3D Printers are more affordable than ever. Science-fiction is a thing of the past when talking about 3D Printers, and 2015 seems to have hit the 3D printing  trend right on its head. If you’re somewhat curious about what it’s all about, but you’re on a budget, you’ve come to the right place.

There are so many 3D printers to choose from, but you need to know that each and everyone of them can help you build jewellery, spare parts, toys, and even prosthetics – to name just a few things that you can do with a budget 3D printer. Yes, you read that right – a budget 3D printer.

Sure, the cheapest 3D printer won’t have that many features as one of the top-shelf printers on the market, but that’s why I’m going to talk about budget ones.

I’m usually asked – Hey Nancy, how do 3D printers work? – How to use a 3D printer? or How much is a 3D printer? – What should I buy Nancy?

I *sigh* a little and then I start ranting. First off, you should get it out of your head that there’s no such thing as the best 3D printer on the market, and 3D printer companies are somewhat circle jerking amongst themselves – the consensus is that nobody is going to catch us selling something that the average Joe can do by his own. Still, somehow, advancements are being made, and that’s why we’re witnessing 3D printers at the low price of $600.

I’ve even been asked if there is such a thing as a 3D food printer. Laughs all round the table of course, but you will be shocked when you hear that the answer is – Yes, there are 3D food printers, but not how you imagine them. There are quite a lot out there, and they give food a new shape, they can colour the food, and you can eat your results without having to worry that you’ll need your stomach pumped.

This 3D food printer – that we won’t talk about, because it’s frikin’ expensive; something on the line of $5000 – blends sugar, milk powder, cocoa powder, and cocoa butter to create sweet looking candy figures. Check the YouTube clip, but be warned, your taste buds will scream!

It’s kinda important that you know how 3D printers work, so we’re going to get through the basics before talking about what budget 3D printers you can buy.

How do 3D printers work?

The additive manufacturing, known as 3D printing uses something called additive processes – in which the desired object is built by the machine by creating a succession of layers until the object is built.

3D printers give everyday people the possibility of creating outstanding stuff – as an FYI, someone made a prosthetic limb for his daughter; a prosthetic limb that would normally cost around $5000 was made out of $1000 materials.

Before you start giving life to your dreams, you should know that if you buy a 3D printer it won’t magically print what you want. It prints virtual design, made in a CAD file – that is a Computer Aided Design. You need a 3D modelling program like AutoCAD, Blender, Autodesk 123D, Cinema 4D, Photoshop CC, Autodesk Maya, and the list can go on and on.

OR

You can buy a 3D scanner, and scan the object that you want to copy – and later on, you can alter it in your desired program. Now, 3D scanners use a different technology that lets them generate 3D models such as time-of-flight, structured / modulated light, volumetric scanning and other things that when heard prompt me to think of science-fiction. But the tale of how I’m deeply in love with Frank Herbert is for another time.

Companies, that you have surely heard about, have enabled their hardware to perform 3D scans. Microsoft’s Kinect can be used as a 3D scanner, so if you have one, tinker with it a little bit, and make your dreams come true.

Here’s how your average 3D scanner works.

In the near future, we’ll see a diy 3D printer that gets its virtual design from smartphones. Just point your iPhone at an object, scan it, and voilà, you can have your every own girlfriend, or boyfriend, or even both – I don’t judge!

3D printers don’t usually use the same technology, and there are up to 7 processes according to the American Society for Testing and Materials group ASTM F42 – Additive Manufacturing:

• Vat Photopolymerisation
• Material Jetting
• Binder Jetting
• Material Extrusion
• Powder Bed Fusion
• Sheet Lamination
• Directed Energy Deposition

Because there are so many processes, and because they are best used for creating different things we have things like a metal 3D printer, and a resin 3D printer.

For more information about the seven processes for 3D printing, I highly recommend this wiki article.

In 2013, the 3D printing industry was worth $3.07B, and it’s expect to rise up to $12B in 2018, and exceed worldwide revenue of $21B by 2020.

The Best 3D Printing Service?

There are really great ones out there, and I really can’t pinpoint the best 3D printing service, but here’s a list of companies that offer this kind of service:

• Sculpteo
• Ponoko
• Shapeways
• 3ders

The consensus on the internet is that they are the best at their job. Haven’t tried them, but as long as you give them the 3D printer files, you shouldn’t have a problem. Come to think of it, you don’t even need 3D printer files, you can just select a bunch of stuff from their library. 3D printing aficionados praise them to be the best inexpensive 3D printer services.

Also, if you plan on creating designs for people to build, you can share them on Shapeways’ library, and get some nice bucks flowing.

Without further ado I present you…

The Best Budget 3D Printers

Let’s start with one of my favourites.

Printbot Simple Metal

One of the cheapest 3D printer on the market that costs about $599. Also, it’s one of the best 3D printers on the market best suited for the average Joe. It’s recommended for everyone.

