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Personal portable 3d printer


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 Check Stock (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 $279.99 $279.99 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 $339. 99 $339.99 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.

Best 3D Printer for 2023

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 

It's a brand new year, and what better time to pick up a new hobby? In the last few years, 3D printing has become much more commonplace and accessible for hopeful hobbyists. If you like miniatures, figurines and cosplay, 3D printing is an excellent vocation to take on. And there are a ton of great 3D printers you can buy and have in your home -- no trip to the library or store necessary.

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/CNET

We'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

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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

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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

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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.

$280 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

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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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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 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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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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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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iQB Technologies - the largest distributor of 3D solutions in Russia since 2006

iQB Technologies is the largest distributor of 3D solutions in Russia since 2006

  • We speed up the production of the foundry model of the impeller by 80%

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    Personal site - Overview of construction 3D printers.

    Overview of the most famous construction 3D printer projects.

    Construction 3D printing, one of the promising areas for the spread of space age technologies in the mass production and consumer environment. This is a technological innovation of the near future, directly related to the human living space.

    3D printing is one of the most common digital production technologies today. Production of products from a digital template, by the method of gradual growth directly from raw materials, bypassing the complex branching production chains inherent in modern industry. The so-called "additive manufacturing". This is potentially the main production method of the space age. Since additive manufacturing relies on lightweight universal production machines like 3D printers and lightweight "Micro workshops" that allow you to automatically assemble any finished products from parts. An additive manufacturing system can be relatively easily distributed quickly and cheaply in outer space. nine0140 The properties of the additive industrial system make it possible in the near future to actively industrialize extraterrestrial space. And to significantly transform the environment on earth, since the infrastructure of digital production costs much less and pays for itself faster than traditional production lines. Accordingly, along with its mass distribution, the growth of production will accelerate many times over. And along with production, the level of income of the population and the number of consumer goods that form the basis of the living space of modern people will grow. nine0043

    Now the mass distribution of additive manufacturing has not yet begun. Basically, due to the fact that modern digital production does not have all the necessary characteristics to become the basis of the industry, high quality, high speed, and low cost. Modern 3D printers have low productivity, and the products they produce are usually more expensive than traditional mass-produced products. Therefore, now, 3D printing is spreading mainly in the field of high technologies, as it justifies itself in the production of expensive, unique products. nine0043

    3D printing, can be used not only in manufacturing, but also in construction.
    In recent years, active research has begun in the field of 3D construction, which is mainly carried out by extruding thin jets of concrete, using construction printers, in automatic mode. And in this way, the gradual growth of walls, or other structures of buildings, is carried out layer by layer.
    In construction and building structure manufacturing, technology complexity and precision requirements are not high compared to manufacturing. And the current level of 3D printing technology fully meets the standards required for construction. Consequently, modern digital production technologies in the construction industry are ready for the start of mass distribution. nine0140 Now, the transition of construction 3D printing from experimental machines to serial production and mass construction begins. Construction printers appear on open sale, including, there are such machines in Russia.

    Construction printers do not fundamentally differ from their smaller brothers in production 3D printers, representing their larger constructive counterparts.
    Construction 3D printers come in three main designs. Portal, deltoid, and printer manipulators. nine0140 "Portal". Machines similar to household 3D printers. Resembling rail-mounted gantry cranes with a long frame positioned over a house under construction. Along the frame, the "Print head" (extruder), a device for supplying concrete, moves. Due to the synchronization of the movements of the frame along the rails, the head in width and height, and the supply of concrete, the print head extrudes concrete in layers, repeating the digital pattern embedded in the printer program.
    "Deltoidal" printers are also called "Three-Axis" printers that look like an inverted Greek letter "Delta", or an inverted tripod, consisting of three cables or rods that hold the print head. And a high frame, on top of which are fixed machines that control the supply of cables or rods. The print head moves by synchronously changing long cables or rods that repeat the pattern laid down in the program. nine0140 "Printers-manipulators" are structural analogues of mechanical arms - manipulators, consisting of several flexible joints, giving them greater mobility. Similar in appearance to modern welding robots that are on the conveyors of the automotive industry. With the difference that at the end of the manipulator printers, there is a print head for supplying concrete. Construction is carried out by repeating the movements of the manipulator and the solution supply device of the template embedded in the printer program. nine0140 All of the listed design schemes of building 3D types of printers have their own advantages and disadvantages. Thus, portal-type printers are large in size, and for their operation, it is necessary to pre-lay rails with high accuracy. Delta printers have a very simple design, and a minimum of moving parts, but also have large dimensions. Manipulator printers are very compact, easy to transport and easy to install at the construction site, but such machines are complex in design, high-tech, and, accordingly, expensive. On the other hand, the cost of manipulator printers can be greatly reduced with mass production, in which case they can outperform larger, portal printers due to lower material costs. nine0043

