Mini handheld 3d printer

The 8 Best Mini 3D Printers 2022 (ALL Price Ranges!)

Advances in 3D printing have created more accurate and faster 3D printers that are smaller and cheaper than ever before, leading to the current range of mini 3D printer options that can fit on your desktop. Many of these affordable 3D printers cost just a few hundred dollars, take up little space, and can produce fantastically accurate plastic parts.

Therefore, we’ve ranked some of the best small 3D printers around, listing their main advantages, so you can choose which best suits your 3D printing needs.

If you’re a beginner to 3D printing, you may also want to check out our guide to the best 3D printers for beginners
We also have a ranking of the best 3D printers for kids
We also have a ranking of the best resin 3D printers

Best Mini 3D printers

Name	Build Volume(mm)	Price	Where to buy	Alternative purchase option
LABISTS Mini X1	100 x 100 x 100	$150	Amazon here
Monoprice Select Mini V2	120 x 120 x 120	$219	Amazon here
Monoprice Mini Delta	110 x 110 x 120	$190	Amazon here
Flashforge Finder / Finder Lite	140 x 140 x 140	$250 / $299	Finder Lite on Amazon here	Finder on Amazon here
Elegoo Mars 2 Pro	115 x 65 x 150	$250	Elegoo here	Amazon here
Flashforge Adventurer 3 / 3 Lite	150 x 150 x 150	$369 / $449	Amazon here	3DJake UK & Europe
XYZprinting Da Vinci Mini W+	150 x 150 x 150	$209	Amazon here
Prusa Mini	180 x 180 x 180	$39	Prusa Store here

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Best Mini 3D printers (under 150mm cubed build volume)

LABISTS Mini X1 3D printer — Smallest 3D printer in the world?

Small 3D printer price: $140 — Available on Amazon here
Build volume: 100 x 100 x 100 mm
Print speed: 40mm/s

The complete miniature 3D printer and a great 3D printer for kids to try out 3D printing, the LABISTS Mini 3D printer is tiny, basic, and cheap.

With a tiny 3D printing volume of just 100 x 100 x 100 mm it can fit almost anywhere, and the lack of an enclosure makes it even easier to fit in even the most crowded households. Though a 3D printer kit, the LABISTS Mini X1 3D printer comes in just a few parts, and shouldn’t take more than a few minutes to get print-ready if you follow their assembly video shown below.

Despite the tiny size and low price, the Mini X1 3D printer offers up to 50-micron accuracy and surprisingly smooth surface finish, though it can only print PLA.

It comes with some PLA filament to get you started, and with the simple interface and lack of complex features, is an ideal 3D printer for beginners and kids to get acquainted with 3D printing. It comes with its own easy-to-use 3D slicer, and is also famed for being quiet — able to print at under 60db.

This could quite possibly be the smallest 3D printer you can buy commercially, so if you’re just dipping your toe into 3D printing, this could be the one for you.

Monoprice Select Mini V2 — Mini Monoprice 3D printer

Mini 3D printer price: $219 — Available on Amazon here
Build volume: 120 x 120 x 120 mm
Print speed: 55m/s

The Monoprice Select Mini V2 is another popular mini 3D printer by successful technology manufacturer Monoprice, and an effective yet portable 3D printer priced at just $200. It’s the ideal entry level 3D printer, coming with no fancy extra features. You just get the printer, some filament to get you started, and some pre-installed 3D printer models.

To download your own 3D printer models, check out our list of the best sites for STL files

We recommend the Select Mini V2 for producing small parts such as 3D printing 28mm miniatures or other tiny 3D prints. It’s not well suited for larger parts, but for those you should check out our large 3D printer ranking or our yearly best 3D printer recommendations.

Overall, the Select Mini V2 is a versatile, compact 3D printer that surprisingly can still print materials like ABS, PVA and wood filament; and for the price tag, is a fantastic introductory 3D printer.

Monoprice Mini Delta — delta mini 3D printer

Mini 3D printer price: $180 — Available on Amazon here
Build volume: 110 x 110 x 120 mm
Print speed: up to 150mm/s

With a small 3D printing build volume of just 110 x 110 x 120 mm, the Monoprice Mini Delta really lives up to its name as a mini printer. The Monoprice Mini Delta is the only delta 3D printer on our small 3D printer buyer’s guide, allowing it to print very fast for such a compact machine, at up to 150mm/s. It is almost certainly the fastest 3D printer in its size range.

