The idea of owning a 3D printer is exciting for many people. However, the thought of paying hundreds – if not thousands – of dollars for one might quickly put a damper on things. Fortunately, there are 3D printer options out there that won’t cost you an arm and a leg. For example, the Voxelab Aquila 3D printer is usually less than $200.

Is the Voxelab Aquila a reliable 3D printer at that price point? Read on to find out everything you need to know about this affordable option.

Voxelab Aquila 3D Printer Review

In our Voxelab Aquila 3D printer review, we’ll cover all the ins and outs, pros and cons, and details you need to make an educated and informed buying decision. With that in mind, let’s get started!

Packaging and Contents

The Aquila 3D printer arrives in a small but sturdy cardboard box. Inside the box, the printer is protected on all sides with foam, so it should arrive in perfect condition. When you open your 3D printer box, you should have the following items: 

• User manual
• Power cable
• Screws
• Cable ties
• Spatula
• 50 grams of filament
• Needle for cleaning the nozzle
• Spare nozzle
• Spare PTFE coupler
• Hex screwdrivers and wrenches
• SD card read with 8GB card

Assembling the Printer

Your Aquila 3D printer comes as a kit, which means you’ll have to put it together. Set aside an hour or two of your day so you have plenty of time to assemble it. The manual and assembly guide that comes with the printer will guide you through putting your 3D printer together quickly and easily. Before you know it, your 3D printer will be up and ready to starting printing!

Design

You’re not going to get anything fancy with this 3D printer. It looks a lot like any other budget option you might find on the market. It’s not going to blow you away, but it will get the job done. There is no front drawer on the device and the unit’s screen is set to landscape mode.

Printing volume

The Aquila 3D printer offers a 220 x 220 x 250 printing volume. This is what you might expect with a mid-tier printer, which is big enough for the majority of the items you’ll print. The printer bed runs on four V-slot wheels, which you can use to connect the aluminum extrusion. Once that’s done, the bed will be much more stable when you start printing.

Printing surface

You’ll notice a textured glass printing surface that resides over the aluminum heated bed. This type of surface offers good adhesion once the printer heats up. Plus, when the printing job is done, you can quickly and easily remove the printed model once it cools off.

The printer’s surface is held in place with two metal clips, which lets you remove the glass if you need to. This is a handy feature for cleaning up after print jobs. One item to note is that the Aquila does not have insulation material beneath the printing bed.

Power supply

With your Aquila 3D printer comes a Mean Well 350 watt power supply. This is a high-quality power supply, which means you’re not likely to run into problems in the future and have to replace it. One thing to keep in mind when using the printer is that the power supply does produce some noise, which is noticeable when the Aquila is heating up. 

Color screen

One of the coolest features about the Aquila printer is that you’ll get a nice, color TFT screen with the unit. The screen has a white user interface with red accents. Unfortunately, it’s not a touchscreen, so you’ll have to use the hardware buttons to navigate through the menu. The screen is responsive and fast, which is nice to see since the printer doesn’t offer many advanced options or additional features.

PTFE hotend

Voxelab offers a Creality style hotend with its printer, where the PTFE tube enters the nozzle. The hotend is one of the cheaper models on the market, which is to be expected with a 3D printer at this price point. 

The good news is that it works very well with PLA, but if you start printing at more than 240 degrees Celsius for long periods of time, you’ll start to notice degradation in the tube and a foul stench in the air.

Additionally, you can upgrade the hotend in the future if you plan on doing a lot of printing at higher temperatures. This is handy if you don’t want to have to regularly troubleshoot issues with your hotend.

Belt tensioners

As expected, the Aquila 3D printer comes with X and Y-axis belt tensioners. This is something you’ll find on newer printers, which is why it’s no surprise to find it on the Voxelab Aquila offering. Bear in mind that you don’t want to overtighten the tensioners because you may wind up with degraded print quality. 

Plastic extruder

You’ll get a single-gear plastic extruder with the Aquila 3D printer, which serves its purpose. It would be nice to have a metal extruder, but plastic is what you get with the Voxelab unit. The spool holder resides at the top of the Aquila printer, which makes the filament path a little challenging. But, the plastic extruder does have a metallic insert, which protects it from any filament grinding into the body of the extruder itself.

Firmware updates

Many 3D printers that fall into this budget come with default firmware on the device. Most 3D printer manufacturers simply don’t offer firmware updates since they don’t view it as a worthwhile investment. Voxelab, on the other hand, offers a way to update your firmware via pre-compiled packages which you can download from their website.

Heating Time

For the most part, the hotend and the heat bed of the Voxelab Aquila 3D printer heat fairly quickly. You’re not going to stand around for a long time and wait for the unit to reach the right temperature. The hotend gets to 200 degrees Celsius in about a minute and a half and about a minute later reaches 250 degrees Celsius.

The heat bed takes a little longer to warm up. You’ll reach 60 degrees Celsius in just under three minutes, however, it takes right at nine minutes for the unit to get to the 100 degrees Celsius mark.

Power Consumption

When your Voxelab Aquila 3D printer is sitting idle, it will draw around 9 watts. When it’s heating up, the wattage bumps up to 240W, which then levels off to around 90W once the print job starts. 

Noise

In regard to printer movement, the Aquila is actually a fairly quiet unit. However, that benefit is offset by the fans on the device. The printer’s hotend fans create a lot of noise. Take that and the noise from the power supply when it gets going and you have quite a bit of racket. It’s not unbearable, but it’s not quiet either.

Specs

Print Volume	220 x 220 x 250 mm
Screen	3.5-inch screen
Power	350 Watts
Print Resolution	0.2 mm
Layer Resolution	0.1-0.4 mm
Filament Types Supported	ABS, PETG, PLA
Extruder Number	1
Extruder Diameter	0.4 mm
Filament Sensor	No
Print Speed	30-60 mm/s
Running Noise	50 dB
Maximum Extruder Temperature	250-degrees Celsius
Maximum Platform Temperature	100-degree Celsius
Software	Cura/Simplify3D/VoxelMaker
Working Mode	Online printing or memory card printing
Resume Printing Functionality	Yes
Input Type	3mf/bmp/fpp/jpg/jpeg/obj/png/stl

Alternatives

If the Voxelab Aquila 3D printer doesn’t sound like it’s going to meet your needs, there are plenty of options available on the market. Here are a few alternatives you might consider:

Creality Ender 3

One of the best do-it-yourself 3D printer kits at this price point is the Ender 3. This printer offers a starting price of below $200, so it’s not going to put much of a dent in your wallet. The Ender 3 is one of the most affordable 3D printer kits available. There are several assembled parts included with the kit, so you’ll only need to set aside a few hours to get it put together.

Plus, an upgraded extruder aids in reducing the risk of plugs, and it only takes a few minutes for the heat bed to reach a nice, hot temperature of 110-degrees Celsius. If you need a large printing area, don’t worry, Creality also has a CR 10 option, which is another popular do-it-yourself 3D printer on the market.

Tarantula Pro

The latest offering of the Tarantula 3D do-it-yourself kit is the Tarantula Pro. Known for being both robust and easy to use, the Tarantula Pro offers a build volume of 235 x 235 x 250 mm. Plus, it works with a wide variety of filaments, including ABS, PVA, PLA, and WOOD.

This unit comes with an LCD screen, which allows users to quickly and easily navigate the device menu. The Tarantula Pro has a layer resolution of 0.5-0.35mm. Additionally, the unit’s extruder is a volcano extruder, so you don’t have to worry about overheating very often. While the Tarantula Pro does run over $200, it’s one of the better do-it-yourself printers available.

Anet A8

Chinese manufacturer Anet offers its A8 3D printer, which is its latest do-it-yourself printer kit. The 3D printer makes use of FDM technology, along with a Cartesian FDM head that supports both PLA and ABS filaments. With a build volume of 220 x 220 x 240 mm, you should have no trouble printing most of your objects.

The heat bed reaches a high temperature of 100-degrees Celsius, which is about par for this type of device. Additionally, the unit comes with an LCD screen, providing the user with a better experience, along with the ability to quickly navigate through the A8’s menu. With a starting price of under $200, the Anet A8 is one of the most accessible 3D printers on the market.

FAQs

These are some of the more commonly asked questions about 3D printers:

Is the Voxelab Aquila 3D Printer Right for You?

The Voxelab Aquila printer is a great option for anyone who wants to save some money while getting their feet wet with 3D printing. Its specs aren’t going to blow you away, but the unit gets the job done for 3D printing hobbyists or beginners. The screen interface is nice, as is the ability to update the firmware. 

It’s also nice that the unit is calibrated straight out of the box, so you don’t have to mess with a lot of additional setups. No, the printer isn’t perfect, but it does have a lot going for it, especially since it’s available for under $200. At that price point, the Aquila 3D printer is a great purchase. If you don’t mind tinkering a little bit with technical devices, the Voxelab Aquila 3D printer is a solid investment.

 

One of the things that people complain about with their 3D printers is that it can cost a whole lot of money. However, there are 3D printer kits that you can buy to help shave off a couple of hundreds of dollars from its price tag.

3D printer kits are an excellent way to save on your next machine. If you’re comfortable working with disassembled parts, screws, and tools, you should definitely try building your 3D printer from scratch. And here are the kits we recommend:

• Anycubic Kossel Plus
• BeeVery Creative B2x300
• Creality Ender 3
• Hypercube Evolution
• Original Prusa i3 MK3S+
• Tronxy X5SA
• VORON2.4

Which of these products are right for you? Relax and check out our recommendations!

1. Tronxy X5SA

The Tronxy X5SA retails for less than $350 from online stores. We thought we should start with that. At that price, you’d probably expect a small printer that doesn’t really do its job well.

You will be wrong on both counts.

This printer has a build volume of 13 by 13 by 15.7 inches (330 by 330 by 400 millimeters). The core XY fused deposition modeling printer has a Bowden feeder and a single nozzle. It can get as hot as 527 degrees Fahrenheit (275 degrees Celsius), making it an excellent printer to use if you want to use the following filaments:

• ABS
• Carbon fiber
• HIPS
• Nylon
• PLA
• PVC
• TPU

The materials used for the printer itself aren’t cheap-looking either. The body, which measures 25.2 by 22.8 by 25.9 inches (639 by 580 by 658 millimeters) and weighs 25.4 pounds (11.5 kilograms), is made with sheet metal and aluminum.

If these are not impressive enough for you, then you should know that this printer comes with a semi-automatic bed-leveling feature.

Then you have the following features:

• Filament run-out sensor: The printer will tell you when it’s time to put in a new filament.
• Resume your prints if the power is cut short.
• A 3.5-inch (88.9 millimeters) touchscreen allows you to efficiently operate this machine.

Before You Choose the Tronxy X5SA

However, assembling and setting up the Tronxy X5SA isn’t a walk in the park. As a core XY printer, you will need to do a lot of tweaking and adjusting.

You will also find that the instructions included with this kit can be pretty confusing. Thank goodness, there are YouTube videos that can help you.

Check out this installation video, which shows you the right way to get your Tronxy X5SA assembled and working.

Who should buy the Tronxy X5SA? Those people who like to tinker and build things while also having the experience to correctly assemble a core XY printer like this one.

Tronxy X5SA: The Bottom Line

We cannot stress this enough, beginners should stay away from this 3D printer kit. Out of the box, it’s not going to be easy to assemble and set up this printer.

However, in more capable hands, this 3D printer can do wonders. Because of its low price, capabilities, features, and large build volume, you can do a lot with the Tronxy X5SA.

Pros

• Huge build volume, especially for the price
• Automatic bed leveling

Cons

• Need regular maintenance and adjustments
• Build plate can be pretty sticky, and finished prints are not easily removed
• Not for beginners

2. Original Prusa i3 MK3S+

No list of the best 3D printer kits will be without the Original Prusa i3 MK3S+. And there’s a reason for this.

This 3D printer gives you a build volume that’s big enough at 9.8 by 8.3 by 8.3 inches (250 by 210 by 210 millimeters), a solid metal frame, and rotary control. It also features automatic crash sensors, as well as being able to resume printing after a power outage.

This Cartesian printer has a direct drive extruder that can get as hot as 572 degrees Fahrenheit (300 degrees Celsius), which allows it to work with polycarbonate and nylon, among other filaments.

Pros

• Nice print quality
• Easy to set up and use

Cons

• Price can be steep, especially with its outdated features
• Works noisily

Original Prusa i3 MK3S+: The Bottom Line

The Original Prusa i3 MK3S+ might be an old kit, but it still delivers a solid 3D printing experience. You can get excellent print quality using the profiles provided by the machine.

However, you will miss out on the latest features. There’s no touch display, no Wi-Fi connectivity, and the SD card can sometimes have noticeable lags.

3. BeeVeryCreative B2X300

This 3D printer kit has a pair of extruders and a sizable build volume at 11.8 by 7.9 by 11.8 inches (300 by 200 by 300 millimeters). You don’t even have to worry about manually leveling the bed. This printer can do it automatically.

The extruders, which come pre-assembled, can get as hot as 572 degrees Fahrenheit (300 degrees Celsius). Your printer can work with a variety of materials, including HIPS, PC, PLA, PETG, PVA, ABS, and nylon.

What’s more, it can resume printing when the power is interrupted, as well as be able to tell you when the filament has run out. Printing resolution ranges from 50 to 300 microns.

The best thing is that it comes with a modular motherboard that means you will be able to customize or upgrade this 3D printer to your heart’s content. Instructions for the B2X300 are found on the company’s website.

Pros

• Big build volume
• Automatic bed leveling and offset calibration
• Excellent user manual and instructions

Cons

• It’s one of the more expensive kits we have here.

 

4. HyperCube Evolution

So far, what we’ve recommended are ready to assemble kits, where you have all the components in the package. There are also kits that work like a scavenger hunt: you get a list of the parts, but you will buy these yourself.

HyperCube Evolution is one such kit. The list of parts and other things that you need are available on Thingiverse.