    3D construction is one of the most probable areas for the spread of 3D printing in the industry, due to the relatively low level of technology in the construction industry and at the same time its high financial turnover. In the construction industry, 3D printing technology wins in terms of cost-effectiveness.
    In the past few years, active experiments have been going on in the field of construction 3D printing, which, now, have led to the creation of the first serial samples. In the next few years, construction 3D printing is likely to enter the mass market and become widespread. nine0140 The widespread use of 3D printing in construction promises to bring with it high automation of construction processes, the utmost simplification of technological chains in the construction industry, a decrease in the share of manual labor in construction, as well as in the construction industry in general. And accordingly, to make construction much faster and cheaper, which will entail a significant reduction in the cost of building housing and various structures.

    Construction costs included in the prices of rent and the prices of various goods, due to the depreciation of industrial premises, warehouses and retail outlets, have a significant weight in the total share of expenses. The high cost of mortgage loans is one of the main sources of headache for modern people. High housing prices are one of the factors hindering the independence and mobility of people, especially the younger generation. They bind to family and personal ties, bind freedom of movement and personal mobility, fetter freedom of experimentation, freedom of choice, and thus hinder the development of progress. nine0043

    Living quarters are part of the human environment. Small patches of personal living space. If housing becomes cheaper, people's lives will become easier and freer in every respect. Along with the spread of digital production in construction, there will be an implementation of space age technologies and an increase in the quality of life, one of the main incentives for moving into a new era. And the formation of the space age habitat, the main pillar of the process of space expansion. nine0043

    Building 3D printing, after widespread adoption, could potentially be a bridge between mass digital construction and mass digital production. Since construction printing will outstrip production due to its simplicity. But it will attract large financial flows and investments in the field of 3D printing in general, and, accordingly, will stimulate the development of digital production in other industries, playing the role of "Locomotive".

    Below is a small overview of the most famous construction 3D printer projects. nine0140 Some of the modern construction 3D printers are already being mass-produced and are available on the open market. One of these machines is the printer of the Russian developer "Spetsavia" http://specavia.pro/, it is sold and available for use by construction companies.

    Discuss in the forum: http://cosmosclub.forum2x2.ru/t21-topic

    Construction printer project "Contour Crafting" "Contour Crafting". nine0379

    The University of Southern California Center for Automated Rapid Manufacturing Technologies, which designs Contour Crafting 3D construction printers, is headed by Professor "Beroq Khoshnevis", an American of Iranian origin.

    Berok Khoshnevis, one of the first experimenters and ideologists of building 3D printing. He started working on construction 3D printers in the nineties, guided by the earlier theoretical developments of Victor Papanek. Design for the real world. nine0043

    Read online: http://nordisk.pp.ru/on-line/files/+blog/54A5D88A-F90C-4798-90A4-5E5FBE2BD080/10_Papanek.pdf

    Download: http://monster-book.com/dizayn-dlya-realnogo-mira

    And at the beginning of the 2000s, under his leadership, the first prototype was created.
    Khoshnevis' authorship also includes the term Contour Crafting, which means contour construction.
    In the laboratory of Khoshnevis, work is constantly being done to improve construction 3D printing. From time to time there are publications about new machines. But the project has no real buildings of commercial housing yet. Although, there are plans for the construction of experienced, full-size buildings. nine0043

    The disadvantage of the Contour Crafting project is the low rate of development. Its competitors such as China's Shanghai WinSun are already building and negotiating major contracts for the future.
    The advantages include the high declared quality. Contour Crafting printers print with special concrete containing impurities of mineral fiber that can withstand a load of about 700 kilograms per square centimeter. For comparison, standard building concrete has a strength of about 400 - 500 kilograms per centimeter. Printers Kontur Crafting are capable of laying rebar on concrete in automatic mode. Lay out various support beams and additional structures, such as water pipes, using an automatic arm - a manipulator. According to the concept, the Contour Crafting machine is not just a construction printer, but a universal construction robot. nine0140 In perspective, Contour Crafting printers should not print bare walls like most modern printers. And to build houses almost ready for delivery, with roofs, communications and a fine, finishing coating on the walls, without the use of manual labor, this is what the Kontur Grafting project compares favorably with modern competitors.

