20 Best 3D Printers Under $1,000 And Their Reviews (Updated 2022)

Over the past few decades, the printing industry has taken a great leap forward to unimaginable technological advancements. During that period, 3D printers were things which were ridiculous to have in your home. They were limited to industries and corporations which seemed less to care about dishing lots of cash for them.

Not only that but were obscenely expensive! Fortunately, through technological transitions, 3D printing is now a common thing used in almost all industries including the designing, engineering, schools not to mention individual use.

From the large non-portable sizes to small printers one could carry around, they are now high in demand.Industries or individuals who go out to purchase printers for various printing services often have no idea which model is the best or which one should they choose.

Coming in a myriad of sizes and shapes, prices and qualities, they are spoilt for choice. I’m here to save you the hustle. Before making a fool of yourself and buying something that isn’t what you want, I’ll discuss the few things you should consider and give you a review of the 20 best printers under the $1000 mark.

Durability, Reliability, and Portability

In most cases, we want printers that are durable, have low maintenance cost and some that we can totally rely on when we need to use them. Having a portable printer is a ridiculous idea but, yeah, some people want mobile printers.

Purpose of the Printer

By purpose, the meaning here is what you want to print. Is it for providing regular printing services? Do you want a printer for basic home projects like toys or items in your home? Is it for prototyping in the building or the designing industry? Whatever the case, you will need a printer easy enough to setup and use without going through a library of manuals to figure out how it works.

You are also looking for a printer with less maintenance, fast and produces high-resolution projects. There are printers for every use. As an artist, for instance, a printer that’s capable of producing images with many colors will be ideal for you. Industries that manufacture goods will want to have a printer with a large volume to cater for its products, though they may not be on this list for they are expensive.

Software

Program and software integration among many platforms has seen printers come with pre-installed software and others on an installation media. Putting the software type in mind will influence the choice of the printer you make.

If you want to use it with different operating systems, you will buy a printer that has a software supported by that system. The operating systems could be the Windows, Android, Mac or Linux. However, in most cases, the setup files for the OS compatibility can be downloaded and installed separately. Furthermore, some printers have a capability for separating printing program components to suit your needs.

Printer Connection

How you want to connect the printer mainly determines which type you will buy. Many printers are attached to the computer from a USB cable to relay instructions. Technology has, however, made it sure that we get printers that have internal memory. This enables them to remember instructions and carry on printing even if the cable is plugged out of the computer.

Some are even wireless, and print instructions can be sent to them through a network connectivity. As if that isn’t enough, we now have printers with SD Card and USB ports for connecting and with the printer’s user interface, files in the connected devices can be accessed and printed.

Visibility of Print Jobs

Some people will prefer a printer with an open frame that will allow them to see the work in progress and also access extruder and the print bed. To some people, this quality might not be necessary. They want a closed frame printer which is ideal to use at home without the worry of children touching the extruders. Closed frame printers are also quieter which is what we all want.

Object Size

The size of the object you want to print should also be compatible with the build area and the volume of the printer.

Materials to Print With

Many printers use the fused filament fabrication technique (FFF) to print. This technique has the plastic threads in spools melting and extruded to solidify and make an object. The filaments may be the acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or polylactic acid (PLA).

The two have different characteristics. The first one melts at temperatures higher than PLA which is also highly flexible. This makes PLA prints smooth and brittle. Other print filaments include Tritan polyester, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), wood, bronze, copper composite filaments, nylons, etc. all the materials will determine what printer you will buy.

Resolution

High-resolution printers are typically geared towards the premium side that you have to pay a lot to get one. Depending on the resolution you want, a particular printer will be available for it. Many printers can print at 200 microns while others can do better at 100 microns. Some printers, however, can be customized or hacked and upgraded to print finer resolutions of 20 microns. Before thinking about buying a printer that’s of high resolution, you should probably know that it will take its time to complete one project. It requires a lot of patience.

Colors

Some printers are limited to a certain number of colors i.e. they have two extruders that aren’t capable of printing more colors than that. Depending on the number of colors you want, as a result, you should probably look for a printer that supports multiple colors, one that has multiple extruders.