Despite the low weight and high speed, this small home 3D printer is built to be sturdy and durable: the aluminium and steel frame anchors it down to ensure print quality is precise and prevent any vibrations from affecting your model’s surface finish.

The Mini Delta is a tiny 3D printer but still features a heated bed, so 3D printing ABS and other filaments should be no problem with the right print settings.

The Monoprice Mini Delta is also very precise, at up to 50 microns, and unlike most delta printers comes fully assembled rather than as a 3D printer kit. As a result, it’s a great 3D printer for beginners, and extremely simple to operate and print with – you can even print via WiFi, a rare feature on small, inexpensive printers.

Flashforge Finder / Finder Lite

Price: Finder Lite = $250 — Available on Amazon here / Finder = $299 — Available on Amazon here
Europe: Available on 3DPrima Europe here
Build volume: 140 x 140 x 140 mm

The original Flashforge Finder was a big success, becoming as highly rated as the best-selling Creator Pro. The new Finder Lite has the same tiny 140 x 140 x 140 mm build volume, but has costs $50 less due to the lack of WiFi 3D printing feature.

The Flashforge Finder Lite is built to be quiet, can print PLA, TPU and copper PLA, and comes with a few popular 3D printer models to get you started on your 3D printing journey. Flashforge’s patented nozzle has been upgraded, and the feeder tube and extruder have been improved to prevent jams and improve your prints’ surface finish.

The Lite version comes with all the latest features you have come to expect from a small 3D printer costing around $300, including auto leveling and calibration, a large 3.5 inch touchscreen, and a removable build platform which makes removing your printed models easier than ever. Overall, it is another great mini 3D printer for those with little space or those who just want to start small.

Elegoo Mars 2 Pro — great small 3D printer (for resin)

Mini 3D printer price: $250 — Available at Elegoo store here / Available on Amazon here
Build volume: 115 x 65 x 150 mm
Print speed: 22. 5mm/hour

The original Elegoo Mars is one of the best-selling resin 3D printers of the last few years, and now Elegoo have released the Mars 2 Pro, with a number of key upgrades.

Though a good build size for an LCD 3D printer, most desktop makers creating tabletop miniature 3D prints would still consider the build volume small, especially compared to FDM printers.

Several key upgrades are built into the Elegoo Mars 2 Pro, including improved precision via the improved Z-axis linear guide-way structure, leading to smoother layers with less obvious layer lines. The Mars Pro is also made safer by the silicone seal that can be placed on the printer’s cover to prevent any resin leaking, which could otherwise cause safety issues.

It’s a lightweight and compact 3D printer that can produce tiny 3D prints with extraordinary accuracy – our best 3D printer for miniatures guide recommends it too – and ideal for those who want precise parts and have the skills to handle a resin printer.

Read our full review: Elegoo Mars 2 Pro review and testFrom our Elegoo Mars 2 Pro unboxing and testing

Flashforge Adventurer 3 / 3 Lite

Price: $369 for Adventurer 3 Lite — Available at Flashforge here / Available on Amazon here
Adventurer 3 price: $449 — Available at Flashforge here / Available on Amazon here
Build volume: 150 x 150 x 150 mm
Print speed: best at around 50mm/s

A reliable mini 3D printer with a closed build chamber, the Flashforge Adventurer 3 Lite is for those who don’t mind spending a bit extra (as compared with the Mini Delta or Maker Select) for better print conditions and better ABS 3D printing.

With a minimum layer height of 50 microns, it’s perfect for 3D printing miniatures and other small models. The closed chamber means that ABS and other filaments will warp less, and all these extras come in a compact 3D printer costing under $500.

The 150 x 150 x 150 mm build volume is small, but we would not consider this a tiny 3D printer – most day-to-day projects should be printable with ease, or can be broken up into a few separate prints and stuck together. The nozzle is easily switchable, for example if you want to print faster with a larger nozzle, and overall it is a reliable and low-cost small 3D printer with a closed chamber for effective 3D printing.

