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Best 3d printer stock to buy
Top 3D Printing Stocks for Q4 2022
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
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Best Value 3D Printing Stocks
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Fastest Growing 3D Printing Stocks
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3D Printing Stocks With the Best Performance
SSYS is top for value and performance and NNDM is top for growth
By
Noah Bolton
Full Bio
Noah has about a year of freelance writing experience. He's worked on his investing website dealing with topics such as the stock market and financial advice for beginners.
Learn about our editorial policies
Updated October 06, 2022
The 3D printing industry is made up of companies that provide products and services capable of manufacturing a range of products. 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, creates physical objects from digital designs. The printing process works by laying down thin layers of material in the form of liquid or powdered plastic, metal, or cement, and then fusing the layers together. Though still too slow for mass production, it is a revolutionary technology that has the potential to disrupt the manufacturing logistics and inventory management industries. The 3D printing industry is comprised of only a handful of companies, including players such as Proto Labs Inc., Faro Technologies Inc., and Desktop Metal Inc.
The industry is so young that it has no meaningful benchmark index. But the performance of these stocks can be compared to the broader market as represented by the Russell 1000 Index. These stocks have not performed well. Stratasys Ltd. (SSYS), the best performing 3D printing stock, has dramatically underperformed the Russell 1000, which has provided a total return of -12.5% over the past 12 months. This market performance number and all statistics in the tables below are as of Sept. 20, 2022.
Here are the top three 3D printing stocks with the best value, fastest sales growth, and the best performance.
These are the 3D printing stocks with the lowest 12-month trailing price-to-sales (P/S) ratio.
For companies in early stages of development or industries suffering from major shocks, this metric can be substituted as a rough measure of a business's value. A business with higher sales could eventually produce more profit when it achieves (or returns to) profitability. The price-to-sales ratio shows how much you're paying for the stock for each dollar of sales generated.
| Best Value 3D Printing Stocks | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price ($) | Market Cap ($B) | 12-Month Trailing P/S Ratio | |
| Stratasys Ltd. (SSYS) | 15.49 | 1.0 | 1.6 |
| 3D Systems Corp. (DDD) | 9.00 | 1.2 | 2.0 |
| Proto Labs Inc. (PRLB) | 37.49 | 1.0 | 2.1 |
Source: YCharts
- Stratasys Ltd.: Stratasys offers 3D printing solutions, such as 3D printers, polymer materials, a software ecosystem, and related parts.
It serves a variety of industries, including aerospace, automotive, consumer products, and healthcare. On Sept. 13, Stratasys completed the merger of its MakerBot subsidiary with Ultimaker, which offers platforms used to make 3-D printers. Ultimaker is backed by NPM Capital. The merged company will keep the Ultimaker name and focus on providing solutions, hardware, software and materials to the industry. NPM Capital will have majority ownership of the new company at 53.5%, and Stratasys will own 46.5%. - 3D Systems Corp.: 3D Systems provides 3D printing solutions. The company offers a range of hardware, software, and materials designed for additive manufacturing. Its products and services are used in a variety of industries and sectors, including aerospace, automotive, semiconductor, healthcare, and more.
- Proto Labs Inc.: Proto Labs is an e-commerce-based company that provides digital manufacturing services. It offers 3D printing, injection molding, CNC machining, and sheet metal fabrication.
On Aug. 5, Proto Labs announced financial results for Q2 2022, the three-month period ending on June 30, 2022. Net income fell more than 80% to $2.6 million from the prior-year quarter while revenue rose 3.1%.
These are the 3D printing stocks with the highest YOY sales growth for the most recent quarter. Rising sales can help investors identify companies that are able to grow revenue organically or through other means and find growing companies that have not yet reached profitability. In addition, accounting factors that may not reflect the overall strength of the business can significantly influence earnings per share. However, sales growth can also be potentially misleading about the strength of a business, because growing sales on money-losing businesses can be harmful if the company has no plan to reach profitability.
| Fastest Growing 3D Printing Stocks | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price ($) | Market Cap ($B) | Revenue Growth (%) | |
Nano Dimension Ltd. (NNDM) | 2.45 | 0.6 | 1,270 |
| Desktop Metal Inc. (DM) | 3.07 | 1.0 | 203.9 |
| Stratasys Ltd. (SSYS) | 15.49 | 1.0 | 13.3 |
Source: YCharts
- Nano Dimension Ltd.: Nano Dimension is an Israel-based 3D printing company focused on developing equipment and software for 3D-printed electronics. It develops printers for multilayer printed circuit boards and nanotechnology-based inks. The company serves a range of industries, including consumer electronics, healthcare, aerospace, and automotive. On Sept. 1, Nano Dimension released Q2 2022 results. The company's net loss widened sharply to $40.0 million from a loss of $13.6 million in the same quarter a year earlier even as revenue soared more than 13-fold. The larger second-quarter loss was fueled partly by $10.9 million in non-cash adjustments for depreciation and amortization expenses, and share-based payments.
