Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
EDITORS’ NOTE
November 24, 2025: With this update, we added the Bambu Lab P2S as Best 3D Printer Overall and removed the Qidi Plus 4, which previously held that spot. We also added the Formlabs Form 4 as Best Pro-Level Resin 3D Printer and the Bambu Lab H2S as Best Premium 3D Printer. All picks have been vetted for currency and availability. Since our last update, we have reviewed three 3D printers for consideration for this and our other 3D printer roundups, and are currently testing several 3D printers in PC Labs, including models from Elegoo and Ultimaker.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Pros & Cons
Excellent print quality and reliability
Fast, precise motion system
Intelligent cooling for both low and high temperature filaments
Works with the optional AMS 2 Pro for multi-material printing
Improved touch-screen interface
Crisp 1080p camera for monitoring and timelapses
Large footprint might not fit in some home offices
Proprietary parts limit some third-party modifications
Why We Picked It
The Bambu Lab P2S represents a rare combination of performance, intelligence, and refinement. It delivers professional-level output in a desktop form factor without requiring constant adjustments. For newcomers, the P2S offers a remarkably gentle learning curve. Automatic calibration, guided maintenance, and built-in error detection mean that the first print is likely to succeed. For experienced users, the printer’s speed and reliability translate into faster iteration and less downtime.
Who It’s For
3D printing newbies: The P2S is a good choice for people with little or no 3D printing experience who are willing to spend a bit more than they’d pay for an entry-level budget machine for a 3D printer they won’t soon (if ever) outgrow. A 5-inch color touch screen is on the front panel; menus slide fluidly, animations load quickly, and setup prompts are clear. The printer guides the user through automatic bed leveling, filament loading, and first-layer calibration. During our tests, the P2S completed these steps without manual adjustment and produced excellent prints.
Upgraders: The Bambu P2S is ideal for someone who got their feet wet with an entry-level 3D printer and is ready for something better. Its automatic bed leveling will be a joy for anyone who’s experienced the oft-dicey bed leveling found in many beginner machines.
Professionals and enthusiasts: The P2S’s facility in producing excellent prints using a variety of filament types makes it a great choice for use in short-run manufacturing, rapid product prototyping, creating exacting engineering models, and much more. The AMS 2 Pro unit included in the P2S Combo that we reviewed allows a user to easily switch between any of four filament colors or types.
Specs & Configurations
3D-Printing Technology
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)
Materials Supported
PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, TPU
Number of Print Colors
4
Number of Extruders
1
Frame Design
Closed
Maximum Build Area (HWD)
10.1 by 10.1 by 10.1
Primary Interface(s)
Wi-Fi, USB Thumb Drive
Dimensions (HWD)
15.4 by 16 by 18.8 inches
Weight
32.8 lbs
Warranty (Parts/Labor)
1 year(s)
Learn More
Bambu Lab P2S Review
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Pros & Cons
Easy to assemble
Speedy, accurate prints
Hands-off automatic bed leveling process
Sleek metallic finish
Easy-to-use touch screen
Quite loud at times
Plate adhesion wears away quickly, requiring glue to repair
Why We Picked It
The Creality Ender-3 V3 is a great pick for curious tinkerers looking for an easy-to-use introduction to 3D printing. It shows improvements in print speed, auto-calibration, and cooling over other Ender-3 models we’ve tested. Though not without hiccups—including noise, vibration, and a print bed that needs to be treated with glue—it’s a highly capable and affordable budget 3D printer.
Who It’s For
Beginners: The Creality Ender-3 V3 is a highly capable and affordable open-frame 3D printer that’s easy to love if you’re just starting out in the hobby. It is easy to assemble and produces speedy, high-quality prints. As an open-frame printer, it’s easy to see its inner workings—the extruder. motors, and printbed—in action, which provides good experiential education to a 3D printing newbie.
Budget buyers: The Ender-3 V3 is a good choice if you’re on a tight budget, or if you’re looking for a second or backup 3D printer. This easy-to-use model produces speedy, high-quality prints at a modest price, and it has a relatively small footprint for an open-frame printer.
