Home » Misc » The most expensive 3d printer

The most expensive 3d printer


The Five Most Expensive 3D Printers on the Market Today

Electronics

ByGarrett Parker Posted on Updated on

What began as a novelty in the technology world has rapidly advanced to a new way of manufacturing a variety of goods. 3D printing is taking the world by storm and it’s now used to create parts for jets, automobiles, shoes, and even homes that people can live in. The first 3D printer prototypes were smaller and we were amazed watching them slowly create objects through a computer program, but when we viewed one at the local fair some years back, we didn’t imagine what they would be capable of. Some of the 3D printers used privately and commercially range from small in size to very large. This technology is fascinating, and in researching them, we were curious about how much they cost. We thought you’d enjoy what we found out so we’re sharing the five most expensive 3D printers in 2018.

5. The Box – $310,000

Th Box is a 3D printer that is available for purchase if you have the $310,000 it retails for. The Box was created by two Swedish students who were working on a hobbyist project. Jacob Lundin and Cim Bergdahl were the pair responsible for the concept of the Box and deserve the credit for its development. They joined with others who had an interest in furthering the development of their project and formed BLB industries which manufactures this unique 3D printer that is among thee fastest and largest in the entire world, and it works through a Fused Granular Fabrication process. This 3D printer is fifth on our list because although it’s quite expensive, there are four more that are even higher in price.

4. 3D Platform Excel – $450,000-1,200,000

The 3D Platform Excel is the fourth most expensive printer in the world. You may notice that there is a broad price range and this is because this machine is customizable and although the base size is 13 x 328 x 13 feet, we learned that there is an infinite range of length dimensions possible. This 3D printer is unique, and although the base model is not the largest, there is a full potential for manufacturing it in a size that would place it in the lead. There are other customizable features available for the tech savvy who have specific projects in mind. This printer uses the Fused Deposition Modeling process. The company that manufactures this printer is 3D Platform and they offer several large 3D printers.

3. Optomec LENS 850-R – $1,200,000

The Optomec company manufactures and sells the LENS 850-R 3D system. It’s the third most expensive printer in the world. It operates through the Laser Engineered Net Shaping process, also referred to as LENS, hence the name of the printer model. It’s available for sale for $1.2 million. The unique LENS process builds a print layer by layer and it melts metal powder through a high power laser. This printer has the capacity to build objects from scratch as well as making repairs to existing items that are damaged.

2.

SonicLayer 7200 – $2,500,00

Fabrisonic is the company that manufactures and sells the SonicLayer 7200. It’s tied for the most expensive position with a price tag of $2.5 million. This printer has been described as a CNC mill. It’s a complicated machine that has tremendous potential and capacities. It uses the Ultrasonic Additive Manufacturing process, also known as UAM. Ultrasonic waves are used to bond metal layers together, so it doesn’t require high temperatures to operate.

1. Imprimere’s Model 2156 – $2,500,000

The most expensive 3D printer in the world is in a tying position with the SonicLayer 7200. It’s the Imprimere’s Model 2156. The Im company manufactures and sells it commercially. This 3D printer uses the Concrete Deposition process and is used in the construction business and holds promise for revolutionizing the industry through a more consistent fully automated building process that reduces costs. This amazing technology is used to or printing with concrete as well as for grinding, milling and 3D scanning. It also has the capability of traveling on tracks for up to 70 meters. It’s an exciting and innovative development in 3D technology that holds promise for changing the way that buildings are constructed.

Final thoughts

It’s truly amazing how far 3D technology has come. The things that were once believed to be speculative and based on futuristic fantasy are now becoming realities that are useful in real life applications. Having accomplished this level of advancement, it makes one wonder what we’re going to see next?

Garrett Parker

Garrett by trade is a personal finance freelance writer and journalist. With over 10 years experience he's covered businesses, CEOs, and investments. However he does like to take on other topics involving some of his personal interests like automobiles, future technologies, and anything else that could change the world.

Similar Posts

Electronics

Airblock: The Modular and Programmable Starter Drone

ByGarrett Parker

Technology is responsible for advancements in important industries like healthcare, transportation, and communication. However, it can also provide people with a great deal of enjoyment. One cutting edge technology that many individuals love is drone…

Read More Airblock: The Modular and Programmable Starter DroneContinue

Electronics

The 10 Most Expensive Drones You Can Actually Buy

ByMaria McCutchen

Unmanned aircraft vehicles, or, drones, have been around for some time, and were originally designed to be used in the military to strengthen certain arears of their operations, such as target practice on anti-aircraft, they were a…

Read More The 10 Most Expensive Drones You Can Actually BuyContinue

Electronics

The 10 Best Handheld Body Massagers Money Can Buy

ByLily Wordsmith

If you’re sick of achy, sore muscles, a handheld body massager could be just what the doctor ordered. Designed to break up lactic acid, loosen tight muscles, and alleviate pain, body massagers are ideal for…

Read More The 10 Best Handheld Body Massagers Money Can BuyContinue

The 11 Best FDM 3D Printers 2022 (In Every Price Range)

FDM 3D printers are the most affordable and easiest to use 3D printers around, making them ideal for beginners, younger kids and families, and hobbyists who want to print useful and cool prints that are more durable than resin models.

In the last decade, prices have come down from $500+ for a difficult, technical kit you’d have to be an engineer to build, to fantastic user-friendly machines you can buy from just $200.