Build Platform

The type of platform one looks to make their prints on is another factor to consider while choosing a 3D printer. Objects stick well to a good platform and allow for flawless printing and also removal. Some platforms will have you apply glue to the surface for object adherence. If the object can be removed, it shouldn’t be a problem. It is better than those that you have to soak both platforms and object to remove.

Opting to use a perforated board that fills with hot plastic during printing in some printers has one disadvantage, the object removal might not be as easy as it looks. One will be forced to use crude methods of removing it which will perhaps end up in destroying or distorting it.

Now that we have discussed what you should consider before buying a printer, (considerations only limited by your mind), let us look at the reviews of some of the best printers under $1000. The review is solely based on user experience and personal opinions.

1. Monoprice MP Select Mini

I know what you’re thinking, that the price tag of this printer is too good to belong to that of a 3D printer. Apparently, that is its price. Crazy, right? This printer is in the same league with printers that cost four times its price. With its affordability, what it does is worth your money.

Apart from its unusual design, this 3D printer comes with a heated build plate, SD card connectivity, USB port, a cooling fan with a release steel filament feeder and a colored LCD screen for printer settings navigation. The heated build plate works with most types of printer filaments that include PLA, ABS, PVA, metal and wood composites. This is because of the heated plate and its adjustable temperature range rates at a great value.

The build area of this printer isn’t that large. Therefore, it is safe to say that if you are buying it, you’re looking for a printer with a build not bigger than that of the M3D Micro and isn’t looking to print large works. Prints, however, will come out in a not so good quality as it would on most advanced printers. User reviews luckily have confirmed good quality prints after several attempts. If you’re the patient one, you might have the desired results. Again, this printer can be customized if voiding a warranty isn’t an issue with you. It can be upgraded with hot-end, glass bed and made to connect to the Wi-Fi.

It is a printer for those who find other printers obscenely unaffordable because it is very cheap and achieves almost what other printers can do.

The greatest setback of Monoprice Select Mini is its print measurements. With its 120 x 120 x 120 mm, it is ideal for projects larger than that. Nonetheless, it’s ineffective temperature controls that melt filament and cause inconsistencies to the overall result.

Key Features

• Printer Technology: FDM
• Filaments: ABS, PLA, Exotic filaments
• Volume: 120 x 120 x120 mm
• Highest Resolution: 100 Microns
• Speed: 55 mm/s
• Weight: 9.9 lbs
• Extruder: Single
• Connectivity: USB, SD Card
• On-Printer Controls: Yes
• Heated Platform: Yes

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2. XYZPrinting Da Vinci Jr.

Nothing beats the user-friendliness of this 3D printing machine. It is one of the best 3D printers which is easy to use and does not require manual calibration. It has a for-line resolution LCD screen and six buttons for printer settings. The parameters include viewing of the various stats, loading and off-loading a filament and also instructing the printer to print.

It has a single extruder and thus works with filaments one at a time. This means objects of one color can only be printed.

However, the printer supports XYZPrint’s proprietary spools. It also has a small build area despite its larger physical size. This limits the size of objects you can print with it. Nonetheless, it can print finer resolutions as 100 microns and doesn’t have a heated bed which makes ABS filaments unsuitable.

The heat-bed package has three flexible fitting tapes that cover the top of the build platform when it’s printing. These tapes can be bought if they run out. The tapes help in holding the object in position.

It supports the bio-degradable PLA filaments and comes fully packed free with XYZ maker 3D design software, XYZ ware 3D printing software and XYZ printing STEAM 3D printing guide. The proprietary filaments come in various colors and melt quickly. It has a small chip that connects to the printer using Near Field Communication (NFC) that programs the printer on the type of filament used, the color and how much of it is left. Other spools apparently don’t work with this printer if they were not designed for it.

If you are looking for an entry level easy-to-use printer, XYZPrinting da Vinci Jr is your 3D printer. It is cheap, user-friendly and fun to use. Although, it doesn’t cut like a conventional prioritized 3D printer.

