3D printing technology has revolutionized the manufacturing and prototyping industry. But the high cost of 3D printers has prevented many consumers from owning one. Fortunately, there are now budget-friendly 3D printers available in the market. In this article, CouponUpto will discuss the 5 best budget 3D printers that you can shop for now.
1. Creality Ender-3 V2
2. Creality Ender 3 S1 Pro
3. Anycubic Kobra Plus
4. Prusa MINI+
5. Anycubic Kobra Neo
1. Creality Ender-3 V2 (#1 Choice)
Overview:
Creality Ender-3 V2 is the best budget 3D printer under $300. With its 32-bit silent mainboard and improved extruder design, it promises faster and higher-quality prints. It also has a bigger build volume than its predecessor, measuring 220 x 220 x 250mm. Additionally, its user-friendly interface features a 4.3-inch color screen display. It has a price tag of around $270.
Pros and Cons:
One of the benefits of the Creality Ender-3 V2 is that it prints silently, allowing for a quiet work environment. It also has a filament detection sensor that triggers when the filament is running low, allowing you to change the filament without hassle. One disadvantage is that its user interface can sometimes be a bit confusing, which can affect its usability.
Unique Features:
The Creality Ender-3 V2's stand-out feature is its silent stepper motor, which ensures that the printing process is quieter than most printers. It has a tool-less magnetic hotbed, making it easy to remove finished prints. The printer also features a resume printing option, which ensures that printing continues from where it stopped in case of a power outage.
Price and Value: $209
The Creality Ender-3 V2 is an excellent budget 3D printer for beginners and professionals alike, considering its hefty build volume and advanced features.
Check out Creality Ender-3 V2 here now!
2. Creality Ender 3 S1 Pro
Overview:
The Creality Ender 3 S1 Pro is the best 3D printer under $500 loved by many users. With a build volume of 220 x 220 x 270mm and a print size of 490x455x625mm, it's an excellent printer for any project size. Its automatic bed leveling feature ensures that your prints adhere perfectly, providing precise and consistent results. Additionally, it’s designed with a 32-bit motherboard for accurate printing speed and higher-quality prints.
Pros and Cons:
One of the significant advantages of the Creality Ender 3S1 Pro is its automatic bed leveling feature. It eliminates the extra fuss to level your bed manually, making the process more comfortable and efficient. On the downside, its self-leveling system is not always fool-proof, and calibration can sometimes require additional effort, especially for beginners.
Unique Features
Apart from its self-leveling bed, the Creality Ender 3 S1 Pro has many other unique features. Its power outage protection ensures that a power cut does not disrupt your prints. The printer continues from where it stopped before the power outage occurred, which is a massive advantage. The Creality Ender 3 S1 Pro is also user-friendly and easy to assemble, making it perfect for beginners.
Price and Value: $439
The Ender 3S1 Pro is an excellent printer that offers great value for money. It provides a blend of functionality, convenience, and affordability that is hard to come by.
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Check out Creality Ender 3 S1 Pro here!
3. Anycubic Kobra Plus
Overview
The Anycubic Kobra Plus is a stylish printer with a sturdy metal frame. It is equipped with an automatic bed leveling system, making it easy to calibrate the bed and print without any hassle. Its build volume stands at 350 x 300 x 300 mm, which is slightly larger compared to the Creality models. It can handle a range of materials, including PLA, ABS, and PETG.
Pros and Cons:
One of the benefits of the Anycubic Kobra Plus is its ultra-quiet stepper driver, ensuring that the printing process hardly makes any noise. It also comes with an air filtration system that helps in removing unpleasant fumes. The negative side of the printer is its filament tracking mechanism which isn't always reliable.
Unique Features:
The Anycubic Kobra Plus stands out with its noise-canceling feature, which makes it one of the quietest 3D printers in the market. It also has an advanced Tri-glide extruder that offers better durability and reliability. Additionally, the printer has an adjustable hot end, allowing for high-temperature printing.
Price and Value: $379
The Anycubic Kobra Plus offers good value for money. It features fantastic printing performance with advanced features that are hardly found in cheap 3D printers.
4. Prusa MINI+
Overview:
The Prusa MINI+ is also an affordable 3D printer designed for an audience interested in affordable machines. Despite its small build volume of 180 x 180 x 180mm, the printer provides high-precision prints and features a built-in filament sensor that ensures that printing stops in case the filament runs out. The printer also has a Wi-Fi module for remote access and control.