Specs & Configurations
3D-Printing Technology
Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF)
Materials Supported
PLA, TPU, PETG, ABS, PLA-CF, PETG-CF, CR-Carbon
Number of Print Colors
1
Number of Extruders
1
Frame Design
Open
Maximum Build Area (HWD)
7.8 by 7.8 by 9.8 inches
Top Print Resolution
350 microns
Primary Interface(s)
Wi-Fi
Dimensions (HWD)
14 by 14.7 by 19.6 inches
Weight
17.2 lbs
Warranty (Parts/Labor)
12 months
Learn More
Creality Ender-3 V3 Review
Pros & Cons
Nearly flawless box-to-print experience
Optional laser cutter and filament management system
Massive build volume
Extremely quiet, despite high speeds and unmatched precision
Active chamber temperature management
Laser cutter module limited to 10 watts
AMS doesn’t actively dry filament while printing
Laser cutter software could use refinement
Start/end/filament change cycles are jarringly loud
No integrated management for filament waste
Why We Picked It
The Bambu Lab H2S has a winning combination of features. It’s a single-extruder, large-volume printer with refined automated calibration, a heated chamber, support for multi-material printing, and impressive software integration. We think this is the best high-end filament 3D printer, not just because the machine itself is excellent, but because it works with a robust ecosystem of software and optional accessories. The top-of-the-line configuration with a multi-material management system and a laser cutter is a complete manufacturing solution for passionate hobbyists.
Who It’s For
Enthusiasts: The H2S is a breath of fresh air for enthusiasts who already have experience fiddling with temperamental printers to get the best quality. With the H2S, what comes out is a finished part or project without the usual friction, fumbling, or fine-tuning.
People who print with multiple colors: The optional AMS 2 Pro material management system can hold four rolls of filament, allowing the printer to switch colors mid-print.
People who print with multiple filament types: The temperature-controlled build chamber can handle a wider range of filaments—including ABS—than machines that lack this feature.
Hobbyists also considering buying a laser cutter: The laser-cutter option for the H2S can save you a significant amount of workbench space if you only need a cutter occasionally.
Specs & Configurations
3D-Printing Technology
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)
Materials Supported
PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, PA, PC, TPU
Number of Print Colors
4
Number of Extruders
1
Frame Design
Closed
Maximum Build Area (HWD)
13.39 by 13.39 by 12.60 inches (HWD)
Top Print Resolution
100 microns
Primary Interface(s)
Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB
Dimensions (HWD)
34 by 27 by 24 inches (HWD)
Weight
66.14 lbs
Warranty (Parts/Labor)
1 year(s)
Learn More
Bambu Lab H2S Review
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Pros & Cons
Prints large objects
Nearly problem-free printing
Good to very good print quality
Supports multiple filament types
Takes up a lot of space
No filament included
Why We Picked It
Looking to make big 3D prints for a modest price? The open-frame Elegoo Neptune 4 Plus 3D printer produces jumbo-sized prints, a rarity for sub-$500 3D printers, and in our testing, printed more than 20 objects of generally very good quality. It requires some basic assembly and enough table or bench space to house it, but setup and operation are easy enough. Be sure to add at least one filament spool to your order when purchasing the Neptune, or buy it in a bundle that includes filament.
Who It’s For
3D printing beginners: The Neptune 4 Plus is ideal as a starter 3D printer for a newbie willing to roll up their sleeves. Some fairly simple assembly is required. As an open-frame 3D printer, the Neptune’s workings—motors, belts, cables, print bed, extruder, and filament feed—remain visible. Both assembling it and seeing it in action help a newcomer to better understand the 3D printing process. The Neptune is capable of printing large objects, and our test prints were generally of very good quality.
Cash-strapped hobbyists: The Neptune 4 Plus is a good choice for a hobbyist on a budget. It sells for a modest price, it supports many filament types, and it can produce large prints.
Specs & Configurations
3D-Printing Technology
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)
Materials Supported
ABS, PLA, Nylon, PETG, ASA, TPU
Number of Print Colors
1
Number of Extruders
1
Frame Design
Open
Maximum Build Area (HWD)
15.2 by 12.6 by 12.6 inches
Top Print Resolution
100 microns
Primary Interface(s)
USB Thumb Drive, Wi-Fi
Dimensions (HWD)
25.2 by 21 by 22.8 inches
Weight
32 lbs
Warranty (Parts/Labor)
1 year(s)
Learn More
Elegoo Neptune 4 Plus Review
(Credit: Ted Needleman)
(Credit: Ted Needleman)
Pros & Cons
Excellent-quality prints at low cost
Fast standard print speed
Quick assembly
Optional four-color print capability via reasonably priced accessory
Small print bed
Cramped touch-screen control panel
Printing with multiple colors results in filament waste
Why We Picked It
The Bambu Lab A1 mini is not only an affordable 3D printer, but also offers an inexpensive add-on module that can print with any or all of four different-colored filaments, making multicolor creations easy. It generates high-quality prints at a relatively high speed, too. The A1 mini is exceptionally easy to get up and running and continues to be problem-free while you’re printing.
