The world of 3D printing has exploded in recent years. Thanks to expiring key patents and increased competition, prices on 3D printers have dropped drastically even as print quality and reliability have sharply risen. What was once restricted to industrial prototyping and high-end design work is now accessible to hobbyists, makers, and small business owners.
With so many options flooding the market, it can be incredibly difficult to determine which 3D printer is right for your needs and budget. In this comprehensive buyer‘s guide, we will:
- Explain the key differences between 3D printers designed for hobbyists vs professionals
- Provide detailed recommendations on the 5 best 3D printer models currently available
- Outline step-by-step guidance on choosing the right 3D printer based on your goals
- Give realistic expectations on the experience of using and maintaining consumer 3D printers
- Answer the most frequently asked questions about getting started with desktop 3D printing
We have hands-on experience with a wide range of entry-level, enthusiast, and commercial 3D printers that have helped shape our recommendations. Let‘s dive in!
Hobbyist vs Professional 3D Printers
There is considerable overlap between 3D printers marketed toward hobbyists and professionals. However, there are some key areas where they diverge:
Print Volume – Professional 3D printers tend to offer larger build volumes to accommodate printing full-scale prototypes, products, and parts. Hobbyist printers focus on smaller prints for more casual use.
Print Materials – Industrial 3D printers support advanced materials like carbon fiber, medical-grade resins, engineering plastics, etc. Hobbyist models usually only print with PLA, PETG, ABS.
Reliability & Uptime – Commercial 3D printers are designed for near 24/7 operation with minimal downtime. They use better components and construction to improve reliability. Most hobbyist printers require more frequent calibration, tuning, and repairs.
Price – Professional 3D printers range from $2,000 to $500,000+, while hobbyist printers start under $200. Prices vary enormously based on print quality, materials, volume, and intended workload.
Ease of Use – Hobbyist printers usually have simpler interfaces and controls suitable for beginners. Professional 3D printers offer advanced customization at the cost of steeper learning curves.
Support & Training – Commercial 3D printer companies have extensive customer support, maintenance contracts, training programs, etc. Hobbyist support is mostly limited to online forums and help resources.
With the right set of expectations around print quality, reliability, and usage capacity – an affordable hobbyist 3D can absolutely suffice for professional applications. Similarly, small businesses can benefit from using commercial-grade 3D printers if print volume and uptime are critical.
The 5 Best 3D Printers for Hobby and Professional Use
1. Best Overall: Original Prusa i3 MK3S+
The Prusa i3 MK3S+ is Prusa Research‘s latest iteration on the venerable, open source Prusa i3 FDM printer. First launched in 2012, the Prusa i3 design has proven itself through over 500,000 units sold as one of the most reliable and consistent hobbyist 3D printers ever made.
- Print Volume: 9.8in x 8.3in x 8.3in
- Layer Resolution: 0.05mm to 0.35mm
- Supported Materials: PLA, PETG, ASA, ABS, Flexible materials
- Key Features: auto bed leveling, filament runout detection, power loss recovery, removable spring steel print sheet, quiet operation
- Ease of Use: Easy assembly, intuitive LCD menu, excellent onboarding guides
- Price: $749 assembled, $599 kit
We recommend the Prusa i3 MK3S+ as the best overall hobbyist 3D printer because of its unparalleled blend of print quality, reliability, ease of use, and active user community support. While more expensive than other hobbyist alternatives, the mk3S+ just works – allowing you to focus on designing and printing rather than fighting with your printer.
2. Best Budget: Creality Ender 3
The Creality Ender 3 series brought low-cost, quality 3D printing to the masses with an incredibly affordable price tag. Despite some reliability and quality control issues reported by users, it remains a top seller for its 200mm x 200mm x 250mm build volume and diverse customization options via open source upgrades.
- Print Volume: 8in x 8in x 9.8in
- Layer Resolution: 100-400 microns
- Supported Materials: PLA, ABS, PETG, Flexible
- Key Features: resume print, modular design
- Ease of Use: tricky initial setup, requires many upgrades/mods for best results
- Price: $100-$300 depending on upgrades
For buyers on a strict budget looking to experiment with 3D printing and willing to troubleshoot some headaches, the Ender 3 line still delivers tremendous value. Be prepared to install some upgrades like auto bed leveling and all-metal hotends for optimal print quality and reliability. Great starter model with huge community support.
