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Best 3D Printer for 2022
In this article:
- What to consider before buying a 3D printer
- Best 3D printers
- Best 3D printers for beginners
- Midrange 3D printers
- High-end and professional 3D printers
- 3D scanners
- 3D printing FAQs
In the last few years, 3D printing has become much more commonplace and accessible for hopeful hobbyists. No longer do you have to make a trip to your local university or library to print out 3D objects as inexpensive machines have started to offer fantastic results straight out of the box.
Because 3D printing technology has come a long way in recent years, I've doubled down on being creative and gotten into 3D scanning and laser cutting as well, which lets you sculpt real-world designs from leather and wood. Advanced makers are also using resin machines that create amazingly detailed prints.
Current 3D printers, which range from affordable (under $300) to high-end (over $4,000), are great gifts for a creative person in your life. Even better, they're great for you to craft your own personalized designs if you're looking to open an Etsy shop or something similar.
These models by Fotis Mint are extremely detailed.
James Bricknell/CNETWe've taken a deep dive into many of the best 3D printers available today. This list includes both small and large 3D printers, with attention paid to print speed, the size of the build plate, the cost of PLA filament, the kind of print head included and other important details. And once you've decided to take the plunge into additive manufacturing -- that's what 3D printing essentially is -- there's an FAQ below.
What to consider before buying a 3D printer
Purchasing your first 3D printer can be nerve-wracking but don't worry; we are here to help. There are a few main areas that you should consider when choosing the best 3D printer and we have them covered here.
What am I 3D printing?
When deciding on what 3D printer to buy you first have to know what type of things you want it to print. Resin 3D printing is good for highly detailed models such as character busts, dental work or tabletop miniatures. Even jewelry can be made using a resin 3D printer.
For almost every other application, an FDM, aka filament, 3D printer is likely the best choice. Filament 3D printing is versatile in the types of material you can use and offers much larger build volumes to work on models. Cosplay armor and helmets, practical parts and large-scale models are best printed on an FDM printer.
Read more: What Is 3D Printing?
What is build volume?
Build volume is the amount of space a printer has to produce a model. Often calculated in millimeters cubed, it is the combination of the width, height and depth that your printer's nozzle can reach. This is not always the same as the internal volume of a 3D printer because the wiring and other mechanical parts can get in the way of the nozzle, reducing the area available.
Most FDM printers have a build area of around 220 by 220 by 250mm, though some of the best 3D printers have larger and a few of the best budget 3D printers have smaller. I think the 220 by 220mm build plate is a good size for starting out as it has room for large, practical pieces or several smaller models at once.
Should I wait for a deal to buy a 3D printer?
3D printers are often available throughout the year at a discount price. Special days like Prime Day, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are great occasions to pick yourself up a new machine, but there are still plenty of deals to be had on a normal day. Make sure you stay fluid and choose your 3D printer deal based on the availability of the machine and what your research has told you is the best.
Best 3D printers
Dan Ackerman/CNET
Creality Ender-3 S1
Best 3D printer for beginners
I'd avoided Ender-3 printers for a long while, because they came in kit form and required many hours of assembly, setup and fine-tuning to use.
For just a little more than the kit versions, the newer Ender-3 S1 comes nearly fully preassembled, and with high-end features like a direct drive extruder and self-leveling bed.
Print quality even out-of-the-box was excellent, although a lot of that comes down to having good models to work from. I'd love it to have a touchscreen and Wi-Fi, but apart form those missing features, this is a great way to get polished results from a $400 3D printer.
Read our Creality Ender-3 S1 review.
$399 at Amazon
$340 at Creality3d
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Prusa Mk3S Plus
The standard candle for home 3D printing
No best 3D printer list is really complete without the Prusa MK3S Plus.
For nearly a decade it has dominated the market and continues to be the go-to printer for anyone looking to make a business from 3D printing. It is fast and creates quality prints every time. I can count the number of print fails from MK3 on one hand, and I have had it for nearly seven years. If you have the $800, you should buy one of these.
$800 at Prusa Research
James Bricknell/CNET
AnkerMake M5
Speed and quality combined
The AnkerMake M5 is a new breed of 3D printer. Its speed is unrivaled on this list and the quality of the end product is on par with anything I've seen. When you can get this quality level in a 3D print job in around half the time of its closest competitor, it's hard to recommend anything else for someone with the money to buy one.
Read our AnkerMake 5 review.
$799 at AnkerMake
Dan Ackerman/CNET
Anycubic Vyper
Best for out-of-the-box printing
The Anycubic Vyper FDM printer attempts to be both an affordable 3D printer and easy to use.