Who It’s For
Beginners: The Bambu Lab A1 mini comes nearly fully assembled and is easy to set up and operate. It quickly generates good-looking prints and proved problem-free in our testing. The combo version that we reviewed includes an add-on module that can print with any or all of four different-colored filaments, making multicolor creations easy.
Budget-minded hobbyists: The A1 mini is a superb choice for someone who wants a stellar out-of-the-box experience, simple operation, and some money left in the bank. The version we reviewed sells for less than $400, making it one of the lowest-cost four-color fused deposition modeling (FDM) printers on the market.
Specs & Configurations
3D-Printing Technology
Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF)
Materials Supported
PLA, PETG, TPU, PVA
Number of Print Colors
4
Number of Extruders
1
Frame Design
Closed
Maximum Build Area (HWD)
70.9 x 70.9 x 70.9 inches (HWD)
Top Print Resolution
100 microns
Primary Interface(s)
Wi-Fi, microSD card
Dimensions (HWD)
13.7 x 12.4 x 14.4 inches (HWD)
Weight
12.12 lbs
Warranty (Parts/Labor)
1 year(s)
Learn More
Bambu Lab A1 mini Review
Pros & Cons
High-quality prints
Offers optional four-color print capability
Very easy to change nozzles
Built-in camera
Printing in multiple colors produces large amounts of waste
Assembly process is relatively involved
Wi-Fi only; no USB port
Why We Picked It
The Bambu Lab A1 is the flagship printer from a company that helped pioneer filament-based multicolor 3D printing. It boasts a four-color print capability, a large print bed, and an easy-to-switch nozzle system, all at a reasonable price. The A1 is easy to get going and offers excellent-quality prints. (Note that the A1 works with Bambu Lab’s four-color spool system as either an optional extra for the $399 base model or included with the A1 Combo, which costs $559.)
Who It’s For
3D printing beginners: The A1 is a good fit for beginners. It is easy to set up and use, and comes at a reasonable cost. The A1 Combo version, which we reviewed, adds Bambu Lab’s four-color spool system to the $399 base model, enabling you to get started with multicolor 3D printing.
Hobbyists: The Bambu Lab A1 has much to recommend it to hobbyists and 3D printing veterans. It features a large print bed and is capable of producing high-quality prints.
Specs & Configurations
3D-Printing Technology
Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF)
Materials Supported
PLA, PETG, TPU, PVA
Frame Design
Open
Maximum Build Area (HWD)
10 by 10 by 10 inches
Primary Interface(s)
Wi-Fi, microSD card
Dimensions (HWD)
16.93 by 15.16 by 16.14 inches
Weight
18.3 lbs
Warranty (Parts/Labor)
1 year(s)
Learn More
Bambu Lab A1 Review
(Credit: Michael Lydick)
(Credit: Michael Lydick)
Pros & Cons
Ultra-fast print speeds
Automated resin management
Manufacturing-grade print quality
Easy setup and bed leveling
Works with optional washing and curing stations
Expensive
Uses proprietary, pricey resin (or requires a fee to “unlock” third-party resins)
Relatively small build volume
Why We Picked it
The Formlabs Form 4 is a production-line-ready powerhouse. It has fully automated leveling and calibration—simply snap in the resin cartridge and build platform, then start printing. At no point in the process are you likely to make a mistake. The Low Force Display (LFD) engine, resin handling, and wash/cure workflow combine into a system that prints quickly, cleanly, and—most important—dimensionally accurately using Formlabs resins and even well-tuned third-party materials via Open Material Mode. This reliability shows up in tangible ways: clear optical pieces you can actually see through, snap-fit brackets that snap, threads that thread, and tolerances that measure like you drew them.
Who’s It For
Short-run manufacturers: The Form 4 delivers an end-to-end workflow solution designed to move from CAD model to finished, production-ready part with minimal tinkering. The Form 4 is best suited for professionals, engineers, and entrepreneurs who value speed, reliability, and accuracy.