Key Features

• Printer Technology: FFF
• Filaments: Proprietary ABS and PLA
• Volume: 150 x 150 x150 mm
• Resolution: 100 to 400 Microns
• Speed: Up to 100 mm/s
• Weight: 26 lbs
• Extruder: Single
• Connectivity: USB, SD Card
• On-Printer Controls: Yes
• Heated Platform: No

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3. Printrbot Play

The low price of this 3D printer, its robustness and design make it one of the most sought after printers by the budget-conscious makers or individuals. It is light and is one of the most portable systems in the market.

The Printrbot Play 3D printer uses filaments ABS and PLA filaments. However, the ABS filament only works with an upgrade. Its extruder apparently does support exotic filaments specifically designed for it.

The Play 3D printer features the manufacturer’s Alu Extruder v2 which is steel coated with powder, an aluminum body, and SD Card slot for offline printing. It comes as the whole kit which enables for customizations like expanding the vertical axis and the build volume to suit your needs. This 3D printing machine comes fully assembled and takes a little time to setup. It also doesn’t rock much while it’s printing. Its metal plate bed provides leveling with the connected software for realistic results.

It has a resolution of up to 100 microns, a USB connectivity, and a microSD card support. It has a sample of a filament to help you run some tests and see if it is up to speed with your expectations. The printer doesn’t have a hot-bed; this is a limitation because one cannot use the ABS filament. The printer, however, is hackable and an upgrade will enable you to use the ABS filament, but its quality will not be as good as the PLA filament. Isn’t as good as that of the PLA filament.

This is an entry printer and if for those DIY enthusiasts who can get the whole kit and do it themselves. It is still a great option for those looking for affordable 3D printing experience with the same league as the premium printers.

Key Features

• Printer Type: FDM
• Materials: PLA
• Volume: 100 x 100 x 130 mm
• Resolution: 100 microns
• Extruder: Single
• Weight: 13 lbs
• Heated Platform: No
• On-Printer Controls: No
• Connectivity: USB, SD Card

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4. Robo 3D R1 Plus

This 3D printer has been designed to produce quality objects and has an incredible performance and consistency. It also has a state-of-the-art linear motion and a big build area with extra components for leveling, guidance, and performance. These are some of the specifications that render this machine an excellent choice for desktop 3D printing. It has free replacements too.

It comes with a starter spool of 300g of Robo Blue Filament designed to aid you in printing quickly and immediately you want to use it right off the package. A video tutorial that comes with it should help you in the setup process within a matter of short time.

This printer’s extruder has support for various materials which include, ABS, PLA filaments, t-glase, wood, HIPS and other flexible filaments and can produce or print layers to resolutions of a maximum of 100 microns. It has a heated bed that assists in ensuring the extruded filament doesn’t cool, contract or distort the shape of the object. While using the ABS, this feature is pivotal as it minimizes the chances of misprint and also helps get rid of the need to use a raft while printing. This method uses up more of the filament.

Robo 3D has incredible support for many software. It integrates an assortment of 3D designing software and operations based on Robo’s accompanying software it is designed to function with. Wholly calibrated, this printer saves you the hassle of manual calibration.

This printer cuts it as the best because of its amazing filament features which could be just what you need. It is meant for beginners and intermediate users.

Key Features

• Printer Technology: FDM
• Filaments: PLA, ABS, and Exotics
• Volume: 254 x 229 x 203 mm
• Resolution: 100 microns
• Extruder Head: 1
• Printing Speed: 50 mm/s
• Weight: 31 lbs
• Open Source: Hardware & Software
• Compatible with 3rd Party Material: Yes
• Heated Platform: Yes
• Filament Diameter: 1.75 mm
• On-Printer Controls: No
• Connectivity: USB

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5. M3D Micro

With its price still dropping, this is a 3D printer perfect for those who have trust issues with the other expensive printers. It is also highly durable but can’t print large objects or meet the reasonable speed of 3D printers. Nevertheless, it has an easy to use software that is user-friendly, and one can get easily addicted to its operations. It is, therefore, suitable for dummies who’re new in the industry of 3D printing.

With resolution ranging between 50 and 350 microns, it can print objects of a height of up to 4.6 inches and work with either 1.75 mm filament materials; ABS or PLA. M3D Micro, however, does not have a heated bed which renders printing with ABS filaments rather a not so easy work to do. PLA filaments, on the other hand, produces outstanding print quality which is appealing and worth the money of your printer. One should understand though that the printing will take a while and patience is the key.