We’ve picked out the best FDM 3D printers in every price range, from $200, to $500, to the best under $1000, and even the best professional FDM printers if you’re a commercial business.

BUDGET PICK

Creality Ender 3 V2

Reliable workhorse for under $300

Very upgradable for future modding and improving

Available at:

Creality hereAmazon here

LARGE PICK

Creality Ender 5 Plus

Huge 350 x 350 x 400 mm build volume for larger prints

Automatic bed leveling

Available at:

Creality hereAmazon here

PREMIUM PICK

Prusa i3 MK3S+

Super high-quality Prusa parts for durable performance

Our top recommendation for FDM kits

Available at:

Prusa here

What is FDM 3D printing?

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D printers work by using an extruder and a hot end to melt and deposit thermoplastic filaments such as PLA and ABS to build strong and accurate 3D parts.

How FDM 3D Printing Works

The easiest way to think of FDM 3D printing works is like icing a cake with a pipe bag. Rather than with icing, melted plastic filament is pushed through the nozzle, and deposited in the set pattern. Once one layer is finished, the extruder lifts up by one layer (or the print bed moves down) and the process is repeated, as if you were icing multiple layers of a cake, gradually creating a three-dimensional object.

These plastic filaments are usually either 1.75mm or 3mm thick, and are fed via either the Bowden tube on a Bowden extruder, or directly into the 3D printer if it’s a direct drive printer, and then melted in the hot end before being extruded out of the 3D printer’s nozzle.

Filaments like PLA are fairly forgiving, but others can cause nozzle clogs if you get your temperature or other settings wrong, to pay attention to the instructions on your filament spool.

The filament is extruded, layer-by-layer, based on the 3D model supplied to your 3D printer via your slicer.

To print with an FDM printer, import your 3D file into your 3D slicer (such as Cura), slice it into each individual layer, and then send it to your 3D printer.The G-code is the final sliced model that your 3D printer uses to print, the STL is the originally designed 3D file.

Your 3D printer will then deposit filament based on the dimensions of each layer, and once it’s finished each 2D layer, it moves up one, creating the next layer up, until the final model is eventually finished.You may see the lines from each layer after printing – but don’t worry, you can finish your print to smooth these later!

The Full List: FDM Printer Options

FDM 3D Printer Buyer Guide

Name and BrandBuild volume (mm)Dual extruder?PriceBest Price At:Alternative Purchase Option
Creality Ender 3 V2220 x 220 x 250No$249Creality Store hereAmazon here
Voxelab Aquila220 x 220 x 250No$159Amazon here
Anycubic Kobra220 x 220 x 250No$299Anycubic hereAmazon here
Creality Ender 3 S1 Pro220 x 220 x 270No$429Creality Store hereAmazon here
Prusa Mini180 x 180 x 180No$429Prusa Store here
Anycubic Vyper245 x 245 x 260No$429Anycubic Store hereAmazon here
Creality Ender 5 Plus350 x 350 x 400No$579Creality Store hereAmazon here
Flashforge Creator Pro 2Yes$649Flashforge hereAmazon here
Prusa i3 MK3S250 x 210 x 200Can be upgraded$749 / $999Kit available on Prusa store herePrusa Store here
Snapmaker 2. 03 size optionsNo$1,199-$1,799Snapmaker here
Ultimaker S3230 x 190 x 200Yes$3,850Dynamism Store hereMatterhackers here
Ultimaker S5330 x 240 x 300Yes$5,995Dynamism Store here

Pros and Cons of FDM Printers

Larger build volume than resin printers

Easier to set up and operate

Easier to maintain

Cheaper filament costs and more compatible materials

Little post-processing required (no curing, etc)

Broad range of applications

Cons

Print quality and level of detail doesn’t match that of resin printers

Surface finish isn’t as smooth as resin printers

Noisy

Not as productive as resin printers

FDM Printer Buyer Guide 2022 – Reviews

First thing to note is this is a subjective list — we don’t claim to be the ultimate authority on 3D printing, just a guiding voice. However, we are knowledgeable and have tested more than a dozen 3D printers on this site.

Criteria used to evaluate the best FDM 3D printers included:

  • Print quality – consistency, resolution, minimum layer height
  • Filament compatibility
  • Durability and reliability
  • Build volume
  • Enclosed – it’s easier to print ABS, Nylon and other filaments with an enclosure

We have a full buyer’s guide with everything you should consider before buying at the end of this article.

Best FDM 3D printers under $1,000

3DSourced is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more

Creality Ender 3 V2

  • Price: Check latest price at Creality here / Available at Amazon here
  • Print volume: 220 x 220 x 250 mm

Currently one of the world’s most popular 3D printers, the Ender 3 V2 costs under $300 yet brings sturdy reliableness and good quality 3D printing.

It’s a 3D printer kit, but it takes less than 45 mins to assemble and even most beginners will find the building process simple enough.

For standard home printing in PLA and ABS or flexible filaments like TPU, it works well. And if you do run into trouble, there are owners’ groups on Facebook and other platforms you can ask for assistance in, or talk to Creality’s customer service team.

The Ender 3 V2 works great for printing the odd useful piece and any standard projects, like 3D printing 28mm miniatures or D&D tabletop toys, and other 3D printing projects. Overall, it’s a great FDM 3D printers and one of the best under $500.