Artists: With a seamless workflow solution and the Form 4’s extreme printing precision, some artists will be tempted to use a Form 4 to bring their creations to life, just as I witnessed an artist doing with the original Form 1 at a MakerFaire more than a decade ago. The catch is that they have to be willing to either work within the Formlabs ecosystem, which includes their high-quality but somewhat expensive resins, or else pony up $2,499 to unlock the Form 4’s Open Material Mode so it will accept third-party resins and enable a range of additional settings in Formlabs’ slicer software, a pretty high bar for asserting one’s artistic freedom.
Specs & Configurations
3D-Printing Technology
Stereolithography
Materials Supported
Resin
Frame Design
Closed
Maximum Build Area (HWD)
7.87 by 4.92 by 8.27 inches (HWD)
Top Print Resolution
50 microns
Primary Interface(s)
Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB
Dimensions (HWD)
15.7 by 14.5 by 21.9 inches
Weight
40.3 lbs
Warranty (Parts/Labor)
1 year(s)
Learn More
Formlabs Form 4 Review
(Credit: PCMag)
(Credit: PCMag)
Pros & Cons
Dual extruders.
Large build volume.
Quiet.
Good print quality.
Easy setup and operation.
Touch screen.
Pricey.
Relatively slow printing at default resolution.
Why We Picked It
The Ultimaker S5 is a significant investment, but it offers a lot for its premium price. A 3D printer geared toward professionals, the S5 features a large build area for a closed-frame printer and comes equipped with dual extruders, allowing you to print with two filament colors or types. To that end, it comes with one spool of Tough PLA (polylactic acid) and one of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), the latter a water-soluble filament commonly used as a temporary support material during printing for complex objects.
Moreover, it is easy to set up and operate. The S5 can connect to a PC via Wi-Fi or Ethernet, and you can print objects from a USB thumb drive inserted into its forward-facing port. It relies on the familiar Cura open-source printing software, which Ultimaker now manages.
Who It’s For
Product designers and manufacturers: The Ultimaker S5 is ideal for rapid prototyping, enabling quick and high-quality printing, modification, and re-printing of multiple versions of a design. Its dual extruders allow you to print designs in two colors; it features a large print area for a closed-frame 3D printer; and it rapidly outputs prints. All of these factors are a boon to short-run manufacturers.
Architects and engineers: The S5’s speed and print quality enable architects to easily print and modify multiple versions of a model. It is capable of precision printing, churning out good-to-excellent-quality prints in our testing.
Specs & Configurations
3D-Printing Technology
Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF)
Materials Supported
ABS, Nylon, PLA
Number of Print Colors
2
Number of Extruders
2
Frame Design
Open
Maximum Build Area (HWD)
13 by 11.8 by 9.5 inches (HWD)
Top Print Resolution
60 microns
Primary Interface(s)
Ethernet
Dimensions (HWD)
19.5 by 20.5 by 18 inches
Weight
45 lbs
Warranty (Parts/Labor)
1 year(s)
Learn More
Ultimaker S5 Review
Pros & Cons
Heated and mixed resin vat
Large build volume
Automatic resin feed feature works well
Wi-Fi connectivity and app-based monitoring
No air filter included
Awkward USB port and power cord placement
No automatic leveling (manual only)
Relatively low-resolution 13.6-inch LCD print screen
Why We Picked It
Fast, precise, and with exceptional automatic resin handling, the Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Max is a great choice for enthusiasts, hobbyists, and professionals seeking an SLA 3D printer for personal or business use. It can generate the smallest of miniatures up through exceptionally large models, with easy-to-use remote monitoring. Its excellent resin management works entirely behind the scenes, allowing you to get to the print quickly and cleanly. The printer’s light-source system easily handles the most stringent calibration files down to the 10-micron level with remarkable print quality. And it comes in at a very reasonable price for a 3D printer of its capabilities.
Who It’s For
Professionals: With a build quality that approaches industrial-grade standards, along with exceptional reliability and the ability to print fine details, the Mono M7 Max should appeal to professionals seeking a 3D printer for rapid prototyping and short-run manufacturing.
Enthusiasts: With a sub-$1,000 price, exceptional quality, and innovative resin-management features, the Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Max is a natural fit for artists, hobbyists, and anyone seeking a resin-based printer to quickly output high-quality prints. Because the M7 Max conceals its powerful technology beneath an intuitive and responsive UI, users can transition from unboxing to finished prints with minimal resin interaction.