M3D Mini has one extruder head which means that it isn’t capable of printing bright objects. One filament at a time will do the trick. Its top-notch micron motion technology enables the creation of perfect precision during printing at a fraction of the cost.

Despite the amazing features this printer has, one limitation might make you think twice. It does not have offline print, and it needs you to maintain the connectivity with the computer and at the same time ensure that the computer does not go to sleep or goes off. Otherwise, the printing will stop and result in incomplete objects. The fact that it prints even small objects at slow speeds is another disadvantage as well.

If you are looking for fun to use, easy to use printer and one that is friendly to kids, this printer is for you.

Key Features

• Printer Technology: FFF
• Filaments: PLA and ABS
• Volume: 116 x 109 x 113 mm
• Resolution: 50 to 350 microns
• Extruder Head: Single
• XY Precision: 15 microns
• Open Source: No
• Compatible with 3rd Party Material: Yes
• Heated Platform: No
• Filament Diameter: 1.75 mm
• On-Printer Controls: No
• Connectivity: USB

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6. XYZPrinting Da Vinci Jr. Mix 2.0

The 3D printing machines from the manufacturer XYZPrinting are in most cases hard to tell them apart. With their affordability and sleek design, they are sought by many.

This particular XYZprinting 3D machine has amazing features. This includes the ability to allow users to select modes to print on. One can print using two filaments and at the same time create color gradients. It has a multicolor pattern that allows for the object to have a particular color.

The Da Vinci Jr. Mix 2.0 3D printer uses non-toxic PLA materials which are installed quickly on the filament spool to save you time. This printer is also safe to use due to various testing to ensure that it is free of heavy metal. It also has an enclosed frame with a panel for viewing the work in progress. The Da Vinci has an extruder nozzle which is located far behind the assembly making it hard to reach.

This machine uses proprietary filaments. This means that a user has the option of buying and replacing them when the thread has reached its lowest level.

Exclusively, the da Vinci Jr Mix uses only PLA filaments which can also be obtained quickly in case the one you’ve got needs replacement. The filaments’ recommendation is that you do not use dark ones as they tend to affect gradation and overshadow the clearer filaments.

The printing software for this printer can be downloaded from the manufacturer’s website. The software enables you to load, scale and move an object and save it in the desired format. You can also set its resolution and import the result into the printer for printing.

If you’re a consumer looking for a printer capable of printing objects in two colors, this 3D printer comes in highly recommended for you. It’s also amazing for a budget model.

Key Features

• Printer Technology: FDM
• Filaments: PLA
• Volume: 150 x 150 x 150 mm
• Resolution: 200 microns
• Extruder Head: Single
• Open Source: No
• Compatible with 3rd Party Material: No
• Heated Platform: No
• Filament Diameter: 1.75 mm
• On-Printer Controls: Yes
• Connectivity: USB, SD Card, Wifi

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7. FlashForge Creator Pro

FlashForge Creator Pro is one 3D printer that resembles the Marketbot Replicator 2x. It has an amazing capability of dual extrusion and is enclosed in a chassis. This enclosure insulates and protects the ABS prints. It is extremely versatile and is as durable as its design comes. Furthermore, this printer can be totally relied on and is very easy to use.

Unlike its predecessors, FlashForge Creator Pro has a strong metal frame that enhances its stability as opposed to the wooden frame. With a flat surface and a level of an aluminum plate, warping during the heating of the bed isn’t an option. The Z-axis movement is upheld by a 10mm guide rod to prevent deformation of the platform arm. The axis also ensures quality print as it gives the machine a sturdy feel that doesn’t allow for vibrations during the printing process.

One of the notable and thrilling features of this 3D printer is its dual-extruders. This structure makes it ideal for objects to be printed using the ABS and PLA filaments simultaneously or any other supporting material designed for it. What’s even more amazing is that it still works impeccably with one extruder if the other was removed. This comes in handy if one of the extruders requires maintenance. You can keep one in use while the other one is maintained.