Voxelab Aquila

  • Price: $159 — Available on Amazon here
  • Build volume: 220 x 220 x 250 mm
  • Filament compatibility: PLA, ABS, PETG
  • Layer height: 100-400 microns
  • Printing accuracy: ± 0.2 mm
  • Max nozzle temp: 250°C 
  • Max bed temp: 100°C
  • Connectivity: SD Card

If you’re looking for a starter printer that’s easy to assemble and costs a highly affordable $159. 99, look no further than the Voxelab Aquila.

It’s frankly astounding to think how much you get for that price and that the Voxelab Aquila produces clean surfaces and good quality prints out of the box. The Voxelab Aquila offers plenty of scope for maker-led modifications and upgrades (hot end, extruder, fans, ABL, to name a few) , so it can keep up as your skills and projects grow.

On the feature side, nothing here will wow seasoned makers. Still, there’s everything you need for a user-friendly printing experience, including an excellent glass build surface and heated bed, which expands the Aquila’s material compatibility beyond your staple PLA.

The low price does come with some sacrifices: the printer has no automatic bed leveling, the build quality isn’t on par with, say, a pricier printer like the Prusa MINI, the Bowden setup isn’t especially conducive to flexibles, and the instructions leave a bit to be desired in terms of clarity. But, at this price, these are minor complaints.

Extremely affordable

User-friendly

Glass bed

Cons

Bowden setup isn’t the best for flexible filaments.

Anycubic Kobra – FDM Printer with Auto-Leveling on a Budget

  • Price: Check latest price at Anycubic here / Amazon here
  • Build volume: 220 x 220 x 250 mm 
  • Filament compatibility: PLA, ABS, PETG, TPU
  • Layer height: 50-300 microns
  • Printing accuracy: ± 0.1 mm
  • Max nozzle temp: 260°C 
  • Max bed temp: 110°C
  • Connectivity: USB, Micro SD Card

Launched in 2022, the Anycubic Kobra has quickly become the go-to printer for makers on a budget and beginners among enthusiasts and the press.

With efficient automatic bed leveling, a direct drive extruder, and a fantastic PEI-coated build surface, the Kobra has a spec sheet that reads like that of a printer twice its price. It oozes with value, and Anycubic has done well to cut corners where it matters least, chiefly with the plastic material used for the print head casing and spool holder.

Features aside, the Anycubic Kobra has everything you need to produce excellent quality prints for the price. It’s also easy to assemble and set up to boot. Though it excels mainly with PLA, it’s no slouch with flexibles like TPU, thanks to the direct drive extruder.

Automatic bed leveling

Textured PEI-coated build surface

Direct drive extruder

Cons

Cheap construction in some places

Ender 3 S1 / S1 Pro

  • Price: Check latest price at Creality here / Amazon here
  • Build volume: 220 x 220 x 270 mm
  • Minimum layer height: 0.05mm
  • Bed leveling: Automatic
  • Max extruder temperature: 300°C
  • Max bed temp: 110°C
  • Filament compatibility: PLA, ABSE, PETG, TPU, ASA
  • Connectivity: USB, Micro SD Card

The Ender 3 and V2 models (and the brand-new Neo versions) are some of the best super-cheap kits around, but if you want to print at higher temperatures, with better precision, and with a direct drive extruder — go for the Ender 3 S1 or S1 Pro.

We were really impressed with the quality when we printed out some test prints during our Ender 3 S1 review. The direct drive extruder is particularly useful if you want to print TPU to prevent any issues, and other upgrades such as the better print bed surface, larger 4.3-inch touchscreen, and the nice-looking LED light bar give the feel of a more premium 3D printing experience.A test print from our Ender 3 S1 Pro.

While the build volume is very similar — the only difference being 270mm on the z-axis vs 250mm on the standard Ender 3s — the Ender 3 S1 Pro also adds on an all-metal extruder, so you can reach up to 300°C temperatures for printing tougher materials like Nylon or PC. If you don’t need that, then opt for the standard Ender 3 S1 and lower extruder temperatures, it still works great. 

Both the S1 and S1 Pro have excellent auto-leveling which is another nice plus, though the new Neo versions of the Ender 3 and Ender V2 are also introducing these features. For us, the direct extrusion is the biggest benefit over the standard Ender 3’s bowden PTFE tube.

Easy, high-quality prints with 0.05mm minimum layer height

Quiet operation

Metal hot end for 300°C extruder temperatures

User-friendly with 4.3-inch touchscreen

Cons

Occasional failed print

Anycubic Vyper

  • Price: $429 — Check latest price at Anycubic here / Also Available on Amazon
  • Build volume: 245 x 245 x 260 mm

The Anycubic Vyper makes it onto our low cost FDM 3D printer list as were impressed with it when we recently tested it for our review. For such a compact 3D printer you get good build volume, you can build it in just 5-10 minutes (it comes almost fully assembled), and the 4.3-inch touchscreen and intuitive UI makes it super simple to get right to printing.

The Vyper’s 1-click auto leveling makes life easier, and the magnetic spring steel build platform can be removed after printing to more conveniently remove your finished prints, and helps with adhesion.

Perhaps the most interesting addition is Anycubic’s double-fan cooling system for rapidly cooling prints, which they say allows you to print at faster speeds than you’re expected to on an FDM 3D printer. They say you can print at 100mm/s without issue, but we kept to standard speeds on our test and cannot verify this. We recommend you test this on larger models first.