Specs & Configurations
3D-Printing Technology
Stereolithography
Materials Supported
Resin
Number of Print Colors
1
Frame Design
Closed
Maximum Build Area (HWD)
11.7 by 6.4 by 11.8 inches
Top Print Resolution
10 microns
Primary Interface(s)
Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB
Dimensions (HWD)
25.7 by 16.7 by 14.3 inches
Weight
52.91 lbs
Warranty (Parts/Labor)
1 year(s)
Learn More
Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Max Review
(Credit: Molly Flores)
(Credit: Molly Flores)
Pros & Cons
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
Tiny build area
Not ideal for importing 3D files created elsewhere
Why We Picked It
The Toybox 3D Printer is a device that kids can enjoy with minimal supervision and use to output some nifty toys. A parent will be needed for the initial setup, which involves creating a free account, downloading the app, and syncing your device with the printer. It is also recommended to have an adult present during use by younger children.
You can print from a mobile device or through a browser, selecting printable objects from Toybox’s generous selection or designing your own. Printing proved smooth, with no misprints. Filament-wise, it’s PLA only, which is the best choice for beginners.
Who It’s For
Children and teenagers: The Toybox 3D Printer is designed for use by children and young people—Toybox Labs recommends a minimum age of 5, accompanied by adult supervision. Kids can choose from printable objects from Toybox’s large age-suitable selection. It can print 3D files imported from elsewhere, but it delivers its best results when you stick to the Toybox ecosystem.
The young at heart: The printer should be fun for people of any age—printing with it is a good activity to bring parents and children together. (I had the most fun printing with the Toybox of any 3D printer I’ve reviewed.) The tiny build area, the filament limitation to PLA, and the focus on printing from the Toybox ecosystem make it a specialty printer unsuitable for general use. But it’s a great choice for its target audience of kids and 3D printing dabblers.
Specs & Configurations
3D-Printing Technology
Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF)
Materials Supported
PLA
Number of Print Colors
1
Number of Extruders
1
Frame Design
Open
Maximum Build Area (HWD)
3.5 by 3.1 by 2.8 inches
Top Print Resolution
200 microns
Primary Interface(s)
Wi-Fi
Dimensions (HWD)
9.1 by 7.4 by 7.4 inches
Weight
6.6 lbs
Warranty (Parts/Labor)
1 year(s)
Learn More
Toybox 3D Printer Review
Get Our Best Stories!
All the Latest Tech, Tested by Our Experts
Sign up for the Lab Report to receive PCMag’s latest product reviews, buying advice, and insights.
Sign up for the Lab Report to receive PCMag’s latest product reviews, buying advice, and insights.
By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy
Policy.
Thanks for signing up!
Your subscription has been confirmed. Keep an eye on your inbox!
The Best 3D Printer for 2025
Compare Specs
Buying Guide: The Best 3D Printer for 2025
When shopping for a 3D printer, one question comes before all others: What do you intend to print on it? Actually, not only should you ponder what you want to print, but a more fundamental question: Why do you want to print in 3D?
A lot of the answer depends on who you are. Are you a consumer interested in making toys, figurines, or household items? A trendsetter who enjoys showing the latest gadgetry to your friends? An educator seeking to install a 3D printer in a classroom, library, or community center? A hobbyist or do-it-yourselfer who likes to experiment with new projects and technologies? A designer, engineer, or architect who needs to create prototypes or models of new products, parts, or structures? An artist who sees fabricating 3D objects as a kind of sculpture? Or a manufacturer looking to print plastic items in relatively short runs?
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
The “best” 3D printer for you depends on how you plan to use it. Consumers and schools will want a device that’s easy to set up and use, doesn’t need much maintenance, and offers reasonably good print quality. Hobbyists and artists may want special features such as the ability to print objects with more than one color or multiple filament types. Designers and other professionals demand outstanding print quality. Shops involved in short-run manufacturing will like a large build area to print multiple objects at once. Individuals wanting to show off the wonders of 3D printing to friends or clients will want a handsome yet reliable machine.
For this guide, we’ll focus on 3D printers targeted at consumers, hobbyists, schools, product designers, and other professionals such as engineers and architects, rather than high-end industrial printers. Most printers in this segment build 3D objects out of successive layers of molten plastic, a technique known as fused filament fabrication (FFF). It’s also called fused deposition modeling (FDM), although that term is trademarked by Stratasys Inc. A few 3D printers use stereolithography—the first 3D printing technique developed—in which ultraviolet (UV) lasers trace a pattern on photosensitive liquid resin, hardening the resin to form the object.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
What Size Objects Do You Want to Print?