Printbot is one of the pioneers that helped pave the way of 3D printing, and way back in 2011, its Kickstarter campaign was one of the most successful projects of the year – 3D printing wise.

Printbot is known as the best affordable 3D printer, and Simple Metal is the upgraded version of its first iteration.  It now comes with a power-coated steel frame, and an aluminium extruder – the build volume is more than enough for the average home 3D printer aficionado, and it goes up to 150 x 150 x 150.

The standard version could only print using PLA, but Simple Metal can be upgraded, and if you wish to do so, you can create designs that will work perfectly with ABS.

This 3D printer kit is open source, and it has one huge community behind it, meaning that users can choose from a wide array of add-ons, and of course, open source software. Being so loved by the 3D printing community, you have access to a ton of documentation, technical support, advanced modifications, and a ton of free guides.

It’s one of the most tweakable 3D printers on the market.

But it isn’t all rainbows and butterflies, it does have its weak points like having a horrid initial setup. I say horrid because it ain’t the easiest printer to use, and calibration can take a couple of hours – up to 8 if you aren’t accustomed to 3D printers. Sure, there is a ton of documentation, but that won’t help you that much at first.

Also, users have reported encountering issues with nozzle jams, and feeder problems – it ain’t considered the most reliable 3D printer.

What you need to know is that it’s a cheap printer, that would most definitely suit your every newbie needs.

• Pros

– Superb build quality

– Superb print quality

– Awesome community

• Cons

– Print speed

– Print volume

Sharebot KIWI

The $860 price tag won’t hurt your wallet that much, and if you have the money I highly recommend buying this out of all the 3D printers on the market. The Sharebot KIWI isn’t that really known outside of Italy, but fortunately for us, those outside of Europe will soon have access to this beautiful beast.

Arduino will start selling world-wide the rebranded, refurbished version called Arduino Materia 101 printer.

The build area consists of 140 x 100 x 100, and setup is pretty easy, and straightforward – it’s no rocket science. It uses the config files for the well known open source Slic3r engine – it’s great when using it for advanced builds also.

Users have reported great build quality, and low failure rate – this is an important feature. Nobody wants to constantly build something that will result in a chipped end-product.

Although the Sharebot Kiwi one of the most reliable 3D printers on the market, because it has such a low volume build, it will put a major dent in your projects – it limits you to small builds. It doesn’t even have a heated bed, and this adds to its limitations.

I highly recommend this open source 3D printer if you just started meddling with 3D printing and the likes.

• Pros

– Great build quality

– Great print quality

– Low material costs

• Cons

– Absence of a heated bed

– Print volume

– Print speed

FlashForge Creator

If you are accustomed to the Makerbot 3D printer, then you’ll have no problems with the FlashForge Creator, because it builds on top of it. The FlashForge is a modified version of the original Makerbot, and it continues to use the same open source Replicator – only now, it features a remodelled laser cut wood frame.

Pretty great build volume that stands tall at  225 x 145 x 150, and it also has a heated build plate, a dual extruder, and on board controls.

It costs about $950, and the builds will satisfy the more enthusiastic 3D printers out there, and the community is known as one of the most vibrant and helpful bunch. Questions are answered promptly, and with sufficient details that even the noobiest noob will understand.

Really great quality builds, and owners of the FlashForge Creator have stated that their 3D printer has kept going even after years of use, with low failure rates – something in the 10% margins.

But, time is showing its mark, and the Creator can seem a little bit out-dated at times – precision, speed and calibration surely lack when you compare it with newly released, cheaper 3D printers.

• Pros

– Good build quality

– Good print quality

– Low material costs

– Heated bed

– Dual extruder

• Cons

– Low speed

– Botched precision

– Annoying when calibrating

– It feels out-dated

– Super Noisy

UP Mini

Considered the best home 3D printer, the UP Mini is recommended for beginners, and intermediates, and will cost you about $600. Even though it’s noisy as hell, it’s rather small for what it offers, and the average home user can get all the bang from his buck.

It comes from China, and its build volume consists of 120 x 120 x 120 – with not that many features to applaud. But it does have a great closed enclosure, and its perforated heated build plate comes in handy, and provides compatibility for ABS and PLA.

The easy to use, personal home 3D printer outputs top-shelf build quality, and the community has reported low failure rates that reside in the 10% margins. Also, maintenance isn’t that needed, and owners have reported that after a year of intensive use, the UP Mini acts like brand new.

But, for it to be the best personal home 3D printer, it had to sacrifice in some areas like its build volume, which is rather low. Sure, as a budget 3D printer, best suited for beginners, it’s okay, but if you plan on building bigger designs, you’ll be out of luck – also because it slightly warps the design.

• Pros

– Good build quality

– Good print quality

– Easy setup

• Cons

– Small build volume

– Really noisy

– Good luck finding materials

And this is the end to our article about the best budget 3D printers available right now. Keep checking back on us, because we will most likely update the least with budget 3D printers.

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