3. Best Plug n‘ Play Professional: Ultimaker S5
Dutch company Ultimaker has built a glowing reputation for their commercial-grade, enclosure style FDM 3D printers. The Ultimaker S5 offers superb print quality and finishing right out of the box along with Ultimaker‘s proprietary slicing software and material profiles.
- Print Volume: 8.8in x 8.8in x 11.8in
- Layer Resolution: 20 microns to 600 microns
- Supported Materials: PLA, ABS, CPE, CPE+, PC, TPU 95A, PP
- Key Features: auto bed leveling, all-metal hot ends, dual extrusion, heated chamber
- Ease of Use: extremely reliable "it just works" performance
- Price: $5,995
For engineers, designers, and professionals wanting commercial FDM print quality in a compact, office-friendly package – Ultimaker S5 is extremely compelling. While less customizable than cheaper alternatives, it does what it promises with incredible efficiency straight from unboxing.
4. Best Large Format: Creality CR-30
The Creality CR-30 features a unique vertical cantilever design with a massive 400mm x 400mm x 650mm build volume restraint only by your ceiling height! It can print extremely tall models at low costs but does require patience and expertise to master bed leveling.
- Print Volume: 15.7in x 15.7in+ unlimited height
- Layer Resolution: 50 microns
- Supported Materials: PLA, PETG, TPU, ABS
- Key Features: direct drive extruder, resume print, filament runout sensor
- Ease of Use: steep learning curve, trial and error bed leveling
- Price: $800
If your projects demand a taller or larger print volume than typical Cartesian gantry printers, the CR-30 is a compelling pick. Be prepared for considerable initial tuning and calibration – but once properly dialed in it provides outstanding utility for cosplay, architecture models, signage, prop replicas, and furniture printing.
5. Best Resin 3D Printer: Anycubic Photon Mono X
SLA 3D printers utilize an LCD screen, UV light source, and photosensitive resin to achieve higher accuracy and smoother prints than typical FDM technology. The Anycubic Photon Mono X hits a sweet spot of 8" build volume, 2K LCD resolution, and under $500 price tag making it ideal for miniatures, jewelry, cosplay pieces, and engineering prototypes.
- Build Volume: 7.5 x 4.5 x 11.5 inches
- Layer Resolution: 0.01-0.15mm
- Supported Materials: Anycubic Plant-based Resin, Standard Resin, ABS-like Resin, Flexible Resin
- Key Features: WiFi, air filtration, transparent resin tank, matrix UV lighting
- Ease of Use: Excellent user interface, but resin printing process has learning curve
- Price: $489
For hobbyists and professionals alike interested in unlocking the high detail and smooth surface finish of resin 3D printing, the Anycubic Mono X is extremely competitive. Just be prepared for the additional post-processing steps of resin printing including print removal, cleaning, and curing before models are ready to use.
How To Choose The Right 3D Printer
Here is a step-by-step guide on finding the best 3D printer tailored exactly for your wants and needs:
Step 1: Set Your Budget
Desktop 3D printers range tremendously in pricing from $100 to over $10,000+. Set firm upper and lower budget limits to immediately narrow options to what works for your finances.
Step 2: Determine Your Goals
What do you intend to use your 3D printer for? FIGURE PRINTING or props require high details but smaller build volumes. Functional parts and prototypes demand bigger build areas but less detail. Cosplay favors larger helmets/armor and post-processing ease. Identifying your objectives informs print area and technology requirements.
Step 3: Pick The Print Method
FDM printers extrude melted plastic filament in layers along the X, Y, and Z axes to build prints. Resin printers use LCD screens, resin pools, and UV lights to cure liquid resin into solid objects layer by layer. FDM works better for larger pieces and functional prototyping. Resin produces finer details and smoothness preferred for miniatures and garage kit models.
Step 4: Compare Build Volumes
Carefully compare actual build volumes (accounting for maximum object dimensions and any clearance constraints) to confirm the 3D printer can physically produce the prints you have in mind. Printing objects too large for a build volume is extremely frustrating!
Step 5: Vet Printer Specs
Dive into printer specs around dimensions, weight, operating sound levels, manufacturer hot end and software choices, community ratings, available materials, etc. Finding the ideal intersection of performance, materials, reliability, and price takes research!