You have two different designs available for this core XY 3D printer, one that is more stable when printing at faster speeds, and the other giving you a build volume of 11.8 by 11.8 by 11.8 inches (300 by 300 by 300 millimeters).

The good news is that you don’t even have to worry about where to find the parts. Sellers are listed, and you have an option on what types of brackets, fasteners, and screws you can buy. What’s more, a majority of these components are available on AliExpress.

5. VORON2.4

If you like the HyperCube Evolution, you will also love VORON. Like HyperCube Evolution, this is a community project that has been developed and improved upon. The most current printer is the VORON2.4.

This project will allow you to get a customized list of materials depending on your preferred builds. The materials will change, depending on:

• If you use a direct feed vs. a Bowden filament feeder
• Whether you are upgrading a previous VORON build or building a new one.
• The types of frame joints, cable management chains
• For the printer size you want, there are specifications for 9.8, 11.8, 13.8 inches (250, 300, 350 millimeters), as well as an option for custom sizes.

After specifying your preferences, you will be given a bill of materials that details all the components you will need to buy. The document will describe the type and name of the part and the quantity you need.

The community behind VORON also has a sourcing guide, which gives you more information on these components, such as:

• The quality standards (such as ISO and DIN certifications)
• The quantity and size of the part you need
• Recommended and alternative retailers
• Comments from community members on the part itself, as well as on the retailers

6. Anycubic Kossel Plus

Going back to unassembled kits, you have the Anycubic Kossel Plus. This 3D printer comes to you unassembled, with all the parts already in the package, including the frame, the guide rails, the extruder, feeder, print bed, power supply, and control unit.

You will need to spend time putting all these together, and your reward for completing it is that you get to have an excellent printer that’s priced at around $200.

And if you know what you’re doing, it would take you just two to three hours to get this thing going.

There are two versions of the Anycubic Kossel Plus. One uses linear rails with a build size of 9.1 by 11.8 inches (230 by 300 millimeters), while the other uses a pulley system that gives you a printing volume of 7.1 by 11.8 inches (180 by 300 millimeters).

The extruder can get as hot as 500 degrees Fahrenheit (260 degrees Celsius). As such, it can push out wood, HIPS, ABS, and PLA filaments.

The Anycubic Kossel Plus is a single extruder affair that can travel up to 2.4 inches (60 millimeters) per second. The rated printing speed is at 0.8 to 2.4 inches (20 to 60 millimeters) per second.

The Bottom Line: Anycubic Kossel Plus

If you’re looking for an excellent printer and wouldn’t mind assembling it first, then the Anycubic Kossel Plus is a good choice. It’s an even better choice if you already have a primary printer and just use this as a secondary machine.

If you’re more than just an enthusiast, you can probably get this machine printing in just hours. The support materials certainly help make it easier for you to assemble this printer from scratch.

However, it has a small print volume, but other than that, it works great.

Pros

• Solid build with durable components
• Automatic bed leveling
• Excellent user guide and instructional videos

Cons

• Touch display may not be as responsive as you’d like
• Not for beginners
• Small build volume

7. Creality Ender 3

The Creality Ender 3 is yet another printer with a $200 price tag. But even with its unbelievable price tag, you can potentially get high-quality prints once you’ve become comfortable tweaking this printer for your needs.

This 3D printer is for those who like to make average-sized prints. It doesn’t have a huge build volume at 8.7 by 8.7 by 9.8 inches (220 by 220 by 250 millimeters).

The print bed is also a good feature. Adhesion is not a problem with this printer. It can resume after being interrupted, and it’s open-source as well.

But what makes the Creality Ender 3 more amazing is that the assembly and setup are a breeze. Beginners would do well to choose this kit over our other recommendations here.

What’s more, you don’t only get the components you need to assemble the printer, but you also have other accessories such as a nozzle cleaner and extra nozzles. Also, some of the parts come pre-assembled, so beginners will have an easier time.

The Final Word on Creality Ender 3

After you assemble the Creality Ender 3, you will love how it works excellently. The big enough build volume, the heated plate, and the ability to resume printing after power has been cut all help make it worth your time.

But the beauty of DIY kits is that you’re able to customize everything and tweak it according to your preferences. And this is where the Ender 3 shines: after you’ve tweaked it, you get better prints over time. Perhaps, the quality of your prints can even rival those of more expensive machines.

You can use this printer with a wide variety of filaments, including exotic ones.

However, you should know that this printer needs to be calibrated manually. You’re going to work with leveling knobs, and that may not always work the way you want it.

You also have to deal with an uneven base.

Pros

• Big enough printing volume
• Affordable yet delivers great prints
• Open source technology
• Easy to assemble
• Compact dimensions

Cons

• No automatic bed leveling, and you need to balance the bed over time
• The uneven base makes it wobbly

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the answers to your most asked questions.

Question: Why Should You Even Try to Build Your Own 3D Printer?

Answer: With all the fully assembled 3D printers available in the market today, some of our readers ask why they should spend time and effort building their own either via the following projects or using 3D printer kits.

With a fully assembled 3D printer, you not only save time and avoid frustration, but you also have an already calibrated machine that has passed quality control.

However, assembling your own 3D printer does have its perks. For one, it allows you to learn more about the components of these printers.

You will know about the parts and their purpose. It’s also a whole lot cheaper to assemble one, and you have the option to customize everything from the extruder to the quality of materials used.

There’s also an immense feeling of satisfaction when you finally bring together the materials you need and then assembling them into something usable. Lastly, one of the biggest draws when building your own 3D printer is that you get to join a community.

Several online communities offer help for first-timers and expert 3D printing enthusiasts. Go to communities such as RepRap, Hackster, Instructables, or 3D Print Forums, if you find yourself stumped or have questions.

There are also subreddits on Reddit that can help you. In the end, you don’t only gain a 3D printer, but also a world of friends.

Question: Working with 3D Printer Kits: Any Tips for Beginners?

Answer: Assembling your own 3D printer is not going to be quick or easy. You will need tons of patience and be able to follow instructions, especially when you’re new.

If you opt for a kit, you’re luckier because there should be an easy-to-follow instruction manual on how to correctly assemble the printer. Once you get the equipment, check the parts list, and then make sure that you go over the instructions before setting out to assemble your printer.

If the instruction manual isn’t all that clear, or if you have a hard time following it, you can always rely on assembly videos on YouTube.

After assembly, you will need to calibrate your 3D printer and choose the best firmware and software.

Question: Building a 3D Printer from Scratch

Answer: The challenge of building your own 3D printer is more apparent when you try to assemble one from scratch. You will have to worry about sourcing and buying the parts and make sure that these components will be what you need for your customized 3D printer.

But before that, you will need to decide on a lot of other things, such as:

• The type of printer you want, whether it’s core XY, Cartesian, or some other form factor
• The type of nozzle to use
• Having one or two extruders
• The printer’s size

Be Safe

More than that, you will need to ensure safety when you’re working with a 3D printer. Some of the things you need to safeguard against include:

• Electric shock: These machines often use high voltage to power their systems. So choose a power supply unit with an included guard, use the correct voltage (110 or 220 volts), and power off your 3D printer before installing sensors, motors, and other parts.
• Scalding and burns: Your 3D printer will have to heat the extruder and the build plate for it to work flawlessly. And because 3D printers often exceed temperatures that are twice as hot as boiling water, you should be careful when you’re installing the print head.
• Fire: If you leave your 3D printer unattended, it might cause fires. Be sure to continuously monitor your 3D printer when it’s in use or when you’ve just finished assembling it.

Are There 3D Printer Kits That Are Not FDM?

Fused deposition modeling is one of the most widely used 3D printing technology because the mechanism is relatively easy, and it’s a breeze to construct an FDM printer from scratch. But if you’re wondering if there’s a 3D printer kit that doesn’t need you to use filaments, then there’s the Sintratec Kit.

This kit uses selective laser sintering technology. SLS employs laser beams to work with the polyamide 12 material. However, it’s geared towards industrial users and not recommended for consumers.

For one, it will take four days to assemble this printer kit. It’s suitable for prototypes because of its small build size of up to 4.3 by 4.3 by 4.3 inches (110 by 110 by 110 millimeters). The company, however, recommends that you print only objects that measure 3.5 by 3.5 by 3.5 inches (90 by 90 by 90 millimeters.

What’s more, this 3D printer kit can be pretty steep, retailing at around $6,000.

Assemble Your Own 3D Printer Today

If you’re serious about 3D printing but you don’t like having to spend too much on a machine, then a 3D printer kit will be your best purchase. These kits offer you a chance to own an outstanding workhorse that can deliver top-quality prints without spending an arm and a leg.

We have done our research and came out with the Best DIY 3D Printer Kits for jobs and requirements to help you find your perfect match.

Our Anycubic Photon S review is going to show you everything you need to know about this budget-friendly 3D printer.

While the original Photon is very popular, we will explore if the Photon S offers enough for you to upgrade.

We will look at the core features of the Anycubic Photon S, its pros and cons, and also if there are any alternatives you should consider. In the end, we will discover if the Photon S is really worth the money.

Key Specifications of Anycubic Photon S

Printer type	Resin
Build volume	115mm x 65mm x 165mm
Overall dimensions	230 x 200 x 400 mm
Connectivity	USB
Software	Photon Workshop
Print speed	20mm/h
Warranty	12 months (3 months for LCD screen)
Latest price	Click here for the latest price

Core features of Anycubic Photon S

The Anycubic Photon S might not be the most expensive 3D printer on the market; however, it comes packed with many great features.

Print quality

Even though the Anycubic Photon S is firmly in the affordable category for 3D printers, it still offers high-quality prints.

This is a resin printer, so the quality of the print layers is higher than its FDM counterparts. In addition, it is compatible with 405 nm photosensitive resins, which gives you a good amount of choice.

The quality of the prints is great with the Photon S.

For the price, you aren’t going to find much better on the market. Many 3D printers that cost a similar amount of money don’t offer anywhere near the print quality of the Photon S. Even though it isn’t perfect, for what you pay, the quality to cost ratio is fantastic.

The build volume is decent at 115mm x 65mm x 165mm, and this is just the right size for printing objects such as miniatures.

Ease of use

This is perhaps the most significant overall feature of the Anycubic Photon S – it is perfect for beginners.

Much of this comes down to the LCD screen that makes 3D printing a lot more straightforward. If you are completely new to 3D printing or have little experience, the Photon S is a safe bet as the workflow isn’t complicated. It doesn’t take a genius to work out how to use this printer, and you can start printing high-quality 3D objects in no time.

The printer comes with easy-to-use plug-and-play software. Photon Workshop, the software you get with the printer, is easy to manage and operate for beginners, but you’ll probably want to upgrade to more advanced slicer software as time goes on.

Assembly

Another good thing about the Photon S is the lack of assembly that is required to get this 3D printer up and running.

It won’t take you a long time to get this 3D printer assembled, and if you are looking for an easy way to get started with 3D printing, this printer is definitely worth your consideration.

Compared to some other 3D printers on the market, the Photon S can be unboxed and ready to start 3D printing in no time.

Connectivity

We should say straight away that there is no WiFi connectivity with the Photon S. The connectivity options are limited to a USB port.

In some ways, we are pretty disappointed as we have come across 3D printers in a similar price range that does offer WiFi connectivity. This isn’t a dealbreaker, but we would like to have WiFi for the Photon S as it would give it a real edge over the original Photon.

Air Filtration System

The air filtration system on the Photon S is a noticeable upgrade from the original Photon.

3D printing uses various chemicals, and this can result in multiple unpleasant odors emitting from your printer. With the new air filtration system on the Photon S, the majority of unwanted smells are eliminated.

This system doesn’t eliminate the odor completely, but it does an excellent job of cutting it down. As long as you use the Photon S in a well-ventilated room, the odor that comes from 3D printing materials shouldn’t cause much of an issue.

Warranty

You get a 12-month warranty with the Photon S, although the LCD screen only carries a three-month warranty.

There isn’t too much to say about this other than it would be nice to have seen a longer warranty, but we can’t complain a lot. We have come across 3D printers with a shorter warranty period and others with a much longer period. The Photon S is well-built, so it is unlikely you will encounter many problems with its operation.

How does Anycubic Photon S perform

Overall we like the performance of the Photon S.

You have to weigh this 3D printer up with the cost. Is it going to compete with a 3D printer that costs thousands and thousands of dollars? Not really, but it certainly holds its own, especially with its affordable price.

The 3D models that we printed with the Anycubic Photon S are very good, and if your goal is to print miniatures or jewelry, you can do a lot worse than this 3D printer.

The fact that it is designed for resin printing is also a significant advantage. Resin snd curing with UV light offers higher-quality prints and quicker print speeds. So even though at 20mm/h, this isn’t exactly the fastest 3D printer, it isn’t going to take weeks to print off small models either.

Pros of Anycubic Photon S

There is a lot to enjoy about the Anycubic Photon S, and these are the best bits of this 3D printer.

Great for beginners

This 3D printer is aimed at anyone, but it is a great machine to get started on for beginners. You don’t require an intricate or expert knowledge of 3D printing, and if you want to begin creating miniatures, jewelry, or other models, this is the ideal printer to get. Some aftercare is involved with resin printing, but it doesn’t extend beyond wiping down your models with paper towels.

Little assembly required

There aren’t many assemblies needed with the Photon S. You don’t need to fiddle about to get this 3D printer up and running, and while it isn’t quite ’start printing right out of the box, it is close.

Air filtration system

The air filtration system is a new addition to the Photon range and a handy feature of the Photon S.

It helps eliminate unwanted odors that come with the chemicals and material used for 3D printing. You still need to operate the Photon S in a well-ventilated area, and it doesn’t eliminate smells completely, but it cuts down on odors well.

Print quality

The print quality with the Photon S is excellent, and you can print off high-quality models in no time.