Designed to be a printer one can rely on, it comes with a LED light which shines on the printing surface for visibility. All in all, there’s a disadvantage to this printer from some users who’ve reported that the second extruder sometimes interferes with the printing.

Still, this printer is a catch for professionals and individuals looking for a fast, reliable and a plug and play 3D printer.

Key Features

• Technology: FDM
• Filaments: ABS, PLA, Exotics
• Volume: 225 x 145 x 150 mm
• Min Layer Height: 100 microns
• Max Layer Height: 500 microns
• Extruder: Dual
• XY Precision: 11 microns
• Printing Speed: 40-100 mm/s
• Open Source: Hardware & Software
• Compatible with 3rd Party Material: Yes
• Heated Platform: Yes
• Filament Diameter: 1.75
• On-Printer Controls: Yes
• Connectivity: USB, SD Card

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8. Wanhao Duplicator i3 Plus

This printer is an upgraded version of the Wanhao Duplicator i3 which was a derivative of the architectural design of the printer source Prusa i3. It comes fully assembled and has an excellent spacious build, steel frame and an incorporated cabinet for electronics unlike in its previous version where the components were housed differently. It comes with a full LCD touchscreen for printer control settings.

Wanhao Duplicator i3 plus has a single MK10 extruder, a micro-controller which is gcode-based and a standardized heated build plate. This features alone make it a top RepRap. It is a bit thick but fool-proof and durable. A first glance at its build portrays a machine that was made to last.

Ideally designed for modding, this version of a 3D printer is suitable for industries which do simple projects and want to try out a printer with a new extruder, axis belts and upgraded build plates among other great features.

The precision that comes with this printer is amazing. Resolution is listed between 100 and 400 microns which are designed with the accuracy of the X and Y 12 microns. The objects produced by this printer are akin to those produced by a premium printer costing thrice as much.

It uses filaments of PLA, ABS and other exotic filaments including PVA. The PLA, ABS and the nylon prints are produced with ultimate accuracy. It’s recommended that during printing, one should print in a dry and temperature controlled room for high-quality results.

This printer is one of the best in the market and at the price it comes with, one would expect a perfect machine. Its disadvantage is that it still has some warped prints and compromised resolution. However, it still is the best printer out there for anyone who uses it and is satisfied.

Key Features

• Technology: FDM
• Filament: ABS, PLA, Exotics
• Volume: 200 x 200 x 180 mm
• Minimum Resolution: 100 microns
• Extruder Head: Single
• Open Source: Software
• Third Party Material: Yes
• Heated Platform: Yes
• Filament Diameter: 1.75 mm
• On-Printer Controls: Yes
• Connectivity: USB, SD Card

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9. Dremel Idea Builder

The Idea Builder is a fully enclosed 3D printer springing from home upgrade specialists Dremel. This printer has a full touchscreen for optimal object and printer control settings. It also comes with a generously build volume. It is child-friendly and easy to use for all even in classrooms.

The Dremel comes pre-installed with an extruder that prints using a 1.75mm PLA material and can be utilized right out of the box. With its large build, it is designed to cater large projects and has an easy to use control software for quick customizations of the 3D objects in print. It works well for the heavy-duty projects.

The filaments of this printer are proprietary, and one should get them from the manufacturer for future use. These filaments fit perfectly well and only with the Dremel-brand filament cartridges which cost about $30, a price that is still costly if you compare with other cartridges of other 3D printers.

The Idea Builder despite having all the amazing features it comes with does not have a heated print bed. We all know what this means; it can’t print in ABS material. This setback has been overshadowed by its reliability though. The bed leveling that it has is almost impeccable and comes close to the auto-levelling. Furthermore, PLA is a fabulous choice for day-to-day printing models of good quality.

In as much as this 3D printer can’t hit the small 20-micron mark, the 100-micron resolution it achieves comes as the standard resolution for most printers in the same class with speeds of up to 100mm/s. Notably, the rate of which the objects are printed tends to affect the overall quality of the object.

This printer will however not be ideal for everyone. If a heated platform that supports ABS filaments is what you are looking for, this isn’t the machine for you.