It’s $80 cheaper than the Adventurer 3, with the only noticeable differences is that the Lite version doesn’t have the HD camera that the Adventurer 3 has. It’s your choice whether this affects your choice, but we’ve included links to both above to make things easier for you.

XYZprinting Da Vinci Mini W+ — good small 3D printer under $300

Small 3D printer price: $209 — Available on Amazon here
Build volume: 150 x 150 x 150 mm
Print speed: maximum 120mm/s

XYZprinting not only make some of the most popular small FDM 3D printers around, but are also famed for their industrial 3D printers, including their MfgPro230 xS SLS 3D printer. Their most successful small-scale 3D printer, the Da Vinci Mini, is inexpensive, simple to use, and reliable – you can trust it to get the job done.

With a precision of 100 microns for each layer printed, you can be sure of a quality 3D print even for the low price. It can print PLA and PETG and can also be upgraded to 3D print metallic and carbon PLA blends with XYZ’s hardened steel nozzle.

A major advantage is WiFi printing, a feature that not many mini 3D printers have, saving time and hassle from continuously removing and inserting SD cards and USBs from your laptop to the printer. The Da Vinci Mini 3D printer’s ability to level itself makes it perfect for beginners looking to start small, and overall it’s a great introductory printer – though be careful as it is very difficult to use third party filaments, so you may be restricted to XYZprinting’s own-brand PLA.

Best Small 3D printers (under 200mm cubed)

Prusa Mini — best small 3D printer

Price: $399 — Available on Prusa Store here
Build volume: 180 x 180 x 180 mm

The Prusa MK3S+ is too large to consider for a small 3D printer ranking, but the Prusa Mini 3D printer offers most of the benefits, in a smaller package.

With a 180 x 180 x 180 mm max build volume, it’s a portable 3D printer that can fit on most desktops, but it can still calibrate itself, with the same 0.05mm precision that the MK3S+ has.

Some differences are that the Prusa Mini needs to be upgraded to have the filament sensor, and it can’t heat up to quite the same extruder temperatures. But you can still 3D print standard PLA and ABS, as well as PETG, flexibles and ASA.

The Mini comes with Prusa’s own PrusaSlicer 3D slicer, and if you run into any problems, you can speak with Prusa’s support team 24/7. Overall, it’s a great lower cost RepRap 3D printer for great quality, reliable prints at a lower price.

If you liked this ranking, you may also want to view:

Our guide to the best FDM 3D printers
Our guide to the best dual extruder 3D printers
Our guide to the best large scale 3D printers
Our 3D pen buyer’s guide

The Best Cheap 3D Printers for 2022

While we'd hesitate to call 3D printing a mature technology, you might say it has reached its teenage years. Through their first decade-and-change, 3D printers have come down in price, grown easier to set up and operate, and become more reliable. And you may pay less than you expect: Many once-high-end features have migrated down to inexpensive models.

PC Labs has been reviewing 3D printers since 2013. Today, the state of 3D printing is strong, but that wasn’t always the case. For the first several years, it was often an adventure getting one of these printers up and running, let alone successfully through our testing regimen. Issues with filament-based—aka fused filament fabrication (FFF) or fused deposition modeling (FDM)—printers were abundant.

Filament feeders had to be coaxed into delivering filament from the spool to the extruder. Print beds had to be manually aligned. The extruder or hot end had to be positioned just right to minimize the gap between the nozzle and the build plate (the flat surface on which the object is printed). Objects frequently stuck to the build plate, and required careful, sometimes unsuccessful, efforts to pry them off. These and other issues required painstaking effort to resolve, often combined with calls to tech support.

Not so much anymore. While they can still be rebellious at times, 3D printers have grown up a lot, and achieving the 3D printer basics has gotten a lot less likely to end in a shouting match over small things. And they've gotten a lot more affordable, too, for curious DIY-ers and hobbyists to try.

If you're in the market for a beginner or low-cost 3D printer, it's important to know how lower-end models differ. Read on for mini-reviews of the top budget 3D printers we've tested. After that, we go into more detail on understanding the 3D printer specs and tech relevant to beginning buyers. Ready to take the plunge? Read on.

Original Prusa Mini

Best Overall Budget 3D Printer

4.5 Outstanding

Bottom Line:

It requires assembly and calibration care (plus shipping from the Czech Republic), but the Original Prusa Mini is a compact, open-frame 3D printer that consistently produces superb-quality output for a great price.