It isn’t going to rival many of the high-end 3D printers, but there isn’t much to match it in the budget range. We have found that the models printed with the Photon S to be a lot better than some of its competitors, and when you weigh up quality with the price, you are getting great value for money.

Well-built

The Photon S is a well-built machine.

We would have preferred a slightly better warranty – you get 12-months on the 3D printer and just three months for the LCD screen – but we don’t have many complaints. It is unlikely to run into any problems. It is durable and well-constructed (although there are some issues with the plastic casing), which is ideal for beginners or 3D printing enthusiasts on a budget.

Cons of Anycubic Photon S

There are some things we were disappointed with when we got our hands on the Photon S.

Manual Leveling

Even though this is a beginner-friendly 3D printer, you still need to level the bed manually. This isn’t any different from the original Photon, but it does increase the chances of making mistakes.

Overall, it isn’t particularly complicated to operate, but there is the chance of messing up with the manual bed leveling system. Calibrating the bed and how to do it is clearly laid out in the user manual, and it can be carried out with a piece of paper, but the Z-movement buttons will take some time to get used to.

Isn’t a massive upgrade on the Photon

The Anycubic Photon is still a very good 3D printer, and it isn’t true to say that the Photon S doesn’t have any significant upgrades (air filtration system, for example).

However, it just doesn’t feel like a massive upgrade. The print quality is very much the same, as is the power supply, although we aren’t complaining as the prints are high-quality on both the Photon and Photon S.

The Photon S has a higher print speed (20mm/h compared to 10mm/h) and some other upgrades like the air filtration system, but not as much as we expected.

You can read our full Photon vs. Photon S comparison here.

Software is quite basic.

You get access to Photon Workshop, which is a slicing software when you buy the Photon S.

There isn’t anything wrong with it; it is just a bit basic. For beginners, which this 3D printer is predominately aimed at, this is fine. It allows you to get to grips with 3D printing, but more experienced users will look elsewhere for something a bit more advanced.

Are there any alternatives?

Anycubic Photon

As the saying goes, “if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it,” and this does sort of ring true with the original Photon.

As we mentioned above, the Photon S does offer some upgrades that the original Photon doesn’t have, but is it enough for splash out for a new machine? If you are on a particularly tight budget, you can pick up an Anycubic Photon a bit cheaper than a Photon S.

The Photon still offers high-quality prints, although the print speed is about half of the Photon S, so the Photon S offers faster printing. There is a handy LCD screen, and overall the Photon is as easy to use as the Photon S. It does have a very slightly smaller build volume, but it is worth looking at the original if you want to save some money.

If you want to know more about the Anycubic Photon, read our full Anycubic Photon review.

Wanhao D7

The Wanhao D7 is a solid alternative to the Photon S, although it will set you back a couple more hundred bucks.

For the extra money, you do get some great features. This includes a bigger build volume of 120 x 70 x 200mm, and a layer resolution of 35 microns. We do like the quality of prints that the Wanhao D7 offers, and anything we have printed on this 3D printer has been of excellent quality.

Again, you won’t have the option of WiFi connectivity with the D7, although it tends to be a problem with 3D printers in this price range. It doesn’t have its own dedicated software like Anycubic (Wanhao printers used Creation Workshop); however, it works very well.

If you are looking for a slightly bigger build volume, the Wanhao D7 is a good place to look. It isn’t without its faults (including the fact that the website can be challenging to navigate to find what you need), but it is a rival to the Anycubic Photon S.

If you want to find out how the Wanhao D7 and the Anycubic Photon match up, have a look at our Anycubic Photon vs Wanhao D7 comparison article.

Creality LD-002R LCD Resin 3D Printer

The last alternative to the Anycubic Photon S is the Creality LD-002R LCD Resin 3D Printer.

As an entry-level 3D printer, it is difficult to argue against what the Creality offers. The build volume is good (119 X 65 X 160mm), and the LED screen with touch-sensitive buttons makes printing straightforward.

This is another 3D printer that is very much aimed at beginners and novices. If you haven’t had much experience with DLP printing, the Creality LD-002R is a popular place to start. Not only is it very budget-friendly, but it is easy to use too.

Like the Photon S, this Creality 3D printer has an active carbon air filtering system. This addition helps to cut down on some of the more unpleasant and unwanted smells that the printer emits. Like the Photon S, it won’t eliminate them, but it works very well.

If you want an alternative to the Photon S that is closer in price to the Photon, the Creality LD-002R LCD Resin 3D Printer is one place you should definitely look.

The Creality LD-002R appeared on our list of the best resin 3D printers, which you can find here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Is the Anycubic Photon S beginner-friendly?

Answer: Yes. The Anycubic Photon S is made for people who either want to get started with 3D printing and don’t have much experience or are on a very tight budget. It still offers detailed and high-quality prints, but its overall design means it is easy to use and operate.

Question: Does the Anycubic Photon S have WiFi?

Answer: No. The Anycubic Photon S doesn’t have WiFi, instead, it offers USB connectivity.

Question: Does it take long to assembly the Anycubic Photon S?

Answer: No. One of the big advantages of buying the Anycubic Photon S is that it doesn’t take long to assemble it. While it isn’t ‘straight out of the box, there is little assembly required, and you can have it up and running in no time.

Question: Do I get a warranty with the Anycubic Photon S?

Answer: Yes. Anycublc offers a 12-month warranty on the printer; however, you only get a 3-months warranty on the LCD screen.

Question: What is the build volume of the Anycubic Photon S?

Answer: The build volume of the Anycubic Photon S is 115mm x 65mm x 165mm. This isn’t massive, but it is ideal for printing small objects such as miniatures and jewelry.

Question: What is the print speed of the Anycubic Photon S?

Answer: The print speed of the Anycubic Photon S is 20mm/h. There are much faster 3D printers available, but for the price, this is a pretty good speed.

Final thoughts – the Photon S does offer a lot of good features but isn’t quite the upgrade we wanted

When we first got our hands on the Anycubic Photon S, we were expecting a bit more.

It isn’t fair to say that this is a bad 3D printer; it is far from it. The Photon S packs a powerful punch and comes with many features that you often don’t see in other printers in the same price range.

We love how easy it is to use, especially with the LCD screen, and beginners will enjoy getting to grips with this 3D printer. The bed leveling system does have the potential for mistakes, but that is all part of the learning and printing process.

We were just left a bit underwhelmed when compared to the original Photon. There are upgrades (quicker print speeds and the air filtration system), but we aren’t sure if it is enough to replace the original.

If you don’t have a Photon or need a new 3D printer, then we definitely recommend looking at the Photon S. It offers excellent print quality, has minor assembly, and is an all-around excellent budget machine.

 

Finding the correct 3D modeling software for your needs isn’t as straightforward as simply picking one at random. There are many options available and we are going to look at two of the main pieces of software on the market – Solidworks and Fusion 360.

Both of these products have a loyal following. They might not be as widespread in their use as AutoCAD for example but they are certainly popular choices. You will need some experience in creating models on a computer for 3D printing and neither of these products will appeal to people who haven’t done this before.

So firstly, let’s look at the main differences between the two software packages.

My Bottom Line Up Front Summary: For most use cases I’d lean more towards Fusion 360 here. It’s cheaper, easier to use, and more widely compatible (and supported, formally and informally) than Solidworks. That said, if you are primarily accessing offline, Solidworks is the default option here.

Main Differences Between the Solidworks vs Fusion 360

The main differences between Solidworks vs Fusion 360 are:

• Solidworks has a cloud storage option, whereas Fusion 360 works exclusively on the cloud.
• Solidworks is mainly a Windows application, whereas Fusion 360 works on both Windows and Mac.
• Solidworks is an assembly-driven software, whereas Fusion 360 uses a multi-component part system.
• Solidworks is better for manufactured goods and design engineering, whereas Fusion 360 is more suited to hobbyists and some advanced designers.
• Solidworks allows you to customize your keyboard shortcuts, whereas Fusion 360 does not.

Solidworks System Specifications

Core Features of the Solidworks

Solidworks is another well-known computer-aided drafting software that can be used to export files for 3D printing. We have reviewed Solidworks before when we compared it to another famous CAD package, AutoCAD.

It first emerged back in the mid-1990s and is perhaps more suited to manufactured goods and design engineering than Fusion 360. It offers a wide range of functionality such as simulating computational fluid dynamics, rendering process to show objects in photorealistic finishes while there is an electrical package too.

Engineers used Solidworks extensively due to its 3D modeling capabilities and it is in widespread use across many sectors including construction, robotics and the oil and gas markets.

Solidworks started off life as 3D modeling software and then moved into 2D drawing while still retaining a firm eye on 3D printing. So, how does Solidworks fare?

Usability

Solidworks doesn’t have a UI that is going to catch your eye from an aesthetic point of view however it is fairly easy to use. In fact, they’ve made some big improvements to it over the years compared to how it looked in the past.

While it might still seem like a little clunky and outdated, it has everything laid out in a nice way and it is straightforward to find tools as well. The good thing with Solidworks is that you can customize your shortcuts so you can adapt the software to your needs and speed up your productivity.

Reliability

While Fusion 360 works on the cloud, Solidworks is based on local and network files like most CAD software.

This means it does require more processing power and more storage to work properly so you’ll need a higher spec machine. The upside to this is that you don’t have to rely on an internet connection for it to work and you can still access everything even if your internet is down.

For hobbyists and those not working in a professional environment, you will need to move files between a laptop and a workstation which can raise its own issues. Overall Solidworks is a reliable CAD platform that will still work without the internet.

Installation

Like Fusion 360, Solidworks is very easy to get up and running.

It does require more disk space as everything is going to be installed locally on your machine. For anyone that has previously installed a program on a Windows computer, you shouldn’t have any issues with getting Solidworks up and running. They have a fairly comprehensive support section if you need help.

Compatibility with 3D printing software

The good news is that Solidworks can work with STL files which means that it can provide a file easily for 3D printing.

It is very easy as well to prepare Solidworks models for 3D printing and the files will work with most 3D printers as it a pretty standard file format. It is also able to support some 35 different file formats although it doesn’t offer mesh export options.

Support

Even though I haven’t run into many problems while using Solidworks, they do have a good support system and have been very helpful anytime I have needed to contact them.

They do have a lot of online materials where you can get documentation on a wide range of different technical issues. If you need to contact someone about the software they also have a forum, email support, and a search function to find local support in your area.

Solidworks Pros and Cons

Pros

• The software makes it pretty straightforward to design models that can be used for 3D printing due to the parametric feature-based modeling
• Offers several simulation options for model testing
• Is made for 3D modeling and printing
• Has sheet metal design tools
• Uses a standard file format so will work with most 3D printers
• Publishes good online resources for support
• Doesn’t require an internet connection to work properly

Cons

• Only compatible with Windows operating systems2
• Does have the 2D capability but isn’t the focus of the software
• The user interface can feel a little outdated

System requirements for Fusion 360

Core Features of Fusion 360

Fusion 360 has emerged as a popular software package that allows you to draft 3D models for printing.

With this software, you can draw, model and render objects that can be converted into files to use on your 3D printer. It utilizes cloud technology in a way that not many other CAD programs so. Instead of using copious amounts of processing power on your computer, Fusion 360 uses the Autodesk servers so you don’t necessarily need an extremely powerful computer if you are carrying out complex tasks.

By acting as a ‘resource multiplier’, the cloud technology is able to utilize much more power than if you were simply using your own machine.

You can also access all your files and data via the cloud too. This makes it better for accessing files on the move and you don’t need to physically take them with you on a storage device. Although I should mention that it can be a hindrance if you don’t have any internet connectivity but we will look at that below.

We’re going to look at how Fusion 360 holds up as a CAD software based on five different criteria.

Usability

The user interface with Fusion 360 is straightforward and it has drawn inspiration from Google’s Sketchup in its layout. It looks great on a large monitor but if you use it on a smaller screen it will condense tools and menus so everything doesn’t look squashed. It is still easy to find everything you need on a smaller device.

One thing I will say about the usability is that it only offers a light and dark mode. It would be good to have better customization with the user interface given how much time you can spend on it drafting models. You also can’t customize your keyboard shortcuts with Fusion 360.

Reliability

Fusion 360 is different than most CAD software as it works exclusively via cloud technology. This is great for processing power as it isn’t clogging up your machine. You won’t need to have such a high tech computer to run Fusion 360 as you would with many other CAD programs. It also means you can easily access your files wherever you are and you don’t need to carry storage devices around with you.

One drawback is that you need an internet connection for it to work. Fusion 360 runs off the cloud and without internet access you are going to have reliability problems. If your internet is down or you have a slow connection then Fusion 360 won’t work however I haven’t come across any issues with the Autodesk servers yet.

They also regularly scheduled updates so it is worth mentioning this too as it can sometimes knock the functionality offline although it tends to be outside the normal hours of work.

Installation

You can install Fusion 360 pretty easily. Even though it uses cloud technology you still need to install some local files on your computer. You simply go to your Autodesk account, hit download and follow the instructions. It really couldn’t be any easier.

For updates, you will need to be connected to the internet and Fusion 360 pushes out updates quite frequently to improve functionality and keep the security up to date.

Compatibility with 3D printing software

The great thing about this CAD software is that it will work with pretty much any 3D printer. When you have finished drafting your 3D model you can export it either as an STL or an OBJ file which will be read by most 3D printing software.

I haven’t had any problems with using Fusion 360 and then exporting the files to use for 3D printing. 3D printers are powerful devices but with modeling software such as Fusion 360 you can really test their performance.

Support

Fusion 360 is a very popular piece of CAD software so you would expect their support system to be very good.

Luckily they have a great support team that has been on hand to help anytime I have contacted them no matter how big or small the issue. The cloud technology means you can get updates and fixes seamlessly but if anything does go wrong you can contact their support team via email or phone.

Autodesk has a range of training materials available if you want to expand your knowledge too.