    Berok Khoshnevis has also repeatedly stated the possibility of using construction 3D printing to build habitable bases on the Moon or Mars. Printers can build habitable and technical buildings using the undersoil, which will significantly reduce transport costs for equipping alien bases. Printers do not need oxygen, they are not afraid of extreme space temperatures and radiation, and therefore, they are a convenient, functional tool in space conditions. nine0043

    InfoCity: Contour Crafting technology will allow you to build entire settlements on the moon using a 3D printer. http://www.infocity.az/2016/07/technology-contour-cra..

    Beroch Khoshnevis is involved in the development of advanced building printers in conjunction with the US Navy, with the aim of quickly building houses and various buildings on remote shores, where it is long and expensive to deliver building materials.

    3D today. The US Navy is interested in 3D printing of concrete buildings: http://3dtoday.ru/industry/vms-ssha-interesuyutsya-3d-pechatyu-betonnykh-zdaniy.html

    And participates in the creation of space printers, together with the US National Aerospace Agency.

    Related links:
    Contour Crafting official website: http://www.contourcrafting.org/

    Inosmi. (Interview with Khoshnevis) The era of automatic construction: http://inosmi.ru/world/20131013/213824981.html

    Ntp.com. Professor Berok Khoshnevis intends to introduce 3D printing into construction: http://www.ntpo.com/obzor-sovremennyh-tehnologii/sovremennye-tehnologii-v-stroitelstve/37952-professor-berok-khoshnevis-nameren-vnedrit-3d-pechat-v-stroitelstvo.html

    Naked Science: Giant 3D printer builds a house in 24 hours: https://naked-science.ru/article/hi-tech/gigantskii-3d-printer-stroit-d

    DailyInfo. Monster machines: Contour Crafting is the largest 3D printer that can build a three-story house in one day: http://www. dailytechinfo.org/news/5558-mashiny-monstry-contour-crafting-samyy-bolshoy-trehmernyy-printer- kotoryy-smozhet-vozvesti-dvuhetazhnyy-dom-za-odni-sutki.html

    Basalt today. New 3D printing technology from regolith and basalt has won a NASA competition: http://ru.basalt.today/2016/07/6380/

    Lecture by Khoshnevis video:

    European design of a 3D printed lunar base.

    The European Space Agency - "ESA", (ESA), is working on the creation of 3D printed cases for habitable bases on the Moon. Together with the London-based international architectural firm - "Foster + Partners" (Foster + partners), it is planned to use a 3D printer - "D-Shape", from the British company Monolite, for printing. nine0043


    The print head of the printer, moves on a six-meter frame. The printer prints at a speed of 2 cubic meters per hour, the final modification should print at a speed of about 3.5 cubic meters per hour. As the main material for construction, it is planned to use lunar soil - "Regolith", consisting of fragments of lunar rock, basalt, and the remains of meteorites accumulated on the surface of the moon, over billions of years of meteor bombardment.
    The habitable base hulls should be dome-shaped structures printed by a 3D printer from lunar soil with a small admixture of a mineral binder based on magnesium oxide, which, according to the developers, is superior in its characteristics to concrete. Inside the domes, there should be light, inflatable habitable spaces that serve to maintain a sealed environment with atmospheric pressure. nine0140 Due to their low weight, inflatable modules can be delivered from the ground at no great cost, but their thin walls do not protect against the main threats of outer space. Massive domes printed from "Free", lunar regolith, will help protect base crews from meteor dust, cosmic radiation and sudden temperature changes.
    In the future, construction 3D printers can be actively used in space base projects. Since they allow the cost of protected habitable premises and a variety of structures from past materials. Significantly saving money on the delivery of structures from the ground. nine0043