PROS

Top-notch object quality
Supports a variety of filament types
Useful, professionally printed user guide
Great support resources
Versatile, user-friendly software

CONS

First-layer calibration can be tricky
Only includes starter packets of filament
Requires monitoring if young children or pets are around

Sold By	List Price	Price
Prusa Research	$399.00	$399.00	See It (Opens in a new window)

Read Our Original Prusa Mini Review

XYZprinting da Vinci Mini

Best Budget 3D Printer for Schools, Community Centers

4.0 Excellent

Bottom Line:

The XYZprinting da Vinci Mini is a consumer-oriented 3D printer that provides a winning combination of low price, ease of setup and use, solid print quality, and smooth, misprint-free operation.

PROS

Very low price.
Reasonably priced filament.
Good print quality.
No misprints in testing.
Easy setup and operation.
Quiet.
Prints over a USB or Wi-Fi connection.

CONS

Occasional problems in trying to launch prints.
Removing printed objects from the print bed is sometimes tricky.

Sold By	List Price	Price
Walmart	$199.95	$199.95	See It (Opens in a new window)
Amazon	$199.95	$199.95	See It (Opens in a new window)

Read Our XYZprinting da Vinci Mini Review

Toybox 3D Printer

Best Budget 3D Printer for Children

4.0 Excellent

Bottom Line:

The Toybox 3D Printer works well as a model designed for children, offering reliable printing from a browser or mobile device and a few thousand toys to print, plus creative options to output drawings or photos. Just bear in mind the tiny build area.

PROS

Reliable, misprint-free printing
Easy setup
One-touch operation
Well-composed help resources
Access to more than 2,000 printable toys and projects
Lets you create your own printable designs

CONS

Tiny build area
Not ideal for importing 3D files created elsewhere

Sold By	List Price	Price
Amazon	$299.00	$299.00	See It (Opens in a new window)
Toybox Labs	$379.00	$299.00	See It (Opens in a new window)

Read Our Toybox 3D Printer Review

Monoprice Mini Delta V2 3D Printer

Best Budget 3D Printer for Beginners, Non-Techies

4.0 Excellent

Bottom Line:

3D printing gurus will be intrigued by the Monoprice Mini Delta V2's use of the delta rather than Cartesian coordinate system, but beginners will just enjoy its low price, ease of use, and speedy printing.

PROS

Sub-$200 price
Quick, nearly misprint-free printing
Easy setup and operation
Sturdy steel-and-aluminum frame
Supports multiple filament types

CONS

Tiny build area
So-so print quality
Mere one-year warranty

Sold By	List Price	Price
Amazon	$179.99	$179.99	See It (Opens in a new window)

Read Our Monoprice Mini Delta V2 3D Printer Review

Anycubic i3 Mega S

Best Budget 3D Printer With an Open Design, Big Build Area

3.5 Good

Bottom Line:

The Anycubic i3 Mega S, an inexpensive open-frame 3D printer, produced decent-quality prints in our testing. To get the most out of it, though, may require precise calibration.

PROS

Modestly priced
Large build area for an inexpensive printer
Supports a variety of filament types
Generally solid print quality
Uses well-known Cura software

CONS

Finicky print-platform alignment
Supported coils of filament are small
Poorly placed spool holder

Sold By	List Price	Price
Amazon	$229. 98	$229.98	Check Stock (Opens in a new window)
AnyCubic	$279.00	$279.00	Check Stock (Opens in a new window)

Read Our Anycubic i3 Mega S Review

Anycubic Vyper

Best Budget 3D Printer for the Biggest Build Area Possible

3.5 Good

Bottom Line:

Anycubic's modestly priced Vyper whips up large 3D prints on its open-frame design, and provides automatic print-bed leveling. Just know that some minor assembly is required—and printed objects may require a bit of cleanup.

