Personal 3D Printers

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The world of 3D printing has exploded over the past decade, and that includes personal printers. This rapid expansion has been accelerating so quickly that it can be difficult keeping track of the market, what with technological advancements occurring near daily combined with the power of Kickstarter. This will serve as an informative guide to the popular and the up-and-coming companies behind 3D printers that are under $10,000, with most being less than $5,000.

Starting in 2005, the open-source RepRap project has been quite successful in making 3D printers more accessible, user friendly, and accurate. RepRap stands for Replicating Rapid Prototyper, calling attention to the fact that the machines can produce most of their own parts; a long-term goal of the project is to have the machines be able to produce 100% of their parts, so the team has been experimenting with printing conductive materials. With the aid of an active forum-based community, the project has released four designs (Darwin in 2007, Mendel in 2009, and Prusa Mendel and Huxley in 2010; they’re named after biologists to highlight their purpose of replication and evolution) for hobbyists and researchers to tinker with, and oh have they tinkered. Several successful companies have based their kits and fully-assembled printers on freely available RepRap designs.

PERSONAL 3D PRINTER COMPANIES

The printer companies are presented in alphabetical order for fairness, Please click the headers to visit their websites.

Afinia

Afinia H Series

Afinia’s H Series won Make Magazine’s Best Overall Experience Award for its simplicity and consistent high-quality prints.

Afinia H Series h379 specs:

Filament size: 1.75mm
Filament type: ABS, PLA
Machine size: 245mm x 260mm x 350mm
Build volume: 140mm x 140mm x 135mm
Max print speed: N/A
XY precision: N/A
Minimum layer thickness: 0.15mm
Software: Custom
Other features: Computer can be disconnected after printing has begun, 1 year warranty
Price: $1499

Airwolf 3D

AW3D XL

Selling RepRap inspired printers, the Airwolf 3D mission is “to make and sell a superior product and to promote the open source philosophy in the personal 3D printer community.”

AW3D XL specs:

Filament size: 3mm
Filament type: ABS, PLA, PC, Nylon
Machine size: N/A
Build volume: 12” x 8” x 7”
Max print speed: 150mm/s
XY precision: N/A
Minimum layer thickness: 80 microns
Software: open source chain
Other features: Acrylic frame, 12″ x 8″ Borosilicate glass plate, 6 month warranty
Price: $1895 ($2295 assembled)

B9Creator

The Kickstarter-funded B9Creator is a DIY stereolithography kit that produces very high-quality prints.

B9Creator specs:

Filament type: liquid resin
Machine size: 12” x 18.5” x 31”
Build volume: at 100 microns XY, 102.4mm x 76.8mm x 203.2mm; at 50 microns, 51.2mm x 38.4mm x 203.2mm
XY precision: 100 or 50 microns
Minimum layer thickness: lower than 10 microns
Software: Custom and open source
Other features: can be hung on a wall
Price: $2495 (kit)

BitsfromBytes

3DTouch

Offering the high-quality RapMan 3.2 kit and the pre-assembled 3DTouch with available triple extrusion, BfB appeals to hobbyists, designers, and educators. Bits from Bytes was acquired by 3D Systems in 2010.

3DTouch Triple Head specs:

Filament size: Proprietary spools of 3mm, but 1.75mm works
Filament type: ABS, PLA, soluble clear translucent PLA
Machine size: 515mm x 515mm x 598mm
Build volume: 185mm x 275mm x 201mm
Max print speed: 15 cubic mm per second
XY precision: +/- 1% of object dimension or +/- 0.2mm (0.008” / 200 microns) whichever is greater
Minimum layer thickness: 0.125mm
Software: Axon 3
Other features: triple extrusion, touch screen, USB drive compatibility, PLA plastic is soluble in a sodium hydroxide solution used with a heated
Price: $4370

Cubify

CubeX Trio

Cubify’s Cube was voted Easiest to Use by Make Magazine, probably partly because it has wi-fi, and it’s now on its second generation, which has better resolution. The new CubeX is even bigger with multiple extrusion options, winning a Best of CES 2013 award. Cubify is a part of 3D Systems.