It's a tricky needle to thread. Plenty of 3D printers offer automatic bed leveling and calibration to make sure prints come out even and firmly anchored to the print bed. This, however, is the first time I've seen a 3D printer run its bed leveling once, with zero manual input from me, and be totally good to go. I printed a 3D test file from the included SD card within minutes of powering on, and I've never seen a first print from a 3D printer come out so perfectly.
Read our Anycubic Vyper review.
$359 at Anycubic
Anycubic
Anycubic Kobra Max
Best to make big projects easily
The Anycubic Kobra Max earned a 9 out of 10 in our recent review, in large part because it's one of the most enjoyable printers I've used in years. The build area is large enough to print entire helmets for cosplay, and the auto-bed-leveling system makes setting the machine up a breeze.
The Kobra Max is the best choice for a large build area printer, bar none.
Read our Anycubic Kobra Max review.
$529 at Anycubic
Best 3D printers for beginners
These 3D printers are excellent for anyone just starting out in 3D printing. Check out our expanded list of the best budget 3D printers for more in this category.
Prusa Research
Prusa Mini Plus
Small but mighty
The Mini Plus is one of the best small-footprint printers you can buy. It has everything you would expect from a Prusa machine: Auto bed leveling, crash detection and great print quality, all for under $450. Building it with my son gave us a lot of good insights into how a 3D printer works, and potentially how to fix one.
$429 at Prusa Research
Sarah Tew/CNET
Anycubic Mono
Best inexpensive resin 3D printer
Resin printers are the next step up in rapid prototyping design technology when you want your printing to look as high quality as possible.
Just be warned: The liquid resin is harder to work with, and it requires both good ventilation and a portable UV light to properly cure. This model is extremely popular with board game hobbyists who want to print pro-looking miniatures, and sometimes you'll see it fall in price. Note that you can save $20 at Amazon by activating the instant coupon on the product page.
$250 at Amazon
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Monoprice Mini Delta V2
Best for tiny desks
I had high hopes for this dirt-cheap 3D printer with a tiny footprint. It's usually under $200 and requires no additional assembly. And I do like it, but it's for a specific audience.
This is not the great low-cost entry-level printer I was hoping for. It required some tweaking and troubleshooting to get up and running. The included microSD card was so cheap and corrupted it never worked, the built-in Wi-Fi was never able to connect to my network, and the machine's arms got caught on some poorly installed plastic wire covers (I just ripped the paper-thin covers off).
But once I had all the problems ironed out, it was a reliable little machine for quick jobs. It would make a great second 3D printer, or if you need to fit one into a small space. I especially liked the auto-leveling, which worked well, and the color touchscreen, which is a feature that often gets chopped from low-cost models. If you're willing to put a little effort into getting it set up correctly, it's a great printer for the price.
$180 at Amazon
Midrange 3D printers
James Bricknell/CNET
Elegoo Saturn 2
The best resin experience right now
The Elegoo Saturn 2 is an almost perfect upgrade from the original Saturn.
It is bigger and more powerful, with better quality prints than its predecessor and my No. 1 choice for a midrange resin 3D printer. If you are looking to print serious details or a lot of tiny models, this is simply the best choice. It's $671 on Amazon, but you can get it for $60 off when you apply a coupon at checkout.
$671 at Amazon
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James Bricknell/CNET
Flashforge Adventurer 4
Best 3D printer for ease of use
The Flashforge Adventurer 3 has long been one of CNET's favorite midprice 3D printers. The updated Adventurer 4 brings a handful of iterative improvements that make for a winning evolution. The Adventurer 4 is a fully enclosed unit, which helps control the temperature and block drafts.
The build area is 220 by 200 by 250mm, and it has a system for easily swapping out nozzles -- all good features to have in a mid-level to high-end printer.
$849 at Walmart
$749 at Amazon
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High-end and professional 3D printers
Creality
Creality CR-30
Best for small biz or pro cosplayers
A word of warning; the CR-30 is not for the beginners out there. It is a complicated machine, and you will need some 3D-printing knowledge to really get the hang of it. It's also a very different beast, and instead of printing on a static-sized build plate, it uses a conveyor belt to create an "endless Z-axis." That lets you print very long things or lots of things over and over again.
If you are a cosplayer looking to make weapons or large armor pieces, the CR-30 gives you a lot of room to create.
I've managed to print Squall's Gunblade from Final Fantasy VIII as well as the Whisper of the Worm from Destiny 2 (both were printed in two halves and attached together). It's great for small businesses looking to mass-produce small parts, and with just two CR-30s you could create a small empire on Etsy or Shopify. --James Bricknell
$982 at Amazon
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Sarah Tew/CNET
Glowforge 3D Laser Cutter
Best for woodworkers
I can't begin to tell you how much I love the Glowforge. Laser cutters can create projects from wood, leather, lucite and other materials, making it an interesting creation alternative to filament-based 3D printers. Even better, what would take a 3D printer hours to do takes just minutes in the Glowforge.
