Best 3D Printer 2014 - Top-Rated 3D Printers
Pictured: XYZ Printing da Vinci and Cubify Cube 3"Star Trek" promised replicators that could print out anything in seconds, even a cup of "Earl Grey, hot." While the technology isn't there yet, it is getting closer, thanks to consumer 3D printers. These devices convert a digital design into any small, plastic 3D object that your imagination and design skills (or designs you download) can come up with, from a tchotchke to a replacement part for a device to a prototype Home 3D printers mostly use a process called, alternately, filament deposition manufacturing (FDM) or fused filament fabrication (FFM). A plastic filament is melted and then deposited onto a smooth surface (called the print bed) by the printer extruder. The print bed is lowered, and the object is built up layer by layer.Ă‚
MORE: 10 Great 3D-Printing Projects Most 3D printers use either ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) or PLA (polylactic acid) plastic, both of which melt easily. Most users start with PLA, but then move onto the tougher (but slightly harder to use) ABS plastic. (Some printers can use more exotic materials, like clay, plasticine or even chocolate.) Although improvements keep coming, the consumer models available now are limited. They print slowly, use only a small number of materials in limited colors, and require a lot of tweaking to get it working well. But once you get your 3D printer up and running, having custom-built objects on tap is a great feature for the modern household. We've picked the best 3D printers for how you want to use them. These printers can't yet produce a cup of tea, but they can produce the cup -- and many other things. Best Budget 3D Printer: XYZ Printing da Vinci
Competition is driving the cost of entry for 3D printing down, and that's great news for those looking to try out this new technology. Our top pick for those on a tight budget is the da Vinci from XYZ printing. Priced under $500, the da Vinci is a full-featured printer that offers a large build volume (7.8 by 7.8 by 7.8 inches, for a total of 474 cubic inches) and an enclosed printing area that keeps curious fingers away from the hot plastic. The device prints http://3dprintingrapid.com/product-reviews-refrigeration-considerations/ in ABS plastic with a minimum layer height of 0.1mm, and comes with its own XYZWare software that can print most types of 3D models from both Mac OS and Windows computers.Ă‚ It isn't the cheapest 3D printer available (that would be the $350 PrintrBot Simple 2014 kit), but the XYZ is the cheapest ready-to-print model out there. And with what looks to be very solid performance, this should make a great pick for the budget buyer. Best 3D Printer for Beginners: Cubify Cube 3
3D printing can be complicated, so it's best to start out with a straightforward printer. Priced at "under $1,000" (all the manufacturer has said so far), the Cubify Cube 3Ă‚ is one of the simplest printers available. The company puts the filament (either ABS or PLA) in a sealed cartridge that is available in 20 colors, and is easy to change. The system also provides software that outlines a step-by-step http://3dprintingrapid.com/product-reviews-refrigeration-considerations/ approach to printing. The package includes plenty of premade digital designs to customize and print. At $1,000 or less, the Cube 3 is competitively priced against similar (though less polished) printers like the Solidoodle 4th
generation. The Cube is also safe for kids to use. Because there's no heated print bed, you won't have to worry about burned fingers. Plus, the prints are easy to remove from the print bed. The Cube connects to computers over Wi-Fi, making it simple to share designs among multiple PCs.Ă‚ The Cube's simplicity has its downsides. You have to buy Cubify's filament cartridges, which cost a little more than generic spools and come in only five colors. And Cubify's 90-day warranty is short for a printer designed to handle the rough and tumble of family or educational use. Overall, though, this printer's simple, user-friendly design and software make glitches much less likely. The printer is due soon, but hasn't yet gone on sale. MORE: 3D Printer Buyer's Guide Best DIY 3D Printer: MakerGeeks RepRap Mini Kossel
If you want to really understand how 3D printers work, you can't beat the experience of building your own. The most interesting DIY 3D printer at the moment is the RepRap Mini Kossel. This 3D printer is a delta design, meaning three motorized arms move the print head in three dimensions, rather like a spider hanging from its web. Since the Mini Koessel is a completely open-source design, freely available plans document everything you need to know about how to build the device. You can buy the parts at a hardware store, or 3D print them from the provided files.