Overall, the Vyper is a consistent and reliable FDM printer for the money.

You can read more about the Vyper in our Anycubic Vyper review

Prusa MINI

  • Price: $429 — Available at Prusa here
  • Build volume: 180 x 180 x 180 mm
  • Filament compatibility: PLA, PETG, ASA, BAS, PC, HIPS, and more
  • Layer height: 50-250 microns
  • Printing accuracy: ± 0.1 mm
  • Max nozzle temp: 280°C 
  • Max bed temp: 100°C
  • Connectivity: USB, LAN

If you’ve ever come across the Prusa name, you’ll be familiar with the Original Prusa i3 MK3S+ – a benchmark against which all consumer-grade printers are compared. The Prusa MINI uses the same high-quality construction and hassle-free printing experience of its larger sibling but condenses it into a more compact and affordable printer.

If the thought of devoting hours to software tinkering to just get a passable print leaves you cold, then the Prusa MINI should be right up your street. It just works out of the box. No fuss, no hassle – few printers on the market, especially at this price, offer such a streamlined user experience.

But, this is by no means a simple printer. It offers compatibility with far more materials than similar printers and delivers a clean 50-micron layer resolution, ideal for those more ambitious, low tolerance projects, like functional parts and high-quality decorative pieces. There’s also automatic bed leveling, an excellent build surface, and even LAN connectivity for remote printing and monitoring.

The build volume is small, there’s no avoiding this, but it should be more than enough for beginners looking to test 3D printing for the first time. It’s large enough for all those FDM favorite projects like household pieces, superhero figurines, and similarly sized parts.

The only real negative is the price. $429 is tough to justify when you can pick up an Anycubic Kobra for under $300 or, better yet, a Voxelab Aquila for under $200. You pay for convenience and guaranteed print quality; in that sense, the Prusa is worth every penny.

High-quality Prusa parts throughout

Broad material compatibility

Compact

No hassle, quality print results

Cons

Tiny build volume

Expensive compared to similarly-sized printers

Ender 5 Plus – Best Large-Format FDM 3D Printer Under $1000

  • Price: $579 — Available at Creality here / Amazon here
  • Build volume: 350 x 350 x 400 mm 
  • Filament compatibility: PLA, ABS, TPU, PETG
  • Layer height: 100-400 microns
  • Printing accuracy: ± 0.1 mm
  • Max extruder temp: 260°C
  • Max bed temp: 110°C
  • Connectivity: USB, SD Card

If you want to print massive parts and models then the Ender 5 Plus is a good option because of its massive 350 x 350 x 400 mm build volume and a price that won’t have you skipping meals. Think helmets, large cosplay pieces, tabletop gaming terrain, and much more.

It also shines for having a few choice extras such as automatic bed leveling, a higher than average max extruder temp which ups its material compatibility, a tempered glass build surface, touch screen, and easy assembly.

For all its merits, the Ender 5 Plus is very much a tinkerer’s printer. No surprise there, it is an Ender 3 after all, but this may be hard to stomach for first-timers put off by heaving software tweaking. That said, if you’re willing to take the time to fine-tune the Ender 5 Pro, it more than capably delivers excellent, dimensional accurate FDM prints.

Massive build volume

Automatic bed leveling

Textured glass build plate

Cons

Fine-tuning required to get the best out of the printer

Flashforge Creator Pro 2

  • Price: Check latest price at Flashforge here / Amazon here
  • Build volume: 200 x 148 x 150 mm
  • Filament compatibility: PLA, HIPS, ABS, PVA
  • Layer height: 100-400 microns
  • Printing accuracy: ± 0. 2 mm
  • Max extruder temp: 240°C 
  • Max bed temp: 120°C
  • Connectivity: USB, SD Card

A dual extruder IDEX system for under $1000? Unbelievably yes, as illustrated by the Flashforge Creator Pro 2. If the thought of dual wielding different filament types, creating soluble supports, or juggling multiple colors piques your interest, the Flashforge Creator Pro 2 is one of the most affordable options out there.

Throw in a fully enclosed chamber – ABS printing is a go – a heated bed, and a selection of dual print modes (mirror, duplicate, support, multi-material), and the Flashforge Creator Pro 2 is the perfect budget IDEX package.

Now, it isn’t perfect, no printer is. It lacks automatic bed leveling and the 200 x 148 x 150 mm build volume is pretty dingy by modern standards. But again, this is a dual extruder printer for less than $700, so we’ll excuse these negatives.

IDEX dual extruder

Cons

Smallish build volume

Prusa i3 MK3S+ — Best FDM 3D printer under $1,000!

  • Price: $749 as a kit — Available on Prusa store here / $999 fully assembled — Available on Prusa store here
  • Build volume: 250 x 210 x 200 mm

The undisputed champion 3D printer kit, Prusa 3D printers blow away the competition in almost every way. They’re so good, that they got Josef Prusa into Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list! Known as the best FDM 3D printer from the RepRap movement, the i3 MK3S+ is capable of printing even the toughest filaments, including Polycarbonate, Nylon, ABS and more.