Make sure that a 3D printer’s build area is large enough for the kind of objects that you intend to print with it. The build area is the size, in three dimensions, of the largest object that a given printer can produce (at least in theory—it may be somewhat less if the build platform is not exactly level, for example). Typical 3D printers have build areas between 6 and 9 inches square, but they can range from a few inches to more than two feet on a side, and a few are actually square. In our reviews, we list printers’ build areas in inches in height, width, and depth (HWD).
(Credit: Molly Flores)
What Kind of Filament Should Your 3D Printer Use?
As for the materials you’ll use to print with, most affordable 3D printers use the abovementioned FFF technique, in which plastic filament—available in spools—is melted and extruded, then solidifies to form the object. The two most common types of filament are acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and polylactic acid (PLA). Each has slightly different properties. For example, ABS melts at a higher temperature than PLA and is more flexible, but emits fumes when melted that many users find unpleasant, and it requires a heated print bed. PLA prints look smooth, but they tend to be on the brittle side.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Other materials used in FFF printing include, but are not limited to, high-impact polystyrene (HIPS); composite filaments made of wood, bronze, and copper; UV-luminescent filaments; nylon; Tritan copolyester; polyvinyl alcohol (PVA); polyethylene terephthalate (PETT); polycarbonate; conductive PLA and ABS; plasticized copolyamide thermoplastic elastomer (PCTPE); and PC-ABS. Each material has a different melting point, so use of some exotic filaments is limited to printers designed for them or ones with software that lets you control the extruder temperature. So your printer needs to support a given kind of filament to use it.
Filament comes in two diameters—1.85mm and 3mm—with most models using the smaller of the two. Filament is sold in spools, generally 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds), and costs $20 to $50 per kilogram for ABS and PLA. Although many 3D printers will accept generic spools, some companies’ printers use proprietary spools or cartridges. These may contain an RFID chip that allows a printer to identify the filament type and properties but restricts the material to the manufacturer’s compatible printers.
Make sure the filament is the right diameter for your printer, and that the spool is the right size. In many cases, you can buy or make (even 3D print) a spool holder that will fit various spool sizes. (For much more on 3D printing filaments, check out our filament explainer).
(Credit: Molly Flores)
Stereolithography printers can print at high resolutions and skip filament in favor of photosensitive (UV-curable) liquid resin, which is sold in bottles. Only a limited color palette is available, usually clear, white, gray, black, or gold. Working with liquid resin and isopropyl alcohol, which is used in the finishing process for stereolithography prints, can be messy and odiferous, but the print quality is often spectacular.
How High a Resolution Do You Need in a 3D Printer?
A 3D printer extrudes successive thin layers of molten plastic in accordance with instructions coded in the file for the object being printed. For 3D printing, resolution equals layer height. Resolution is measured in microns (0.001mm); the lower the number, the higher the resolution. That’s because the thinner each layer is, the more layers are needed to print any given object, and the finer the detail that can be captured. Note, however, that increasing resolution is sort of like increasing a digital camera’s megapixel count—although higher resolution often helps, it doesn’t guarantee good print quality.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Nearly all 3D printers sold today can print at a resolution of 200 microns—which should produce decent-quality prints—or better. Many can print at 100 microns, which generally delivers attractive objects. A few can print at higher resolutions still, as fine as 20 microns, but you may have to go beyond the preset resolutions and into custom settings to enable them.
(Credit: Molly Flores)
Higher resolution comes at a price, as printers with resolutions higher than 100 microns tend to cost more. Another downside of increased resolution is that it can add to print times—halving the resolution will roughly double the time it takes to print a given object. But for professionals who require the highest quality, the extra time may be worth it.
(Credit: Molly Flores)
The field of 3D printing for consumers and hobbyists is still in its infancy. The technology has been evolving at a rapid rate, making these products ever more viable and affordable. We can’t wait to see what improvements the coming years bring.
(Credit: Molly Flores)
Can a 3D Printer Print in More Than One Color?
A few 3D printers with multiple extruders can print objects in two or more colors. Most are dual-extruder models, with each extruder being fed a different color of filament. One caveat is that these printers can only print multicolored objects from files that have been designed for multicolor printing, with a separate file for each color, so the areas of different colors fit together like three-dimensional jigsaw puzzle pieces.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Why Is a 3D Printer’s Build Platform Important?