- Desktop Metal Inc.: Desktop Metal manufactures 3D printers and related equipment used to build complex parts from metal. It also offers 3D printing software. The company serves a range of industries, including automotive, consumer products, education, and heavy industry. On Aug. 08, the company reported Q2 2022 results. Desktop Metals' net loss increase nearly seven-fold to $297.3 million compared to the same quarter a year earlier even as revenue tripled.
- Stratasys Ltd.: See above for company description.
These are the 3D printing stocks that had the smallest declines in total return over the past 12 months out of the companies we looked at.
| 3D Printing Stocks With the Best Performance | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price ($) | Market Cap ($B) | 12-Month Trailing Total Return (%) | |
Stratasys Ltd. (SSYS) | 15.49 | 1.0 | -34.5 |
| Proto Labs Inc. (PRLB) | 37.49 | 1.0 | -50.6 |
| Materialise NV (MTLS) | 10.95 | 0.6 | -53.9 |
| Russell 1000 | N/A | N/A | -12.5 |
Source: YCharts
- Stratasys Ltd.: See above for company description.
- Proto Labs Inc.: See above for company description.
- Materialise NV: Materialise is a Belgium-based provider of additive manufacturing software and 3D printing services. It serves a range of industries, including healthcare, aerospace, and automotive. On Sept. 7, Materialise completed its acquisition of Identity3D, which makes products that encrypt, distribute, and track digital parts as they move through supply-chains. The value of the deal was not specified in the announcement.
The comments, opinions, and analyses expressed herein are for informational purposes only and should not be considered individual investment advice or recommendations to invest in any security or to adopt any investment strategy.
Though we believe the information provided herein is reliable, we do not warrant its accuracy or completeness. The views and strategies described in our content may not be suitable for all investors. Because market and economic conditions are subject to rapid change, all comments, opinions, and analyses contained within our content are rendered as of the date of the posting and may change without notice. The material is not intended as a complete analysis of every material fact regarding any country, region, market, industry, investment, or strategy.
Article Sources
Investopedia requires writers to use primary sources to support their work. These include white papers, government data, original reporting, and interviews with industry experts. We also reference original research from other reputable publishers where appropriate. You can learn more about the standards we follow in producing accurate, unbiased content in our editorial policy.
YCharts. "Financial Data.
"Stratasys Ltd. "Stratasys Completes Merger of MakerBot with Ultimaker."
Proto Labs Inc. "Proto Labs Q2 2022 Earnings Release."
Nano Dimension Ltd. "Earnings Press Release for Q2 2022."
Desktop Metals Inc. " Desktop Metals Second Quarter 2022 Earnings."
Materialise NV. "Materialise Acquires Indenity3D."
5 3D Printing Stocks to Consider in 2022
Back in the early 2010s, stocks were booming for 3D printing -- also known as additive manufacturing, a computer-controlled process in which three-dimensional objects are made. But the boom was followed by a bust as many pure-play 3D printing companies didn't immediately deliver on lofty expectations.
Rumors of the manufacturing technology's demise are clearly premature. These days, 3D printing is a high-growth niche that is steadily reshaping the manufacturing and industrial sectors. Some estimates point to a doubling in annual revenue from additive manufacturing between 2022 and 2026.
Even growth investor Cathie Wood has launched a fund focused on manufacturing tech, The 3D Printing ETF (NYSEMKT:PRNT), via her company ARK Invest.
Here's what you need to know about 3D printing and additive manufacturing stocks for 2022:
Image source: Getty Images.
Investing in 3D printing stocks
The manufacturing of products in all corners of the economy is being revolutionized by 3D printing, from healthcare equipment to metal fabrication to housing construction. It's invading so many sectors that tech giants such as Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), Autodesk (NASDAQ:ADSK), and HP (NYSE:HPQ) have launched products aimed at 3D printing and additive manufacturing. Other engineering and software outfits such as Dassault Systemes (OTC:DASTY), ANSYS (NASDAQ:ANSS), and Trimble (NASDAQ:TRMB) have also gotten involved in 3D printing technology.