PROS

Relatively large build area
Automatic bed leveling
Simple assembly

CONS

Short (one-year) warranty
Includes only a small starter filament coil
Using Cura software with the Vyper requires tweaking a couple of settings
Test prints showed some "hairy" filament residue

Sold By	List Price	Price
Amazon	$429. 99	$429.99	See It (Opens in a new window)
AnyCubic	$369.00	$319.00	See It (Opens in a new window)

Read Our Anycubic Vyper Review

Creality Ender-3 V2

Best Budget 3D Printer for Tinkerers and DIY Types

3.5 Good

Bottom Line:

Hands-on tweaking defines Creality's budget-price Ender-3 V2, an open-frame 3D printer that you build from a kit. It produces generally above-par prints, but its print bed can be tricky to keep leveled.

PROS

Inexpensive
Slightly above-average print quality
Good-size build area for its price
Supports several filament types

CONS

Manual print-bed leveling can be tricky
Setup instructions could be deeper, more legible
Questionable quality control on some parts

Sold By	List Price	Price
Amazon	$299. 00	$246.00	See It (Opens in a new window)

Read Our Creality Ender-3 V2 Review

Flashforge Finder 3D Printer

Best 3D Printer for the Very Tightest Budgets

3.5 Good

Bottom Line:

The Flashforge Finder 3D Printer is moderately priced and offers good print quality, but it proved tricky to get up and running in our tests.

PROS

Quiet.
Good print quality.
Connects via USB 2.0 cable, USB thumb drive, or Wi-Fi.
Reasonably priced.

CONS

Some objects pulled off the platform during testing.
Poor documentation.
Modest build volume.
Limited to printing with polylactic acid filament (PLA).

Sold By	List Price	Price
Amazon	$729.00	$729.00	Check Stock (Opens in a new window)

Read Our Flashforge Finder 3D Printer Review

Polaroid PlaySmart 3D Printer

Best Budget 3D Printer for Dabbling in Small Objects

3. 5 Good

Bottom Line:

The Polaroid PlaySmart 3D Printer is a compact, stylish 3D printer with above-par overall print quality, but, alas, a tiny build area for the money.

PROS

Small, lightweight for a desktop 3D printer.
Easy to set up and use.
Supports PLA, PETG, and wood composite filaments.
Multiple-color support.
Wi-Fi camera monitors print jobs.
Prints from USB drives, SD cards, or mobile devices.

CONS

High price for its capabilities.
Small build area.
Too-brief warranty.

Sold By	List Price	Price
Amazon	$699.00	$699.00	See It (Opens in a new window)

Read Our Polaroid PlaySmart 3D Printer Review

XYZprinting da Vinci Jr. 1.0 A Pro

Best Budget 3D Printer With Closed Design, Roomy Build Area

3. 5 Good

Bottom Line:

The XYZprinting da Vinci Jr. 1.0 A Pro is a moderately priced closed-frame 3D printer with a large build volume and overall good performance, but a potentially balky filament-feeding system.

PROS

Spacious build area
Works with third-party filaments
Self-leveling print bed

CONS

Build plate is not heated
Limited to PLA- and PETG-based filaments
Guide tube is prone to detaching

Sold By	List Price	Price
Amazon	$299.95	$199.95	See It (Opens in a new window)
Best Buy	$449.95	$449.95	Check Stock (Opens in a new window)

Read Our XYZprinting da Vinci Jr. 1.0 A Pro Review

Monoprice Voxel 3D Printer

Best Budget 3D Printer for Cheap Filament

3. 0 Average

Bottom Line:

The Monoprice Voxel is an under-$400 3D printer that's easy to set up and use. It exhibits generally good print quality, but it was unable to print two of our test objects.

PROS

Easy to set up and use.
Budget price for printer and filament spools.
Supports PLA, ABS, and several composite filament types.
Versatile software.
Prints over Ethernet or Wi-Fi, or from a USB thumb drive.

CONS

Frequent misprints on certain test objects.
Slightly balky touch screen.

Sold By	List Price	Price
Amazon	$449.99	$369.26	See It (Opens in a new window)
Walmart	$429.99	$369.26	See It (Opens in a new window)

Read Our Monoprice Voxel 3D Printer Review

Buying Guide: The Best Cheap 3D Printers for 2022

How to Buy a Cheap 3D Printer

The biggest changes to 3D printers over the last few years have come to the cheaper models. Nowadays, many of those classic, ornery 3D-printing issues have been resolved (most of the time, anyway), even for consumer and bargain-priced 3D printers. Automatic print-bed leveling is the norm, and you can usually remove 3D-printed objects from heated and/or flexible build plates with a minimum of coaxing. And most 3D printer manufacturers have either developed and refined their own software, or have adapted an open-source printing platform such as Cura(Opens in a new window).