It’s precise, fast and versatile, with layer heights starting at 0.05mm, travel speeds of up to 200mm/s+, and can be upgraded to print in 5 colors simultaneously if you purchase Prusa’s Multi Material Upgrade Kit. The high quality extruder and E3D V6 nozzle make 3D printing reliable and simple, and the MK3S can recover where you left off in the event of a power outage, and detects when filament has run out.

  • You can buy the Multi Material Upgrade kit for $300 here.

With a very impressive build volume of 250 x 210 x 200 mm, the Prusa i3 MK3S+ can print almost any object within reason. With layer resolutions of up to 50 microns achievable, it is also one of the highest quality FDM 3D printers on the market. Moreover, you can choose whether to buy own Prusa 3D printer pre-assembled or buy it in kit form.

Overall, the Prusa is a fantastic printer that outperforms most of its more expensive competitors outright. Its stats really don’t do it enough justice for how good this printer really is.

Commercial FDM 3D printers (Above $1,000)

Qidi Tech X-Max

  • Cost: Check latest price at Amazon here
  • Build volume: 300 x 250 x 300 mm

The X-Max is Qidi Tech’s largest 3D printer, and the big brother of the highly rated X-Pro, offering a huge 300 x 250 x 300 mm build volume and heavy metal structure for stable and reliable 3D printing.

The X-Max performs the role of a low-cost industrial 3D printer, with the features and accuracy for professional 3D printing, but without having to pay $5,000+ upfront before being sure of a return on investment. The enclosed chamber makes printing difficult filaments like ABS and Nylon far easier, and you can also print filaments like carbon fiber and PC for industrial rapid prototyping.

  • We also have a ranking of the best enclosed 3D printers.

The X-Max is easy to use with the user-friendly and large 5-inch touchscreen, and the ability to print via WiFi. It’s known for great reliability, but if you do run into any trouble, Qidi have a full after-sales service team to assist you with any problems you may be having. Overall, it’s a great, reliable and high quality FDM 3D printer.

Snapmaker 2.0 – 3 in 1 FDM 3D printer & laser cutter / CNC carver
  • Price: Check latest price at Snapmaker here / Also Available on Amazon here
  • Build volume: A150 = 160 x 160 x 145 mm / A250 = 230 x 250 x 235 mm / A350 = 320 x 350 x 350 mm

Following on from the runaway success of the Snapmaker Original, the Snapmaker 2.0 had big shoes to fill. However, it’s even managed to encompass the Original, raising an incredible $7.85M on Kickstarter.

Beyond just a 3D printer, the Snapmaker 2.0 can be quickly switched out into a CNC mill or laser cutter, offering all these options in one machine that won’t take up your entire workshop.

Read our full review: we tested the Snapmaker 2.0 3D printer

We tested the Snapmaker 2.0 A350 — the largest size 3D printer version. We were impressed with print accuracy, as well as the intelligent software that dynamically adjusts print speed based on whether it’s the first few layers of your print, or further on.

The tough metal structure anchor the printer down and keeps everything stable, and you can choose to buy the Snapmaker 2.0 enclosure for better ABS 3D printing.A vase we 3D printed with the Snapmaker 2.0.

As a 3D printer, you can comfortably print standard filaments like PLA and ABS, as well as flexibles, with the WiFi printing a nice touch for a smoother and more efficient printing experience.

As a CNC carver, it’s all set up to carve designs on a variety of types of wood, including walnut, PCB woods, hardwoods, and other materials like acrylic and fiber sheets. If you want to use the laser engraver, you can comfortably cut and engrave images on fabrics, woods, acrylics and leather.

We also used the 4-axis rotary module add-on, which costs extra. This turns your CNC or laser head into a 4-axis turning machine, and we carved accurate chess pieces from the CNC carver and engraved our logo on a cylinder gift box with ease.Carving a knight chess piece with the 4-axis CNC module.It also has a laser head which we used to engrave (shown above), as well as cut thin wood.

Overall, we’re hugely impressed with what the Snapmaker team have been able to develop across all three areas: 3D printing, CNC and laser cutting, and if you’re looking for a jack of all trades FDM 3D printer, the Snapmaker 2.0 could be ideal for you.

We recommend picking up the enclosure to keep yourself safe while making, as well as some spare parts for CNC. Snapmaker’s store has all these in one place, which you can visit here.

Ultimaker S3

  • FDM 3D printer cost: $4,450 — Available on Dynamism here / Available on Matterhackers here
  • Build volume: 230 x 190 x 200 mm

Dutch FDM 3D printer manufacturer Ultimaker thoroughly deserve their position due to how excellent the Ultimaker S3 is. Featuring a dual extruder as well as being accurate up to an incredible 20 microns, the Ultimaker S3 is the perfect printer for prototyping, small business solutions, makers, and more.

You can remotely monitor your prints with its built-in camera, and print multiple high quality parts in its good 230 x 190 x 200 mm build volume. It’s also a very versatile FDM 3D printer, operable via USB stick, WiFi, or Ethernet, and is designed to look sleek — it looks like it belongs in an Apple store!

Though one of the more expensive options, the Ultimaker S3 is a fantastic printer for those who prioritize reliability, consistency, and great quality.

Ultimaker S5 – great professional FDM 3D printer

  • Price: $5,995 — Available on Dynamism Store here / Available on Matterhackers here
  • Build volume: 330 x 240 x 300 mm

We didn’t envy Ultimaker’s position in the run up to the release of their newest printer, the Ultimaker S5. Why? Because one of the problems with delivering such a fantastic product that takes the market by storm, is that expectations rise. Having released what is viewed by many as the pinnacle of FDM 3D printing, where could they go from there? Expectations were through the roof, and anything below incredible would be at risk of being deemed a failure.