Here are five key players to consider for 2022 that are a more focused bet on 3D printing:
| Company | Market Cap | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Desktop Metal (NYSE:DM) | $1.3 billion | Recent IPO that focuses on metal fabrication technology. |
| Stratasys (NASDAQ:SSYS) | $1.5 billion | One of the original 3D printing pioneers, with a wide array of printers and supporting design software. |
| Xometry (NASDAQ:XMTR) | $1.9 billion | A manufacturing marketplace, including access to on-demand 3D printing services. |
| 3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) | $1.9 billion | Another original 3D printing pioneer and the largest pure-play stock on 3D printing technology. |
| PTC (NASDAQ:PTC) | $11.7 billion | A manufacturing technology provider with a suite of software and related services for industrial businesses. |
Market cap as of April 19, 2022. 1.
Desktop MetalThis company is a recent entry into the 3D printing space after going public via a SPAC at the end of 2020. The stock has been a terrible market underperformer since then, losing three-quarters of its value as of spring 2022. However, Desktop Metal could still be a promising investment for the long term.
As its name implies, Desktop Metal develops 3D printing hardware and accompanying design software for metal and carbon fiber parts. The company's smaller systems can handle prototyping and one-off parts, and larger printers are production grade-designed for manufacturing facilities. Desktop Metal serves companies operating in automotive, consumer goods, and heavy industrial equipment businesses.
Despite a tenuous start as a public company, Desktop Metal was actually increasing revenue at a torrid triple-digit pace in 2021. Gross profit margins are thin, and the company generated a steep net loss, but that should improve over time as the business scales its operation.
Desktop Metal also has several hundred million dollars in cash and investments to fund its expansion. It used some of these funds to acquire additive manufacturing peer ExOne at the end of 2021.
2. Stratasys
Stratasys was part of the early 2010s 3D printing stock boom and bust, but its business has endured. Sales took a dip early in the COVID-19 pandemic but are rebounding as the Israel-based company picks up new manufacturing contracts.
Stratasys serves a diverse set of customers, including aerospace and automotive parts manufacturers, medical and dental companies, and makers of basic consumer products. In addition to a wide array of 3D printer models, Stratasys develops software to help users accelerate the time between design and final printing.
It isn't the highest-growth name on this list, but Stratasys is profitable (on a free cash flow basis) and has more than $500 million in cash and investments on its balance sheet, as well as no debt.
Management thinks its payoff from years of research and development into additive manufacturing will accelerate in 2022.
3. Xometry
This is another newcomer to public markets. Xometry completed its initial public offering (IPO) over the summer of 2021, raising almost $350 million in cash in the process. As is often the case with new IPOs, the stock has underperformed since then. It has lost over half of its value from the time it started trading on public markets, but the business itself is rapidly growing.
Xometry is a marketplace for on-demand manufacturing of prototyping and mass production. It has a network of more than 5,000 suppliers that companies can call on to meet their fabrication needs. Among the suppliers on the Xometry platform are 3D printing companies, injection molding, and automated machining. The company reported having more than 28,000 active buyers utilizing its platform at the end of 2021.
Although it isn't profitable yet, Xometry's unique approach to the 3D printing and additive manufacturing industry is growing fast. Like other names on this list, it has a sizable war chest of cash and short-term investments that it can spend on research and marketing as it tries to attract more suppliers and buyers to its marketplace.
4. 3D Systems
3D Systems was another early player in the 3D printing industry, and while it suffered through the boom-and-bust period of the early 2010s, its business has held steady for much of the past decade. After a brief dip during the early days of the pandemic, 3D Systems is back in growth mode.
The company develops printers and design software for all sorts of materials and industries (medical device makers, dental labs, semiconductor designers, aerospace, and automotive manufacturers). It claims leadership among independent 3D printing companies (as measured by sales).
As the 3D printing industry expands in the coming years, 3D Systems thinks it will be able to attract lots of new business with its extensive experience and global reach.
As an established tech outfit in the manufacturing sector, 3D Systems offers investors the prospect of more stable growth, along with profitability. It also has a large net cash position from which it can consolidate its lead in 3D printers and software technology.
5. PTC
By far the largest company on this list, PTC is a longtime technology partner of manufacturing and industrial enterprises. Fast approaching $2 billion in annualized sales and highly profitable, PTC has all the tools needed to digitally transform industrial businesses.