Fusion 360 Pros and Con

Pros

• Uses the cloud so you can access files on the move and updates and security fixes are easy to install
• Exports files that are compatible with most 3D printers on the market
• Very intuitive and straightforward user interface so you shouldn’t have any issues with using this particular CAD software
• Quick responses from their support team and you can avail of the online training materials too
• Works seamlessly on both Windows and Mac computers

Cons

• You will need a good internet connection as the application uses cloud technology
• If your internet is down you won’t be able to access your files
• Can’t customize your keyboard shortcuts

FAQ’s About Solidworks vs Fusion 360

The Verdict: Fusion 360 or Solidworks?

Solidworks and Fusion 360 are popular in their own right and for many people, they are the go-to software for drafting models for 3D printing.

If you still aren’t 100% sure on what product to choose then consider this:

• If you want a more modern user interface then choose Fusion 360
• If you don’t want to worry about being able to access the software due to internet problems choose Solidworks
• If you’re on a budget, then Fusion 360 is better priced than Solidworks

I hope that you now have a better understanding of the differences between Solidworks and Fusion 360 and you can make an informed choice on which CAD package to opt for.

Recommended Reads:

• The Best 3D Printing CAD Software – My Top Software for 3D Printing Guide
• AutoCAD vs. Solidworks for 3D Printing – Which is The Best?
• Solidworks vs CATIA Compared
• Fusion 360 vs Blender CAD Software Compared
• Fusion 360 vs Rhino

Anyone working with 3D printers or who is interested in 3D printing has probably heard of Anycubic 3D Printers. The Chinese company is known for giving hobbyists the best value for their money with 3D printers with a long list of features, some of the newest technologies, and a price tag that everyone would love.

The company came out with Anycubic 4Max Pro, which helped them cater to the younger set, the beginners, and the education market. This 3D printer wowed the market because of the following characteristics:

• Generous build volumes
• Works with a variety of materials
• Fast printing speeds
• Teal and black color scheme for the body
• Safe and easy to use

Should you buy the Anycubic 4Max Pro? Grab a chair and continue reading as we tell you everything about this 3D printer and help you decide if it’s for you.

Anycubic 4Max Pro: What You Need to Know

Anycubic has been coming out with some of the best yet affordable 3D printers of late. One of the printers that fall under this category is the Anycubic 4Max Pro.

You have probably heard about the manufacturer before because of their Anycubic Photon and the i3 Mega. The 4Max Pro is an improvement of the company’s original 4Max, which was released in 2018.

The 4Max Pro, however, has a different look from the original.

Design

One of the first things you will notice about the Anycubic 4Max Pro is that it doesn’t look like the others. With a teal and black color scheme, it’s easy to tell it apart from other similar 3D printers.

The manufacturer also made the Anycubic 4Max Pro more intuitive and safer to use than the original 4Max. The full enclosure ensures that you don’t get in contact with the moving or the hot parts.

This 3D printer has a 3.5-inch (88.9 millimeters) touch display. And this touch screen is easily accessible.

The 4Max Pro measures 17.8 by 18.3 by 16.1 inches (454 by 466 by 410 millimeters) and weighs around 49.6 pounds (22.5 kilograms).

Features

The 4Max Pro uses the Anycubic Ultrabase bed. This heated bed has small holes in the coating, which gives it more adhesion — no more failed prints because your model toppled over. What’s more, finished objects are easily removed.

Printing speeds are rated at around 0.79 to 3.14 inches (20 to 80 millimeters) per second. The extruder can get as hot as 500 degrees Fahrenheit (260 degrees Celsius). That means that this printer can handle a wide variety of filaments, including:

• PLA
• ABS
• HIPS
• TPU

The printer also has an auto-shutdown feature that turns the machine off when your printing job is done. It will further inform you when it’s time to swap out the filament when it runs out.

Who Should Buy the Anycubic 4Max Pro?

Beginners and hobbyists looking for a capable yet affordable 3D printer would do well with the Anycubic 4Max Pro. This fused deposition modeling printer is also superb for educational purposes.

This entry-level 3D printer is a good fit for those who are looking for affordable and eye-catching devices.

The Technical Specifications at a Glance

• FDM Printer
• Single Extruder
• Printer Dimensions: 17.8 by 18.3 by 16.1 inches (454 by 466 by 410 millimeters)
• Build Size: 10.6 by 8.1 by 8.1 inches (270 by 205 by 205 millimeters)
• Layer Resolution: 0.05 to 0.3 millimeters
• X-axis Accuracy: 0.01 millimeters
• Y-axis Accuracy 0.0125 millimeters
• Z-axis Accuracy: 0.00125 millimeters
• Nozzle Diameter: 0.4 millimeters
• Filament Diameter: 1.75 millimeters
• Print Speed: 0.79 to 3.14 inches (20 to 80 millimeters per second)
• Materials:
  • PLA
  • ABS
  • TPU
  • HIPS
• Compatible with exotic filaments
• Maximum Temperature for the Extruder: 500 degrees Fahrenheit (260 degrees Celsius)
• Maximum Temperature for the Print Bed: 212 degrees Fahrenheit (100 degrees Celsius)
• Compatible Slicer: Cura, Smplify3D, Repetier-HOST
• Input Formats:
  • .STL
  • .OBJ
  • JPG
  • PNG
• Output Formats: GCode
• Connectivity: SD card and USB

What You Will Love about the Anycubic 4Max Pro

Perhaps the most obvious things you’d love about this 3D printer are its low price and capabilities. With a sizable print area, you will find it challenging to find another printer in its price range that can match the Anycubic 4Max Pro.

This 3D printer is also a good fit for looking for a 3D printer that isn’t an all-black affair or plasticky looking. The teal body with black frames makes this 3D printer not only different in its looks but stylishly chic as well. That’s something that you don’t hear about 3D printers, which are mainly described as drab and utilitarian.

You will also appreciate the large and responsive touch display. This one is easy to use, and the menus are intuitive. It’s also easily accessible because of its location at the top of the 3D printer, rather than hidden away at the bottom like what you see on most other printers.

This 3D printer works quietly, and its enclosure keeps the noise levels down even more. Speaking of the enclosure, it also keeps the noxious odors of the melted filaments in, while keeping the prying hands of kids out of the printer.

Before You Buy: The Downsides of Anycubic 4Max Pro

The Anycubic 4Max Pro comes to you almost completely assembled, but you will still need to fit some of the pieces in before you can use it for the first time.

It’s a set of simple tasks, however. You only have to put in the filament sensor and the spool holder, and then proceed to level the printing bed and then insert the SD card.

At its price, it’s not surprising that the Anycubic 4Max Pro lacks some of the features that we’ve come to expect from today’s 3D printers, such as automatic bed leveling and Wi-Fi connectivity. These and other similar features make using a 3D printer a whole lot more pleasant. As such, using the 4Max Pro might be a bit more cumbersome than other machines.

Anycubic 4Max Pro Alternatives

The biggest draw of the Anycubic 4Max Pro is that it’s an affordable 3D printer with many capabilities for its price. The somewhat stylish printer is easy to use, making it perfect for beginners. However, the manufacturer has discontinued it, and you might not easily find it sold by different retailers.

So what are the alternatives? You can check out:

• Anycubic 4Max Pro 2.0
• Qidi Tech X-Pro
• Monoprice MP Voxel

Anycubic 4Max Pro 2.0

The Chinese company gives you another option: the newer Anycubic 4Max Pro 2.0. How is it any different from the 4Max Pro?

First, the printer is no longer colorful with its all-black exterior. It also sports a dual gear extrusion, and the direct drive helps it be more precise and less prone to slippage.

The 4Max Pro 2.0 also has very quiet stepper drives, an upgraded fan, and dual z-axis motors.

However, the newer 4Max Pro 2.0 has a smaller build area of 10.6 by 8.3 by 7.4 inches (270 by 210 by 190 millimeters).

Qidi Tech X-Pro

If you’re trying to break away from Anycubic, another Chinese-made printer might catch your fancy: Qidi Tech X-Pro. This may cost a bit more money than the original Anycubic 4Max Pro, but it is still a low-priced dual extrusion 3D printer that works more than just fine.

The Qidi Tech X-Pro also has a full enclosure that keeps the temperatures constant for better prints while keeping the odors from permeating throughout your room.

This 3D printer uses an aluminum heated bed that partners with a magnetic build plate to keep your models in place.

However, it does have a smaller build volume at 9.05 by 5.9 by 5.9 inches (230 by 150 by 150 millimeters). Also, the manufacturer has its own slicing software: Qidi Print, which means you will not be able to use any other software that you’re more used to.

The good news is that Qidi Print is easy to use and allows you to customize your prints. So if you’re new to 3D printing, you can use this slicer program and learn it in an instant.

Monoprice MP Voxel

Another 3D printer that’s worth mentioning and also has a full enclosure is the Monoprice MP Voxel. This 3D printer has a long list of usability features that you will want to know.

First off, you don’t have to spend a lot on this printer. It costs less than $400. For that money, you will get a cube printer that has Wi-Fi, an intuitive touchscreen menu, and a smart-looking 3D printer you’d be proud to put on display.

The set-up is very quick. You can take this printer out of the box and be ready to print in no time. What’s more, it uses a flexible build plate that makes it easier for you to remove the finished models without using sharp tools to pry them off.

You set the printer’s settings using the touch display. Plus, you get to see everything as it happens.

The Monoprice MP Voxel has a transparent plastic covering three sides, so you get to keep an eye on your prints. And to help you do that, an array of LEDs shines a light on things. You can also rely on the embedded camera to see your model while it is being printed, even when you’re not at home via the Polar Cloud app.

However, the build volume for this printer is less than the other printers we have here: it can print objects of up to 5.9 by 5.9 inches (150 by 150 millimeters). You should also be aware that the printer uses non-standard G-code, which means you cannot use the slicing program you want.

However, the big picture is that this affordable machine delivers everything you would want in a 3D printer. It’s perfect for beginners and first-timers to get their feet wet with 3D printing without having to spend a lot of money.

Bottom Line

For its price and capabilities, it is not difficult to recommend the Anycubic 4Max Pro. It’s just obvious that it’s one of the best 3D printers to come out from a company that’s known for launching great printers.

It’s a user-friendly printer that you can buy for kids so that they’d be interested in 3D printing and create their own models.

Pros

• Quiet
• Generous build volume
• Great features for its price
• Intuitive to use, responsive, and large touch display
• Ultrabase heated bed gives more adhesion for your models
• Easy to use

Cons

• No automatic bed leveling
• Some assembly required
• No Wi-Fi connectivity

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are our replies to the questions you asked! Keep on sending your comments and questions about 3D printing and 3D printers!

Should You Buy the Anycubic 4Max Pro?

There is no doubt that the Anycubic 4Max Pro is one excellent 3D printer, especially if you take into consideration just how affordable it is. However, this printer is rather old, and Anycubic has discontinued production.

As such, it may be a bit difficult to find a retailer that’s still selling this 3D printer. If you are willing to get an alternative, there are some tradeoffs.

These newer 3D printers might have more advanced technologies and more features, but they have smaller build volumes. As a whole, the Anycubic 4Max Pro has the right combination of price, build volume and a long list of features that make it an excellent printer for beginners.

Amazon Prime Day is back and promises to be better than ever for 2021!

Last year, we were caught a little off guard by all the 3Dprinting deals. This year, I made a resolution to not miss a deal.

With this in mind, I’ve created this handy Prime Day 3D printing deals tracker which I’ll be updated in the lead up and during Prime Day with the very best curated deals.

Featured Deals

• Save $200 on this Flashforge 3D Printer Guider II (Large): Get this deal here! 
• Save $400 on the UNIZ IBEE Resin 3D Printer with Monochrome Screen: Get it here!
• A solid choice for 3D Printing beginners: Snapmaker Original 3-in-1. Save over $100 on this deal! 
• The Mono X fast resin printer from Anycubic will help you create more accurate designs: Save $100 on this deal!
• Bring your ideas to life with the Artist-D Large 3D Printer by JGMAKER: Save over $100 here!
• Take your designs to the next level with the Creality 3D Printer CR-10S Pro V2 with BL Touch Auto-Level: Get this deal here!
• An affordable and faster high-quality printing option: Get the Creality Ender 6 3D Printer here.

Best deals under $500

• Anycubic Mega Pro FDM: Get this deal here!
• Creality Ender-5 Pro 3D Printer DIY Kit: Start saving!
• Creality Open Source CR-10 3D Printer: Save $70 on this deal!

Best Prime Day 3D Printer Deals List

Here goes it goes my list of the best Prime Day 3D printing deals on 3D parts, accessories, and 3D printers:

1. Dremel Digilab 3D40 Deal: THe Digilable Idea Builder Starter Kit is on sale for 35% off here and JUST the machine is on sale for 30% off here. LIVE now as Deal of the Day.
2. FlashForge Creator Pro Deal: This classic 3D printer is getting a special deal here
   
3. RepRap DIY Pruse I3 Deal: This well regarded DIY printer is on sale for 30% off – Deal is LIVE for Prime Day.
4. Dremel Digilab Idea Builder Deal: This capable printer is now on sale for a record 58% off at this listing – Deal is LIVE now for Prime Day.
5. RepRap Guru Deal  – Get 30% off the RepRap Guru 3D Printer here (Spotlight Deal – Monday night)
6. Monoprice Maker Select Plus Deal – Save 10% off at this listing – Live now for Prime Day Only
7. Robo 3D C2 Deal – Save 11% at this deal listing – Live now for Prime Day only
8. XYZprinting da Vinci Mini Deal – Claim 26% off this lightning deal here – Live now [TUESDAY]
9. XYZprinting da Vinci 1.0 Deal – Claim this lightning deal for 36% off here – Live Lightning deal (while supplies last)
10. Sindoh 3D Printer Deal – Watch this listing for the TBA lightning discount + $259.80 coupon – Live at 7:24 PM EDT [TUESDAY]
11. LulzBot Mini 3D Printer Deal – Watch this listing to save TBA discount on the LulzBot Mini – Live at 8:39 PM EDT [TUESDAY]
12. LulzBot Tax 6 3D Printer Deal – Watch this listing here to save TBA discount on the TAZ 6 – Live at 8:39 PM EDT [TUESDAY]
13. LONGER LK4 3D Printer: The 2.8-inch model is 15% OFF and it comes with 12 months warranty and 24/7 support in case you ever need anything. This model is very easy to operate, and you will get a warning notification in case you are running out of filament. You can find this amazing printer here. 
14. ANYCUBIC Photon S 3D Printer:This printer is a really good deal right now, as it comes with full equipment you feed to get you started. Right now it’s 20% OFF, so hurry up before it gets sold out.
15. Sovol SV01 3D Printer:  The Sovol 3D printer is a great deal if you want to save around $50. The printer is easy to set up and to start using it, and it makes perfect lines all the time. You can find this deal right here!
16. ANYCUBIC Mega Pro Printer: The ANYCUBIC Mega Printer is also discounted if you have prime membership and this multi-color printer also on a great discount, so don’t miss the chance to get it and save $80.
17. ANYCUBIC MEGA X 3D Printer: Apparently, Anycubic has made some killer deals this year, so you can find this model as well discounted, and you can save around $96 on this deal.
18. ANYCUBIC Chiron Semi-auto Leveling 3D Printer: This is one more model from Anycubic that offers huge build volume, and it comes discounted for $106 and even save an extra $40 more with a coupon.
19. SainSmart x Creality Ender-3 PRO 3D Printer: This is an upgraded version of the Ender 3 printer and now you can find it here for 27% OFF.
    