But of course it was great. With the general consensus being that the prints are impeccable, the larger size useful and its effective dual extruder making it versatile, the Ultimaker S5 was met by fanfare. Undoubtedly the S5 would be on our list if it were not for the higher price, so we included it here as a special mention out of respect for this stellar machine.

Buyer’s Guide – What To Look For in an FDM 3D Printer

Print Quality

A crucial factor that determines print quality is the minimum layer height, which represents the smallest possible printable layer measured in mm. Most FDM printers gravitate around 100 microns, which is relatively standard and should suit most hobby makers. If you want better overall print quality, look for printers that drop the layer height to 50 microns, if not lower. Another important determinant of FDM 3D printing performance is XY resolution.

Other factors play into print quality, such as the quality of the printer’s parts, your chosen slicer settings, and nozzle/bed temperatures. But as a general rule, lower layer height equates to better print quality and consistency – especially in intricate and precise details.

Build Volume

Build volume refers to the maximum printable area or capacity an FDM 3D printer offers. Manufacturers list build volume in three groups of numbers measured in mm, which refer to the  X, Y, and Z axis. For example, 220 x 220 x 250 mm – the size of the Ender 3 – is considered average for consumer-grade FDM printers.

Consider what type of parts and models you plan to print, and opt for a printer that matches your ambitions. If your budget allows it, it’s worth buying a printer with a capacity slightly higher than you need – in case your appetite grows for larger projects.

To give you a sense of the spread of build volume out there, we have printers such as the Prusa Mini with a build volume of 180 x 180 x 180 mm on the lower end. Then pivoting to large format 3D printers, we have towering machines like the Ender 5 Plus with a 350 x 350 x 400 mm build volume.

Another factor related to build volume to consider is the space you have available. Larger build volumes generally equate to a larger footprint. 3D printers, even the more modest machines, aren’t by no means small, and accessories can take up more space than you’d think. It’s worth finding a home for your printer before committing to a purchase and mentally assessing whether it will fit.

Bed Leveling

A 3D printer’s bed needs calibration to compensate for the unavoidable but natural height inconsistencies on the build surface. You can do this manually on many printers, but the process is quite time-consuming and can be frustrating – not to say complex – for novices.

To make this process hassle-free, you may want to consider a 3D printer with automatic bed leveling. These usually come in the shape of a probe or sensor that automatically measures the nozzle-to-bed distance across several points on the bed, then uses that data to compensate for differences during the printing process.

Filament Compatibility

3D printing filaments have different qualities – flexible, strong, easy-to-print, brittle, wear-resistant, and so on. Depending on your printing plans, it’s important to know which filament will serve you best and buy a printer that supports that material.

The most important factors are the maximum nozzle temperature if the printer has a heated bed and what temperatures that bed can reach. Filaments are very specific temperature requirements, especially high-temp exotics such as nylon and carbon fiber.

Most FDM printers generally support PLA, ABS, TPU, and PETG as standard. But, it’s important to note that while manufacturers may list filaments as compatible, especially ABS and flexibles, the machine might not play nice with them when it comes to printing good quality parts and models.

Any FDM print will do the job if you’re working with PLA. For ABS, we can’t stress how important it is to choose a printer with an enclosure to provide the stable thermal environment the material requires. For flexibles like TPU, look out for machines with direct drive extruders to limit jamming, clogging, and snapping issues that tend to flare up in Bowden systems.

Enclosure

Most FDM printers have open designs, but this isn’t suited to all filament types, especially PLA and other heat-sensitive materials that require a constant ambient temperature to perform at their best.

If you plan to dabble with these, you’ll want an enclosure, or alternatively, you may want to consider fashioning a DIY enclosure after purchase.

Extruder

Most FDM printers ship with a single extruder, the mechanism that feeds filament into the hot end. Single extruders allow you to print with one filament type or color at a time. Should you want to weave in soluble support structures made from PVA, for example, or print parts with two colors in one sitting, look out for 3D printers with dual extruders.

Printing Goals and Budget

There’s no sidestepping that 3D printers are expensive. Prices have dropped much lower than even just a few years ago, but you can expect to pay up to $300 for a decent entry-level machine. For this reason, it’s worth weighing your printing goals and needs (print size, applications, etc) against how much you’re reasonably willing to spend.

There’s little sense in a first-timer spending thousands on a professional-grade printer that offers more features than they’ll conceivably need. Conversely, a seasoned maker or small business may find a budget printer not quite able to match their plans.

What are the Different Types of FDM 3D Printers?

Though they all utilize the same technology, there are 4 main varieties of FDM 3D printer: Delta, Cartesian, Polar & Scara 3D printer (robotic arm). Polar and Scara are fairly obscure still however, so we’ll explain the main two.

  • We have written a more in-depth guide to all four (Cartesian, Delta, Polar & Scara) types of 3D printer which you can view here.

Cartesian FDM 3D printers — The most common type of FDM 3D printer, Cartesian 3D printers include the legendary Ultimaker 3, and printers made by American 3D printer giant Makerbot. They use X, Y and Z-axes to extrude filament on the right co-ordinates.