Besides 3D printing computer-aided design software (ANSYS is a peer and software partner that also operates in this space), PTC specializes in augmented reality, industrial IoT (Internet of Things), and product life-cycle management software.
Most of its revenue is subscription-based (including its Creo software that enables 3D printing), making for a stable and steadily growing business model that generates ample cash flow. PTC puts spare cash to work developing new products for its partners and makes bolt-on acquisitions of other software companies that enhance its overall portfolio.
As a larger company, PTC won't be the fastest-growing stock in the additive manufacturing and 3D printing space. However, the company has established itself as a leader in industrial technology and should be a primary beneficiary as the production of manufactured goods gets more efficient.
The future of 3D printing
Manufacturing technology is making inroads throughout the global economy by reducing the cost of production and localizing and speeding up the time it takes to deliver customer orders. This is far from mere hype. Nevertheless, as is the case with all technology investments, progress won't go straight up.
Expect twists and turns in these stocks as they develop new methods to design and make products.
If you decide to invest, do so in a measured way. Maintain a diversified portfolio, be wary of stocks benefiting from investor over-optimism, and always leave spare cash to invest more when there are inevitable dips. Given enough time -- years and decades -- investing in 3D printing could eventually provide a big payoff.
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Nicholas Rossolillo has positions in Autodesk and PTC. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Autodesk, HP, and Microsoft. The Motley Fool recommends 3D Systems, ANSYS, Dassault Systemes, PTC, and Trimble Inc. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Cool 3D projects using 3D printing
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Chapter 1. Background. In this article I will talk about why you need a 3D printer at home and what you can do with it. And you can make and print on a 3D printer any part, both plastic and rubber. but the secret of success lies in the fact that it is not enough to have a 3D printer, but you also need to be able to model parts and properly prepare them for the printing process. Anyone can afford to buy a printer, or you can assemble it yourself. But it takes time to learn how to model. A lot of my projects required the manufacture of non-standard parts, which is why the idea of buying a 3D printer was born.
Chapter 2. Exploring the world of 3D printing and technology. My first printer was Anet A8. And like all beginner 3D printers, the first thing I started printing was upgrades for it.
Since stock printers from the budget segment, in my opinion, it is necessary to refine them so that they give more or less good results in printing. I described in detail about all my improvements on the site, who are interested can familiarize themselves with and apply for their Anet (https://3dtoday.ru/blogs/alexforward/konkurscrealityv). The printer turned out to be very functional and gave rise to a new printer with CORE XY kinematics. The printer turned out to be of decent quality and produced a good print result. And most importantly, it was more compact, had its own heat chamber, direct extruder, and the print speed on it was faster. This project is also described in detail by me https://3dtoday.ru/blogs/alexforward/klassnyi-3d-printer-po-tipu-core-xy-iz-orgtexniki-konkurscreality
But these were all finished projects modeled by other people, I just took the best and brought it to life.
More serious projects already required the study of 3D modeling programs.
Chapter 3. Program selection and training . To study 3D modeling, I chose Compass 3D from Ascon. I think one of the best programs, since it is used by the majority, Compass is actively used in industry and enterprises, many free study lessons. But the most important factor, my brother, who works as a design engineer at the factory, can easily fix jambs when creating a model or suggest how best to do it. By the way, the program is easy to study on your own and does not require basic skills. I learned it from scratch, having no idea about 3D modeling at all. My first completed projects using Compass 3D and 3D printing were the creation of fittings (legs, handles, plastic dowels, etc.), electronics cases, radio-controlled models.
Toys and accessories.
Tool. I will give an example of my template for installing handles and locks for interior doors. This template is my own developed copy of the existing model on the Internet.
In terms of money, the template cost me almost 10 times cheaper than it is sold on the Internet.
But in order to create a part consisting of several parts, and print everything the first time, so that everything fits together, Compass 3D has a wonderful assembly function for this. In it, in fact, you can check whether the parts fit together and immediately make changes and corrections to the model. According to this principle, I implemented projects for the modernization and upgrade of my friends' 3D printers.
JGAurora print carriage upgrade. First, 3D models were made separately. Then, with the help of the assembly, they were brought to mind and adjusted to each other. The carriage became lighter, there was an adjustment of the tension of the belts along the axis, better blowing of the parts and, most importantly, the installation of an E3D V6 hotend.
Full upgrade of Anycubic I3 Mega. But in this project, half of the details were borrowed from other users.