20. QIDI TECH 3D Printer: The Quidi Tech 3D Printer is on a 13% discount where you are saving  $100. The printer works with Windows and Mac, it is really easy to use and place the filament. Get this deal while it’s still on and save a lot.
21. JGMAKER Magic 3D Printer DIY Kit: If you have a tight budget, but want to opt for a great quality printer, this would be a perfect deal and get it discounted for $30. You can get this deal here.
22. JGAURORA 3D Printer: Another great printer that will let you know when you run out of filament is this model which is a good home printer that you can also use it to create figurines and anything else you might need, and also take it from one place to another very easily. You can find this printer here.
23. FlashForge Adventurer 3 Lite: With a smaller build volume and maximum nozzle temperature of 230 Celsius this Lite 3D Printer by Flashforge is now available for 20% off here.
24. Flashforge Dreamer NX 3D Printer: This printer has become quite popular in the 3D Printing world with great value for its price, it’s now available for an even better price, 20% off here.
25. Creality LD002R: If you are looking for even greater discounts that you can find, then this is a very discounted 3D printer that comes in a 41% OFF deal here.
    
26. Anet ET5X DIY 3D Printer: Featuring a large print volume, automatic leveling, filament sensors, and a lot more, this Anet 3D Printer is now available for 30% off here.
27. Dremel Digilab 3D20 3D Printer: Built to sustain countless hours of printing and heavy-duty work, this 3D Printer is now available for 30% off here.
28. KELANT S400s: The KELANT S400s are currently discounted at 39% OFF, so hurry up while the deal is still on and start printing your own figurines.
29. Tenlog TL-D3 Pro 3D Printer: This 3D printer can be fun for all the family as it has a large printing volume, it’s easy to assemble it and start operating it. 
    
30. BIBO 3D Printer Dual Extruder: This is an excellent laser printer that is good for beginners and you can find it here 23% OFF now.
31. Flashforge Creator Pro 3D Printer: A popular brand in the 3D Printing industry, Flashforge now offers their famous Creator Pro for $500 OFF here.
32. PHROZEN Sonic Mini: This 3D printer starts easily and it has a printing speed of 50 mm/hr. Currently, it’s 23% OFF and you can save $210 on this Deal.
33. ADIMLab Gantry Pro 3D Printer: You can now save $76 on this Deal on the Gantry 3D Printer.
34. Comgrow Creality Ender 3 Pro 3D Printer: If you thought that it’s time to experiment with a 3D printer and find one to start with, this is a very great deal that comes for 30% OFF here.
35. You can now save $270 on the Anycubic Photon Mono X 3D Printer or up to an amazing 42% OFF on the Anycubic Photon Mono Version here.
36. One of the best in its price range, the Creality Cr-10 3D Printer can now be found on an $80 OFF Deal here. 
37. The Official Creality Ender 5 Pro 3D Printer is now available on an early prime day 20% off Deal here.
38. Creality CR-10 V3 3D Printer: This updated version of the original CR-10 is now available for 20% off here.
39. Creality Ender 3 Pro DIY 3D Printer: You can now save $47,20 on this Deal on the Ender 3 DIY kit.
40. Kywoo Tycoon Max 3D Printer: This model is brand new and it’s already making a face in the industry and it’s now available at a 20% off discount here.
41. Anycubic Mega Series 3D Printer: Anycubic now offers a special discount on three of their popular models:
    1. Anycubic Mega S 3D Printer: Now available at a 36% off discount.
    2. Anycubic Mega Pro 3D Printer: Now available at a 34% off discount.
    3. Anycubic Mega X 3D Printer: Now available at a 30% off discount.
42. ANYCUBIC Wash and Cure Plus: You can now save $70 on this Deal Here.
43. ANYCUBIC Mega Zero 2.0 FDM 3D Printer: Save $50 On this Deal Here!
44. MKK Creality Ender 5 Plus 3D Printer: This upgraded FDM Printer with BL touch glass and large print size is now available at a 30% off discount here.
45. Elegoo Mars Pro MSLA 3D Printer: Now available at a 20% off discount.
46. Flashforge Guider II 3D Printer: Flashforge is widely popular for making top-notch 3D printers, and you can now save $400 on their Guider II model.
47. FlashForge Adventurer 3 3D Printer: You can now save $100 on this Deal on the Adventurer 3D Printer.
48. Flashforge Dreamer 3D Printer: Now available at a 26% off discount here.
49. Dremel DigiLab 3D45: This award-winning beast by Dremel compatible with multiple operating systems is now available for 20% off here.

Early Prime Day 3D Printer Deals

While Prime Day hasn’t started yet (officially) this is where we will track some of the early Prime Day deals. These typically occur in the week leading up to the event. Here’s an example of some of the 3D printer deals from Prime Early Access Deals:

• ANYCUBIC Photon Mono SE Resin 3D Printer: Get $30 OFF + Extra Savings on this early Prime Day Deal Here! 

• Sindoh – 3D1AQ – 3DWOX 1 3D Printer: Top-rated 3D Printer – Save 17% on this early Prime Day Deal Here! 

• Flashforge Dreamer Dual Extruder 3D Printer: Save $50 and get this delivered fast through this early Prime Day Deal Here! 

Amazon Prime Membership

If you don’t have one already, you will need to be a member to participate in the deals. If you sign up for a 30-day free trial here, you will be eligible for Prime Deals when they happen.

 

3D Printer Accessories

1. 3D BEST-Q PLA: It’s completely normal that you will need filament in colors in your future projects, so now you have the chance to stock up on 1.75 mm filament that is discounted and comes in multiple colors like black, blue, red, bronze, copper, silver, red, yellow, purple, violet and white. Get them here!
2. 3D Printer Nozzle Change Tool Set: Containing 20 PCs This removal/ change nozzle Tool Set by Usongshine is now available here for 20% off.
3. UV Resin Curing Light: This powerful 20w curing light comes with a one-year warranty and it’s now available here for 20% off.

Print Beds and Covers

• Creality Offers prime day discounts on several of their 3D print beds, namely:
  • Creality Original 3D Surface Heated Bed Cover: Now available at a 30% off discount.
  • Creality Heated Bed Cover for CR-10/CR-10: Now available at a 20% off discount.
    • Or you can find the pack of 3 Deal Here!
  • Creality Heated Bed Surface Tempered Glass Plate: Compatible with Ender 3/ Ender 3 Pro/ Ender 5/ Ender 5 Pro and CR-20 Pro, this Bed is now available at 20% off discount.
• Chuiendi Creality 3D Print Beds: Compatible with Ender 3 Pro/ Ender 5 and Ender 3 V2, this glass bed is now available for 48% off here. 
• DOBSTFY Offers 20% discounts on different heat bed sizes:
  • 220x220mm (Pack of 4)
  • 310x310mm (Pack of 4)
  • 400x400mm (Pack of 3)
  • 508x508mm (Pack of 2)
• Bilway Removable PEI Flexible Magnetic Heated Bed: Featuring a 235x235mm size and compatibility with Ender 3V2/ Ender 3 Pro/Ender 3/Ender 5 this bed is now available for 20% off here.
• CCTREE 3D Printer Build Surface (Pack of 3): This 235x235mm bed is compatible with Ender 3/ Ender 3X/ Ender 3 Pro/ Ender 5/ Ender 5 Pro/ Anet A8/ Longer LK4/ Tevo Tarantula and Prusa i3 and it’s now available for 20% off here.  
• Dawnblade Creality Ender 3 Bed (Upgraded): Featuring a coated glass bed, this bed is compatible with multiple 3D Printers and it’s now available on a 28% off discount here.

These are some of the best deals on resin, filament, and cheap 3d printer discounts we’ve found so far, but check back frequently as we update Prime Day deal finds as they come.

Caliper Measurers

• 6 Inch Digital Caliper: Another great deal on this digital caliper by Rexbeti can now be found here for 41% off.
• Mitutoyo Digital Caliper: Where 3D Printing is involved, there are always a lot of measurements, and having a digital caliper by your side can be quite useful. This one, in particular, is now available for 22% off here.
• Kynup Digital Caliper: This 6 inch measuring caliper features a stainless steel IP54 Waterproof Design and it’s now available for 20% off here.
• REXBETI Digital Caliper: Now on a 26% off deal, you can find this 6″ caliper with IP54 protection and a large LCD display here on Amazon.
• Meterk Digital Caliper: This highly accurate stainless steel vernier caliper is now available for 20% off here.

3D Printer Filaments

• SUNLU PETG 3D Printer Filament: This is an excellent deal right now where you can save 15% on a filament and` stock up for the future. The filament is really easy to use, does not create any bubbles, and it’s available in 1kg and 2kg variant in mostly white, black, orange, and red.
• TIANSE PLA 3D Printer Filament in Skin Color: This also is another great deal on printer filaments and you can find it only in this color. The filament is discounted and you can save around $5, but on the store page, you can also find some other colors that are being discounted like this black and white filament.
• 3D Printer Filament PLA 1.75mm: If you have run out of the basic black or white filament, now its the time to stock on some more, so enjoy while you can get this deal at 25% OFF.
• PLA Filaments Multicolor: Are you looking to print rainbow figurines, but you can’t find the right filament? Well, say no more as this is definitely a perfect rainbow color.
• Flashforge PLA 3D Printer Filament: This 1kg PLA filament package by Flashforge is suited for 190~220℃ and it’s now available for 32% off here.
• Solutech Real Blue 3D PLA Filament: This 1.75mm PLA Filament is compatible with most 3D Printers and it’s now available for 20% off here.
• Overture PETG Filament: Now 20% off, you can find this filament deal here on Amazon.
• Overture PLA Filament: Same as their PETG Filament, they also offer a 20% discount on their PLA filament.
• SUNLU PLA Filament: This 1.75mm PLA filament by SUNLU comes in five different colors and it’s now available on a 29% off deal here.
• GEEETECH PLA Filament 1.75mm: This high-quality filament comes in a 1kg package and it’s now available on a 40% off deal here. 
• GEEETECH Silk PLA Filament 1.75mm: This filament comes in a 1kg package and 7 different color options and it’s now available on a 30% off deal here.
• Duramic Matte PLA Filament 1.75mm: Now 20% off, this ISO-certified filament comes in various colors. Find this Deal Here!
• Inland 2.85mm PLA 3D Printer Filament: Inland now offers 20% off their 2.85mm filament with 17 color options. Find this Deal Here!

A Preview of Prime Day – What to Expect

When is Prime Day 2021?

Prime Day will officially get started on June 21st and will run for a full 48 hours through June 22

There will also be some Prime Day discounts available in the lead up to Prime Day, starting on June 21st. These deals in the 3D printing space will also be updated on this page above.

Lightning Deal vs Deal of the Day

It’s important to note the difference here. Lightning Deals are generally only available for a specific time period and only while supplies last. Last year, some lightning deals were gone in mere minutes, while before the stated expiration!

Deal of Day items will generally be available throughout the entire day. While they might run out of stock, the discount will usually be locked in and available for delayed shipment.

How to Spot a Good 3D Printer Deal

Just because it goes on sale, doesn’t mean that it automatically is a great deal. Last year, there was an undercurrent of #primedayfail deals that weren’t as great as they seemed. By and large, most of the deals are discounted heavily, but here are a few points:

• Use Curated Lists: This page is a perfect example. Watching Amazon all day can be overwhelming. Pages like this only
• Create a “Wish List”: To avoid overspending on things you don’t really need, create a list of items that you want to pick up ahead of time. If it goes on sale, snap it up. Otherwise, save your money!
• Look for Reputable Brands: This is the #1 thing I recommend people to look for. If you haven’t heard of the brand, it might not be a great deal. There are lots of knock-offs from China (and elsewhere) that don’t have a solid track record. If you are ever in doubt, be sure to check this page because I will only be sharing legit deals from legit brands.

With our guide to the best nylon filament for 3D printing, you will discover which nylon filament you should use to create high quality models.

Nyon is a common 3D printing material, and it has many advantages such as strength, flexibility, as well as a great finish. There are many different nylon filaments on the market and we are going to look at each one in-depth to find the best one to use.

Before we get into the pros and cons of using nylon as print material, here is a quick overview of the top nylon filaments that are available now.

