an optional 0.3 mm head. The difference is significant.

The printer can only work with chipped branded consumables. Only one type of plastic is available - PLA. Some people consider this a disadvantage, but if you think about it a little, it becomes clear that this is the only right solution. The printer is positioned as a device for the whole family, and, for example, ABS, beloved by the people, is unacceptable here. It is not good for health. And a home, family 3D printer should be absolutely safe. nine0003

Consumable price - $28. It's not cheap compared to PLA from other companies. And this is not scary in practice: printing of various household utensils and broken parts is not required very often, so the consumable will have to be changed, say, once every six months - for such a period it is not serious.

Now about the scanner. Its working area is somewhat smaller than that of the printer: from 3 cm in diameter and 3 cm in height to 12 cm in diameter by 12 cm in height. The process of copying for convenience, of course, is far from making a copy of a document, but still quite simple: we connect da Vinci Jr. 3-in-1 to a PC with the XYZscan program installed (the device has a Wi-Fi module, so there is no need to physically connect to the computer), put the object on a rotating desktop and scan with a resolution of 0.25 mm, then turn it over - do not it is important how, the main thing is that the scanner sees the surface that was hidden from it, in contact with the table - we scan again. The whole process takes a matter of minutes. We save the resulting model on a PC or on an SD card so as not to keep the computer turned on for many hours in a row, not to risk printing and plastic due to PC freezing or other similar problems. The file can be printed or corrected all in the same program. nine0003

In addition to copying and scanning, the XYZprinting da Vinci Jr. 3D MFP. 3-in-1 can engrave. The laser engraving module is installed in place of the print head, the replacement procedure is similar to replacing the extruder.

Engraver module

Engraving is only possible on flat surfaces, there are also restrictions on materials: it is recommended to use paper, cardboard, wood, leather or plastic. Engraving resembles the work of a burning machine, only programmable. nine0003

It is recommended to use a dark material, because the image will be poorly visible or not visible at all on light ones.

In general, da Vinci Jr. The 3-in-1 is a great mainstream 3D copier with the ability to install an engraving module. When such a device is in the house, you don’t have to throw out a bunch of things because of a broken, worn part, a cracked case, a broken fixture. Every housewife will cope with copying or printing, and the child will be able to begin to join 3D printing and related disciplines, such as 3D modeling. Well, the 3D printer who will supply such an MFP for the family will no longer be pestered by trifles. nine0003

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Top 10 cheapest and most affordable 3D printers

3D printing technology entered the market a few years ago and now everyone wants to have their own 3D printer. This is, without a doubt, an amazing device, however, oh, not everyone can afford it.

There are many 3D printers from different companies. 3D printing is expensive, but some geniuses have teamed up to develop high quality 3D printers for less. These cheap printers are capable of pretty much the same as their more expensive counterparts. Some of them are developed with donations from people. We present you a list of Top 10 Most Affordable 3D Printers. Their prices vary, and some cost even less than high-end smartphones. Don't forget to read 10 Amazing Things You Can 3D Print.

1. Peachy Printer ($100)

The Peachy Printer is the cheapest printer available in stores. This project was created with donations from Kickstarter . This printer uses a completely new technology for creating three-dimensional patterns and, therefore, costs less. nine0003

Printer Peachy contains liquid photosensitive rubber. During the creation of the object, the liquid solidifies into the desired shape under the influence of a laser beam. 13 times more than the required amount was donated for this project. But the most interesting thing is that it really works. It's quite fun to watch the formation of three-dimensional details.

2. QU-BD One Up ($200)

Printer QU-BD One Up was also donated from Kickstarter . This custom printer comes with a DIY kit. Training is from 2 to 8 hours, depending on the user's skills. Kit provides everything you need for your first 3D print.

3. Romscraj ($375)

Romsraj 3D printer is designed by Singapore , which has been selling 3D printers and parts for 3 years. Due to the slightly large size of the printer, it can create large 3D shapes. nine0003

4. Cobblebot 3D Printer ($299)

The Cobblebot 3D Printer was also developed by a Kickstarter donation, which exceeded the required amount three times.

This is a fairly advanced 3D printer available at this price point, trying to combine a large area of creation with low cost. With Cobblebot you will be able to print 15x15x15 cm objects.

3D printing on it is high quality and reliable. The developers have provided a large number of different settings for users. Most suitable for personal and professional use. nine0003

5. Printrbot 3D printer ($259)

Printbot 3D printer is small but quite advanced. It is designed to print small objects for small amounts. Printers Printbot are available in four different variations.

They are all customizable to your needs. Parts can be purchased if needed. The Printbot 3D printer is available in 80 countries and 3800 cities worldwide.

6. MakiBox 3D printer ($200)

MakiBox 3D printer has an interesting printing method. And its price is even less than most smartphones nowadays. If you do not need a printer for commercial use, then the MakiBox 3D printer is your choice. Due to its small size, it can only create small objects. Upon delivery, it will not be assembled immediately. You will have to make some settings, but it won't take long.

7. Phoenix 3D printer ($375)

Phoenix 3D printer is a multifunctional 3D printer. In addition to it, you need to purchase unique software.

This 3D printer is suitable for making hobby objects. The program for printing works on an intuitive level. You can even stop printing if something goes wrong. “Rollback” the program and start all over again. Printing media can be expensive, so the program tries to help you create exactly the right object.

8. SoliDoodle 3D printer ($499)

SoliDoodle 3D printer is a reliable printer with a reasonable price. The is available in two variations of the 3D printer: SoliDoodle Second Generation for $499 and SoliDoodle Third Generation for $799. You can create relatively large objects with this printer.

9. Portabee 3D Printer ($595)

The Portabee 3D Printer is rationally small and creates appropriate objects.