3D printing has completely changed how we manufacture plastic prototypes. We can manufacture plastic prototypes within hours using 3D printers. This article will guide you in selecting the best budget 3D printers for your application.
Don’t miss this article on the difference between PLA ABS and Nylon materials for FDM 3D Printing.
Selection Criteria for best affordable 3D Printer
These days 3D printers are available at a very affordable price. You can buy the best budget 3D printer starting from $200 /-.
These low cost printers are not as good as industrial printers. But still, they are widely used by students, hobbyists, and small-scale industries.
Here is the list of points you should consider before selecting the best budget 3D printer for your applications. We recommend you consider the following parameters to select a 3D printer.
- 3D Printer bed Size and build volume.
- Open or close structure.
- Does the printer have a heated bed
- Availability of filament.
- Compatibility with different materials.
- 3D printing technology.
- Connectivity
List of Budget 3D Printers
| 3D Printer | Approximate Price (USD/INR) | Layer Resolution | Build Volume (cubic mm) | Print Speed | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flash Forge Finder | $349 / ₹30999 | 0.1 mm | 140x140x140 | 40-200 mm/sec | For Home or Classroom |
| Flash Forge Creator Pro | $1999 / ₹74000 | 0.1 mm | 227X148X150 | 10-100 mm/sec | Dual Color Print |
| Da Vinci Mini w+ | $199.95 / ₹36605 | 0.1 mm | 150X150X150 | 120 mm/sec | For Hobbyist |
| Anycubic Photon SLA | $259 / ₹44000 | 0.025 mm | 115x65x155 | -- | -- |
| Tiertime Up Mini 2 | $500/ ₹74900 | 0.15mm | 120x120x120 | -- | Education Market |
| Prusa i3 MK3S | $749 / NA | 0.05mm | 250x210x210 | 200 mm/sec | -- |
| Monoprice MP Select Mini | $169/ ₹46016 | 0.1 to 0.3 mm | 120x120x120 | 55 mm/sec | -- |
| Creality3d Ender 3 | $189.99/ ₹15999 | 0.1 to 0.4 mm | 220x220x250 | 180 mm/s | Chinese company |
Note:- Prices shown in the above table are for indicative purposes only. Prices in "$" and ₹ are] in the USA and India.
FlashForge Finder is a budget 3D printer with a build volume of 140 x 140 x 140 mm and equipped with a 3.5-inch color LCD for the user interface.
This printer is available at an affordable price of less than $350. One of the disadvantages of this printer is, It is an open-face design and does not have a heated bed.
Features of FlashForge Finder
- Connectivity: Wifi, USB, Flash Drive
- Resolution: 0.1 mm
- Build Volume: 140 x 140 x 140 mm
- Filament Compatibility: PLA, PLA Color Change, Pearl, Elastic, TPU, Flexible Filament, Metal Filled Filament, and Wood Filled Filament.
- Positioning Precision: 0.00254 mm on Z axis and 0.01 mm on XY plane
FlashForge Creator Pro is a mid-range budget 3D printer with a build-up volume of 227x148x150 mm. It is an updated version of FlashForge Creator. This printer is available at a relatively high price of $1900.
This affordable medium budget 3D printer is for professionals. It is capable of dual extrusion, comes with a closed metal frame design and heated bed.
Heated bed maintains a constant temperature inside the 3D printer. As a result FlashForge Creator Pro 3D printer prints a high quality 3D prints.
Flashforge creator pro is the best choice for professionals or small scale-industries who can not afford professional 3D printers.
Features of FlashForge Creator Pro
- Reliable and easy to use.
- Platform leveling system.
- Heated aluminum bed.
- Capable of dual extrusion.
- Connectivity: USB, Flash drive.
- Resolution: 0.1 mm
- Build Volume : 227x148x150 mm
- Filament Compatibility: PLA, TPU 95A, ABS, PETG
- Positioning Precision: 11 microns on the Z-axis and 2.5 microns on the XY plane
da Vinci mini w+ is a budget 3D printer equipped with an NFC chip for the optimized material profile. It has a build volume of 150 x 150 x 150 mm.
We can not use PLA filament from other companies because of the NFC chip. de Vinci mini w+ 3D printer is available at an affordable price of less than $200.
