The present generation is constantly in search of new ideas, projects or something innovative to work on. We are fascinated by the mere thought of technology delivering the best of the best to us.
The invention of 3D printers is one such sensational occurrence that has got all of us hooked. From professionals to hobbyists or even school kids, everyone is intrigued by this invention and are ready to try it. So, if you are also one of the 3D printer for beginner enthusiasts, then we are here to help you in finding the best one available in the market according to your needs.
Few terms might startle you at first but there’s nothing to worry, once you start using the printer you will get familiar with them.
Why 3D Printing?
Remember the episode of Grey’s Anatomy where Dr. Yang tries to 3D print a portal vein and Dr. Grey prints a 3D model of the heart with a tumor. Well, this technology is not limited to the fictitious TV shows only, as the 3D printers are now available to people like you and me in the comfort of our homes with Amazon.com. For those of you who didn’t get this Grey’s anatomy reference, all we are saying is that technology these days is evolving at such a great pace. It has opened various doors and avenues for us to explore. You can just order in one of these printers and start printing all kinds of things.
You might think it’s a complicated task which can be done only by professionals. Well, allow us to introduce some affordable and easy to use 3D printers which can be easily handled by beginners as well. You don’t need to be a skilled professional to give a physical form to your dreams. They are easy to use, maintain, reliable and pocket-friendly too. One can print out anything and everything from these printers. A single click on your smartphone or PC and a few hours later you get it three-dimensional models of whatever you want. Here’s a guide for all your creative heads to find the best 3d printer for a beginner.
How was this List made?
We have curated a list of five 3D printers for you all based on the people’s reviews around the world through various surveys. We interviewed some top tech bloggers who gave us clear insights about these products. Moreover, several hours of diligent research helped us in bringing down this list to five easy to use printers for you. All these products are 4 stars rated and exceptional in terms of quality.
We will talk about the uses, prices, and features of these products so that you make an informed choice. The list is as simple as it gets as too many technical terms might confuse one.
What to Look for?
This list is created keeping in mind your needs as a beginner and also some budget-friendly options to get you started. Also, we need to look for a trusted brand, especially the ones who have proved their worth in the area.
Durability and print quality are other common factors to be kept in mind. The printer’s volume also should be taken into account as you don’t want to annoy your neighbors.
Best 3D Printer for Beginner
Next on our list is the Monoprice Voxel Printer. It has surely proved its worth in 3D printing and is most recommended in the tech world. It’s the best entry level 3d printer for those who want to use it at home or in the classroom. This one comes with a heated print bed which escalates the process of printing.
With its easily removable and flexible build plate, it is quite easy to take out the printed model. This also makes it simple to change and maintain. The plate can be heated up to the temperature of 60 C. Customers using it for months for about 100-200 hours recommend this product to be the best of the best in terms of 3D printing. It takes less time to get the job done and gives out good quality prints.
Along with a 2.8″ colored touch screen and a plastic exterior, the printer also has 8GB of internal memory. It also has a built-in camera which allows you to monitor the printing process which is not as good. The most important point to note is that it has a quick nozzle change system without any additional equipment.
Pros
- Comes fully assembled, no additional set up necessary.
- Great customer service.
- Quiet makes very little sound.
Cons
- If you are all in for watching the print process, please note that the built-in camera might bug you.
- WiFi connectivity is sometimes slow.
Verdict
Purchase recommended if you are looking for something easy and less complex. It can be used in schools to print some study materials to help understand the concepts better.
Despite being in the market for years now, this Flashforge Finder hasn’t lost its fans. It is the most dependable printer you can invest in if you are getting started at 3D printing. Ideal for a home business or even for hobby purposes, this printer is easy to use and maintain and delivers out high-quality prints. It has a non-heated build plate and is safe to be used by the school going kids but only under proper supervision.
Also, the build plate is a slide-in type, so you can easily take out the printed objects after you are done. It usually takes around 15- 20 minutes to assemble the printer and you would be printing your dream in no time. It comes with WiFi, USB and Flash drive connectivity which makes the printing process a piece of cake.