Step 6: Select The Best Match
With your goals crystalized and key printer criteria thoroughly inspected, selecting the right model for your needs and budget should be clear. Focus on long term return on investment rather than impulse-buying the newest hype product.
What To Expect When Using a 3D Printer
Here‘s what to expect when you unpack, setup, use, and maintain even affordable, entry-level 3D printers as a hobbyist:
Unpacking – Remove all packaging materials, components, and manuals. Inventory included tools, accessories, cables, filament, etc. Make sure no parts are damaged before starting assembly.
Assembly – Most 3D printers require at least some assembly of gantry structures, circuit boards, motors and components. Allow 2-8 hours for build time depending on complexity. Some tools may be required.
Calibration & Leveling – Properly calibrating axis motors and leveling print beds is imperative before great print quality is achievable. Be very patient, working methodically during first calibration to avoid headaches later. Expect a significant learning period tuning and tweaking settings.
Model Preparation – Design or download models in STL, OBJ or 3MF file formats. Run them through "slicer" software to translate to printer-specific GCode toolpaths for best results. There are many setting, profile, infill tweaks required for quality prints.
Monitoring Prints – Stay close by during the first layers of a long print. Some manual adjustment at layer shifts may be necessary if bed level, nozzle spacing, or plastic flow rate settings need further tuning. Be prepared to quickly pause or cancel if defects emerge.
Post Processing – Use flush cutters, hobby knives, needle files, sand paper, filler primer, paints, sealants and polishes to remove raft layers, strings, seam lines, and surface defects as well as smooth and finish your printed object. Post processing takes real effort and know-how.
Maintenance – Expect to spend an hour or more per week on printer cleanup and maintenance. Cool down hot ends, wipe debris from rails, store filaments properly, inspect/replace nozzles, lubricate rods, reset firmware after upgrades, monitor belt tension, etc. These machines need TLC!
While 3D printers enable designing and making anything imaginable, working with consumer models requires an investment of time, money, and patience over merely hitting "print" and walking away with a flawless object. Properly setting expectations will lead to tremendous satisfaction and rewarding results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are entry-level 3D printers noisy?
Yes, there is noticeable noise from cooling fans and stepper motors moving the print head rapidly during normal operation. Enclosed printers help dampen external noise. Some printers are quieter than others.
Can anyone design 3D models or does it require engineering skills?
Free beginner 3D modeling tools like TinkerCAD, Fusion 360, or Blender are surprisingly approachable to total newcomers for making basic designs. No prior engineering expertise is required just to get started!
What‘s the most reliable way to print multi-color objects?
The best results come from dual extruder printers that allow switching filaments mid-print at predefined layers. Otherwise using quality paints like acrylics to manually paint printed pieces works pretty well too!
On average, how long do typical prints take to complete?
Print times vary based on model size, layer height, infill percentage, filament type, etc but most hobbyist prints range from 30 minutes for very small pieces to 12+ hours for full build plate jobs. Expect 200 gram spools to last 10-40 hrs of printing.
Can I upgrade an entry-level 3D printer over time or am I stuck with base components?
The wonderful world of desktop 3D printing is full of customization and upgrades! Open source designs especially make DIY modifications like mainboard swaps, sensor additions, linear rail retrofits, and even frame expansions possible. Upgrading really lets you make a printer your own over time.
Final Thoughts
Finding the right 3D printer that perfectly matches your experience level, design goals, and budget may seem overwhelming at first. By clearly identifying what how you intend to use desktop 3D printing, comparing real-world print volume specifications, and vetting community reliability feedback, the perfect 3D printer for you will shine through!
FDM printers like our top pick Prusa i3 MK3S+ are great blended solutions for print quality, low maintenance, and material options that ambitious hobbyists will appreciate. For professionals needing larger build volumes or industries like dental and jewelry where extreme precision matters, resin printers open new possibilities.
No matter which desktop 3D printing technology you pursue, be sure to calibrate expectations around initial printer tuning and calibration, model preparation complexity, active print monitoring, post-processing requirements, ongoing preventative maintenance needs, safety factors, and intended applications.
With some guidance and patience getting started, unlocking the immense personal manufacturing potential of affordable 3D printing is within your reach! Let us know which model you end up choosing or if you have any other 3D printing questions in the comments below!