Delta FDM 3D printers — Less obscure than they once were, Delta FDM 3D printers are more commonly seen in RepRap 3D printers such as the Rostock. They use three arms to control the extruder, allowing for extra flexibility and faster 3D printing.

Whereas the print bed usually moves depending on the co-ordinates in a Cartesian 3D printer, it remains stationary in a Delta printer. This is because Delta printers are more flexible and can reach the edges of the print bed, negating any need for it to move.

If you enjoyed this ranking, check out our other rankings as well as our 3D printing technology guides.

Related articles:

  • The best dual extruder 3D printers ranked.
  • The best large 3D printers — for those who want to build larger models.
  • The best DIY 3D printer kits — most are FDM printers.
  • The best 3D printers under $200
  • Best 3D printers under $300
  • Best 3D printers under $500
  • Best 3D printers under $1000

The most expensive 3D printers in the world

  • home
  • News AT
  • World
  • The most expensive 3D printers in the world

Various technologies do not stand still, they are constantly developing. This article proposes to consider the evolution of industrial 3D printers today, which are the most expensive in the world and why.

3D printers are unique in terms of the variety of different 3D printing methods, materials used and their applications. You can spend as little as $100 to get a reliable 3D printer to make a huge variety of parts from affordable plastic material. On the other hand, you can spend over a million dollars to buy a 3D printer to 3D print parts with large and complex construction geometries. They can be used in the aerospace industry, the production of space satellites or miniature biocompatible devices for medical purposes. The most expensive 3D printers on the market today use 1 to 12 powerful lasers to fuse metal powder, sinter polymer materials, or polymerize resin, and 3D printing from a given 3D model occurs by applying the powder layer by layer, which is a process additive manufacturing.

It can be noted that the size of the 3D printer does not determine how expensive the 3D printer will be. Today, the price often depends on advanced patented technologies and features that allow a 3D printer to produce fast and high-quality 3D-printed parts without requiring special technical knowledge from the operator.

Some of the most expensive printers are not even for sale. Carbon 3D's 3D printers are available for rent only, which allows them to be used by many users. Others use their 3D printers on a project-by-project basis, such as the Vulcan construction printer from homebuilder Icon 3.

Stargate, the world's largest metal 3D printer built by Relativity Space to 3D print rockets, it's not for sale, but if it was, it would definitely be on our list. Many of the most exciting technologies in 3D printing can only be used for custom 3D printing, not for purchase. (Source: Relativity Space)

Let's look at the criteria that affect the cost of a modern industrial 3D printer.

Features 3 D -printers affecting their price:

  • The uniqueness of technology when creating
  • How automated the processes in 3D printer
  • The size of the working chamber
  • Functions allowing quality control
  • Self -software software
  • Numerous controls and adjustments
  • Controlled environment inside the working chamber (use of inert gas, possibility of heating/cooling the working platform)

Let's break down these features:

Features that drive up the price of 3D printers include printer technology-specific software, real-time 3D printing control systems, and anything that automates processes that sometimes are performed manually in cheaper systems (layer leveling, subsequent post-processing or powder sieving) or processes that require knowledge of metallurgy or polymers.

Production technology that requires a vacuum chamber in a 3D printer, filling the working chamber with an inert gas, or printers that are certified for use in clean rooms and have these characteristics are significantly reflected in the final price of this equipment.

The materials used in the 3D printing process also have a significant impact on the final cost of a 3D printer. Many 3D printers only work with proprietary materials that have been developed by the manufacturer for that 3D printer. They can be metal powder, special resins filled with carbon fiber particles, and unique polymer powders. At this point in time, it is possible to 3D print anything from pure gold to advanced engineering plastics on 3D printers, even in the harsh environment of space.

There are 3D printers that can 3D print multiple materials in one job, and there are multicolor 3D printers that are also in the higher price segment.

THE MOST EXPENSIVE 3 D -PRINTERS

The 3D printer manufacturers discussed below are reluctant to publish exact prices for their products. This is due not only to competition, but also to the fact that 3D printers have a basic package, as well as a package with additional options according to customer requirements. That said, with that in mind, below is a look at some of the most expensive 3D printers available today - all costing over half a million US dollars - and what they provide.

E-Plus3D EP-M450H

3D printer EP-M450H LPBF (Source: E-Plus 3D)

E-PLUS3D produces industrial metal 3D printers with a large camer of the building for additive manufacturing for various industries in the country. These 3D printers are used in the aerospace, automotive, electronics, and engineering industries to produce not only large-sized parts such as heavy-duty molds, but also mass-produced parts.

The EP-M450H Metal 3D Printer is the company's largest 3D printer with a build chamber of 456 x 456 x 1080 mm, producing 99.9% density metal parts from a wide range of materials at a speed of 55 cm³ per hour.

XJet Carmel 1400C

Israeli company XJet has developed a unique ceramic 3D printing technology. NanoParticle Jetting (NPJ) technology allows the production of metal and ceramic parts with a high level of detail, smooth surface roughness and geometric accuracy. The high cost of this 3D printer is not only due to the technology itself, patented materials that make this printer a serious investment, but also to the advanced automation of the 3D printer itself, which makes it easy to use.

Carmel 1400C, equipped with one of the largest 1400 cm² work platform in the industry, which allows you to simultaneously produce several ceramic parts.

