The Best 3D Printer for Beginners
A question we often get from readers is: ‘What is the best 3D printer for beginners?’. To answer that question we need to know what you want to learn / create. There are two questions you might want to ask yourself prior to making a decision:
- Are you in search of a plug-and-play 3D printer?
- On a budget and looking for a cheap machine?
Quick jump to:
When do you choose a pre-assembled 3D printer?
Go for a fully assembled 3D printer when you don’t want to worry about the hardware – a reliable plug-and-play machine that takes away the hassle of tweaking electronics. You can start your first print right after you’ve unboxed the printer. Below you’ll find a list of the best pre-assembled 3D printers for beginners.
Of course there are more aspects you might want to consider when deciding which 3D printer is right for you. Is safety an issue, and are you looking for a 3D printer that is safe to use in the classroom? Then skip the DIY kits and limit your search to the pre-assembled 3D printers. You also might want to read our article about the safety of 3D printers.
When do you choose a semi-assembled 3D printer?
Semi-assembled 3D printers can be the perfect solution for beginners that don’t want to spend too much money but are also not interested in the hassle of building a complete kit. Semi-assembled 3D printers have the best of both worlds. They’re easy to set up (10 to 20 minutes) and they’re relatively affordable because the manufacturer saves on shipping costs.
When do you choose a DIY Kit?
I started my journey into 3D printing a few years ago by building an Ultimaker original DIY kit. I didn’t have a clue about what to expect. As an electronics newcomer, assembling a 3D printer kit was certainly not easy and the learning curve was definitely steep, but it was worth every moment of my time.
We constantly update this list, so you can always check back to find out what the best 3D printers for beginners are.
3D Printers for Beginners
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FlashForge Adventurer 3 Lite
This is the FlashForge Adventurer 3 Lite. The only difference in comparison to the Adventurer 3 is that this Lite version doesn't come with a built-in camera.
Features we like:
- - Heats up fast - within 50 seconds to 200°C (392°F)
- - Low operating sound - perfect for in the office
- - Quick nozzle switch system
- - Flexible and removable print bed
- Manufacturer:
- FlashForge
- Manufacturer country:
- China
- Launched in:
- 2018
- Technology:
- FFF FDM
- Print size millimeters:
- 150 x 150 x 150 mm
- Print size inches:
- 5.9 x 5.9 x 5.9 inches
- Printable material(s):
- ABS, PLA
Dremel DigiLab 3D40 Flex
This is Dremel's DigiLab 3D40 Flex. Features we like:
- - Flexible and removable build plate
- - Wi-Fi enabled cloud printing
- - Perfect for beginner and intermediate K-12 education institutions
- Manufacturer:
- Dremel
- Manufacturer country:
- USA
- Launched in:
- 2019
- Technology:
- FFF FDM
- Print size millimeters:
- 254 x 152 x 170 mm
- Print size inches:
- 10 x 6 x 6.7 inches
- Printable material(s):
- PLA
Robo 3D E3
This is the Robo 3D E3. It comes with two hours of online training, and a Starter Plan for MyStemKits to integrate 3D printing with K-12 STEM lessons. Features we like:
- - Built-in HEPA filter
- - Two year warranty and a spare parts pack included
- - Filament runout detection
- - Quick nozzle switch system
- - Heated, flexible and removable print bed
- - Built-in camera for easy monitoring
- - Enclosed print chamber - perfect for in the classroom
- Manufacturer:
- Robo 3D
- Manufacturer country:
- USA
- Launched in:
- 2019
- Technology:
- FFF FDM
- Print size millimeters:
- 150 x 150 x 150 mm
- Print size inches:
- 5.9 x 5.9 x 5.9 inches
- Printable material(s):
- ABS, PLA
Creality Ender 3
The Creality Ender 3 is a DIY Kit developed by the same company that launched the popular CR 10S. Features we like:
- - Open source
- - Ability to resume print after power outage
- Manufacturer:
- Creality
- Manufacturer country:
- China
- Launched in:
- 2018
- Technology:
- FFF FDM
- Print size millimeters:
- 220 x 220 x 250 mm
- Print size inches:
- 8.6 x 8.6 x 9.4 inches
- Printable material(s):
- ABS, PLA
Best 3D Printing Tools for Beginners
Filament Dehumidifier
Certain filaments such as PLA and Nylon easily absorb moisture from the atmosphere. It is this absorption that can cause problems such as effecting print quality and cause damage to your extruder. Prevent moisture absorption with a filament dehumidifier.
Transparent Storage Box for Filament Storage
Transparent storage boxes with sealed lids present another great way to store your 3D printing filaments correctly. The idea behind the sealed lids is that no new moisture can reach the filament from outside. The need for transparency arises from a practicality perspective. If you cannot see inside the boxes, you’ll never know what filament is inside which boxes.
3D Printer Nozzle Cleaning Kit
Get rid of a blocked nozzle with this handy 3D printer nozzle cleaning set. With this tool set you're able to remove excess plastic and clear nozzle jams with high precision. Additionally it can be used for general maintenance of the heatsink section.
3D Print Removal Tool Kit
3D prints can be difficult to remove from the print bed. This 3D print removal tool kit comes to the rescue.
Suresh Panchal says
Very Helping knowledge
Cathy Nealey says
How does the Snapmaker 3 in 1 3D printer rate?
Peter Strikwerda says
We haven’t tested it yet
Andrew says
I need to make parts for vehicles, is there a scanning tool that will allow me to scan the part I need and basically have the printer build it to the specs it scans? Is it already included in these machines? I’m totally new to this. Please help
Peter Strikwerda says
Hey Andrew – scanners are not included in these machines. 3D scanning is not something we are very familiar with – we only know it’s not as easy as one might think. We have a few scanners listed here: https://3dprinting.com/3d-scanners/