The world of 3D printing is overwhelming if it’s your first time immersing yourself. The choice is complicated by the number of options on the market. That is why we are going to explain what you should look for to acquire your first three-dimensional printing device, showing you some of the best cheap products that you can buy.
We are going to try to simplify everything that we must take into account when buying our first 3D printer, since there are many variables.
Printing materials
We have enough materials to create 3D prints such as polyethylene terephthalate, nylon or ninjaflex, although the most used at the user level are acrylonitrile butadiene styrene ( ABS ) and polylactic acid ( PLA ).
If we are beginners, ABS is not a highly recommended material, since it is difficult to work with and the temperatures it reaches when handling are very high. However, PLA is easier to handle , biodegradable, and offers a glossy finish that is more attractive.
Printing systems
At the domestic level we essentially have the FFF system (fused filament manufacturing), although at an industrial level there are many others such as selective laser sintering, selective laser fusion, electron beam fusion, etc.
Types of printers
When we talk about 3D printers for home we have the commercial type and the DIY ones.
A commercial type printer is one that does not require excessive knowledge to work with it, you just have to take it out of the box, plug it in and we can start printing.
However, we have to assemble the DIY ones ourselves, so it can become a challenge or a nightmare. This will depend a lot on knowledge and patience.
Other parameters to consider
We must also take into account some parameters when we are going to choose a 3D printer, such as:
- Printing speed: this is clear, the faster the less we will have to wait for printing.
- Hot bed: this means that the support maintains a high temperature so that the piece does not get cold once we have finished.
- Connections : although most models have cables, there are some printers with a WiFi connection or that have SD slots and USB ports to help.
- Compatibility : it is important to check that the printer is compatible with the file format we want to print.
- Printing volume: this is the maximum that our printing can occupy.
Some of the best
Once we are clear about these concepts, we are going to see a selection of some of the best low-cost 3D printers that we can buy right now.
Comgrow Creality Ender 3
It is capable of having a build volume of 220 x 220 x 250 mm . It uses FDM technology and is DIY , so we must assemble it ourselves. The plate only takes 5 minutes to heat up.
ANYCUBIC Photon Zero UV
This machine has a closed print volume of 97 x 54 x 150mm . Its module allows UV light to be distributed more evenly. It has a cooling system that allows stable printing.
XYZprinting 3FM3WXEU01B
This 3D printer has a beautiful and understated design, with a print volume of 150 x 150 x 150 mm and a layer resolution of 100 microns. It can be connected to the computer via WiFi .
Monoprice Select Mini 3D
It works with ABS, PLA, wood compounds and soluble PVA among others. The print volume is 120 x 120 x 120mm with a resolution of 100-300 microns.
Creality CR-10 V2
The print volume is 300 x 300 x 400 mm . You can print with ABS, PLA and wood. It has multiple cooling fans, as well as being compatible with 0.4, 0.3, and 0.2mm nozzles.
ANYCUBIC Mega S
The print size is 210 x 210 x 205mm and you can use a good number of materials such as PLA, ABS, HIPS, wood, etc. It has a rigid metal frame that reduces vibrations to improve printing.
JGAURORA Magic DIY
This printer can work with PLA and ABS. It has a printing volume of 220 x 220 x 250 mm and a heating plate of 110º C. It has a 0.4 mm nozzle that allows 1.75 mm filaments.
FlashForge Finder
It has a removable build plate for cleaning. The print size of this 3D printer is 140 x 140 x 140mm . It has a WiFi connection, works with PLA and its precision is 50 microns.
LABISTS
In this case the printing volume is a good size, since it has 245 x 205 x 210 mm . It has a 0.4mm nozzle and the material it uses is PLA. It is an ideal 3D printer for children to participate.
BQ Witbox Go!
It is a printer that has a built-in Qualcomm Snapdragon TM processor and is used with the Android operating system. It is connected by WiFi and its handling is extremely simple.