This printer has the disadvantage of the open-face design and non-heated bed. XYZ recommends applying Pritt Stick-type glue if the room temperature is below 25C.
Features of da Vinci mini w+
- PLA Filament from XYZ can only be used
- Connectivity: Wifi and USB
- Resolution: 0.1 mm
- Build Volume: 150 x 150 x 150 mm
- Positioning Precision: 0.001 mm on the Z-axis and 12.5 microns on the XY plane
- Filament Compatibility: PLA / Antibacterial PLA / PETG / Tough PLA / XYZ Carbon Fiber* / Premium Metallic PLA* (*Optional Extruder)
- Non-Heating Plate
Anycubic Photon SLA 3D Printer is the cheapest available budget SLA-based 3D printer with a build-up volume of 115x65x155 mm. This printer is available at a relatively high price of $255. SLA-based resin 3D printing provides better print quality and resolution compared to FDM.
Features of Anycubic Photon SLA 3D Printer
- SLA-Based 3D Printer
- Better print quality and Resolution
- Connectivity: USB
- Resolution: 0.025 mm
- Build Volume: 115 x 65 x 155 mm
- Material: 405nm photosensitive resin
- Positioning Precision: 47 microns on XY plane
- Supports off line Printing
Tiertime Up Mini 2 is a budget 3D printer equipped with a 4-inch touch color LCD for the user interface. It has a build volume of 120 x 120 x 120 mm.
This printer is available at an affordable price of less than $500. UP Mini 2 budget 3D printer reduces the exposure to particle emissions with the built-in HEPA filtration system. It also has an auto-leveling and auto height detection feature.
Features of Tiertime Up Mini 2
- Equipped with 4-inch touch screen LCD
- Connectivity: Wifi, USB, Flash Drive
- Resolution: 0.15 mm
- Build Volume: 120 x 120 x 120 mm
- Filament Compatibility: ABS, ABS+, PLA, PLA Composites, Conductive, Wood, Bronze, Flexible, Nylon, Polycarbonate, Carbon Fiber, PET, ASA and more
- Non-Heating Plate
- Recirculating HEPA Filter and activated carbon
Original Prusa i3 MK3S is a mid-range budget 3D printer equipped with an LCD for the user interface. Its build volume is 250 x 210 x 210 mm. This printer is available at an affordable price of less than $750.
Features of Original Prusa i3 MK3S
- Connectivity: USB and Flash Drive
- Resolution: 0.05 mm
- Build Volume: 250 x 210 x 210 mm
- Filament Compatibility: PLA, ABS, PET, HIPS, Flex PP, Ninjaflex, Laywood, Laybrick, Nylon, Bamboofill, Bronzefill, ASA, T-Glase, Carbon-fibers enhanced filaments, Polycarbonate
- Print Surface: Heated bed with cold corner compensation
Monoprice MP Select Mini is the cheapest budget 3D printer. It comes with a build volume of 120 x 120 x 120 mm.
This printer is available at an affordable price of less than $170. This affordable printer is the best choice for hobbyists and school children.
Features of Monoprice MP Select Mini
- Equipped with multiple color LCD
- Connectivity: Micro USB and Micro SD Card
- Resolution: 0.1 mm
- Build Volume: 120 x 120 x 120 mm
- Filament Compatibility: ABS, PLA, Wood Fill, Copper Fill, Steel Fill, Bronze Fill
- Open Structure
- Non-Heating Plate
Creality3D Ender 3 is a cheap budget 3D printer. Its build volume is 220 x 220 x 20 mm.
This printer is available at an affordable price of less than $190. This affordable printer is the best choice for hobbyists and school children.
Features Creality3d Ender 3
- DIY Kit
- Connectivity: Wifi, USB, Flash Drive
- Resolution: 0.1 mm
- Build Volume: 220 x 220 x 250 mm
- Filament Compatibility: ABS/PLA, TPU, wood, FLEXIBLE, Carbon fiber, PA
- Positioning Precision: ±0.1 mm
- Non-Heating Plate
To sum up, Desktop 3D printers are changing the plastic prototyping industry. They are becoming more affordable.
We will keep adding more information on the best Budget 3D Printers. Please add your comments or questions on the best low-cost 3D Printers. We suggest you also read this article on metal 3D printers.
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