    Links to related publications:
    Giktimes. 3D printer will print a lunar base from regolith: https://geektimes.ru/post/168109/
    Inspection. 3D construction on the Moon and Mars: http://www.ispaceman.ru/3d-stroitelstvo-na-lune-i-na-marse
    L-post.ru. The lunar base will be created by a 3D printer D-shape: http://lpost.ru/futuro/2013/02/03/lunnuyu-bazu-sozdast-3d-printer-d-shape/

    Russia can use 3D printing to build a base on the moon. nine0379

    According to the head of the National Center for the Study of Natural Substances, Russia could use 3D printing and a patented "gyroscopic windmill" to build a habitable base in the polar regions on the moon. Settlers will be able to obtain powder materials for 3D printing from recycled lunar regolith.

    Source translation for gearmix (Sergey Lukavsky)
    Source: http://gearmix.ru/archives/27650

    nine0042

    Construction 3D printers by Andrey Rudenko.
    Andrey Rudenko, a native of the USSR, lives in the USA, in the state of Minnesota, one of the first creators of experimental construction 3D printers and one of the first developers of full-scale machines for construction 3D printing. Andrey launched the first experimental car on April 21, 2014.


    Video:


    On August 24, 2014, a miniature lock was printed using a full-scale construction printer prototype. It was not possible then to print residential buildings because of the difficulty in obtaining a building permit using an untested method. On September 20, 2015, Andrew completed the printing of a hotel in the Philippines. nine0043

    3D today. Andrey Rudenko finished printing the world's first castle: http://3dtoday.ru/industry/andrey-rudenko-zakonchil-pechat-pervogo-v-mire-zamka.html

    Video. Andrey Rudenko's printer prints the lock:


    Video, printing of a section of the wall of the house, Andrey Rudenko's printer:


    Not tomorrow. The world's first 3D printed luxury hotel built in the Philippines0043


    Andrey Rudenko is now preparing to launch his first mass-produced construction 3D printer.

    3Dtoday. Building 3d printer from Andrey Rudenko: new video and pre-order: http://3dtoday.ru/blogs/zhvtlt/building-a-3d-printer-from-andrey-rudenko-new-video-and-preorder-featu/

    Giktimes. 2 days to create a residential building: 3D printers help build houses: https://geektimes.ru/post/271774/

    Interview with Andrey Rudenko:
    3Dtoday. More about 3D printing of houses - an exclusive interview with 3D Today with Andreem Rudenko:

    Andrei Rudenko official website (English): http://www.totalkustom.com/

    BetAbram 3D printers.

    The Slovenian company "BetAbram", "Bet Abrams" is one of the first to launch a line of 3D printers of its own production on the market. nine0140 The smallest printer in the series, "P3", has a print area height of 2 meters, a length of 4 meters, and a width of 3 meters.

    Medium-sized printer - "P2", has the same print area height of 2 meters, but is already 12 meters long and 6 meters wide.
    Printer of maximum dimensions - "P1", has a two-meter height, 16 meters in length and 9 meters in width.
    Printer line price:
    BetAbram P3 — $16,000
    BetAbram P2 — $27,000
    BetAbram P1 — $44,000

    3dnews.ru. BetAbram 3D printer: an inexpensive device that will "print" your house: http://www.3dnews.ru/820938

    Construction 3D printers from the Italian company "WASP".
    The idea for a 3D printer production project came about in 1994, from its founder, "Massimo Moretti", who was interested in advanced technologies in his youth and worked in his father's workshop, where he made toys.


    During his experiments, Massimo's attention was attracted by a small earthen wasp "English "wasp"", which built its own nest from clay and earth. Osa gave Massimo the idea of ​​developing construction and manufacturing using readily available and cheap "local" materials, using high technology. Massimo proposed the idea of ​​building mud houses in developing countries and gathered a group of interested students. After that, the WASP project began to actively develop. nine0140 Now WASP is a recognized manufacturer of 3D printers.
    The company makes printers of its own design, and uses printing from natural materials in its machines.
    WASP produces a line of "Delta WASP" delta-shaped printers with different sizes and different print areas. Household printers capable of printing mugs and figurines, medium-sized printers that print statues and various models, and large printers, with a working area height of 3 and 12 meters, capable of printing clay houses and various buildings. nine0140

