Welcome to my post”The Best 3D Printers Reviews 2022 “Due to the strong turnout today, it is difficult to choose the best 3D printer, because there is a lot to consider. The range of high-quality 3D printers for the home has increased enormously in recent years.
There are also different types of 3D printers that use different technologies and different raw materials.
It is up to you to ask the right questions and to know how to choose the best 3d printer for you. The right one depends on the price / quality ratio, the use, and your personal preference in size and functionalities.
Read the research at the bottom of the article to make your choice easier. No need to research, check out our top 5 best 3D printers. Pay attention; we only look at ready-made 3D printer.
ULTIMAKER S3
Best 3D printer
The latest Ultimaker S3 3D Printer is qualitatively the best 3D printer in our list. Within the Ultimaker range, there is only the Ultimaker S5 that is intended for professional purposes.
The Ultimaker S3 is intended for private individuals but can equally well be used in workshops, 3D print shops, or for professional purposes such as architects and 3D models. Thanks to the two print heads and very accurate printing, you can go into the deepest details to make 3D models.
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This 3D printer is also standalone, which means that it does not require a computer to work. You can connect the printer to your tablet, smartphone or desktop via NFC or WiFi. Once your 3D model has been uploaded, you can start printing.
The layer thickness ranges from 20 to 200 microns. However, it is important to know that this 3D printer is very expensive and complex for beginners. If you are looking for absolute top quality, the Ultimaker S3 will keep you busy for a few years.
ULTIMAKER S5 3D
Price / quality 3D Printer for home
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Because the Ultimaker S5 and Ultimaker 3+ Extended (2019 model) require a large budget, you can also opt for the slightly older version – the Ultimaker 3. This has largely the same functionalities but does not have a touch screen or Flow Sensor, for example.
The Ultimaker 3 is not inferior in quality, this printer can also print in great detail. All devices after the Ultimate 2 series have 4 mouthpieces and can work with multiple colors of filament.
This also allows you to switch between high quality and fast prints. These printers work standalone, so they continue to run when your PC goes into standby.
FLASHFORGE – CREATOR PRO
Mid-range 3D printer
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The Flashforge Creator Pro is the ideal model for advanced hobbyists who don’t have enough budget for the expensive Ultimakers. This 3D printer is very easy to use via USB cable or to connect via the built-in WiFi.
Due to the double nozzles, it is also possible to mix/use different colors of filament. The heated print bed ensures that in addition to plastic, you can also use ABS as filament.
The built-in memory can also store some documents, which can be expanded to 8GB via SD Card. Although not the best 3D printer in our top 5, this is a very good buy.
E3D NANO 3D PRINTER
Cheap 3D printer
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The Nano 3D is an excellent entry-level model for beginners. Due to the low cost and user-friendly design, without too many functionalities, this printer is very easy to use. For children, students or budding professionals, this model is the best on the market. With this you learn to use a 3D printer without too many problems.
You create your 3D model based on 3D software. You can upload this to the printer using an SD card. Once the filament has been replenished, plastic in this case, your 3D model will be printed after pressing the button. This 3D printer is also fairly small and compact, so you can easily take it with you if needed.
CREALITY – 3D ENDER 5
Open source 3D printer
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Although not such a well-known brand, Creality has several high-quality 3D printers. After the success of the Ender 3, there is the improved version, the Ender 5. A sturdier frame and some improvements in printing techniques provide a very strong alternative.
The Ender 5 is especially attractive based on price. Creality enjoys a very simple design, important to remember is that the Ender 5 is built separately.
As a result, there is more chance of damage and more chance of dust mixing with the filament – which results in a lower quality. You mainly buy this 3D printer for its cheap price as an entry-level model.
If the best 3D printer for you is one that can do everything, then this model is an excellent alternative. This is also an excellent 3D printer for beginners to learn.
Compare 3D Printers
What is a 3D printer?
We know printing from paper, or more specifically from 2D. We speak of printing when one thing in one matter is printed on another thing. This can be done in different ways, but the concept always remains the same.
Once this print contains several layers and thus has a relief, it can be called a 3D print. This is usually done in plastic, but there are also industrial 3D printers that ‘print’ houses in cement or metal 3D printers.
In this article we discuss the 3D printers that fit within your home and budget. These printers are plastic 3D printers to make your own constructions or (art) works at home.
Tips For Beginners
If you have little experience with 3D printing, it can be a bit difficult to see the forest for the trees. Especially since a lot of specific vocabulary is used. Do not just choose a “printer for beginners”.
BEWARE OF “PRINTERS RECOMMENDED FOR BEGINNERS”
Certain brands advertise to lure beginners. However, our experience shows that these are not always the best and most sustainable brands. When buying a 3D printer, always read some independent reviews of the model.
CHEAP 3D PRINTERS
Do not choose the cheapest option. Whatever your budget, a cheap printer from an unknown brand may not be the best option. Cheap is not necessarily bad, but determine the maximum price you want to spend on a 3D printer, and do thorough research into which printer is the best option for that budget.
So be sure to thoroughly check out various reviews from reviewers and users. If you are not going to work professionally, you do not need the best 3D printer. A model with a good price/quality ratio is the right choice in this case.