At a Glance: 8 of the Best Nylon Filaments for 3D Printing in 2021

Nylon filament	Extruder temperature	Colors available	Filament diameters	Latest price
Polymaker PolyMide CoPA 3D Printer Filament	250-270°C	Black, natural	1.75mm, 2.85mm	Check the latest price
ColorFabb PA Neat	265-290°C	Black	1.75 mm, 2.85 mm	Check the latest price
MatterHackers Nylon G	245-265 °C	Red, orange, white, olive green, blue, desert tan, silver	1.75 mm, 2.85 mm	Check the latest price
MatterHackers Nylon K	250-265 °C	Black	1.75 mm, 2.85 mm	Check the latest price
OVERTURE Nylon Filament	250°C-270°C	Black	1.75mm	Check the latest price
Ultimaker Nylon	230-260°C	Black, and transparent	2.85mm	Check the latest price
taulman3D Nylon filament	230°C	Black	1.75mm	Check the latest price
eSUN ePA Nylon 3D Printer Filament	230-260°C	Natural	1.75mm	Check the latest price

Advantages of using nylon filament in 3D printing

There are many different filament types out there for 3D printers, but what are the advantages of 3D printing with nylon?

Durability and Strength

One of the big reasons that many people choose to 3D print with nylon filament is its durability.

Nylon is one of the most rigid filaments you can use. Therefore, it is excellent for printing off tough printed objects, and if you need durability in your 3D models, nylon is perfect for this.

Using nylon filament means that it will take a lot of work to break your 3D printed models and parts. Even though plastic filaments such as Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and PLA are perhaps more common, nylon is more robust and durable.

Flexibility

Another big reason to go with nylon filament for your 3D printing material is down to its flexibility.

This flexible filament means it has great shock absorption properties. If you need to print 3D objects that regularly experience a lot of force, nylon is a great choice.

In addition, this filament has superior impact resistance, so nylon is a fantastic filament to use for moving parts and mechanical gears.

Print Quality

The overall print quality that you get with nylon filament is very high.

Even though print quality is often determined by how good your 3D printer is, the filament you use will play a big role in this as well.

With nylon filament, your 3D-printed objects and models will come out at a very high standard.

It absorbs moisture

Nylon filament is known as what is called hygroscopic. This means that it absorbs moisture very well.

Now, there is an upside and a downside to this. The downside to nylon being hygroscopic is that the filament can lose its freshness over time because it absorbs moisture more than many other filament types. However, if you keep it in an airtight container, you shouldn’t have any issues.

The advantage of nylon being able to absorb moisture is that your models will be easy to paint. For example, if you are using your 3D printer to print off miniatures, nylon makes creating a great finished product a lot more straightforward.

Disadvantages of using nylon filament in 3D printing

Nylon is a really good filament to use, but there are a couple of disadvantages.

Prone to warping

A significant downside to nylon filament is that it is prone to warping more than other materials. Certain types of nylon filament are made to prevent this as much as possible; however, it is something that is unfortunately quite common.

One method of cutting down on the chance of warping when using nylon filament is to use a 3D printer with a heated bed. If you don’t use a 3D printer with a high bed temperature, your printed objects will cool much quicker, which can accelerate the warping process.

Another way to avoid this is to use a 3D printer that has a fully enclosed chamber. This will ensure that a hot temperature is maintained throughout the printing process and the chances of your models warping are reduced.

Requires air-tight storage

We mentioned above that the hygroscopic nature of nylon filament has both good and bad sides.

The disadvantage is that you need to keep it in an airtight container. If you don’t, it can ruin pretty quickly and certainly a lot faster than many other filaments such as plastic.

This isn’t a huge deal because it just means you need to be careful about storing the filament, but it is worth highlighting.

8 of the Best Nylon Filaments for 3d Printing

1. Polymaker PolyMide CoPA 3D Printer Filament

The Polymaker PolyMide CoPA 3D Printer Filament has a significant advantage over many other types of nylon filament – its anti-warping properties. It has an anti-warp guarantee, and this is one of the few nylon filaments that you don’t need to use an enclosed 3D printing chamber because it holds up very well. In addition, it won’t start to soften up until the extruder temperature reaches 180°C, which is a good indication of its overall strength and durability.

It is still recommended that you do use a heated chamber to prevent your printed objects from cooling down too quickly, but it isn’t the end of the world if you don’t have one.

This filament is available in 1.75mm and 2.85mm, although there aren’t many color choices available.

Pros

• Has anti-warping properties, which is great for nylon filament
• Don’t necessarily need an enclosed chamber
• Very strong and durable
• Compatible with many different 3D printers

Cons

• Color choice is limited, but black is good for painting the finished product

2. ColorFabb PA Neat

This is another filament that has been constructed to help prevent warping, and the ColorFabb PA Neat nylon filament is ideal for printing mechanical and moving parts.

The overall tensile strength (the force required to break an object) is slightly higher than the Polymaker PolyMide CoPA filament. However, given the premium nature of this nylon filament, it isn’t that expensive, although you will find cheaper options.

The 2.85mm filament is very stiff. This means you will need to use a spool mount with some friction for the filament to perform correctly and prevent unspooling.

Overall, this is a robust filament that offers a high level of performance while still maintaining a reasonable price.

Pros

• Very strong nylon filament which isn’t too expensive
• Doesn’t warp as much as some other nylon filaments
• Perfect for mechanical and moving parts due to its solid nature

Cons

• You will need a pool mount with some friction for the 2.85mm filament

3. MatterHackers Nylon G

The MatterHackers Nylon G filament is the best option if you want numerous color choices as it is available in red, orange, white, olive green, blue, desert tan, and silver.

The multiple filament colors give you a world of possibilities, especially if you use a multicolor 3D printer.

You will also find this filament available at a pretty good price given the performance it offers. The glass fiber reinforcement enhances durability, which helps maintain your objects’ shape and increased accuracy. If you need superior impact resistance and print models that will come under repeated shocks, the Nylon G filament is your answer.

Pros

• Available in a wide range of colors
• Very strong filament which is ideal for impact resistance
• Prints high-quality objects

Cons

• Doesn’t come in a resealable bag

4. MatterHackers Nylon K

The next Matterhacker offering is the MatterHackers Nylon K filament.

This nylon filament has a Kevlar fiber reinforced construction to increase its durability and strength massively. If you are printing parts subject to constant friction, this is the perfect filament to choose.

It is slightly more expensive than the Nylon G, but the small additional cost is worth it if you need a highly abrasive resistant filament. Unlike the Nylon G, the color choice is limited to black, but this isn’t particularly a bad thing for painting your objects when they have cooled down.

Pros

• Great for abrasive resistance due to being Kevlar fiber reinforced
• Offers a high level of durability and strength
• Suitable for engineering-grade materials

Cons

• Slightly more expensive than Nylon G filament
• Color choice is limited to black

5. OVERTURE Nylon Filament

The OVERTURE Nylon Filament is another product that has anti-warping properties, so it should cut down on the issues many people have when 3D printing with this kind of filament.

Another good feature of this nylon filament is that it is odorless. Strength and durability are found with this filament as well, and it is very cost-effective. One thing to note about this nylon filament is that it is one of the more brittle materials you can buy.

More experienced 3D printing enthusiasts have found that it can crack under pressure; however, if you are just getting started using nylon filament, it is ideal.

Pros

• Cheap nylon 3D printing filament that still produces good results
• Odorless and has anti-warping properties
• Good choice for 3D printing beginners

Cons

• This filament is quite brittle, so it can crack in some circumstances

6. Ultimaker Nylon

This is a premium filament, and the cost of the Ultimaker Nylon is a bit higher than you might want to pay.

However, it is a quality product, and spending a little extra money will be worth it. The Ultimaker Nylon filament has superior performance, while it has been specially created so that the absorption of moisture is reduced.

Suppose you are using an Ultimaker S5 3D printer. In that case, the material station works wonders with this nylon filament, as it helps to control humidity and allows for a much easier process when printing with nylon.

You don’t need to use this filament specifically with an Ultimaker printer, but it does help. However, this offers excellent all-around performance even if it is a little expensive.

Pros

• Premium nylon filament that has great strength and durability
• Works well with Ultimaker 3D printers, but can be used with most 3D printers
• Low moisture absorption properties

Cons

• This filament is a bit expensive

7. taulman3D Nylon filament

Moving back to our budget filaments, and the taulman3D Nylon filament provides a high level of performance. This product is also compatible with most 3D printers on the market, so it is very versatile.

This is a very flexible filament and removes some of the obstacles that you often find when working with nylon.

Some users have found that you may need to upscale your models slightly before printing in order to get the correct dimensions with the finished product. It shouldn’t be anything massive, but even enlarging your models by 2% is another task you’ll need to carry out.

Aside from that, this is a robust and rigid nylon filament that is very cheap for 1KG.

Pros

• Budget-conscious 3D printing filament
• Strong, flexible, and offers a great finish
• Compatible with many different 3D printers

Cons

• May need to upscale your models slightly to get the right dimensions

8. eSUN ePA Nylon 3D Printer Filament

The final product on our list (but certainly not the least) is the eSUN ePA Nylon 3D Printer Filament.

This is a kind of mid-range nylon filament, but it still provides very good results. It is available in a natural color that can make painting your objects easier, although it can take a while to use it. You may need to ramp your 3D printer temperature up to get the best finishes with this nylon filament.

This filament is solid and durable so that it would be a great choice for 3D printing gears and similar objects. Like many nylon filaments, this is prone to warping, and perhaps it is more likely to warp than others we have listed in this guide.

Pros

• Decent mid-range nylon filament for your 3D printer
• Provides good results for your printed objects

Cons

• Very prone to warping, even more so than other nylon filaments
• Can take a while to get the correct temperature

Frequently Asked Questions about Nylon Filament

Which is the Best Nylon Filament for 3D printing?

Nylon filament can take a while to get used to given its warping proneness and precise storage conditions.

This is why we recommend the Polymaker PolyMide CoPA 3D Printer Filament as our top choice.

The main reason is its anti-warping properties. While this doesn’t completely eliminate the problem, it massively cuts down on it. In addition, you don’t even necessarily need to use an enclosed chamber with this filament, and it is strong, durable, and compatible with many 3D printers.

The color choices are limited; however, black is a sensible option for painting with later on, and you can buy this filament for a reasonable price, while still being able to print high-quality objects.

Anycubic is a Chinese 3D printer manufacturer, and in this guide, we’ll be taking a close look at the best Anycubic 3D printers that are on the market right now.

As they produce many different printers with various features, figuring out by yourself which one to purchase can be very daunting. Luckily, we are here to help. We will detail the top printers from Anycubic, show you their pros and cons, and discover which 3D printer is the best overall.

Firstly, here’s a quick snapshot of the eight best 3D printers from Anycubic.

At a Glance: 8 of the Best Anycubic 3D printers in 2021

Anycubic 3D printer	Best for…	Printer type	Build volume	More Info
Photon Mono X	Best overall 3D printer	Resin	192mm x 120mm x 245mm	Find out more
Mega S 3D	Best for easy assembly	FDM	210mm x 210mm x 205mm x	Find out more
Photon	Best for a compact size	Resin	115mm x 65mm x 155mm	Find out more
Photon S	Best for beginners	Resin	115mm x 65mm x 165mm	Find out more
Chiron	Best for build volume	FDM	400mm x 400mm x 450mm	Find out more
4Max Pro	Best for printing with metal	FFF	270mm x 210mm x 190mm	Find out more
Predator	Best for print speed	FDM	370mm x 370mm x 455mm	Find out more
Photon Zero	Best budget 3D printer	Resin	115mm x 65mm x 155mcm	Find out more

Reasons to consider Anycubic 3D printers

You might have heard of Anycubic if you are looking for a 3D printer, but why should you consider using their products?

Cost-effective 3D printers

Cheaper doesn’t always mean you are getting a good deal, but if you can save a few dollars on a great product, why pay extra money when you don’t need to?

Many 3D printers that Anycubic manufactures and sells are available for a lower price than you find with other brands. They are a Chinese-based company, which is reflected in their pricing structure.

Don’t get us wrong, you can find expensive 3D printers from Anycubic, but their budget models offer better value than many other brands.

Variety of 3D printers

As you will find out, as we go down our list of the top Anycubic 3D printers, they produce a wide variety of printers for different purposes.

For example, you can find 3D printers from Anycubic that use resin, FDM 3D printers, and printers that use metal. Also, there are 3D printers that are aimed at beginners and more experienced users alike.

The diversity of their products is a good reason to check out the range of printers that Anycubic offers.

High-quality printing

As we mentioned above, even though Anycubic 3D printers tend to be at the cheaper end of the pricing scale, they offer high-quality printed models.

We’ve looked at many Anycubic printers in the past, and we are consistently impressed at how good they perform.

Not only do they offer superior prints, but the printers usually come with a variety of different features too. This can include WiFi connectivity, 4K LCD screens, a sturdy design, and a lot more.

So, Anycubic is undoubtedly one of our go-to brands when it comes to finding a high-quality 3D printer with a ton of great features added in.

8 Best Anycubic 3D Printers

1. Photo Mono X – Best overall Anycubic 3D printer

The Photo Mono X is our top pick overall from the entire Anycubic range of 3D printers.

There are many things we love about this 3D printer, and the large build volume combined with the 4K LCD screen really sets it apart. In addition, the Photo Mono X offers very high-quality prints as it is a resin-based printer, and you’ll find the print speed fast too.

If you think you need to pay an outrageous price for this 3D printer, think again. The Photo Mono X is affordable, and while it isn’t the cheapest on our list, it provides great value for money.

A potential downside is that it isn’t the smallest 3D printer, so you will need some decent storage space to house it. The overall dimensions are 270mm x 290mm x 475mm.

Overall, this is a fantastic 3D printer that offers everything you need and more for a great price.

Pros

• Brilliant resin-based 3D printer with a large build volume
• 4K LCD screen is a very good feature
• Available at a cost-effective price
• Prints high-quality models

Cons

• It is quite large, so you will need some room to store it

2. Mega S 3D – Best for easy assembly

The Anycubic Mega S 3D is a great 3D printer to buy if you really hate spending hours getting it up and running. The assembly for this 3D printer is incredibly straightforward, and it only takes about 3 steps before you can start using it.