With it, I've created laser-etched LED lights, birch wood tool caddies, and even a three-tier box for my Nespresso sleeves.
There's a robust community of makers creating and sharing files, but pretty much any line drawing you can create in something like Adobe Illustrator can be turned into a project.
The software is all cloud-based, which adds a layer of complication (you need internet service to use it), but the ability to create amazing gifts and more from simple 0.125-inch or 0.25-inch cheap plywood is pretty empowering.
See some of my laser cutter projects (and download my SVG files) here.
$3,995 at Glowforge (Glowforge Basic)
$4,995 at Glowforge (Glowforge Plus)
3D scanners
Revopoint
Revopoint Pop 2
Incredible details
While the software has a pretty steep learning curve, the end result is extremely detailed. I've really enjoyed using the handheld version to scan larger models while the included turntable makes scanning smaller objects a breeze.
If you are looking for a professional-grade scanner and can spend some time on the software, the Pop 2 is a great choice.
$689 at Amazon
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Sarah Tew/CNET
SOL Desktop Laser 3D Scanner
Best 3D scanner for easy replicas
Recreate pretty much anything by putting it on this 3D scanner, where a rotating base and built-in camera create a 360-degree copy, which is then editable in any 3D program and printable on your 3D printer. Simply scan the object, import the scan into your slicing software for cleanup, and print. The included software alerts you of next steps in the printing process with either sound or texts. Scan quality and print resolution are great, and setup is easy, although you might want to clean up your 3D model a bit in a 3D software app after.
$799 at Amazon
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3D printing FAQs
What material should I use to print with?
Most home 3D printers use PLA or ABS plastic.
Professional printers can use all sorts of materials, from metal to organic filament. Some printers use a liquid resin, which is much more difficult to handle. As a beginner, use PLA. It's nontoxic, made mostly of cornstarch and sugarcane, handles easily and is inexpensive. However, it's more sensitive to heat, so don't leave your 3D prints on the dashboard of a car on a hot day.
Which brand of PLA is best?
Generally speaking, Hatchbox has never let me down and runs about $25 for a full 1kg spool on Amazon. Some of the printers I tested only accommodate narrower 0.5kg spools. In those cases, I sometimes used a larger Hatchbox roll with a separate spool-holder. Other times, I had good luck with AIO Robotics 0.5kg spools, which are a little more expensive, at $14 for 0.5kg. Amazon Basics and Monoprice can also be good, but for any brand, weird colors like metallic or glow-in-the-dark filament can be hit-or-miss. Note that a 1kg roll prints a lot of stuff.
What settings should I use?
Most 3D printers include or link to recommended software, which can handle converting 3D STL or other files into formats supported by the printer.
Stick with the suggested presets to start, with one exception. I've started adding a raft, or bottom layer of filament, to nearly everything I print. It has cut down dramatically on prints that don't adhere to the bed properly, which is a common issue. If you continue to have problems, rub a standard glue stick on the print bed right before printing.
What are supports?
Your 3D models probably need some help to print properly, as these printers don't do well with big overhangs -- for example, an arm sticking out from a figure. Your 3D printer software can usually automatically calculate and add supports, meaning little stands that hold up all those sticking-out parts of the model. After the print is done, clip the supports off with micro cutters and file down any nubs or rough edges with hobby files.
Where do I find things to print?
Thingiverse.com is a huge online repository of 3D files for anything and everything you can think of. Pokemon chess set? It's there.
Dyson vacuum wall mount? You bet.
When you're ready to create your own designs, there are a ton of software packages to choose from, but it's easiest to start with the browser-based free TinkerCad app from Autodesk.
Crazy things I've made on a 3D printer
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Free DXF file Box for Costco UK Cling Film・3D printer design to download・Cults
Another Hinged Box
Free
3-tier box
Free
Best 3D printer files of the Home category
Bunny with tea light - Bunny with Tea light
€0.
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Box Equality for women
€3
Bottle Holder "Arc"
Free
Spool catnip planter
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Pegboard mount Headphones or Ear protection
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Small rake
Free
Vase ROMI
€0.50
Venezzia
€1.25
Best sellers of the category Home
Wolf Coat Rack
€2.17
Cute Hairy Shaky Santa print in place without supports
€2.35
Samurai Incense Holder
€2.39
Snowman in underwear
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Kawaii Dim Sums in a Cute Basket
€1.52
Venus and Aphrodite
€3.60
Trash can with swing lid
€3.20
HAIRY FLEXI GNOME TO PRINT IN PLACE
€2.35
Wall shelf “Tinder Fungus”
€2.40
Christmas gnome decor COMBO PACK - Crex
€4.94 -45% €2.72
Fast-Print Gift/Storage Boxes - The Ultimate Collection (Vase Mode)
€5.73 -20% €4.59
Wall shelf “Amanita Fungus”
€2.