CubeX Trio specs:

Filament size: Proprietary cartridges of 1.75mm
Filament type: ABS, PLA, dissolvable PLA
Machine size: 515mm x 515mm x 598mm
Build volume: 185mm x 265mm x 240mm
Max print speed: 15 cubic mm per second
XY precision: +/- 1% of object dimension or +/- 0.2mm (0.008” / 200 microns) whichever is greater

Minimum layer thickness: 0.125mm
Software: Custom
Other features: triple extrusion, USB drive compatibility, PLA plastic is soluble in a sodium hydroxide solution used with a heated ultrasonic tank
Price: $3999

Deezmaker

Bukobot 8 Duo

The Bukobot was funded on Kickstarter, and Deezmaker has since opened a retail store and hackerspace in Pasadena, California. Bukobots are upgradeable.

Bukobot 8 Duo specs:

Filament size: 3mm, 1.75mm
Filament type: ABS, PLA, water soluble PVA
Machine size: N/A
Build volume: 200mm x 200mm x 200mm
Max print speed: 120mm/s
XY precision: approx. 846 micro-steps per mm
Minimum layer thickness: 0.1mm
Software: open source chain
Other features: dual extrusion, Aluminum frame, expandable and upgradeable
Price: $1495 ($1970 assembled) Pre-order status

Fab@Home

(Fab@Home Model 3)

On its third generation, the syringe-based Fab@Home can print with any substance with a cream or gel-like viscosity, like silicone, cement, biomaterials, and edibles such as frosting and cheese.

Fab@Home M3 specs:

Dual extrusion
Price: $3988

Filabot

(Filabot Reclaimer)

This Kickstarter funded machine isn’t a printer, but a plastic recycler. Toss in scraps of bad and broken prints, milk cartons, and bottles — pretty much any plastic — and useable filament comes out onto a spool.

Filabot specs:

3mm and 1.75mm interchangeable die
10,000 RPM grinding motor can handle 3” x 3” pieces of plastic
Price: ~$1000 (a year after successful funding, delivery is still held up due to safety concerns — pre-order status)

Formlabs

(Form 1)

The Form 1 was (very) successfully funded on Kickstarter in October 2012 and officially went into full production in February 2013. Instead of fused deposition modeling (FDM), the Form 1 uses stereolithography (SLA), producing higher quality than most personal 3D printers.

Form 1 specs:

Filament type: proprietary liquid resin
Machine size: 300mm x 280mm x 450mm
Build volume: 125mm x 125mm x 165 mm
Max print speed: N/A
Feature precision: 300 microns
Minimum layer thickness: 0.025mm
Software: Custom
Other features: FormFinish kit included
Price: $3299

Imagine

(Imagine second generation)

The Imagine 3D printer is syringe based, so it can print with any substance that’s like cream.

Imagine specs:

Dual extrusion
Machine size: 14” x 20” x 15”
Build volume: 9” x 9” x ?
Precision: approximately twice the diameter of the nozzle tip, with multiple tips available
Price: $2799

Leapfrog

(Xeed)

Leapfrog produces two sturdy 3D printers constructed with high-quality parts.

Creatr specs:

Filament size: 1.75mm
Filament type: ABS, PLA, PVA
Machine size: 500mm x 600mm x 500mm
Build volume: 230mm x 270mm x 220mm
Max print speed: 2 cubic cm per minute
XY precision: 0.05mm
Minimum layer thickness: 0.2mm
Software: open source chain
Other features: dual extrusion available, rigid frame
Price: $1700 ($2000 for dual extrusion)

Xeed specs:

Filament size: 1.75mm
Filament type: ABS, PLA, PVA
Machine size: 800mm x 600mm x 500mm
Build volume: 370mm x 340mm x 290mm
Max print speed: 2 cubic cm per minute
XY precision: 0.012mm
Minimum layer thickness: 0.1mm
Software: built into a tablet on the printer
Other features: dual extrusion, rigid frame, standalone operations with wi-fi
Price: $7300

LulzBot

(AO-101)

LulzBot offers pre-assembled, open source 3D printers at affordable prices. They’ve teamed up with The 3D Printing Store in Denver, Colorado to bring more attention to 3D printing.

AO-101 specs:

Filament size: 3mm, 1.75mm
Filament type: ABS, PLA
Machine size: 464mm x 483mm x 381mm
Build volume: 200mm x 190mm x 100mm
Max print speed: 200mm/sec
XY precision: 0.2mm
Minimum layer thickness: 0.075mm
Software: open source chain
Other features: expandable
Price: $1725

Makerbot

(Replicator 2)

MakerBot successfully commercialized the RepRap with the Thing-o-Matic, and now the Replicator 2 is one of the most popular 3D printers on the market.