Key Features

• Technology: FDM
• Filament: PLA
• Build Volume: 230 x 150 x 140 mm
• Resolution: 100 microns
• Extruder Head: Single
• Weight: 19 lbs
• Open Source: No
• Compatible with 3rd Party Material: No
• Heated Platform: No
• Filament Diameter: 1.75 mm
• On-Printer Controls: Yes
• Connectivity: USB, SD Card

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10. Monoprice Maker Select Ultimate

The Monoprice Maker Select Ultimate is another beast in the 3D printing industry. Why? It’s a component of two of your other favorite makers in 3D printing currently; the Zortrax and Ultimaker.

Featured in this printer is the aluminum printing bed the same as the one found on the Zortrax M200. This feature is vital during the cooling process, and it does not allow for warping of the objects. The interface for Monoprice Maker Select Ultimate is stunningly the same as that of the Ultimaker 2. What more do you need for ease of use?

The printer has a great dispensation for the Bowden tube setup which allows for direct drive extrusion. This makes for efficiency in the printing process and minimizes the chances of failed projects. However, this comes at the expense of having to be patient with the printer as it takes its time to finish printing.

Monomaker has no limitations on the type of materials one can use for prints. For any material of a 1.75mm filament, this printer can accommodate it. It has a broad range of temperatures on its print bed and extruder reaching up to 26o degrees and 100 degrees respectively. At these high temperatures, an increased realization in the type of materials one use is created. Therefore, PLA, ABS, HIPS, nylon, PVA and other exotic materials like wood are supported.

Although using the ABS as in other most cases of 3D printer poses some issues that lead to several failed prints, the Maker Select Ultimate struggles and after a few trial and error tests, it works, but the quality isn’t as good as that of the PLA and nylon materials.

Those looking to buy this printer should be aware of the fact that it lacks some nice features like the auto-bed leveling and nozzle cleaning. It’s still one of the cheapest 3D printers to have though.

Key Features

• Technology: FDM
• Material: PLA, ABS, Exotics
• Build Volume: 200 x 200 x 175 mm
• Min Layer Height: 20 microns
• Extruder Head: 1
• Open Source: No
• Compatible with 3rd Party Material: Yes
• Heated Platform: Yes
• Filament Diameter: 1.75 mm
• On-Printer Controls: Yes
• Connectivity: USB, SD Card

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11. FlashForge Finder

The FlashForge Finder is the cheaper version of the FlashForge Creator Pro. It comes with a three-and-a-half-inch full LCD touchscreen (like that of the FlashForge Dreamer) with easy to know icons that saves time while operating it. It’s in a cuboid shape and is rounded at the edges and the corners. Despite its colorful plastic appearance, it has a strong stamina.

It is supported by a strong plastic alloy and a non-heated build plate for stability in printing and also for adequate work progress. Its build plate doubles as a slide-in tray for easy retrieval of the printed object.

This printer is easy to use and is highly reliable. It can be setup right out of the box in less than an hour. Despite not having a heated bed and being hardly able to manage with ABS filaments, it is still one of the best printers that cost way less than $1000. The filaments installed in this printer are proprietary and can be bought if any of them fails.

This printer has an average build and is only limited to printing PLA materials. Its filament spool is loaded through a closed compartment sliding out through the back of the printer. This characteristic is a limitation to the type of the spool one is buying.

This is because the spools fitting into the printer are of a particular diameter and height. Set up appropriately, this printer is capable of producing good quality prints. It’s an open-framed 3D printer with one extruder head. Its build volume, however, is smaller than that of the XYZPrinting da Vinci Jr. 1.0.

Managing FlashForge Finder is easy through its wireless connectivity. It is ultimately a user-friendly, entry-level printer for classrooms and homeowners. It is also safe for children for its enclosure.

Key Features

• Printer Technology: FDM
• Filament: PLA
• Volume: 140 x 140 x 140 mm
• Minimum Resolution: 100 microns
• Extruder Head: Single
• XY Precision: 11 microns
• Open Source: No
• Third Party Materials: Yes
• Heated Platform: No
• Filament Diameter: 1.75 mm
• On-Printer Controls: Yes
• Connectivity: USB, Wifi

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12. QIDI TECH 1

As an Edify Technology registered trademark, this printer uses the FDM technology and comes equipped with dual extruders encouraging you to unleash high potentials with your creativity.