Customer reviews make it a product that is worth investing in. It barely has any print failures. The absence of the non-heated bed might sound like a con here but it doesn’t affect the performance of the printer. Also, the setup process can be a bit problematic.
Pros
- It makes very little sound lower than 50 decibels.
- Easy to set up and use.
- Auto-leveling feature.
- Sturdy frame
Cons
- Build plate size can be a limitation if you want to print something larger.
- Sensors can be an issue while printing.
Verdict
Overall, it’s an excellent choice for entry-level beginners and perfects to be used at home. People had varied experiences with customer service. Some called it helpful, others, on the contrary, weren’t happy with it.
It’s an upgraded version of Creality Ender 3 by Comgrow. Created in keeping in mind the needs of the absolute beginners, this 3D printer will give you the finest three-dimensional models you would’ve ever imagined. This new kid on the block is going to help step up your print game. It’s rated 4.4 on Amazon with positive customer reviews.
It is quite popular among the first time 3D printing enthusiasts and is the best home 3D printer. The prints produced are smooth and detailed. For slicing, it is recommended to use the Cura software with a CR-10 profile to get clean details. Also, the print bed needs to be leveled carefully as it’s a bit finicky.
It comes with an extra glass plate and has the resume printing function which allows you to resume the printing from where you left. This function is a lifesaver in case the electricity goes out or something. The Meanwell Power supply system helps in fasting heating of the bed and helps in long time printing. Moreover, it is said to have a C magnet protection system that protects the build-in plate. What else can you ask for at this price?
Pros
- Pocket-friendly price
- Easy to use and upgrade.
- Great print quality
- Fine print volume
Cons
- A bit noisy
- Print bed leveling tricky.
Verdict
A great quality printer at a decent price. Ideal if being for home purposes and by entry-level beginners. The C-magnet and the Meanwell power system make it a big hit amongst the public.
This 3D printer from Qidi Technology is best starter 3d printer, also fully assembled and is ready to print as soon as you take it out of the box. It’s a sort of plug and play machine and is the easiest 3D printer. It’s reliable with great features like a responsive 3.5 inches touch screen which helps print settings.
It comes with a roll of PLA filament, glue, spare parts box, a tool kit, and an SD card with the user manual in it. Although, the filament is reviewed to be not of the best kind and the glue is no good as well. The print quality is high and the product is decently priced.
A customer on subreddit was able to print all kinds of stuff of daily use using the printer like replacement parts for a broken window blind and even a cup holder for their car. We mean, how cool is that! Apart from printing something fun and creative, this printer helps in printing important things that would otherwise cost a bomb.
With its strong metal frame, this printer is quite user-friendly. It is also known for its speed which can save you a lot of time to think about your next print. You don’t have to wait for hours for the design to be ready.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Easily leveled build in plate
- Good customer service, value for money.
- Well build exterior
Cons
- Small build plate
- Noisy
- The filament can be difficult to load
Verdict
Overall, a good choice for beginners and at home. It has proven to be effective in producing detailed models that are quite beneficial to be used as a temporary or even permanent solution.
Buying something online or even offline for that matter requires a lot of research. You just go on google to get a clear idea about the product so that you can make the right choice. The same is the case of 3D printers.
Anycubic Full Metal i3 Mega 3D Printer has earned a reputation in the market based on its features and commercials. The design of the printer looks a bit complex but trust us it is quite easy to use. Along with a 3.5 inches sensitive touch screen and it can produce high-quality prints. It is the best entry-level 3D printer that is quite easy to operate and clean.
The Ultrabase heat bed in this printer covered by microporous coating helps in secure adhesion while printing. One can easily remove the 3D model from the printer after it. You need to give it time and care for it to work smoothly.
Further, it also comes with Anycubic’s 3 months faulty parts replacement and lifetime support policy. Good customer support is always a plus point.
Pros
- Cost-effective
- Good quality prints
- Easy to use
Cons
- The print bed is a bit difficult to level.
