With 3D printing becoming the latest craze, the devices have gone beyond an expensive fad to an affordable must-have. 3D printers can make up a surprising part of your daily life, once you get used to having one. Need a custom dinnerware set before your in-laws come over? Print up dishes, bowls, cups, and even utensils and impress them with your unique, matched designs. Broke a plastic part on your eyeglasses? Print a new one and save the trip to the ophthalmologist.
3D printers can be tons of fun, but they have the potential to take an essential part in our lives. So if you’re looking to buy your first 3D printer, let’s take a look at a few of the things you should consider when shopping online.
Where to Start
Like almost anything you need in this day and age, if you want to find a variety of a particular item from different brands, for different purposes, or for different budgets, the first place to start is Amazon. Amazon lets you compare prices and features, searching by brand name, size, and numerous other factors to narrow down what you want. With free same-day shipping on many items for Prime members, it’s a good place to get started shopping for your first 3D printer.
Understanding How 3D Printers Work
Most personal use 3D printers use a technique called fused deposition modeling. The 3D printer is fed a coil of thermoplastic material, which it heats until it becomes molten and deposits in a thin layer on a build plate. It then deposits another layer atop that one, slowly building upward and adjusting the shape of the layer deposited as needed until it creates a precisely modeled 3D object built from the ground up. Digital 3D models give the printers the instructions they need for dimensions, shapes, and layering. Experts in 3D modeling can create their own models using modeling software, or beginners can download models from many online sites.
Know What You Want Your Printer For
Will you be printing novelty items such as branded merchandise, creating kids’ toys, or printing fine plastic moving parts for robotics – or any other number of purposes? Deciding your purpose ahead of time lets you be smart in choosing the printer you want. Different 3D printers specialize in different things, and you’ll want to check ratings and reviews for info such as how well the model handles delicate objects, versatility, and accuracy.
Size Actually Does Matter
You don’t want to buy a 3D printer intending to extrude a living room chair only to realize the printer is barely large enough to extrude a sippy cup. Check the dimensions not just of the printer, but of the actual printing plate. Manufacturer specifications should provide you with clear information on the maximum width, depth, and height of an object that you can print. While there are 3D printers large enough to fabricate an entire house in fewer than 24 hours, for commercial consumer printing, you’ll probably average out on something large enough to print a toolbox.
What Kind of Filler?
You may be wondering what actually goes into a 3D printer. While some 3D printers use microbeads, the types of printers available to the average consumer use spools of filament. The filament is fed into the printer and melted so that it can be used to layer over and over again into the shape desired.
Many filaments are just labeled as “3D printer filament” with few details on what they are – usually polymer or some form of plastic or resin that’s easy to melt and easy to shape. However, you can get filaments in titanium, silver, or nearly any substance as long as your 3D printer is able to heat it and appropriately work with it. Some substances can leave behind residue that can gunk up printers not adequately equipped to handle them.
5 Best Rated 3D Printers on Amazon
These five 3D printers have racked up the reviews on Amazon, and here’s how they average out:
Manufacturer: Qidi Technology
Average Rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars
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Manufacturer: FlashForge
Average Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars
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Manufacturer: Qidi Technology
Average Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars
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Manufacturer: Qidi Technology
Average Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars
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Manufacturer: Sindoh
Average Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars
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5 3D Printers for Shoppers on a Budget
Not everyone can afford to shell out four figures – or even three figures – for a new 3D printer. If you’re on a budget or just don’t want to spend too much money testing out a shiny new toy that may end up gathering dust when you get bored with it, these five affordable 3D printers are for you.
Manufacturer: Monoprice
Average Rating: 3.6 out of 5 stars
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Manufacturer: XYZ
Average Rating: 3.8 out of 5 stars
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Manufacturer: Anet
Average Rating: 3.7 out of 5 stars
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Manufacturer: HopeWant
Average Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
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Manufacturer: iNSTONE
Average Rating: 3.4 out of 5 stars
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5 3D Printers for Tech Lovers With Money to Spend
If money is no object – and we really do mean no object, 3D printed or otherwise – these five 3D printers are waiting to drain your bank account. Interestingly, the more they cost, the lower their ratings. Maybe they’re not worth the price tag…or maybe after dropping five figures, there’s a little buyer’s remorse.
Manufacturer: FEASUN
Average Rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars (from one review)
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Manufacturer: Leapfrog
Average Rating: 1.0 out of 5 stars (again, from one review)
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Manufacturer: MakerBot
Average Rating: 2.6 out of 5 stars
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Manufacturer: Stratasys
Average Rating: 3.6 out of 5 stars
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Manufacturer: Raise3D
Average Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
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3D Printing Pens
Aside from standard 3D printers, you can also buy 3D printing pens. These are more novelty items for children and young adults, ranging in price from $25 to $100. They heat and extrude a safe low-temperature filament that you can use to “draw” in three dimensions, either creating raised artwork or else looping, tangling, and layering the filaments to create a sort of spaghetti model of whatever your heart desires. It might not have much practical use, but it’s fun for the kids and lets them join in on the 3D enjoyment. With the right framework and a lot of patience, you can actually make pretty complex designs.
Don’t Forget the Accessories
To successfully 3D print items, you’ll need a few accessories as well. Those accessories include:
- Removal tools. Heated materials can seal to the 3D printer’s plate; removal tools with sharpened edges – which look much like spatulas or putty knives – can be used to lift and remove your extruded objects from the plate without damaging them.
- Cutting and retouching tools. Sets of cutting and retouching tools, like the Octave Tool Kit A for 3D Printer, let you cut and shape your 3D extruded objects to refine them.
- Tweezers. Special 3D tweezers help you both clean your 3D printer and handle your 3D printed objects. These are not the same as regular cosmetic tweezers.
- Paints and coatings. While you can often print single-color pieces in the shades you want, you should also buy paints that bond well with the materials you’ve chosen – as well as coatings to finish and protect them.
- Filament spool holders/cases. These keep your filament spools organized and dry; believe it or not, in humid environments, damp filaments can be a problem when atmospheric condensation is attracted to the material, creating problems when it’s heated and the moisture consolidates, then evaporates, leaving behind air bubbles in your extrusions.
- Cleaning kits. 3D printers are sensitive, and require a great deal of attention and cleaning. Special kits come with all the tools and solvents you need to safely keep your printer operational.
Buyer Beware
Amazon has recently been cracking down hard on fraudulent sellers, but sometimes people slip through the cracks. Always buy from top-rated sellers; avoid products with no ratings, or just a few five-star ratings that look eerily similar and don’t actually tell you much in detail about the 3D printer. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is – and even if you may actually get a 3D printer in the mail, it may end up being a poorly-made knockoff that will break on first use while the seller mysteriously disappears from Amazon before you can get in touch with them. Be smart, and make careful choices when deciding which seller to select.
Finally, Always Be Safe
3D printers are fun, but they’re also high-precision machines operating at high temperatures. Always be safe and careful around them. Keep your pets away from them, don’t touch hot surfaces, and wear protective gear while using your 3D printer. This applies to when you want to get up close and personal with your printer while it’s working; no one wants a stray drop of hot resin flung into his or her eye. Goggle up – and have fun!