Looking like an old computer with a simple design, this printer is as elegant as it comes. It is strong and doesn’t disappoint when it comes to printing. It is also heavy, incidentally. With its aluminum plate and a flattened surface, warping during the printing process isn’t an option. Externally, it is entirely encased with a metal frame stronger than PVC plates and wooden frames.

It utilizes the printing software that comes with simple customizations of the 3D models with a high heat-proof metal platform to support it. It is the improved version of plastic support initially used before.

This printer produces accurate results due to its capability of creating finer resolution of 100 microns. The metals supporting it are resistant to heat. This ensures for stability and durability. As such, the result is an almost perfect object with less small seams and contours. The result is satisfactory, as long as you don’t use it to print heavy-duty or detailed objects.

Qidi Tech I printer adopts the use of ABS and PLA filaments through a 0.4mm/1.75mm extruder. It has a vast build volume big enough to accommodate big projects. If you’re venturing into the world of printers and are looking to find one that produces multi-coloured prints, this printer is for you.

Beginner or not, this printer (if you are aware of its flaws) is for you.

Key Features

• Printer Technology: FDM
• Material: PLA and ABS
• Build Volume: 225 x 150 x 150 mm
• Resolution: 100 microns
• Extruder: Dual
• Open Source: Yes
• Compatible with 3rd Party Material: Yes
• Heated Platform: Yes
• Filament Diameter: 1.75 mm
• On-Printer Controls: Yes
• Connectivity: USB, SD Card

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13. Hictop Prusa i3 Desktop

If you are a 3D enthusiast and just getting into the printing arena where you require a DIY 3D printer, this printer should be the choice. It has an automatic bed leveling. The objects printed with this printer are large enough to fit its build. The maximum size is 10.6” x 7.9” x 7.7”. No longer are you limited to printing small models, although it still can?

It uses a wide variety of filaments that include nylon, PLA, ABS, wood, PC and also PET-G. This makes it one of the most and the best versatile and a DIY 3D printer in the market. It will take you a lot of time to assemble this printer, but ultimately, the results will amaze you.

It is an open source machine meaning one can hack into it and upgrade almost every component in it. This feature also makes Hictop Prusa i3 highly customizable. It has new and improved parts that include T screw rods and X axis injection holders. This is why it produces objects in a stable build. Its XY axis positioning on top allows for precision.

This printer has a control board that supports dual extruder. For this reason, there’d be no need to buy another board to do the upgrade. The auto-levelling feature which measures and adjusts the distance between the hotbed and the nozzle makes it another printer which many would choose.

This printer is for those looking for a high-precision easier to use printer. It fits beginners and other intermediate users like engineers if you overlook the limiting factor of time-consuming assembly.

Key Features

• Printer Technology: FDM
• Filament: PLA, ABS, nylon, exotic
• Build Volume: 270 x 200 x 170 mm
• Resolution: 50 microns
• Extruder: Single
• Open Source: Yes
• Third Party Materials: Yes
• Heated Platform: Yes
• Filament Diameter: 1.75 mm
• Connectivity: USB

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14. XYZPrinting AiO

This is a 3D printer which is one of a kind and comes in doubling as a scanner, how cool is that? This machine is fully featured and builds large objects. It is user-friendly and reliable. It uses proprietary filament spools that are more expensive than many found in other 3D printers.

Among the limitation of this printer is that its print platform isn’t removable. Cleaning the printer hence is a hard thing to do. It comes fully pre-assembled and calibrated, all you have to do is plug and print.

At 18.4” x 20.1” x 22”, XYZPrinting da Vinci AiO is a large build for only one extruder head. However, it can accommodate models of up to 7.8-cubic inch. Below the printing platform is the scanner; this printer is just amazing.

The ABS filament cartridge that comes with the package is the only part that one will have to assemble. The cartridge is inserted into a suitable slot at the back of the printer. The sensor contact port at the bottom of the cartridge automatically tells when the printer filament is loaded including its type; either PLA or ABS and how much of the filament is left. This is handy as opposed to checking the filament spool manually. Unfortunately, in case of an empty cartridge one will be forced to buy a new one.