- Few quality control issues.
Verdict
A great pick for the beginners at home and offices and children in schools under supervision. Although it might need maintenance from time to time due to its quality control issues.
Also, check our latest post: Best 3d Printer for Kids if you are interested in buying a 3D printer for your kids or you can also check out the Best 3D printer for miniatures and toys.
Buyer's Guide
A little research before buying something can save you a lot of bucks and time and can get you the right product. We mean, you are going to be spending your hard-earned money on it, and it’s your right to get the best.
So, we took the liberty to make a little buyer’s guide to make this process a cakewalk for you.
Identify the Use
Before getting into the buying process, first, you need to understand why you need the printer. Do you need it for a small home business, normal home uses, schools or something else? Are you going to use it daily, once a week, month or you need it for once? Then, know your budget on this basis and decide further.
Print Speed
Print speed also plays an important role in choosing the right printer. It’s crucial to take into account at what mm/s the printer will get the work done and how much time it will take to cool down. The print speed is also contingent on the height and layering of the object.
Price
With technology advancing, the cost of 3D printers has decreased a lot. You can find many printer options under $1000. They are not only low priced but also have distinguishing features. One might think that the low-cost ones will have a bad quality but that isn’t the case here. They have exceptional characteristics that are intertwined with good and safe designs.
Print Resume Functions
This feature is a real deal-breaker in the 3D printing world. Imagine you are halfway through a print and the electricity goes off and you will have to start your print again from scratch. But with this function, one can simply resume from where they left off and get the perfect design. Creality Ender 3 Pro is one such printer with this function that we included in the list above.
Heated/Non-Heated Beds
they can help secure the model and make sure it is solid and well-formed. And, if you want to use a non-heated bed like in the Flashforge Finder, glues and paint tapes can help you in the process. If you ask us, heated beds have proved to be a better product in 3D printing.
Safety First
Some 3D printers use heat as a medium to create the models. So, safety comes first in this case. Especially with kids, you don’t want to leave them alone working on the printer. Look for the printers that give safety a priority. Some printers like FDM cool the nozzle and heat bed once the print is done and some come with automatic nozzle cooling so that one can remove the object without getting harmed.
Easy to Use
As a beginner, our priority is always to invest in a printer that is easy to use. A less complex model the functioning of which can be understood by someone who doesn’t have the technical knowledge in the field. A mini manual and a couple of videos should be sufficient in this case.
High-Quality Features
If you are investing in something, getting the product with top-notch features is important. We are talking about features like a responsive touch screen, a heated glass bed, build in plate protection system and build volume. Also, take into account its durability and accuracy. Go through the products of different brands and see which brand has the best to offer.
Good Customer Support
Beginner or a professional, no matter who you are, there comes a time when you might face difficulties with the product. It might be due to a faulty part or something you are doing wrong. Good customer support makes this process a breeze when you are in this situation. Read a lot of reviews on various websites to know about the customer service of a brand.
Easy to Assemble
As a beginner, you would not prefer to spend a lot of time assembling the product as you don’t have the technical knowledge and also as the manual can be a bit confusing. That’s why the 3D printer industry has introduced the ready to print models some of which we have mentioned above. Why? Because it’s 2020, people. Who has that kinda time when you burst with ideas to bring into a physical form?
The Conclusion
To conclude, we have a range of options listed above to choose from along with their features, pros, and cons. As a beginner, you might need the help of a few youtube videos to get started. We were personally impressed by the Creality Ender 3 Pro and its features and is rated quite highly. The resume printing feature stands our favorite along with the high-quality results that it delivers. If you need a budget-friendly printer then definitely go for this one.
But our favorite option is the Flash Forge Finder. It is the oldest, most reliable 3D printer. It comes with wireless technology, making it a printer at par with present-day technology. It not only sounds less but has a sturdy frame too. Everything that you need in a good printer, can be found in this one.
We hope this review is helpful for all you first-timers and you come back to us for more information.