3D printing has been gaining traction in the last few years. Furthermore, with so many people at home, 3D printing has exploded in a big way, but with it comes questions.
It's sometimes hard to find the right 3D printer to start your journey, and sometimes harder still to choose your second. We are here to help, though, with the best 3D printers you can buy.
What's the difference between Filament and Resin printers?
FDM: Fused Deposition Modeling
Fused deposition modeling (FDM) is the style of printing you are likely most familiar with. A string of plastic called a filament is melted through a hot end and deposited on the build plate. The next layer is then placed on top of the previous layer.
FDM printing is used far and wide in modeling and for producing larger parts like cosplay armor and helmets. The nature of the printing makes it very easy to set up and very easy to learn. Most maker spaces around the country use FDM printers as they are cheap and reliable.
SLA/DLP: Stereolithography/Dark light projection
Stereolithography/Dark light projection (SLA/DLP) printers are, essentially, 3D printers that print using light to cure liquid resin into layers. The cheaper versions use an LCD to shine a UV image into the resin, which cures it into a solid layer. The print bed then rises slightly to let the next layer cure.
This allows you to print a model with extremely fine detail, far more than a standard filament printer can produce, and the end result tends to need far less post-processing work to give you a finished product.
Creality Ender 3
Perfect for entry level players
While the Ender 3 can take a little time and patience to get set up correctly, it's worth it when you do. This FDM printer is fast, reliable, and, most importantly, very cheap.
The 3D printing community loves this machine, so you will always have help if you need it. The list of YouTube videos on the Ender 3 is exhaustive, and any issue you may have, someone has already had them and posted a fix.
ELEGOO Mars 2
Perfect for printing D&D minis
Elegoo is the leading brand for at-home resin 3D printing, and it is easy to see why. The Mars 2 has a monochrome screen that can print incredible details insanely fast. If you are looking to print miniatures or fine details, the Mars is the right printer for you.
Snapmaker Original 3-in-1
You can do more than 3D print
The Snapmaker 3-in-1 is something more than a 3D printer. It has extra modules and settings that can be used in a lot of creative ways. You can use the Laser module to make amazing works of art on leather or the CNC module to make detailed topography maps, but whichever.
Whichever way you use it. The SnapMaker 3-in-1 is an excellent addition to your workshop.
ANYCUBIC Wash and Cure Box
The perfect companion for your resin printer
Ok, technically this isn't a printer, but if you are using a resin printer, you need a way to cure your models to finish them off.
The Wash and Cure Box from Anycubic is cheap and, frankly, amazing for finishing off the resin printing process, and you would be doing yourself a disservice by not owning one.
Choose your player!
If you are looking to buy your first resin 3D printer or if you are looking to expand your collection, I cannot recommend the Elegoo Mars 2 highly enough. It sits at that perfect intersection of fantastic price, excellent build quality, and superb printing results. I currently own two Elegoo printers, and they are easily my most use machines. They always churn out quality prints daily.
If you are looking to print more robust prints or much larger prints, then you will likely need an FDM printer, and a great place to start is the Creality Ender 3. The Ender 3 is the perfect balance of quality and cost and will help you learn all of the ways 3D printers can bring you joy and despair!