(Credit: Zlata Ivleva)

What separates more expensive 3D printers from cheap ones ("cheap" defined as $500 or less, for the purposes of this article) is often a select group of features. These include the build volume, the type of frame, the varieties of supported filament, the software, and the connectivity mix. Let's run through those in turn.

What's the Right Build Volume for a 3D Printer?

A 3D printer’s build volume is the maximum dimensions (HWD) of a part that it can print. (We say “a part” because a 3D-printed object can consist of multiple parts that are printed, then glued or otherwise pieced together.) While the smallest build volume of any 3D printer we have tested is 3.9 by 3.9 by 4.9 inches, we consider any build volume smaller than 6 by 6 by 6 inches to be small, any between that and 10 by 10 by 10 inches as medium, and any printer with at least one build dimension of more than 10 inches as having a large build volume.

(Credit: Molly Flores)

As a general rule, inexpensive 3D printers have small build volumes, while more expensive ones have larger build volumes. This depends in part on the type of printer. Closed-frame 3D printers—and most semi-open models, which have a rigid top, base, and sides but are open in front and, often, back—tend to have small build volumes, while open-frame printers, lacking as rigid a physical structure, often have relatively large build volumes for the price. You'll want to weigh the build volume against the kinds of objects you will print.

Should I Get an Open-Frame or Closed-Frame 3D Printer?

Which brings us to the frame "form factor" question: open-frame versus closed-frame. Closed-frame 3D printers are boxlike devices, with a rigid base, walls (with a see-through door in front), and top. Among their advantages? They muffle the operating noise, as well as reduce the odor from melted filament (which is potentially an issue with ABS plastic), and they provide some protection for people or pets who might inadvertently touch the hot extruder. A downside: They tend to have smaller build volumes than open-frame 3D printers, which have fewer (often, no) walls to constrict them.

(Credit: Zlata Ivleva)

Low-cost 3D printers include both open-frame and closed-frame models, as well as a few stereolithography printers. If a relatively large build volume is a priority, you’re likely to get more bang for the buck with an open-frame model. Open-frames do have some clear downsides by definition: They tend to be noisy, emit odors when certain plastics are melted, and provide little protection for someone who might touch the hot extruder.

(Credit: Molly Flores)

Also, recognize some potential negatives of open frames, depending on the model. Some require assembly, being essentially kits, and most require more setup care than a closed-frame printer, plus more maintenance to keep them running smoothly. Still, these very traits should not deter—and may even appeal to—hobbyists and DIY folks.

What Should I Look for in 3D Printer Software and Connectivity?

Gone are the days when tinkerers had to cobble together several different programs to get a 3D printer to run. Manufacturers either include their own 3D printing program or modify an existing platform such as the open-source Cura.

3D printing software performs three main functions: processing an object file (resizing, moving, rotating, and in some cases duplicating it), slicing it (into virtual layers, based on your chosen resolution), and printing it. These are almost universally combined into a seamless process. Some high-end printers have software that supports a wider range of settings you can tweak, but even the basic suites work at least reasonably well.

More likely to vary among the cheaper set is the array of connection options from model to model. Nearly all have a USB Type-A port to fit a thumb drive for printing from document files. Most also have a USB Type-B port for connecting directly to a computer, and some offer Wi-Fi, too (or as an alternative), while a handful let you connect via Ethernet to share the printer across a local network.

Some printers support storing 3D files on an SD or microSD card (which may also contain the printer’s system files). Most 3D printer manufacturers (even the discount ones) have a mobile app to launch and monitor print jobs, and a few provide access to cloud services from which you can print.

While high-end 3D printers tend to have an abundance of connection choices, discount models vary widely in their choices. Some are generous and some are basic, so it pays to assess what a given model offers.

What Should I Look for in Filament Support?

Filament support tends to be a key area that separates the cheaper models from the higher-end ones. (See our guide to understanding 3D printing filaments for more particulars.) Inexpensive 3D printers tend to support a limited number of plastic filament types, some of them only PLA and/or ABS.