Replicator 2 specs:

Filament size: 1.75mm
Filament type: PLA
Machine size: 490mm x 420mm x 380mm
Build volume: 285mm x 153mm x 155mm
Max print speed: N/A
XY precision: 11 microns
Minimum layer thickness: 100 microns
Software: MakerWare
Other features: dual extrusion available, sD card reader, powder-coated steel frame
Price: $2199 ($2799 for dual extrusion)

MakeGear

(M2 Series)

MakerGear is also a vendor of RepRaps, originally selling a Prusa Mendel kit. Now the M Series is their printer of choice.

M2 Series specs:

Filament size: 1.75mm
Filament type: ABS, PLA
Machine size: N/A
Build volume: 8” x 10” x 8”
Max print speed: N/A
XY precision: N/A
Minimum layer thickness: N/A
Software: open source chain
Other features: Stainless Steel frame
Price: $1450 ($1750 assembled)

MakeMendel

(RapidBot 3.0)

While it’s true of most, some 3D printer companies are a bit more forthcoming about the fact that their printers are essentially RepRaps, and MakeMendel is one of them. The sell a Mendel Kit
for $699, but for the same price ($130 extra for assembled) they offer the sturdier RapidBot 3.0.

RapidBot 3.0 specs:

Filament size: 3mm, 1.75mm, Bot HotEnds
Filament type: ABS, PLA
Machine size: 450mm x 350mm x 370 mm
Build volume: 220mm x 220mm x 165 mm
Max print speed: 60mm/s
XY precision: 27 microns
Minimum layer thickness: 0.2mm
Software: open source chain
Other features: acrylic frame, USB interface
Price: $699 ($829 assembled)

MakiBox

(A6 HT Stainless)

MakiBox was crowdfunded on Makible.com to offer the most affordable 3D printers on the market, starting at $200 for the A6 LT without a heated bed.

A6 HT Stainless specs:

Filament size: 1.75mm
Filament type: ABS, PLA
Machine size: 290mm x 235mm x 235mm
Build volume: 150mm x 110mm x 90mm
Max print speed: N/A
XY precision: 0.04mm
Minimum layer thickness: N/A
Software: open source chain
Other features: steel frame and bed, partially assembled
Price: $350

MBot3D

(Mbot Cube)

Mbot 3D is a China based 3D printer distributor that serves to compete in price with western vendors.

Mbot Cube specs:

Filament size: 1.75mm
Filament type: ABS, PLA
Machine size: 410mm x 400mm x 415mm
Build volume: 200mm x 200mm x 200mm
Max print speed: 40mm/s
XY precision: 0.0025mm
Minimum layer thickness: 0.1mm
Software: ReplicatorG
Other features: dual extrusion available, onboard LCD screen with controls, sD card slot
Price: $999 ($1099 for dual extrusion)

Personal Portable 3D Printer (PP3DP)

(Up! Plus)

Though it’s a strange company name, the Up! Plus won several awards from Make Magazine, including Easiest to Use and Best Overall Experience. The Up! Mini is also quite popular.

Up! Plus specs:

Filament size: 1.75mm
Filament type: ABS, PLA
Machine size: 245mm x 260mm x 350mm
Build volume: 140mm x 140mm x 135mm
Max print speed: N/A
XY precision: N/A
Minimum layer thickness: 0.15mm
Software: Custom
Other features: metal frame, digital files of printable printer parts included
Price: $1499

Printrbot

(Printrbot PLUS)

Printrbot offers affordable kits and pre-assembled printers of various sizes.

Printrbot PLUS specs:

Filament size: 3mm
Filament type: ABS, PLA
Machine size: 14” x 16” x 15”
Build volume: 8” x 8” x 8”
Max print speed: N/A
XY precision: N/A
Minimum layer thickness: 0.1mm
Software: open source chain
Other features: laser cut birch frame
Price: $799

SeeMeCNC

(Rostock MAX)

SeeMeCNC sells RepRap Huxley kits and the delta style Rostock kits, as well as laser cutters.