    The official website of the company "WASP", the line of printers of the company: http://www.wasproject.it/w/en/3d-printers/

    3Dtoday. Feel like a potter: http://3dtoday.ru/blogs/ermolife/feel-like-gonchar/

    Construction printer version of the "BigDeltaWASP Custom series", with a print area of ​​three meters in height. It only takes two workers and two hours to install it. Currently, to build a full-fledged house, such a printer takes about two weeks. (The low construction speed for 3D printing, apparently, is not due to the low productivity of the printer, but to the long drying of the clay layers applied by it. That is, the productivity of the machine can be significantly increased if a little cement is added to the mixture)

    Internet magazine ideas for business. 3D printer for printing / building houses: http://domashniy.biz/3d-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%80-%D0 %B4%D0%BB%D1%8F-%D0%BF%D0%B5%D1%87%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D1%80%D0% BE%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BB%D1%8C%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%B0-%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%BC /

    No tomorrow. An Italian company is developing a 3D printer for building mud houses: http://www.vzavtra.net/stroitelnye-texnologii/italyanskaya-kompaniya-razrabatyvaet-3d-printer-dlya-stroitelstva-domov-iz-glinistogo-rastvora.html nine0043

    And the printer "Big Delta WASP 12", "BigDeltaWASP 12m" measuring 12 meters high and 6 meters in diameter. Currently the largest in Italy. According to the developers, the system consumes a minimum amount of energy and is capable of printing with any materials, including clay. According to the developers, modifications of the Big Delta printer will be able to work on other planets, creating inhabited buildings for colonists, relatively protected from radiation and meteors, and various technical structures. nine0140

    Giktimes. Big Delta is the largest 3D printer in the world from Italy capable of building houses: https://geektimes.ru/post/262800/

    3D print conference. The largest delta printer for printing houses from WASP: http://3dprintconf.ru/ru/post/samiy-bolshoy-delta-printer-dlya-3d-pechati-domov-ot-wasp


    One of WASP's strategic goals is to create a "Mile Zero" house building technology, ie using materials found in the surrounding area. Construction machines must be mobile, easy to deploy on the construction site, and have low energy consumption, including being designed for autonomous, renewable energy sources. nine0140

    3D printer from the Netherlands company "NNRGY Crops".

    A new Dutch company, NNRGY Crops, is developing a construction printer that prints houses from so-called "Bioconcrete", a mixture of sand, cement and vegetable fiber. NNRGY Crops founder and entrepreneur Jean-Govert van Gilst plans to use the tall, fast-growing Chinese miscanthus grass as a source of plant fiber. nine0043

    N3D website. NNRGY Crops will print bio-concrete houses: http://www.n3d.biz/3d-materialy/kompaniya-nnrgy-crops-budet-pechatat-doma-iz-bio-betona.html

    Self-made 3D printer "Vesta B2" "V2 Vesta".
    Texas student Alex Le Roux designed a small, homemade 3D construction printer, the V2 Vesta, and used it to build an experimental "Tiny House" measuring just 2.4m x 1.5m x 2.1m. nine0043


    Vesta V2 printer, has a 3 x 3 x 3 meter printable area, and is based on the "RepRap" printer model files, designed for printing components on serial printers, and self-assembly. RepRap printer family files are published in the public domain.
    RepRap printers are, in a sense, the prototype of the digital production of the future. Machine tools capable of making copies of themselves from openly published digital drawings.
    Installing the printer on the construction site takes only half an hour. Printer print speed, about 9centimeters per second horizontally, with a concrete solution flow rate of 4 liters per second.
    Alex, put the printer to the test, printing a small house that can accommodate only a mattress, and which looks more like a barn or a small back room. But for the first student experience, this is quite a good result.
    The experimental building took 24 hours to print.
    Alex plans to design a new "V3 Vesta" printer that will be three times faster than the previous one. And signing a contract for 3D printing that fully complies with the standards of building houses in Michigan. nine0140 Alex also expects to attract additional funding for the subsequent development of his project.