SLM Solutions NXG Xll 600

Large Metal 3D Printer NXG XII 600 (Source: SLM Solutions) range of printers, but its NXG Xll 600 is what the company says is a revolution in industrial additive manufacturing. The NXG XII 600 was designed for high-volume additive manufacturing and features the industry's first 12 1,000W lasers with a 600x600x600 build chamber. Lasers provide high build speed up to 1000 cm 3 /h and capacity not available for other machines.

In addition to lasers, the NXG Xll 600 has all the benefits that SLM Solutions customers have been asking for over the years, including automatic start-up, laser focusing, closed powder feed and material screening, and other latest developments.

UpNano NanoOne Bio

The Austrian company UpNano has developed a two-photon 3D printer using hydrogel-based bio-ink, which allows direct printing of 3D structures containing living cells, both at the meso- and microscale. The NanoOne Bio printer is based on the NanoOne line of laser printers capable of creating structures of 12 orders. The new hydrogel is the only commercially available resin that allows live cells to be embedded directly from culture plates into 3D printed structures for biological applications.

UpNano claims that the combination of X Hydrobio INX U200 and NanoOne Bio opens up new possibilities in biomedical research and development, both in industry and academia, allowing pharmaceutical companies and research institutes to create cell models that mimic natural growth conditions in the body person.

Black Buffalo 3D

Black Buffalo's new 1G construction printer (Source: Black Buffalo)

Black Buffalo 3D, an American company based in South Korea, officially unveiled its Nexcon 1G earlier this year, which is a 3D printer for building houses and other large concrete objects. The printer can create a 92.9 square meter structure in less than 20 hours. It uses Black Buffalo's patented cementitious material, the company calls it ink, that can be dyed to a chosen color and is also customizable to 3D print locally according to the temperature, humidity and altitude conditions of the area.

The Nexcon 1G is a modular 3D construction printer that can be extended along the X, Y and Z axes to scale up (or down) a project up to three stories high. The 1G printer is unique in that users can reposition the base rails and move the printer to a new printable area without having to remove the X or Z axis.

Optomec LENS 860

Energy Deposition (DED), which allows the recovery of large titanium components, such as those used in aircraft engines. Optomec offers several models of 3D printers that have large build chambers like 860x600x610 and laser power of 3 kW.

The LENS 860 machining systems are ideal for the fabrication, repair or coating of medium to large metal parts.

ExOne S-Max Pro

While many ExOne printers (now owned by Desktop Metal), they are still very affordable given that high volume 3D printers can cost quite a few zeros.

3D printers are used to 3D print complex and detailed sand molds and cores for foundries producing large metal parts for industrial use. The S-Max Pro features a 1,260 liter build chamber for fast 3D printing of sand molds and cores. A new automated print head enables fast 3D printing, while improved sand compaction ensures the density and strength of complex sand mold designs. As the most advanced system in the ExOne family of sand 3D printers, the S-Max Pro is focused on continuous 24/7 production and offers Industry 4.0 integration with cloud connectivity and real-time machine monitoring.

In conclusion, I would like to know the opinion of Russian industrialists and users of industrial 3D printers: Is it possible to integrate these 3D printers into the Russian industry? Do Russian developers of this equipment need to produce the same expensive 3D printers in Russia?

Share article:

The best 3D printers on the Ukrainian market

Ultimaker S5

217 400

UAH

Flagship of the Ultimaker brand. One of the best semi-professional 3D printers in the world.

High quality reliable 3D printer. Great for business.

Detailed information about the 3D printer

Gigant

Large and robust rail-mounted 3D printer. Huge print area: 40*40*40cm. The 3D printer can be equipped with two extruders. The body is made of steel, and the kinematics are built on the basis of professional machine components, which guarantees high accuracy and long service life of the device.

Semi-closed housing. Russified firmware. Industrial reliability. Thread 1.75 mm. Cura software support.

3D printer details

Prime X production

from 29 500

UAH.

All-in-one, rugged 3D printer for the home or small office. With a small budget, you get full functionality, a large print area and a 12-month warranty from the manufacturer (Ukraine)

Huge build area. Reliable electronics. Rail guides. Russified touch screen.

Detailed information about the 3D printer

Flashforge Guider II

55000

High-quality 3D printer from the expensive Chinese segment.

Precision mechanics. Closed construction. Platform auto-calibration sensor. Modern design

3D printer details

MakerPi K5 Plus with auto-calibration

27000

UAH.

K5 Plus is a new line from the famous Chinese brand MakerPi. Good print quality and ease of use make this printer a convenient option for both home and business. The kinematics of the K5 3D printer is a copy of Makerbot, which results in very fast printing without loss of surface quality.

Nice blue body. Proven design. Excellent blowing of the print area. High precision mechanics.

Detailed information about 3D printer

MakerPi 2030X with color mixing extruder

40 000

UAH.

New copy of Ultimaker from Chinese manufacturer MakerPi with mixing extruder. A rugged steel body paired with Ultimaker's high-precision kinematics deliver superior print quality and impressive speed.

Innovative extruder allows you to print with 2 colors / 2 materials, as well as mix 2 colors, creating incredibly beautiful gradient 3D printing.

Robust steel body. Large color display. Copy of Ultimaker.

3D printer details

The 3D printer market is in a phase of rapid growth these days.

Learn more