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Notebook
€2.60
Articulated Christmas tree in underwear
€2.35
Fast-print modular storage drawer system
€5.73
Santa Legs Christmas Candy Bowl (Support Free)
€2.82
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US economy secrets: food, clothing, medicine, leisure
American cities consistently occupy the top positions in the ranking of the most expensive cities in the world. The cost of living in the United States is high despite seeming affordability. Unstable world politics and the depreciation of the ruble have led to the fact that for many a tourist trip to America has become incredibly expensive. How to go on a trip and not spend a lot of money? We talk about the secrets of saving in the USA, which will be useful not only for travelers, but also for those who plan to settle in the country for a long time.
nine0003
US Savings Secrets: Groceries
There are many chain grocery stores in the US, and each has its own policy. Among the largest and most popular are Walmart, Publix, Wholefoods, Aldi, Costco. Their assortment is different, but the main food products are not much different.
Supermarkets are designed for different audiences: Publix and Wholefoods - for more affluent and demanding customers, for the thrifty - Walmart and Aldi. The most affordable of them is Aldi.
Walmart and Aldi have regular sales. You can find out about discounts and great offers on the websites of stores and through their branded booklets. nine0003
Coupons for products are extremely common in the USA. They are sent by mail, printed in special booklets and on product packaging, distributed in the store, published on the website. Using manufacturer coupons in conjunction with store promotions, you can get many products for free! Understanding this system and calculating sales days and coupon expiration dates will take time, but it's worth it.
In any case, using coupons is beneficial.
Costco - a wholesale store, you can get there only with a club card, which is sold in the store itself. But if you have friends who own the card, you can buy products in bulk with them without spending money and time on formalities. Buying in bulk is much cheaper. But before going to the store, you should think about what exactly you need in large quantities and where to store so many products. nine0003
Under the US Consumer Protection Act, a customer can return an item they don't like to the store within 30 (sometimes 90) days. You can also return food if something was not to your taste or did not meet the expiration date and quality (which rarely happens in America). Even if the check has not been preserved, the money for the bitten and disliked cake will be returned to the buyer.
Clothes
Thrifty Americans buy clothes at Ross. This is a supermarket of clothes and shoes, household goods; you can also buy perfumes, cosmetics and children's accessories there.
Prices here are much lower than in branded stores, and goods are presented by all brands: from "luxury" to budget. nine0003
If the financial situation leaves much to be desired, you can buy clothes for the whole family in second-hand stores, for example, GoodWill. The trick is that in stores of this kind you can find absolutely new things. The prices here are very low, you can get dressed literally for 3-5 dollars.
The best deals in America are during sales periods, which usually coincide with public holidays and the changing seasons. Prices at this time are reduced to 70-90%.
US Savings Secrets: Private Announcements
Craigslist - Internet portal for private listings for buying, selling, renting and more. There is a “Gift” section where people give away various things for free: from diapers to electronics and furniture. If you wish, you can get everything you need absolutely free of charge, for example, a car seat or beach accessories. Here you can also find rental housing directly from the owner for the holidays much cheaper than through an agency.
Garage Sale
Selling unwanted items in your yard is a common practice in America. People here buy a lot of goods that, sometimes, the previous owners did not even use.
As a rule, in front of the house where the trade takes place, there are signs with the corresponding announcement. So anyone can drop in and make a bargain. These sales are often advertised on Craigslist.
It is also a common practice to leave things that the owners do not need on the side of the house. It's not always rubbish. It can be working TVs, sofas, toys, garden furniture. "Things on the Roadside" is also announced via Craigslist. nine0003
US Black Friday Savings Secrets
Black Friday is the beginning of the US Christmas sales; It's the fourth Friday in November. Most stores offer discounts of up to 90% on all types of goods, including the latest electronics and home appliances. The only negative is the huge number of people who want to make a bargain.
Therefore, many-kilometer queues line up at some stores from the night.
Medical
The hospital finance department makes significant discounts for uninsured self-paying patients. But don't skimp on health insurance. If necessary, it will pay off with interest - the services of doctors in America are very expensive. nine0003
US Savings Secrets: Libraries
Libraries in the United States are modern leisure centers equipped with:
- computers
- internet
- office equipment (a 3D printer is available to library visitors in one of the cities in Florida)
- children's games and a huge amount of literature.
All this can be used absolutely free of charge. Libraries hold free activities for both children and adults. nine0003
Leisure
America is famous for its museums and various entertainment centers, there are a lot of them. The ticket price is usually low, but if you go with the whole family, entertainment prices can hit your pocket.