Rostock MAX specs:

Filament size: 1.75mm
Filament type: ABS, PLA
Machine size: N/A
Build volume: 11” diameter x 13.75” tall
Max print speed: 150mm/s
XY precision: 0.02mm
Minimum layer thickness: <100 microns
Software: open source chain
Other features: laser cut malamine laminate frame, optional onboard LCD and sD card slot
Price: $999

Solidoodle

(Solidoodle 3)

Solidoodle focuses on providing 3D printers that are affordable and sturdy enough to stand on (please don’t try this at home), and the third generation is one of the largest for the price.

Solidoodle 3 specs:

Filament size: 1.75mm
Filament type: ABS, PLA
Machine size: 12” x 12” x 11.5”
Build volume: 8” x 8” x 8”
Max print speed: N/A
XY precision: 11 microns
Minimum layer thickness: 100 microns
Software: open source chain
Other features: steel frame
Price: $799

SUMPOD

(SUMPOD ALUMINIUM)

SUMPOD is a UK based company offering the largest personal 3D printers on the market, and at affordable prices.

SUMPOD MEGA specs:

Filament size: (probably) 1.75mm
Filament type: PLA
Machine size: 860mm x 860mm x 860mm
Build volume: 600mm x 600mm x 600mm
Max print speed: N/A
XY precision: 0.02mm
Minimum layer thickness: N/A
Software: open source chain
Other features: LCD screen, rigid frame, dual Z and X axis to maintain speed and strength, upgradeable
Price: $3300

The Future is 3-D

(Glacier Steel)

With a strange but accurate company name, The Future is 3-D offers oversized, single-piece steel framed 3D printers.

Glacier Peak specs:

Filament size: 3mm, 1.75mm
Filament type: ABS, PLA
Machine size: 24” x 30” x 29”
Build volume: 16” x 16” x 21”
Max print speed: N/A
XY precision: 11 microns
Minimum layer thickness: 150 microns (20 micron profile in development)
Software: open source chain
Other features: dual extrusion available, single piece steel frame, preloaded laptop available ($800), 1 year warranty
Price: $3650 ($4100 for dual extrusion)

Tinkerines

(Tinkerines Ditto)

This Vancouver-based company focuses on form and usability with their C-shaped printers.

Ditto specs:

Filament size: 3mm
Filament type: PLA
Machine size: 350mm x 380mm x 435mm
Build volume: 190mm x 180mm x 220mm
Max print speed: N/A
XY precision: N/A
Minimum layer thickness: 100 microns
Software: open source chain
Other features: birch frame (acrylic optional), optional sD card slot, optional heated bed for ABS printing
Price: $899 ($1399 assembled)

Trinity Labs

(Aluminatus TrinityOne)

TrinityOne’s MendelMax Pro was reviewed by Make Magazine, but the Aluminatus is a step up in quality and size.

Aluminatus TrinityOne specs:

Filament size: 3mm
Filament type: ABS, PLA, nylon, polycarbonate
Machine size: N/A
Build volume: 300mm x 300mm x ~300mm
Max print speed: N/A
XY precision: 0.025mm
Minimum layer thickness: 0.025mm
Software: open source chain
Other features: rigid aluminum frame, beltless, Borosillicate print bed
Price: $2199 (85% assembled)

Type A Machines

(Series 1)

The Series 1 won Make Magazine’s Best in Class Midrange award.

Series 1 specs:

Filament size: 1.75mm
Filament type: ABS, PLA, PVA
Machine size: N/A
Build volume: 9” x 9” x 9”
Max print speed: 90mm/s
XY precision: N/A
Minimum layer thickness: 50 microns
Software: open source chain
Other features: laser cut plywood frame
Price: $1400

Ultimaker

(Ultimaker)

For being a kit, the Ultimaker performs well, winning Make Magazine’s Most Accurate, Fastest, and Best Open Hardware awards.

Ultimaker specs:

Filament size: 3mm
Filament type: ABS, PLA
Machine size: 350mm x 350mm x 350mm(?)
Build volume: 210mm x 210mm x 205mm
Max print speed: N/A
XY precision: 0.0125mm
Minimum layer thickness: 100 microns
Software: open source chain
Other features: laser cut birch plywood frame, optional UltiController LCD interface
Price: ~$1600 (~$2300 assembled)