You don't have to go that route, though: MakerGeeks sells a kit of the 3D-printed plastic parts for $70 and the electronics for $490. Add in a few easily available nuts, bolts and beams for the frame, and you have all you need to build your own 3D printer and learn a lot in the process -- all for a total cost of less than $900. Best 3D Printer for Light Use: MakerBot Replicator 5th Gen
The latest generation of MakerBot's Replicator 3D printer takes the promise of plug-and-print to a new level by increasing the size, resolution and speed of prints. This model increases the maximum print size from older replicators to 9.9 x 7.8 x 5.9 inches, a total of 456 cubic inches, and ups the accuracy, with a minimum layer size of 0.1mm. MakerBot also claims that the 5th generation version prints 11 percent faster than the previous edition. A built-in webcam on this $2,899 3D printer allows you to monitor the build process from a PC or smartphone, and an enclosed build space means fewer printing smells and prints spoiled by drafts. MakerBot has focused on printing with PLA for this generation of its devices, and has also added a 3-inch LCD screen to make it easier to use the printer as a stand-alone device. The Replicator can also be controlled over USB and Ethernet connections, with a Wi-Fi option coming
soon. So if you just want a printer that you can plug in and use without hassle, the 5th Gen Replicator is our pick. Ă‚ Best 3D Printer for Small Businesses: Stratasys Mojo
Small businesses and serious hobbyists who use a 3D printer on a daily basis need a model that is reliable and offers very good tech support if it breaks. Stratasys Mojo is the best pick for its excellent support, which includes onsite service and easy supply ordering. That all comes at a price, though: a hefty $9,995.
The Mojo prints using ABSPlus thermoplastic, which Stratasys claims is stronger and lighter than normal ABS, so it is suited for making complex and larger objects. The Mojo can also simultaneously print with a water-soluble support material called SR-30, which provides support for complex objects during printing. When the print is complete, the support material can be quickly dissolved with water. The Mojo includes a washer that does this automatically, so you don't even need to get your hands wet. Best 3D Printer for Experimenters: Hyrel E2 Hobbyist
If you want to push the boundaries of 3D printing, the
Hyrel Hobbyist is the model for you. This new printer supports up to four extruders, so you can print multiple copies of objects at once, or print with multiple materials or colors in one object. And it goes beyond standard ABS and PLA plastic. The optional EMO25 extruder can handle materials like air-dried clay, silicone, Play-Doh or Sugru, which makes flexible objects. (However, these materials are experimental and not widely tested.) The company is also experimenting with other materials such as nylon. These extruders can also be quickly swapped out, so the E2 Hobbyist is somewhat future-proof. MORE: Future Home 3D Printing Includes Colors, Metals and Lasers The E2 Hobbyist is reasonably priced for all those capabilities: $2,145, which includes one extruder. Each EMO25 extruder is an additional $200, or $250 for the pro model with five nozzles. An all-i-one version of the printer with a built-in PC (the E3) starts at $2,345. There are caveats: Hyrel is a new, unproven company, and models are available only on a pre-order basis, with a backlog of several weeks, But the E2 Hobbyist is by far the best option for those who want to experiment with printing materials beyond basic plastic. New & Notable: RoboX 3D Printer
CES 2014 was the debutante's ball for a lot of 3D printers, but the one that rose to the top was the RoboX, a new printer from CEL UK. Coming off a hot Kickstarter campaign, this 3D printer takes a new approach to using plastic filament to print: using two differently shaped nozzles. These are the business end of the printer, where the plastic gets squirted out to create the object. Existing FDM (Fused Deposit Manipulation) printers use one fixed nozzle, which partly determines the thickness of the printing layer. The RoboX uses two: a large one with a hole of 0.8mm diameter that deposits lots of plastic for thick layers (and quick printing), and a smaller 0.3mm diameter one that deposits less plastic, for thinner layers. Combine these and you get the best of both worlds: quick printing of parts like internal supports that aren't visible, and more precise printing of the delicate details on the outside surface of the print. The company has also designed an interchangeable print head system, which, they claim, will allow them to add support for printing in other materials, or to subsequently add completely new features such as 3D scanning. Priced at $1,349 and available in the first quarter of this year, the RoboX looks like a promising printer that takes a different approach than most of the ones currently on offer. Most Promising Startup: Pegasus Touch Printer
3D Printers that use the STL (STereo Lithography) printing are typically expensive, because the technology is complicated. However, a new entrant to the 3D printer market is promising to bring down the cost. The Pegasus Touch printer from Full Spectrum Laser (who make laser cutters) is promising to being down the cost of these very accurate printers by offering an STL printer for around $2,249. The Pegasus printer uses the same technology as its more expensive siblings, building objects from a polymer resin using a blue light laser that solidifies the resin, building the object layer by layer. MORE: Forget Plastic: Molten Metal 3D Printers Are Coming The Pegasus Touch has an impressive set of features, including a 7 by 7 by 9-inch build volume and a built-in Linux computer that controls the printing process and makes it a stand-alone device. This means it can print directly from a 3D model without requiring a separate computer to create the printing path. As the name implies, it also includes a touch screen that allows you to control the printer directly, as well as Gigabit Ethernet. The company will be selling the resin used to print models in a variety of colors and textures, at a cost of $100 per kilogram. The Pegasus Touch will be shipping in July, although April shipping is available for those who pay more. After the Kickstarter campaign completes, the Pegasus Touch will be available for a price of $3,349. Follow Richard Baguley on Google Plus or @rbaguley. Follow us @TomsGuide, on Facebookand on Google+.