We’ve mentioned its size, but other aspects of the build platform (the surface on which you are printing) can prove critical in practice. A good platform will let an object adhere to it while printing, but should allow for easy removal when the printing is done. The most common configuration is a heated glass platform covered with blue painter’s tape or a similar surface. Objects stick to the tape reasonably well and are easy to remove when completed. Heating the platform can prevent the bottom corners of objects from curling upward, which is a common glitch, especially when printing with ABS.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
With some build platforms, you apply a glue stick to the surface to give the object something on which to adhere. This is workable, as long as the object can easily be removed after printing. (Sometimes, you must soak both platform and object in warm water for the object to come loose.)
A few 3D printers use a sheet of perforated board with tiny holes that fill with hot plastic during printing. This design holds an object solidly in place during printing, but objects may not easily come loose afterward. Using a thumbtack or an awl to push the plugs of hardened plastic out of the perforations to free the object and/or clean the board is a time-consuming process, and can damage the board.
(Credit: Molly Flores)
If the build platform becomes tilted, it can impede printing, particularly of larger objects. Many 3D printers offer instructions on how to level the build platform or provide a calibration routine in which the extruder moves to different points on the platform, ensuring that they’re all at the same height. A growing number of 3D printers automatically level the build platform.
Setting the extruder at the proper height above the build platform when starting a print job is also important for many printers. The process, known as Z-axis calibration, is usually performed manually by lowering the extruder until it’s so close to the build platform that a sheet of paper placed between them moves with slight resistance. A few printers automatically perform this calibration.
Recommended by Our Editors
Is an Open-Frame or a Closed-Frame 3D Printer Better?
Closed-frame 3D printers have an enclosed structure with a door, walls, and lid or hood. Open-frame models provide easy visibility of print jobs in progress, and the easiest access to the print bed and extruder. (Sometimes, too easy.)
A closed-frame model is safer, keeping kids and pets (not to mention nosy or klutzy adults) from accidentally touching the hot extruder. It’s also quieter, reducing fan noise, and can keep the burnt-plastic smell of ABS from your nose.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
On the flip side, as mentioned earlier, you tend to get a bigger build area for your money with an open-frame printer. So it comes down to the space you’ll be printing in, your tolerance for noise and smell, and how many cats you have.
How Do You Connect to a 3D Printer?
With most 3D printers, you initiate printing from a computer via a USB connection. Some printers have their own internal memory, which is an advantage because they can keep a print job in RAM and continue printing even if the USB cable is disconnected or the computer is shut down. (That’s important because some complex prints can take many hours, depending on the printer!)
A few offer Wi-Fi or peer-to-peer wireless connectivity. A downside of wireless is that, because 3D printing files can sometimes be more than 10MB in size, it can take a while to transfer them. Another connection method that we’ve seen is Ethernet, for sharing a printer on a local network.
Many printers have SD or microSD card slots from which you can load and print 3D object files using the printer’s control panel and display screen, while others have ports for USB flash drives. The advantage of printing directly from flash media is that you don’t need a computer. The downside is that it adds an extra step, that of transferring the files to your card. Typically, wireless, SD card, or thumb-drive connectivity is offered in addition to the basic USB cable, although a few models omit the latter.
What Software Do You Need?
Today’s 3D printers come with a suite of software—almost always Windows-compatible, and often for macOS and Linux as well—available as a download. Not long ago, 3D printing software consisted of multiple apps, including a printing program that controlled the motion of the extruder, a “healing” program that optimized the file to be printed, a slicer to prepare layers to be printed at the proper resolution, and the Python programming language.
(Credit: Anker)
These components were derived from the RepRap open-source project, which spurred the development of low-cost 3D printers. Today, printer manufacturers have integrated these programs into seamless, user-friendly packages, many building on the Ultimaker Cura open-source platform. Some 3D printers also allow you to use separate component programs if you prefer. It depends on the manufacturer and the model.
(Credit: Formlabs)
Ready to Buy the Right 3D Printer for You?
Our list of top 3D printers covers a wide range in price, features, and printing methods, but they all represent one thing: quality in their respective environments. For more information on how 3D printing works, our subject primer is a good place to start. Also, be sure to check out our roundup of the best overall printers.
