The best 3D printer for beginners and budget creators for 2020
COVID-19has focused on a sharper need for 3D printing expertise. Individuals and larger companies like HP and Formlabs have started using 3D printers to design and print PSA devices such as plastic face shields, clips for homemade or surgical masks, and even hands-free door handle add-ons to help fight the corona virus.
After working a few weeks from home without access to the 3D printer, I finally got my hands on one XYXPrinting da Vinci Jr. 1.0 A Pro. So far I’ve made a few fasteners for homemade fabric masks and some face protection headbands. The former are already in use, the latter have to wait until my clear plastic face protection material arrives in a few days.
The 3D printed hook holds my homemade fabric face mask in place.
Dan Ackerman / CNET
My interest in 3D printing started in 2018 when I was pretty deep in the weeds and created everything from smartphone stands to tabletop game accessories to one cute Mini Millennium Falcon. Since then, I’ve doubled and dealt with 3D scanning and even laser cutting, which you can use to shape real wood and leather designs.
There are numerous 3D printing options to choose from. Therefore, it can be difficult to find the best 3D printer that meets your needs and is within your price range. That is why we are here to help. We have considered the advantages and disadvantages of each printer, as well as print speed, print quality, noise level, design, resolution and more. These creative tools, which range from affordable (under $ 300) to high-priced (over $ 3,000), are great gifts for a creative person in your life – or even better – they are great for you to make your own to create personalized designs.
Once you’ve found the best 3D printer and are completely dependent on 3D printing, don’t blame me. (But if you do, here’s a practical one FAQ about 3D printing that should answer some of your questions).
Dan Ackerman / CNET
The ambitious da Vinci Jr. 1.0 A Pro is a step-up printer with a large 6.9-inch square surface and optional add-ons for both laser engraving and the use of special materials such as carbon fiber filaments. It’s $ 449 with just the standard equipment or $ 579 with the extras. However, the lack of built-in WiFi in this printer is a major problem, and for this price, an unheated bed is a serious omission. Some of the company’s printers are tied to proprietary filaments, but luckily that’s not the case (which is good as the PLA pattern roll included in the package wasn’t great).
Despite some additional bug fixes that were required during setup, I liked the printer’s modular design, its large, easy-to-use buttons, and frankly, the cheerful bright orange color.
Sarah Tew / CNET
Despite the low price, this is a damn fully featured 3D printer and a popular, affordable first step to testing 3D print water. Print quality and speed are excellent. Only buy additional filament for the printer as you will use up the sample filament very quickly.
Sarah Tew / CNET
If you’re set up on a resin printer, this is the best 3D printer for you. Resin printers are the next step in rapid prototyping design technology if you want your print to look as high as anything that is assembled in a factory. Be warned: the resin is more difficult to work with, and the resin requires good ventilation.
Sarah Tew / CNET
This is my best 3D printer to balance price, usability and print quality. Setup is simple, and I had it assembled and ready to start printing in less than 30 minutes after opening the box and collecting materials.
Continue reading.
Sarah Tew / CNET
Recreate pretty much everything by putting it on this 3D scanner, where a rotating base and built-in camera make a 360-degree copy that is then edited in any 3D program and printed on your 3D printer can. Simply scan the object, import the scan into your slicing software for cleaning and print. The supplied software informs you about the next steps of the printing process with sound or text. Scan quality and resolution are great and setup is easy.
Sarah Tew / CNET
The printing technology doesn’t get much better than the one that came with this printer. Glowforge laser cutters can shape projects from wood, leather, lucite, and other materials, making them an interesting printing alternative to filament-based 3D printers. Even better, what would take an FDM 3D printer hours would take just a few minutes at Glowforge.
Originally published in 2019 and updated regularly.