KICKSTARTER 3D PRINTERS
To some people, it seems tempting to promote a printer on Kickstarter. However, we do not recommend this if you have no experience with 3D printers. On Kickstarter, you show that you want to support an idea/concept and you get the first version of the product.
This product has usually not yet been thoroughly tested by users and is often given a second and third version before all ‘teething problems’ have been resolved.
Have you really seen anything on Kickstarter that interests you; then keep following the manufacturer but wait until there is a second or third version of the product on the market. Then you may have the product a little later, but it works completely the way you want.
Why Buy a 3D Printer?
3D printing offers a whole range of additional possibilities. For people who work in 3D, it is the ideal way to print their own objects, so you don’t have to buy them. It is also possible for them to make their own designs, to print and even sell them.
Also jewelry, art, utensils, … can be made with a 3D printer. You can do a lot with the latest best 3D printer, nowadays they can print houses themselves. If you start out as a hobbyist, go for a printer with a good price-quality ratio.
On the other hand, a 3D printer is also useful for the household. Existing 3D designs are shared in ‘The Thingiverse’, a 3D open-source database.
Here you can download completely finished designs for free, upload them to your 3D printer and print them at home.
For people without 3D experience, this is the ideal way to use your 3D printer. Please note, complex designs require the best 3D printers on the market, not every printer can finish your designs with the same precision. Everything depends on the technology of the 3D printer.
Buying a 3D printer,
what to pay attention to?
PRINT MATERIAL
MATERIAL OF 3D PRINTER
Whatever type of printer you choose, take a good look at which materials can be printed with. The filling for FFF printers is available in different materials, each with its own specific properties.
You have PLA (brittle, biodegradable), ABS (the same plastic that is used in Lego), nylon, TPE (and soft material that resembles rubber), and HDPE (a light but strong polystyrene).
Many of these materials, especially PLA and ABS, are available in many colors. Fillings come in two sizes: 1.75mm and 3mm. These are not interchangeable. SLA printers have fewer options than the FFF printers, but both hard and flexible shapes can also be printed in resin.
The best printers can use many materials, and each of these materials has its own advantages and disadvantages. For example, HDPE is light and strong, but not suitable for food, while nylon is.
FFF / HDPE / SLA PRINTERS
Note that some printers will only work with materials approved or produced by the company that makes the printer. In this respect, 3D printers show many similarities with traditional printers: the manufacturer sells the printer cheaply, and then sells the consumables dearly.
One of our favorite budget 3D printers, the da Vinci Mini, only works with the PLA filling from XYZprinting, although this filling is no more expensive than that of competitors.
Other 3D printers, on the other hand, have no requirements in terms of the type of material or its origin. So be sure to check out the options in terms of filling before you buy a printer.
PRINT VOLUME
SPEED & QUALITY
FAST OR QUALITY PRINTING
3D printing is a slow process, you can’t avoid it at the moment. An 8-10cm model can take 6-12 hours, depending on the quality. That’s because 3D printing is done layer by layer.
The thicker the layers, the faster the printing, but the result is less refined because the layers are more visible. you always have to make a trade-off between speed and quality.
The best printers allow you to choose: do you want to print fast, or slower but with more higher quality? The best printers offer several variations for this.
THROUGH THE SOLUTION
3D printers have different print resolutions. With a 3D printer with a print resolution of 200 microns or lower, you can print with a minimum accuracy of 0.2 millimeters.
The more detailed the object to be printed must be, the higher the print resolution must be. In comparison, human hair has an average thickness of 150 microns.
PRINT COLORS
NUMBER OF PRINTHEADS
The number of print heads (extruders) determines how many different colors or materials you can print at the same time. The more print heads, the greater the possibilities. Being able to print different materials at the same time has the added advantage that you can print complex objects:
for example, you can print part of your design in ABS and part in PVA, so that part of the object dissolves in water. This has the advantage that you can let the material that supports the print ‘disappear’.
1 PRINT HEAD
With a 3D printer with 1 print head, you can make objects in 1 color and from 1 type of filament. This type of printer is suitable for making relatively simple objects where it is not a problem that you can only use 1 color.
2 PRINTHEADS
With a 3D printer with 2 print heads, you can create more complex objects because you can print 2 colors of filament and even 2 different types of filament together.
CONNECTION
Most 3D printers always use a PC or laptop to print. Today this is no longer necessary. You can connect the latest 3D printers via NFC, Bluetooth and/or WiFi. This makes it easier to connect a smartphone, tablet or other devices. Depending on how many people need to have access to the printer, how this device connects matters.
Different types of 3D printers
There are two types of 3D printers: FFF (fused filament fabrication) and SLA (stereo lithography).
Do you see an FFM (fused filament manufacturing) or FDM (fused deposition modeling) printer? These also fall under the FFF category.
The FFF models print by melting a plastic filling. This filling melts as the print head moves, forming the model. SLA printers use a UV laser to solidify resin and thus form the model.
FFF printers are usually cheaper, simpler and easier to use, although there are cheaper SLA models available these days, such as the XYZprinting Nobel 1.0 and the Peopoly Moai (prices around €1,000 and €1,295 respectively).
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