This isn’t the only advantage of using the Mega S 3D. It also features a Titan extruder, and it is one of the few FDM printers on our list. In addition, the bed has a patented microporous coating that improves adhesion, while the touchscreen is an excellent addition.

This printer is an upgrade to the Mega i3, with the power recovery loss and filament run-out detection being the two main differences between these 3D printers.

More experienced 3D printing enthusiasts probably won’t fancy paying extra money for the Mega S 3D over the i3, but if you don’t want a lot of assembly work, this printer is a good choice.

Pros

• Very easy to assembly, and should only take minutes to setup
• Has microporous coating which helps to improve adhesion
• Power recovery loss and filament run-out detection
• This printer is sturdy and well built

Cons

• It isn’t a massive upgrade on the Mega i3

3. Photon – Best for a compact size

The Photon is ideal if you don’t have a ton of space. Unlike the Photo Mono X that does require a decent amount of room, the Photon’s dimensions are only 220mm x 200mm x 400mm, which means it is a proper desktop 3D printer.

Just because it is small in size doesn’t mean it is small in stature. This is a mighty 3D printer that provides high-quality models.

It lacks features such as WiFi, and the print speed is relatively slow at 20mm/h. However, this 3D printer is available for a very reasonable price. If you don’t need a big build volume to print off large objects, it is pretty hard to look past the Photon from Anycubic.

One last thing to note is that you usually can’t buy this 3D printer outside the USA.

Pros

• Desktop 3D printer that doesn’t require much space
• Available for a reasonable price
• Can print of high-quality resin models and objects

Cons

• Only available in the USA

4. Photon S – Best for beginners

3D printing can be a pretty complicated affair especially if you a new to the game.

The Photon S is easy to use, and this is why it is our top pick for beginners. It prints off incredibly models, and it is ideal for creating miniatures.

Some other useful features of the Photon S include a decent print speed of 20mm/h, a dual rod on the Z-axis to create more precise objects, and easy-to-use plug-and-play software.

If you simply want to set up your 3D printer quickly and start experimenting, this is what we would recommend. It is very user friendly, has a lot of great features, and isn’t going to break the bank either.

For anyone that is wondering whether to opt for the Photon or the Photon S, read our comprehensive comparison guide.

Pros

• Easy to set up and use, perfect for beginners
• Creates accurate and precise models
• Decent print speed

Cons

• Has plastic casing rather than metal
• This printer is more expensive than the Photon

5. Chiron – Best for build volume

If you need a 3D printer with a large build volume, the Chiron is the one you should choose.

Build volume refers to the space you can print objects into, so the more significant space you have, the larger the print.

The Anycubic Chiron has a 400mm x 400mm x 450mm build volume, which is much bigger than any of the other 3D printers on our list. However, the Chiron has many features beyond its superior build volume. This includes an Ultrabase Probed, touchscreen, and easy to use UI, as well as its sturdy design.

The bed leveling system could do some work, and the fans are also quite noisy, which can be a hindrance depending on where you house this 3D printer.

Overall, if you require a big build volume and don’t want to spend too much money, the Chiron is a competent 3D printer.

Read our full in-depth review of the Anycubic Chiron to get a better idea about the capabilities of this 3D printer.

Pros

• Huge build volume for printing large objects
• Sturdy design with Ultrabase Pro bed
• Easy to use and has a touchscreen

Cons

• Fans are quite noisy
• The bed levelling system could be improved

6. 4 Max Pro 2.0 – Best for printing with metal

3D printing with metal requires you to have a printer capable of using this type of material, which is why we have the 4 Max Pro on the list.

This is an upgrade to the original 4 Max Pro. It is relatively quiet when in operation as it uses TMC2208’s stepper drivers, while the fan has been improved too. You’ll also come across dual z-axis motors and a touchscreen.

The build area has been reduced from the previous versions (which was 270 x 205 x 205 mm), and this is a bit surprising, but it isn’t a massive reduction.

Aside from that, this is the best Anycubic printer if you want to print metal objects, and it works with various other filaments and materials.

Read our full 4Max Pro Review here.

Pros

• Ideal for printing with metal and other materials
• Very quiet when in use
• It has a touch screen and some other great features

Cons

• The build volume has been reduced from the previous version

7. Predator – Best for print speed

The Predator offers outstanding print speeds between 20~150mm/s, so if you do want a quicker print, this 3D printer from Anycubic is the one to go for.

This is an FDM 3D printer, and it does offer some other great features beyond fast speeds. The build volume is pretty good, and the flying extruder helps when working with flexible filaments. You’ll also find the automatic bed leveling system very useful, and this printer can use a range of filament types, including PLA, ABS, HIPS, PETG, Wood, and TPU.

The downside is that you can’t usually find this 3D printer outside of the EU, and the availability is a bit limited.

However, if you do manage to get your hands on one, the fast speeds are a real bonus for getting your models created quickly.

Pros

• Very fast print speeds
• Can be used with various filaments
• An automatic bed leveling system

Cons

• It is difficult to find this 3D printer outside the EU

8. Photon Zero – Best budget 3D printer

The last Anycubic printer on our list is the Photon Zero which is the best printer on a very tight budget.

You can pick this 3D printer up very cheaply, but that doesn’t mean it has poor performance. It is a resin-based printer with a handy LCD screen, and it provides a decent print speed of 30mm/h for the price.

It is quite a compact 3D printer, but that can be a good thing as it doesn’t take up a lot of space.

The quality of the prints isn’t as high as other 3D printers (they can have a kind of fuzzy look about them), and the resolution is lower overall. The prints aren’t poor, but you can tell they haven’t been printed on a higher-end machine.

Pros

• Very cheap and inexpensive 3D printer
• Good range of features for the price
• Decent print speed of 30mm/h

Cons

• The prints aren’t as high quality as more expensive 3D printers

Frequently Asked Questions about Anycubic Printers

Which is the Best Anycubic 3D printer?

The eight 3D printers we have looked at from Anycubic all have their good points. For example, if you want to print with metal, the 4 Max Pro 2.0 is the best choice, while if build volume is important, then Predator would be more suitable.

However, we think that the Photo Mono X is the best Anycubic 3D printer overall.

We don’t really have anything bad to say about this 3D printer apart from the fact that it is pretty big, and you’ll need decent space to store it.

The Photo Mono X prints high-quality models, it has a good build volume, and the 4K LCD screen is an excellent addition. This resin printer does everything you need it to do, while you can pick one up relatively cheaply, so it isn’t even massively expensive.

The Original Prusa i3 MK3 is probably the best 3D printer that came out during its time. It first became available in late 2017, and it was the talk of the 3D printing world for most of 2018.

The open-source 3D printer was welcomed by fans of the Czechoslovakian company Prusa Research. It offered a lot of improvements to the hardware and software used in the device, a thing that Prusa is known for.

The Prusa i3 MK3 was unbeatable when it came to features and capabilities that no other printer in its price range can even dream of matching.

The Design of the Prusa i3 MK3

The Prusa i3 MK3 had two versions, one that came to you already assembled that sold for $999 and a more affordable kit that you have to put together for $749.

With a $250 price difference, you should get the DIY kit. Bonus points for learning how this 3D printer is built, this way, you can troubleshoot things if they go haywire later. Plus, knowing how to make the Prusa i3 MK3 allows you quickly work with the add-on kits that the company provides.

The Prusa i3 MK3 is an open-framed Cartesian style printer that doesn’t look any different from its predecessor, the MK2, with its black and orange color scheme.

The MK3 has an improved Y-axis and an aluminum frame. The print head has two fans to keep things cool, and it uses a Bondtech extruder designed for more forceful filament extrusion.

If you like working with different materials, then you’d love the E3D V6 nozzle that this printer uses. It has a stable and magnetic heated bed that can hold your models safely in place.

On top, you will find the spool holder. You might think that this is a bad idea because there might be stability issues, but the Prusa i3 MK3 is the exception.

Setting up Your Prusa i3 MK3

Many find themselves wondering how easy it is to assemble the Prusa i3 MK3. For one, every package undergoes strict quality control, and the box is tightly secured. So there is a minimal chance that you’d work with a kit with missing parts.

Those who have experienced assembling a 3D printer know how frustrating it can be. Beginners would swear not to put themselves through that experience again. It’s a challenging process that can mean hours or days of frustration.

The excellent news is Prusa i3 MK3 is an exception. Everything from unpacking the parts to the initial calibration is a breeze. Most people will be able to assemble the kit in just a few hours.

For many people, the instruction manual helped: it is easy to understand, and it covers everything you need to know and do to make the assembly happen.

What’s more, the kit includes PLA filaments, test models on an SD card, a booklet that teaches you the 3D printing basics you need to know, and all the things you need to get started.

When you assemble the Prusa i3 MK3, you will be able to load the filament quickly, while you can rely on the automatic bed leveling to make sure that your printer has a flatbed. Print settings are also pre-set, so you don’t have to tinker around too much.

Prusa’s 3D printer is also compatible with a variety of printing software, including Simplify3D and Cura. You don’t need to learn a new one if you’re currently using a similar slicer.

Prusa i3 MK3: Features

When it comes to features, it will be a long list for the Prusa i3 MK3. But let’s start with how this 3D printer is open source, designed by Josef Prusa for the RepRap project. The source files for the MK3 are online, making it easier for developers to modify the 3D printer according to their needs.

This printer also has a range of sensors that will ensure that your 3D printing tasks are safe, fast, and convenient.

• The filament sensor monitors the movements of the filament, as well as telling you when to change.
• The 3D printer will detect when a nozzle gets clogged, wherein it pauses the printing job so you can clean it.
• This printer will stop printing if the print head stops moving for a reason. For instance, if you forcibly hold it, the MK3 will stop printing.
• The MK3 has thermistors that will measure both ambient temperature and temperature drift.

EINSY RAMBo motherboard

The EINSY RAMBo that you find on the MK3 sets it apart from other 3D printers in its class. The motherboard gives it a smooth and quiet run, and you can check the printed layers to see if these have shifted. Because of this capability, the Prusa i3 MK3 delivers more consistency between prints.

Resuming Printing After a Power Loss

It takes hours to finish printing an object with your 3D printer. Some of the earlier printers we have will reset if the power goes out in the middle of a print job.

Not the Prusa i3 MK3. This printer will shut down all the components and moves the print head away from the 3D model. When power comes back on, your printer will just resume printing.

Connectivity

The Prusa i3 MK3 comes with a USB port and an SD card drive. You can also opt to add wireless connections to your printer.

Easy Prints, Excellent Print Quality

Printing with the Prusa i3 MK3 is a breeze. You don’t have to adjust anything to load the filament. The printer bed also heats up fast, and the print quality is exceptional.

Models printed with the MK3 have a high level of detail, with smooth surfaces, and are often accurate. What’s more, it prints real fast and can be very quiet as it works even when you’re standing near to the printer while it works.

Another thing that you will like about this printer is that it accepts third-party filaments. Plus, you have upgrade kits that will allow you to get the most out of the Prusa i3 MK3.

Specifications

• Type: Open-frame Cartesian style 3D printer
• Resolution: 50 microns
• Minimum layer height: (0.05 millimeters)
• Build volume: 9.8 by 8.3 by 8.3 inches (25 by 21 by 20 centimeter
• Filament: 0.7 inches (1.75 millimeters) filaments on a 0.02 inches (0.4 millimeters) nozzle
• Filament types supported: ABS, PLA, Flexible, HIPS, Nylon, and others
• Connections: USB and SD card
• Automatic bed leveling: Yes
• Automatic skew axes compensation: Yes

What Makes the Prusa i3 MK3 a Good Deal

As you can see, the Prusa i3 MK3 is a very capable printer. If you don’t like the assembly, you can just purchase the assembled printer, but it’s highly recommended that you do it yourself and save some money.

Customer service offers a good experience, and if you ever get stuck with assembling and subsequently using the printer, you have a lot of resources at your fingertips.

What You Should Know About This 3D Printer

The best way to enjoy the Prusa i3 MK3 is to get the kit. That means that you will need to assemble it yourself, and that can take some amount of work and a lot of time.

The filament sensor might not work well with transparent filaments, telling you that you’re out of filament when you’re not. This means that you have to turn off the sensor if you are printing using transparent materials.

What’s more, this 3D printer may not be readily available to you. Customers would have to wait because the company shipped the 3D printers in batches.

Prusa i3 MK3: The Bottom Line

There are many reasons why you should recommend the Prusa i3 MK3. It works quietly, and it does the job well. It has a range of features and sensors that allows it to be more innovative.

With the Prusa i3 MK3, you get the best of both worlds: an affordable printer that delivers excellent print quality, with all the features you need thrown in.

The thing with this 3D printer is that you’d appreciate it right out of the box. The easy assembly, the automatic bed leveling, and the easy calibration. But you will grow to love it even more as you use it because of the convenience features it offers, including the ability to resume printing after a power outage, being informed when to load a new filament, and easy to remove the print bed, among others.

What’s more, you have the option of getting the printer fully assembled if you don’t want to be bothered with building it. Not that the DIY kit is frustrating: even kids will be able to build the 3D printer just by following the documentation.

Pros

• Lots of improvements, including a more durable frame, quiet and fast printing.
• Customer service is excellent, with a well-written manual
• Better sensors than predecessors protect it from damage and can be convenient for you
• The removable magnetic print bed
• Nine-point autocalibration
• Open source and easy to use
• Excellent print quality
• Automatic bed leveling

Cons

• The filament sensor doesn’t work correctly with transparent filaments
• Bed adhesion might be problematic

No enclosure

Are there alternatives to the Prusa i3 MK3

If you are not sold on the Prusa i3 MK3, there are some alternatives that you can buy.