Pros and Cons:
One of the advantages of the Prusa MINI+ is its user-friendly interface, which is easy to navigate and operate. It also has a filament runout sensor that alerts you when you're running low on the filament. Nevertheless, it has a small build volume, which makes it less practical for larger prints.
Unique Features:
The Prusa MINI+ unique features include its built-in filament sensor, which alerts you when you're running low on filament. The printer is also equipped with a Power Loss Detection feature, which allows you to save your printing progress in case of a power outage. It also has a color touchscreen display, which simplifies operating the printer.
Price and Value: $429
The Prusa MINI+ is a budget-friendly 3D printer, considering its premium quality and advanced features.
5. Anycubic Kobra Neo
Overview:
The Anycubic Kobra Neo is the cheapest 3D printer under $200 on our list of the best budget 3D printers of 2023. With a build volume of 220 x 220 x 250mm, the printer provides ample space for sizable projects. The printer designs with an auto-leveling system that is easy to set up and provides accurate results. It's priced at around $300.
Pros and Cons:
One of the advantages of the Anycubic Kobra Neo is its ergonomic design, which makes it easy to use and operate. It also features a 3.5-inch touchscreen display, increasing the printer's usability. However, the printer doesn't come with filament out detection, which can sometimes lead to unfinished prints.
Unique Features:
One of the unique features of this printer is its auto-leveling bed, which makes calibration a smooth and effortless process. It is also equipped with an ultralightweight redesigned aluminum frame, capable of withstanding heavy use. The printer has an asynchronous temperature monitoring system that ensures that the hot end and heated bed are at the required temperatures.
Price and Value: $169
The Anycubic Kobra Neo offers excellent value for its quality and functionality. Advanced features such as the auto-leveling bed and asynchronous temperature monitoring make this printer a worthwhile investment.
What to Consider Before Buying a 3D Printer?
Buying a 3D printer can be an exciting experience, but before making a final decision, there are some key factors to consider to ensure you select the right device for your needs.
1. Budget:
It's essential to develop a budget for the 3D printer you want to purchase. It's important to keep in mind that printers with a lower price tag may require upgrades or repairs in the future that could add to the overall cost.
2. Print Quality:
Print quality is important when selecting a 3D printer. Determine your purpose and the intricacy of the objects you intend to print. The resolution of printing is measured in microns, which determines the thickness of each layer printed. High-end 3D printers are capable of printing objects with microns under 100 while others can print from around 200+ microns.
3. Print Features and Size:
The build size is the maximum size of an object that can be printed by the 3D printer. It's essential to consider the features, materials, and industry applications that align with the build size. Consider your printing needs, and ask yourself, is the printer size suitable for what you want?
4. Printing Speed:
The speed of printing is another factor to consider when selecting a 3D printer. Faster printing means less printing time and quicker completion of tasks. However, you should note that printing speed often has a tradeoff with resolution and quality.
5. Filament Type:
The type of filament a 3D printer accepts is essential. Determine the objects you plan to print and ensure they are compatible with the filament you want to use. The most common types of filaments are PLA and ABS, which are popular for their affordability and ease of use.
6. Ease of Use:
Considering how easy it is to use the 3D printer is essential. The learning curve of some 3D printers can be steep, while others come with simple software and user interfaces. Ensure the printer you select meets your level of experience with 3D printing.
7. Warranty and Customer Service:
It's crucial to take into account the warranty and customer service that comes with the printer. Ensure you understand the warranty agreement before making the purchase and research the customer service quality of the brand.
By taking these factors into consideration, you can determine what features and capabilities you need in a 3D printer. This will enable you to make a confident purchase that will serve your needs for years to come.
Should I Wait for a Deal to Buy a 3D Printer?
Throughout the year, you can often find the best 3D printers at discounted prices. While days like Black Friday, and Cyber Monday offer excellent opportunities to acquire a new machine, there are still plenty of 3D printer deals from the top 3D printer brands we listed above. It's important to remain flexible and select a 3D printer deal based on machine availability and thorough research to ensure you make the best choice.
Conclusion
In summary, choosing the right budget 3D printer depends on your needs and preferences. The Ender 3 S1 Pro, Ender-3 V2, Anycubic Kobra Plus, Prusa MINI+, and Anycubic Kobra Neo are all the cheap 3D printers of 2023 to consider. They offer a range of features that are suitable for both beginners and advanced users. With a price range of $209 to $439, these affordable 3D printers are a worthwhile investment for anyone who wants to experience the wonders of 3D printing.