    3D pulse: http://www.3dpulse.ru/stroitelstvo/konstruktsiya-malenkii-dom-napechatana-na-3d-printere-iz-betona-vsego-za-24-chasa

    Site. 3D printers "Vesta": https://www.vestaprinter.com/blog/post/124959189223/smaller-prints

    "3D Builder", a multi-purpose construction 3D printer - manipulator from Amsterdam. nine0379
    At the recently held in Amsterdam, the exhibition for the design and construction of houses "Fab City" "FabCity", two well-known companies in this field BAM and Universe Architecture, presented a new joint product, the construction printer "3D Builder".


    The new printer is designed as a manipulator, a robotic arm with many degrees of freedom. The printer has many interchangeable heads for printing with various materials.
    The advantages of this printer design, compared to the more common frame-mounted design, include relative lightness and compactness, as well as flexibility in both freedom of movement and freedom of choice of printing methods and materials, thanks to interchangeable heads. nine0140 The ability to print with different materials, mount the reinforcing mesh in automatic mode and apply fine finishing coatings make the printer more versatile. In the future, allowing the construction of houses ready for delivery, without the use of manual labor.
    To increase the mobility of the printer, together with the Tokyo firm AcoTech, they are developing a mobile platform for the printer, which will give it the ability to move around the construction site autonomously. nineThe 0140 printer can also be installed on traditional multi-purpose transport or construction machines, which will increase its mobility.

    In the future, the printer can also be equipped with a lifting lift system, for the construction of multi-storey buildings.

    3D pulse: http://www.3dpulse.ru/stroitelstvo/novyi-stroitelnyi-3d-printer-3d-builder-predstavlen-v-amsterdame
    Micro systems org: http://www.micro-system.org/ novyj-robotizirovannyj-3d-printer-mozhet-pechatat-betonnye-doma-proizvolnoj-formy. php

    "Building Bytes" 3D printed building blocks.
    The Building Bytes system, proposed by Brian Peters, co-founder of the Amsterdam Design Lab, uses portable 3D printers capable of operating as a localized brick factory to produce building blocks.


    Blocks are printed with a liquid ceramic mass, usually used in the production of molds. The printing of one block takes 15 - 20 minutes, after which the block is fired in an oven. nine0140 Peters continues to work on improving the Builder Bytes system, with the goal of creating a serial portable device capable of producing any building parts.
    This approach to building 3D printing, such as the production of bricks, or blocks, is intermediate between expensive printers that print whole houses and labor-intensive technologies for the production of building materials. Brick printers are relatively cheap and require less manual labor. A house made of printed bricks must be built by hand. But this is a good option for small firms or independent, private developers. nine0140

    http://www.n3d.biz/ Novelties in 3D printing. Building Bytes: 3D printed ceramic blocks for building large structures:

    Dutch innovator group Sabin Design has developed a printer for printing building blocks or bricks.

    nine0042
    Polybrix bricks, printed on a specialized 3D printer, have a complex geometry with detachable joints, which makes it possible to build walls or structures from them without the use of mortar and careful fitting. The wedge-shaped form of detachable joints promotes the bonding of bricks under the action of gravity.

    3Dtoday. Researchers have created 3D printed bricks that can be connected to each other without cement mortar0043

    Construction 3D printers of the Chinese company "WinSun" "Wing Sun".
    A young construction company that entered the 3D construction market in April 2114 with a project to build 10 printed houses within a day, an area of ​​200 square meters and a cost of $4,800. It has big plans to develop the promising 3D printed construction market.

    3Dtoday. Shanghai Winsun Company printed a five-story house and mansion: http://3dtoday.ru/blogs/news3dtoday/shanghai-company-winsun-has-printed-a-fivestorey-house-and-mansion/

    Now the company has printed five-story buildings and mansions with an area of ​​more than 1000 square meters.

    One of WinSun's latest projects is a 250 square meter office building in Dubai completed in 17 days.

    3Dtoday. Around the world with 3D today. Dubai completed the construction of a 3D printed "Office of the Future": http://3dtoday.ru/blogs/news3dtoday/around-the-world-with-3dtoday-3d-printing-of-microprosodic-through-the/


    Currently, the company's specialists, together with the Ministry of Housing Construction of Saudi Arabia, are preparing a project for the mass construction of budget houses using 3D printing. It is expected to build about half a million houses by the end of 1017.

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