Matterhackers Pulse

This 3D printer is based on the design of Prusa’s i3 MK3, and you can customize it the way you want it. The base printer sells for less than $1,000, the same price range as the MK3. Like the MK3, it features automatic bed leveling, a heated bed, and lots of upgrades.

Depending on how much you’re willing to spend, you have a lot of options when it comes to upgrading, which includes:

• Olsson ruby nozzle, which works with a wide variety of filaments, including those with abrasive additives. Plus, this material is wear-resistant and highly conductive to heat.
• Bondtech extruder, which works both for speed and precision in your print jobs.
• Hardened steel for the nozzle
• Filament sensor
• Garolite bed
• Enclosure kit

However, MatterHackers Pulse is somewhat limited when it comes to the filaments that you can use with it. It can handle PETG, ABS, nylon, and other types of filaments, by it shines when you use PLA and similar filaments.

Specifications

• Build volume: 10 by 9 by 8.5 inches (250 by 220 by 215 millimeters)
• Dimensions: 19.61 by 21.85 by 24.61 inches (498 by 555 by 625 millimeters)
• Travel speed: Up to 9.8 inches (250 millimeters) per second
• Print speed: Up to 2.4 inches (60 millimeters) per second
• Resolution: 20 microns (0.02 millimeters)
• Layer height range: 30 microns (0.03 millimeters) to 350 microns (0.35 millimeters)
• Base extruder: SeeMeCNC EZRstruder
• Power recovery: Yes
• Calibration: Yes, automatic print leveling using 25-point BLTouch
• Remote control: Yes, with the MatterControl Sync portal
• Open standards: Yes
• Warranty: Lifetime support with a one-year repair or replacement guarantee

Pros

• The customizations are paid, but MatterHackers does not charge for labor
• High-quality parts

Cons

• LCD interface can confuse you

Creality CR-10S Pro V2

Creality’s 3D printers have always been compared to Prusa’s. The reason is that both companies have been churning out excellent 3D printers at a very affordable price. One of Creality’s 3D printers that you can check out is the CR-10S Pro V2.

This 3D printer has:

• Auto bed leveling
• Touchscreen display
• Filament sensor
• Mean Well power supply
• Double gear extruder
• Can resume prints if ever power fails

Apart from giving you excellent prints, you also get a spacious build volume at 12 by 12 by 16 inches (300 by 300 by 400 millimeters). This means that you will be able to print bigger models. This open-frame printer can use TPU, PLA, and ABS, as well as composite filaments.

But what’s more, it’s being sold at around $600 to $700, which makes it slightly more affordable than Prusa’s i3 MK3.

Tiertime UP mini 2 ES

The Tiertime UP mini 2 ES might be small, but it has several features that the Prusa i3 MK3 doesn’t offer. For instance, it has a HEPA filter that can keep pollutants from getting into the air you breathe. So if you’re working with a particularly noxious filament like ABS, the Tiertime UP mini 2 ES will be your best bet.

What’s more, it has a closed-box design that can protect all parts of the 3D printer. There is also a separate caddy that will keep your filament safe from air exposure. This printer can resume printing jobs when interrupted.

Other features include touchscreen controls, quiet operation, and automatic bed leveling. With a build volume of 4.7 by 4.7 by 4.7 inches (120 by 120 by 120 millimeters) and comes with an SD card slot.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Should You Buy the Prusa i3 MK3?

The Prusa i3 MK3 might be an old 3D printer, but one thing is sure: it’s one of the best 3D printers to have come out during its time. It is the best way to learn about the components and assemble a 3D printer with detailed and well-written instructions. And once put together, the 3D printer gives you excellent prints and a wide range of enviable features.

What’s more, it costs less than $1,000. However, it’s been more than three to four years since it came out, and other printers have overtaken it. More printers are now becoming more affordable, and the features you see on the Prusa i3 MK3 have long become standard fare for some of the best 3D printers in the market. It also misses out on more advanced features such as touch display.

Nevertheless, the Prusa i3 MK3 is still an excellent printer that you should buy if you can find it.

With our best fastest 3D printers guide, you will find out why you don’t need to sacrifice overall quality for quicker print speeds.

3D printing technology has progressed a lot, and these printers combine both fast speeds while offering brilliant accuracy at the same time.

In this guide of the top 8 fastest 3D printers on the market, we will outline all the pros and cons of these 3D printers, and find out which one in my opinion is the best to buy.

At a Glance: 8 of the Best Fastest 3D Printers in 2021

3D printer	Max Print Speed	Build Volume	Layer Resolution	More Info
Anycubic Mega S	100 mm / s	210 x 210 x 210 mm	100 microns	Find out more
Delta WASP 2040 Pro	500 mm / s	200 x 200 x 400 mm	50 microns	Find out more
FLSUN QQ-S	300 mm / s	255 x 255 x 360 mm	50 microns	Find out more
UNIZ Slash Plus UDP	1,000 cm3 / hr	192 x 122 x 200 mm	75 microns	Find out more
Zortrax M200 Plus	200 mm / s	200mm x 200mm x 180mm	90 – 390 microns	Find out more
HP 3D Jet Fusion 5200	4115 cm3 / hour	380 x 284 x 380 mm	1,200 dpi	Find out more
Anycubic Photon Mono X	60mm / h	192 x 120mm x 245mm	10 microns	Find out more
Massivit 1800	300 mm / s	1450mm x 1110mm x 1800mm	500 mm / s	Find out more

Things to consider that will impact 3D printing speed

There are certain aspects such as the material, technology, and resolution, that will impact how quickly a 3D printer will create objects.

Technology

FDM printers, which are the most common models, usually print objects slower than resin 3D printers .

This is down to the technology that is used. FDM 3D printers have more moving parts, and the printing process is a bit more complicated as they use an extruder with three-axis and motors. This results in a slower print job.

3D printers that use resin don’t have as many moving parts, so they don’t print models quickly. The downside is the resin (SLA and DLP printers) are often more expensive.

Material

Another thing to consider with the speed of a 3D printer is the material you are using to print with.

Certain types of filament will often take longer to print with than others. While speed is important, getting a high-quality print is vital to ensure your objects come out correctly.

Certain plastics can cause a slow print, and you should weigh this up with how intricate or high-quality you want the finished object to be.

Resolution

The resolution refers to how many layers your model has.

Simply put, the more layers, the longer the print is going to take. So, objects with very few layers will print quicker. If you print an object with 50-micron layers, it will have a better resolution than one with 100-micron layers.

The resolution is directly related to the quality of the finished object because a model printed with a lesser resolution won’t take as much time, but it won’t be as intricate and detailed.

Model complexity

Finally, how complex your objects are will impact how quickly you can get them printed.

More intricate models will take longer than very basic objects that don’t have a high detail level. For example, if you are printing a miniature with many complex parts, this will take a lot longer to get a high-quality print than printing a case for a micro SD card.

8 Best Fastest 3D Printers

Anycubic Mega S

The Anycubic Mega S is the perfect 3D printer for both speed and your wallet.

As far as budget 3D printers go, this is incredibly powerful and provides rapid printing speeds of up to 100mm / s. It isn’t the quickest on our list by a long shot; however, for what you pay, it is very fast.

The Mega S also has an easy-to-use touchscreen and an intuitive user interface. You will also find an upgraded extruder, filament runout detection, and the patented microporous coating that allows you to remove the printed objects when they have cooled down easily.

There is some assembly required to get this 3D printer up and running but it isn’t too complicated.

Overall this is a very powerful 3D printer that comes packed with a range of features. The nature of the high-quality prints and rapid speeds combined with the low price makes it a superb 3D printer to get your objects created quickly.

Pros

• Very quick print speeds while retaining quality
• Easy removal of objects from the print bed
• Filament runout detection
• Available at an affordable price
• Has a touch-screen and good UI

Cons

• There is some assembly required with this printer

Delta WASP 2040 Pro

The Delta WASP 2040 PRO offers an excellent print speed of 500 mm / s alongside a host of other features.

This includes a print recovery mode if you encounter a power loss, being able to swap the filament head so you can work with different materials, as well as an enclosed print chamber. You can work with many different materials with this 3D printer, such as ABS. It is ideal for working with clay and ceramics.

You also benefit from WiFi capability with the Delta WASP 2040 Pro.

The pricing might put some hobbyist and casual users off, as it is a bit on the expensive side. However, it is incredibly powerful for businesses to print objects and models quickly.

Pros

• Very quick speeds and prints high-quality objects
• WiFi capability and can work with different materials
• Power loss and filament runout sensor

Cons

• This 3D printer is quite expensive

FLSUN QQ-S

The significant advantage of the FLSUN QQ-S is that it comes pre-assembled. For beginners or those who don’t want to spend hours setting up a 3D printer, this is ideal.

The noise level is another great thing about this 3D printer as it is below 50 dB. This makes it perfect for use in the home or in an office environment, while you also benefit from a very reasonable cost. If you don’t want to spend tons of money on a 3D printer but want good speeds, the FLSUN QQ-S offers this.

We had a look at the FLSUN QQ-S before, as its build volume makes it one of the best large format 3D printers. Combined with the auto-leveling system, easy-to-use software, and overall durability, it is definitely worth your consideration if you want to print objects quickly.

Pros

• Offers quick print speeds for a budget price
• Very quiet so won’t disturb anyone when in use
• Large build volume and easy to use software

Cons

• Can take a while to get used to
• Support options aren’t great

UNIZ Slash Plus UDP

The whole idea behind the UNIZ Slash Plus UDP was to create a commercially available 3D printer that offered fast speeds. In fact, they even created a Kickstarter campaign to get this 3D printer off the ground.

This is an SLA 3D printer that uses resin to print off your models, so it is already quicker than most FDM printers. The accuracy and precision of the objects that the UNIZ Splash Plus UDP prints are fantastic, although we would like to have seen a slightly better build volume as it is only 192 x 122 x 200 mm.

The build volume aside, this 3D printer offers remote control via WiFi, auto-calibration and it is easy to use overall.

Pros

• Very fast 3D printer especially for commercial use
• Has remote control and auto-calibration
• Easy to use and is a resin 3D printer

Cons

• Build volume could be better as it is quite small
• Comes with a fairly high price tag

Zortrax M200 Plus

The Zortrax M200 Plus has the edge over several 3D printers in the same price range because it offers WiFi capability.

This very user-friendly 3D printer would be ideal for beginners who are still learning the craft but who also want to benefit from decent print speeds.

There is a filament run-out detection feature which we always like to see with a 3D printer, and you can also benefit from the decently sized build volume of 200mm x 200mm x 180mm.

The built-in camera allows you to let the Zortrax M200 Plus do its thing while you keep an eye on it remotely.

There are some issues around the lack of support for using with a Mac and the disappointing warranty, but it is a powerful and quick 3D printer for the price.

Pros

• WiFi capability and offers a remote camera
• Build volume is a good size
• Very user-friendly so ideal for beginners with some money to spend

Cons

• Lack of Mac support and poor warranty

HP 3D Jet Fusion 5200

We are moving onto a large, industrial-scale, quick 3D printer. The HP 3D Jet Fusion 5200 isn’t for anyone other than large businesses with a lot of money to spend. We know that it instantly knocks so many people out of buying this printer, but its incredibly print speeds are worth mentioning.

This 3D printer from HP provides print speeds of up to 4500 cm³ per hour, which is pretty awesome. The overall quality is the best you are going to get, and the build volume of 380 x 284 x 380 mm lets you print off some massive objects.

The HP 3D Jet Fusion 5200 isn’t for many people, but for large businesses with money to spend, it is tough to find a competitor for what you get with this printer.

Pros

• Unreal print speeds and overall print quality
• Massive build volume for large prints

Cons

• Isn’t for small businesses or 3D printing hobbyists

Anycubic Photon Mono X

The Anycubic Photon Mono X is one of the latest in a long line of great 3D printers that we love from Anycubic.

The Photon Mono X provides pretty good print speeds at 60 mm / s, which, for the price, is actually really decent. We like the large build volume, too, so you aren’t restricted too much in what you can print off at once.

This is a resin-based printer, and the 4K screen combined with the double linear Z-axis makes for very intricate and accurate printed models. This 3D printer also offers WiFi connectivity.

It is best suited to smaller prints (such as miniatures or jewelry ), and if you want a high-quality, quick printer for a reasonable price, Anycubic is usually the brand to opt for.

Pros

• Budget 3D printer with quick speeds
• Ideal for jewelry and miniatures
• Resin-based with 4k screen and WiFi connectivity

Cons

• Isn’t ideal for larger prints

Massivit 1800

If build volume is important and you also have the money to spend, the Massivit 1800 is what you need. ‘Massivit’ is a big clue as it provides an astonishing build volume of 1450mm x 1110mm x 1800mm – that is pretty huge!

Aside from that, this 3D printer uses gel dispensing printing which gives it the edge of many FDM printers, as it contributes to a much better overall finish. This printer is used to create many different objects, such as movie props and art exhibitions.

This means it comes with a hefty price tag, but you pay for what you get. If you are lucky enough to operate the Massivit 1800, you will find it easy to use once you are accustomed to using gel dispensing printing (GDP).

Pros

• Incredibly detailed prints and huge build volume
• Great for large scale art exhibitions or movies
• Much quicker than FDM printers

Cons

• It has a huge price tag so most people won’t be able to afford it
• Gel dispensing printing can take a while to get used to

Frequently Asked Questions about fastest 3D printers

Which is the Best Fastest 3D Printer?

Speed ​​isn’t everything but using a fast 3D printer that also offers high-quality, accurate, and accurate prints will save you a lot of time and money.

I am going to choose the Anycubic Mega S .

You might find this is a bit surprising because it isn’t actually the fastest on our list. However, this Anycubic 3D printer does offer quick speeds but it does it at a reasonable price. It doesn’t cost tens of thousands of dollars, and the accuracy of the printed objects is great.

With an easy-to-use UI, microporous coating to remove models quicker after they print, and filament run-out detection, the Anycubic Mega S is perfect for anyone who wants quick print speeds without the enormous price tag.