It has an LCD lighting that illuminates the work in progress and an LCD screen for printer settings. Changing the filament or running a test print can be controlled from the screen. Most of the controls for the printer, however, come from the XYZ freeware and scan programs. It works tethered to a computer, and this means that the printer isn’t a stand-alone machine.

This printer outputs quality prints for large objects and struggles with the small ones. Same with the scanner, it scans very simple objects and struggles with the particular objects. It leaves glitches. The two combinations result in a printer that is both good and bad. Most users should consider buying a cheaper 3D printer and a scanner separately.

Key Features

• Printer Technology: FFF
• Filament: PLA
• Build Volume: 200 x 200 x 200 mm
• Scan Volume: 150 x 150 x 150 mm
• Minimum Layer Height: 100 microns
• Maximum Layer Height: 400 microns
• Extruder Head: Single
• Open Source: No
• Third Party Materials: No
• Heated Platform: Yes
• Filament Diameter: 1.75 mm
• On-Printer Controls: Yes
• Connectivity: USB

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15. Alunar Prusa i3

It is a do-it-yourself kit 3D printer that one has to assemble before using. It is relatively easy to assemble if you have the patience on how to do it properly. This way, you can also acquaint yourself with the technology used to make the printer.

It has a frame designed from the laser-cut Acrylic plate which is light-weight, standard for Prusa i3 printers and is also cost effective.

Alunar has a build volume of 21 cubic centimeters which is comfortable enough to print even the large projects. It has a good layer resolution of the thickness 0.1mm which produces a realistic result. In the printed object. PLA and ABS are the standard filaments this printer uses. PLA works well without a heated bed. Less brittle than PLA, ABS can withstand high temperatures. Supported filaments also include the nylon filament which produces flawless and sturdy objects. Not only limited to the three filaments, wood, and flexible PLA are no exception.

One thing about Alunar filaments is that they are proprietary. The PLA filament is bought separately. It supports a single extruder head. This means that it can print objects one at a time. It is also fitted with an LCD screen for print settings that allow for easy navigation.

Moreover, this printer can work as a stand-alone machine as it comes with a USB and an SD card slot which can be used to print 3D files on them.

Key Features

• Printer Technology: FFF
• Filament: PLA, ABS, wood, Flexible Pla, nylon
• Build Volume: 200 x 200 x 180 mm
• Minimum Layer Height: 50 microns
• Extruder Head: Single
• Open Source: Yes
• Third Party Materials: Yes
• Heated Platform: Yes
• Filament Diameter: 1.75 mm
• On-Printer Controls: Yes
• Connectivity: USB, SD Card

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16. Up Mini 2

Why would anyone want to choose this 3D printer? Well, apart from its affordability, Up Mini 2 is easy to use and comes with many features not to mention how reliable, portable and connectable it can be. It has a touchscreen control system that provides a great experience for a user.

The printer can resume printing an object if the power goes off then comes back. This is made possible by the power failure control protection. Its fully automated nozzle detection of height and software-oriented leveling allows for easier start up if not allowing the printer achieve precision while printing. Its aluminum handle and a separate built-in toolbox of spool container make it easy to carry and make good use of it. All these features are coupled with a Wi-Fi connection. This makes the control of the printer easy through network connectivity.

This machine has HEPA air filtration which makes it safe for anyone using the printer.

This printer features an external filament holder with a heated bed. It, therefore, supports the PLA and ABS filaments which produce results worth a smile if not your money. The filaments are proprietary. This will allow for the buying of spools away from the manufacturer and not necessarily specified.

It can get noisy as you print with the Up Mini 2. It has an enclosed design which should cater for the nice but, doesn’t do the work entirely. Depending on the size and quality of the work you want, this distraction, which includes the smell of the chemicals caught by the HEPA air filter.

It is a good printer for schools and enthusiasts looking for a “plug n play” experience. It is likely that there’s a possibility that this printer isn’t met with frustrating setbacks apart from the flaws it already has.

Key Features

• Printer Technology: FFF
• