3D printing is a very attractive world because, compared to traditional two-dimensional printing, it allows us to create the objects we imagine (although we will discover later that there are limitations). On an industrial level the applications are multiple, but on a domestic scale it has meant a revolution in the maker culture on a par with free projects.
Ease of assembly and use, proper documentation, and good overall print quality are all things we take into account when choosing an ideal 3D printer for beginners. You should be able to make good impressions and it shouldn't be difficult to get familiar with the process.
In the domestic market we find two types of 3D printers: those that we buy ready to use and those that come in a kit that we will have to assemble ourselves.
The advantage of the commercial ones is that you don't need to have much technical knowledge to start them: just take them out of the box, plug them in and we can start printing. Being closed and commercialized models, we can always resort to the manufacturer's support in case of problems. Of course, for the same specifications, they are usually more expensive than DIY ones.
Plus, setting up your printer offers some assurance that you at least know how it works, which is essential for such a necessary task as calibrating it to print properly. Mishaps in 3D printing are the order of the day and sooner or later they will happen, so it doesn't hurt to be able to remove and replace parts. Precisely another of the advantages of DIY is the ease of finding compatible parts and assembling them. Or to expand your printer.
Before purchasing a 3D printer, you have to know what specific use it will be given. It seems a useless approach, however, it is vital to be clear that it really is what is needed and thus choose the one that best suits, not only our needs, but also our pocket. The following aspects must be considered:
Printing frequency
If a high demand and a lot of use is expected, then a powerful and highly durable equipment is required. Its cost may be higher, but in the long run it will be a better investment than equipment that breaks down shortly after purchasing it.
Print volume
Most home 3D printers do not print objects larger than 10 – 12 cubic inches. The size of the print is related to its price, so it is an aspect to take into account. There are some cheap ones on the market that print smaller objects between 5 and 7 inches. The larger the size, the higher the cost.
Compatible Materials
According to what we have planned, we must consider what type of material is compatible with the printer. Much of it uses a material called PLA and other polymers. However, if you plan to make objects that are more resistant to high temperatures, you should check that the printer is compatible with the special materials that are on the market, such as TPU or ABS. The material most used by a 3D printer is thermoplastic. It is the most common for domestic use because it is the cheapest. Although, there are other types of materials, to be able to modify them at will. It all depends on the needs of each one. Likewise, there is the possibility of caring for the environment with PLA filament. Since it is a biodegradable material derived from products such as sugar cane, cornstarch or potato starch. It is the most ecologically viable solution, if we refer to materials to design 3D objects.
Quality in finishes
There are teams that offer a very good level in this regard. It is necessary to consider that to print an object in 3D, layers are superimposed on layers, these are printed one by one. The thinner these layers, the better the quality of the object. For optimal quality, it is suggested to look for equipment that offers at least 0.1mm to 0.05mm thickness. If you want to print complex objects, it is important that the equipment has two or more print heads.
A large part of the economic and domestic models only have one, the most professional ones have totally independent heads. As in the case of print size, the higher the quality and the higher the specifications, the higher the cost.
Beware of printer noise
Something you should never forget is that printers make noise when printing and, depending on the model, it can be quite annoying, since in some cases that noise can exceed 60 or 65dBs. Keep in mind that for a relatively small print, it might take 3-4 hours to complete very easily, so the noise it makes and the location of the 3D printer is very important.
If you are going to have it in your living room or in an office, keep in mind that it can make an annoying noise or even make a noise above a normal conversation.
Filament cost
Some printers use generic spare parts that are quite accessible and of considerable durability. However, others require original spare parts, that is, only the manufacturer sells them and obviously this increases the value and the difficulty in finding them.
Investigate the software that the machine will carry
Although the design program is on our own. The printer software will basically prepare the part for printing, and through various functions it will allow everything from selecting the part position to the printing speed. Before purchasing a certain 3D printer model, it is advisable not only to find out about the printing software that the equipment has, but also to ask for a demonstration, so we can test and visualize the process and it will allow us to have a clearer and more realistic opinion.
Take a good look at the size, weight and shape of the 3D printer
Surely when looking at printers you will have seen the variety that exists in sizes and shapes. It may seem silly to look at something like that, but the truth is that it is not so silly.
There are currently many models of 3D printers and each one has a size and shape that you will have to adapt to and that you will have to fit into a hole in your home or office, warehouse... Keep in mind that there are printers that they are tall, others that are wider, some squarer and others more asymmetrical; so, the final shape and size of the printer will affect the space you need to place it.
In addition, the size of the printer is closely linked to the volume of printing and the larger it is, the larger its size can be. That is why pay special attention when you see the specifications of the model since the printing volume is not the same as the final size of the 3D printer and generally the size it occupies will be larger than the printing volume.
If size is important, weight will also influence your choice. The weight will depend on the materials in which the 3D printer is made and they will be specified in the card of the same, so do not forget to look at it well and think that, at a larger size, it is very possible that the weight will be greater, so that you should not forget to take it into account either for placement or transport.
Where to put a 3D printer?
If you are thinking of placing a 3D printer at home, you have to assess several aspects. The main one is the noise they make. Although some are relatively quiet, it is not recommended to place it in a bedroom. In addition, avoid areas of the home that have humidity to avoid unwanted breakdowns.
Make sure you have free space around you so you can work comfortably. As you will have to load the filament, to place it, you will need space above the printer. Also, to calibrate it and perform maintenance you will need space around it. Make sure it is not in a closed place so that it heats up as little as possible.
Below, we mention some of the printers that we consider to be good options if you want to integrate into the world of 3d printing.
Artillery Hornet 3D Printer
The Artillery Hornet is an ideal model for users who are new to the world of 3D printing. Robust aluminum structure, tempered glass platform and LCD screen are some of the extras that this 3D printer incorporates.
It has the following characteristics:
- Printing volume: 220 x 220 x 250 mm.
- Really silent printing.
- Innovative aircraft-type wiring system, eliminates complicated electrical connections.
- Versatility to print a wide variety of materials.
- Robust construction, guarantees great printing quality.
- Extremely easy to assemble, you only need to tighten four screws!
- Innovative and distinctive design, ideal for school, home or office
It has the 32-bit system to be very quiet and reliable, in addition to the fact that the entire structure is made of metal and it has a tool kit for easy installation.
Resin 3D printer, Creality Halot - One
Halot One 3D Resin Printer, built with useful features such as 120W Super Spotlight light source structure, Wi-Fi connectivity, enabling one-click firmware upgrades, Linux OS, and the quality it stands behind. Creality brand. You'll be able to replicate your 3D designs and watch them come to life.
Ideal for dental models, architectural design, jewelry, toys, kits, educational models and much more!
*High precision integral light source.
*Production of g-codes efficiently and easily.
* High performance control board.
Creality Ender 3 3d Printer
The Creality Ender 3 comes pre-assembled, so in a couple of hours and without much knowledge we can have it ready. In addition, there is a large community and documentation on this printer at the user's fingertips, making it a great candidate to get started with.
For its price, it offers an acceptable print volume (despite how compact it is) and has the capacity to produce good quality prints. Of course, we will have to calibrate it ourselves.
Anycubic Photon Mono SE 3D Printer
The Anycubic Photon Mono SE has a 6-inch monochrome LCD screen. With its new technology, Photon Mono prints at incredible print speeds, so it only takes 1-2 seconds per layer, compared to conventional LCD 3D printers at 7-8 seconds per layer.
The monochrome LCD screen is also thermally stable and has a much longer lifespan than conventional LCD screens. You can print with it for more than 2000 hours!
Furthermore, thanks to the larger LCD screen, the Photon Mono SE also has a slightly larger installation space of 130 x 78 x 160mm.
Anycubic App Remote Control
Photon Mono SE has a Wifi module, so it has much more convenient connectivity than conventional 3D printers. You can also connect your Photon Mono SE using the Anycubic app, where you can monitor your printing process or adjust print settings.
High stability
Anycubic Photon Mono SE has a metal casing and stable dual linear rails to significantly improve printing stability and success rate. In addition to a built-in cooling system for the UV exposure unit to increase print performance and shelf life, it's definitely a great choice.
Anycubic Mono X Resin Printer
The Mono X is a resin 3D printer with LCD technology. It has an 8.9-inch 4k Monochrome LCD screen. Thus, the 3D printer achieves incredible speeds of 1-2 seconds per layer. The Anycubic Mono X's new screen increases lifespan compared to traditional LCD screens, allowing you to print even more hours before you notice even the slightest wear.
Its large volume of printing does not imply lower quality. Rather the complete opposite! The Mono X offers quality down to 50 microns, the machine also has anti-aliasing, for incredibly detailed parts.
Printer Volume
Build Volume: A large build area for your 3D prints: 192mm (Length) * 120mm (Width) * 245mm (Height)
Printer Volume: 270mm (Length) * 290mm (Width) * 475mm (Height) 8.9” 4k Monochrome LCD Screen.
Monochrome screens can last several thousand hours. Monochrome screens allow very short layer exposure times for faster print times.
Printing speed
The exposure time is really low 1.5-2 seconds, and the maximum printing speed is 60mm/h, which makes the printing speed 3 times faster than other printers.
Safe Design
The printer will turn off immediately if the top cover is removed. This feature is disabled by default.
Anycubic Laminator
New features are added to the software. Supports up to 8x anti-aliasing: quick cut, hollow, split model… Also compatible with other laminators like Chitubox.
High performance Z axis
The Z axis is supported by dual linear rails, stepper motor and slack nut combination which dramatically improves stability in motion and reduces the risk of misprints.
New Matrix light source
The new Matrix light source has been redesigned and consists of several UV LED lights that offer a more even exposure. This improves accuracy, and also shortens exposure times, reducing print times.
Cooling
It has an integrated cooling system for the UV exposure unit. Increase print performance!
Characteristics:
· Quality power supply.
· Extra security. Automatic interruption of printing when opening the top cover.
· Wi-Fi module.
· 3.5-inch touch screen.
· Details up to 50 microns.
· Stable Z axis.
· Structured platform for better adherence.
· Mark on the metal resin tank indicating the maximum capacity.
Anycubic Chiron 3D Printer
With physical dimensions of 651 x 612 x 720mm, the Anycubic Chiron is sure to be one of the most preferred 3D printers among consumers. The current build space is 400 x 400 x 450mm, making it even bigger than the Creality CR-10 S, Creality 4S and its many clones.
assembly
If you have experience with Anycubic machines, you will know that they provide clear and detailed instructions and even plastic gloves so your fingers don't get dirty during the assembly process.
To get started, you'll need to mount the spindles and control box to the frame, then put the two color-coded multicore cables in place, knowing it'll be ready to print in 30 minutes max.
Bed leveling
Good news: Anycubic Chiron 3D printer has a self-leveling function. The machine performs the leveling process by checking 25 points on the print bed. As far as we know, no other 3D printer performs a calibration checking so many points. Some 3D printers, like the Lulzbot TAZ 6, check all four corners of the bed, and many others, like the Prusa i3 MK3, don't go above 9 points. Checking 25 points on the print bed won't automatically result in a perfectly flatbed (it will probably take longer to calibrate), but we'll look into this in depth as soon as we get our hands on one of these printers.
Titan Extruder
According to the specifications, the Anycubic Chiron comes with a Titan extruder. The info sheets don't detail if it's Anycubic branded or if it's the original open source E3D Titan extruder (less likely).
Filament feeding system
The feed system uses the classic Bowden style, which is nothing special.
filament end sensor
The Anycubic Chiron comes with a filament sensor. If the filament runs out, the sensor will detect it via a switch and immediately pause printing to continue printing once you've fixed the issue.
Recovery system after a power outage
Anycubic has added a power outage recovery system to the Chiron. If at any time there is a power outage, the 3D printer will resume printing once you start it. We have already seen this feature in some affordable 3D printers.
Artillery Genius Pro
The Artillery Genius is a mid-range printer, very complete and with a magnificent value for money, in fact, it is one of the best 3d printers you can buy today. This model is ideal for people who want good results from the first start-up, with good details despite its low price and with few things against it.
· Very silent.
· Direct extrusion system.
· Double independent Z axis.
· Easy to mount.
· Easy to achieve good quality.
· Filament outage detector.
· Wiring clean and collected.
Undoubtedly, a printer suitable for both beginners, as well as for experienced in the world of 3d printing, since it has what is expected of a good printer, compact, easy to assemble, well-functioning heated bed, rigid structure and smooth touch screen.
Without a doubt, the world of 3d printing is very vast, buying a printer should be a satisfying experience, therefore we recommend you visit our catalog of printers where you can see the models, we have available:
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