Before
Now
This is just a part of my work. In fact, a huge number of parts and spare parts were printed. Not always everything worked out the first time, especially printing with ABS plastic was hard to master. I mostly print ABS as it is the cheapest material and is easily machined. Yes, it has many disadvantages, but for my purposes, ABS is the best material.
Chapter 4. Summing up. Having received basic knowledge of 3D printing and modeling, I decided to assemble a 3D printer for my purposes, so that it would be an indispensable assistant and meet the following requirements:
1. Printing with ABS plastic - need a hot table and closed case
2. E3D V6 hotend - for fast repair and availability of spare parts at low prices
3. Good print quality and printing speed - fast production of parts
4. Compact - takes up little space on the desktop
5. The printer must be popular with users - a large number of upgrades and the availability of information on maintenance and repair.
Ultimaker Original proved to be ideal for these requirements. This printer has all the files for its creation and refinement in the public domain, produces excellent print quality at high speeds.
To make an airtight chamber from a draft, I developed drawings for the doors and the hood of the printer, since I could not find these parts, and I made a box for tools. As a result, the printer takes up minimal space on the table. Someone will say that it is easier to buy a new one. I do not argue with this, but my goal was to minimize the cost of building a 3D printer, which is several times cheaper than the original. At the moment, Ultimaker is already hard at work creating my next projects. At the moment, a machine for sharpening knives and scissors has already been developed, it is waiting for its implementation.
And plans to build a CNC router and laser engraver from a structural profile for home use with a small area. These tools will significantly expand the scope of modeling and product creation.
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Top 10 rating according to KP
A 3D printer opens up incredible opportunities for a person. The first prototype of such a device was born in the distant 1984 year. 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. Heated plastic is fed through the nozzle (spout) of the device, 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.
Top 10 rating according to KP
1. Creality3D Ender 3
Creality3D Ender 3. Photo: market-yandex.ru Our rating opens with a model from the world's largest manufacturer of 3D printers. The Ender 3 features 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.
Pros and cons
Possibility of using various types of plastic, high quality of parts, reliable design
A small display that displays only basic information
2. FlashForge Adventurer 3
FlashForge Adventurer 3. Photo: market-yandex.ru The model from the Chinese developer FlashForge took the second position in our rating. 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 Russian 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.
Despite the rather wide functionality, this model is unlikely to be suitable for an experienced printer or a small production due to the small working area, high price
3. FlyingBear Ghost 5
FlyingBear Ghost 5. Photo: market-yandex.ru from FlyingBear 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. Pros and cons
Short power cord, inaccuracies in the Russian-language menu, weak airflow system.
4. Anet N4
Anet N4. Photo: market-yandex.ruThe budget model from the Chinese manufacturer Anet N4 is equipped with all the necessary functions for a small domestic production. The base of the device is made of cast aluminum alloy. The weight of the gadget does not exceed 9kg. 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.
Key Features
| Print Technology | LCD | |
| Application | Home/DIY Professional | 30 mm/h |
Pros and cons
Ability to use photopolymer resins from any manufacturer, high polymer curing speed
Small work surface, slightly inferior to competitors in some parameters
9000bic Photon Scu0bic5 Anycu0bic04 5.
S. Photo: market-yandex.ru 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.
PAYSS A. Small worktop
6. ELEGOO Mars Pro
ELEGOO Mars Pro. Photo: market-yandex.ru This model is significantly different 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.
is convenient, low-level, low-level production, low-low-level. 7. Two Trees Bluer Two Trees Bluer. Photo: market-yandex.ru
This is one of the most popular home models of 3D printers. 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.
Pros and cons
Low price, easy and convenient to use
Lack of protection for the work surface, poor quality of spare parts
8. Wanhao Duplicator i3 Mini
Duplicator Mini i3. Photo: market-yandex.ru 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.
PLASS AND MINSSISE
Good price
LOOK ITUTURE AND SUPPORTION OF THE WORK WORKS, high probability of problems with a working coat
9000.RTILLIIS
Artillery Genius. Photo: market-yandex.ru 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.
Pros and cons
Spacious work surface, robust housing
Little functionality for a rather high price, lack of work surface protection, few functions on the control screen.
10. Tianfour Sparkmaker
Tianfour Sparkmaker. Photo: market-yandex.ruThis 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.
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.
Komsomolskaya Pravda 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 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.
The FDM method is ideal when prototypes are required that will be actively used and not 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.