Recommended by Our Editors

3D Printing: What You Need to Know

3D Printer Filaments Explained

(Credit: Molly Flores)

PLA (polylactic acid) is a biodegradable, plant-based polymer, while ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) is the same tough plastic that Legos are made from. Objects printed from ABS are durable and nontoxic, though the material can be tricky to work with. ABS can emit an acrid, unpleasant odor during printing, and the bottom corners of objects being printed with it have a tendency to curl upward a bit, especially if you are using a non-heated print bed. This can lead to unsightly prints, and/or prints prematurely pulling off the build plate, ruining them.

Many entry-level and low-price 3D printers stick exclusively to PLA. If you want to experiment with a larger variety of filaments—which include water-soluble filament, wood- and metal-laced composites, and both tough and flexible varieties—you may have to pay more, although a few discount models support a wide range of materials.

Should I Consider a 3D Printing Pen Instead?

Although they aren’t printers per se, inexpensive 3D pens are close kin to 3D printers—using the same filament types and a similar extrusion system—and we include them in the 3D printing category. Rather than tracing out a programmed pattern, you use the 3D pen much like a normal pen, except that you draw with molten plastic. You can trace a pattern or draw freehand, and even draw in three dimensions as the plastic quickly solidifies and hardens once extruded.

(Credit: 3Doodler)

Most 3D pens cost less than $100, and some cost $50 or less. At a glance, 3D pens may appear to be toys, but some artists and craftspeople have taken to them, as it is possible to make quite complicated and beautiful objects with them. If your aim in 3D printing is something closer to freehand design and free expression than computer-centric, structured, and repeatable output, you might give one a try.

So, What Is the Best Cheap 3D Printer to Buy?

Buying a budget 3D printer needn’t mean a world of sacrifice. Plenty of capable and reliable models sell at less than $500, and while they may not be as feature-rich as their more expensive cousins, there's no sense in paying for things you don’t need.

Many casual 3D-printing experimenters will be fine with printing over a USB cable or from a thumb drive, and sticking to PLA may be the best choice for a starter 3D printer. If you focus just on the features you want, you may be pleasantly surprised at what you find. Below, check out a spec breakdown of the best under-$500 3D printers we have reviewed, paralleling our picks above. Also, for a look at the broader market, see our guide to our favorite 3D printers overall.

budget printers for beginners or technology to the masses / Habr

The moment has come that having a small desktop 3D printer at home is not at all expensive, and using it does not require deep knowledge of technology or printing experience. The store has several good models for less than $200 (!), which are suitable for novice users. All 3D printers can print with the popular and safe PLA plastic, which is odorless and the easiest to learn.

Many people have already used 3D printing services or at least heard about additive technologies. nine0003

Every year this technology becomes more and more accessible, and Gearbest also contributes to this by making personal 3D printers even more affordable: cheaper and with delivery from stock in the Russian Federation (!).

I'll start with a good 3D printer - E180 from Geeetech. Current value $219.

This copy was developed with crowdfunding and was a success in 2018. The 3D printer is equipped with a large touch screen, a Wi-Fi module with access from a smartphone and a special application, as well as a microSD card reader with an offline printing function. The E180 does not require a computer to operate and manage - a smartphone or tablet is enough. The pause of the press with saving of intermediate results is provided. You can change the filament or turn off/on the printer. In the event of a power failure, it is possible to continue from where it stopped. nine0003

The printer prints with special nozzles Geeetech 0.4 mm. The print working area is 130x130x130 mm. Positioning accuracy up to 25 microns, minimum print layer: 50 microns. The compact strict design allows you to use it at work or in the office. No protruding wires or exposed hot components!

The next budget contender is the IUM1 Portable 3D printer with a print area of 110 x 110 x 120 mm.

Present value $189. The printer has a compact design with a closed design. All moving parts are inside the case. The table is equipped with a special removable polymer plate to increase the adhesion of parts, the plate itself is on a magnetic base for quick removal after printing. The printer has a microSD card reader for printing without a computer, as well as a print pause (pause) function for changing the filament. You can print colored parts in layers. Nozzle 0.4 mm, minimum print layer 100 microns. The printer is compact, lightweight, closed - suitable for home use, at school or in the office. nine0003

Another interesting and inexpensive option is the NANO 3D printer from Easythreed.

Current value $159.99 with coupon GBACERU0117C . This is a "cube" printer with closed kinematics. The table is completely motionless, the print head “flies” over the model, which has a positive effect on the print quality. The nozzle is set to 0.4 mm, the minimum layer is 0.1 mm. Due to the interesting design, the print area is divided into 2 parts. The main one is 110x110x90 mm.

Pay attention to his "big brother" - EasyThreed ET4000. This is a larger cube printer. nine0003

The current price is $237.99 - a little more expensive, but the pluses are greater rigidity of the kinematics due to the increased number of guides, as well as the presence of a large touch screen for control. The size of the print area is 120x120x120 mm. The printing accuracy is increased, the available layer size starts from 50 microns. Nozzle too, 0.4 mm. The manufacturer provides protective glazing of the windows, which is very useful if the printer is accessible to children.

If you have the time and desire, you can assemble a 3D printer from the "constructor". One of the most popular build kits is the Alfawise EX8 3D printer kit. To date, this is the most budget option for home 3D printing. nine0003

Current price $145.99 including door-to-door delivery, actual parts price. Alfawise EX8 is made with the latest improvements for printers of this design. Installed two drives along the Z axis. Improved model airflow. The X carriage is reinforced. Alfawise EX8 is equipped with a direct feed extruder drive, which allows you to “feed” the printer any plastic: PLA, ABS, PETG, SBS, Flex, and so on ... The large graphic display makes it easy to control the printer, a print pause is provided, and the An SD card reader allows you to print offline. Table heating provided. The printer has the largest printable area of all listed: 220 x 220 x 240 mm. Minimum print layer: 100 microns. The nozzle is set to 0.4 mm, but it is possible to install any nozzle under the MK8 hotend. nine0003

For comparison, I add a fairly expensive branded printer: Tronxy C5.

This is an aluminum die-cut printer in a clean black design. Current value $330.99. The printer also has a direct feed (MK8) and a printable area of 210 x 210 x 210 mm. Available materials: ABS, HIPS, Nylon, PLA, PVC, Wood. Positioning accuracy 12 microns, minimum layer 50 microns. Nozzle 0.4 mm. Airflow of the model is provided. Rigid metal housing provides accurate printing and reduced parasitic vibrations during operation. nine0003

Update:
At the request of the comments, I add Creality3D Ender-3 DIY 3D Printer
Inexpensive pre-assembled printer for $199.99, the final assembly takes about half an hour - installing the portal to the base, plus connecting the electronics.

And a simple printer for a nominal fee.
Tronxy X1 Desktop 3D Printer available for $104.99 with GBTX123 coupon (limited supply).

In any case, all listed printers will be convenient for novice users. For slicing, programs like Cura, Slic3r, IdeaMaker and so on are used. For EasyThreed printers - E3D DORA branded slicer. All printers use 1.75mm PLA plastic. The last two may additionally use the other specified types. nine0003

If you have the desire and ability to print, you can look at interesting models in the public domain, for example, on thingiverse.com.

Mini cube factory. 3D printer, scanner, laser, engraver, photo table 5 in 1

RepRap

I am a beginner video maker and my channel is still quite young. I am engaged in my workshop, only for self-development! Construction and improvement of the workshop, 3D printing, carpentry, various CNC designs, handmade musical instruments and much more. nine0003

I start making a series of videos about my mini factory. The factory will include a 3D printer, a 3D scanner (aka a turntable for photos and videos), a laser, an engraver, 5 in 1. I only use models of my own design and production. I promise to make the design unique! I make models in the KOMPAS 3D 17 program. If anyone is interested, I will shoot separate videos on modeling in this program.

Building something by myself from scratch is not easy at all and it often leads to mistakes, but I like to cope with difficulties. nine0003

I shoot my videos in stages, in them you can learn some subtleties of building complex CNC, and in the end I will disassemble my design and shoot the complete assembly!

In the first video, I outlined the general concept (but it may change slightly during the assembly process, since I experiment a lot) Initially, I wanted to use different cells for different CNCs, but after that I decided that I would have a rotary in the first cell a table (with a scanner), and the other two will take a combined printer, laser and engraver with an area of 30 * 60 and I think it will be about 35 in height.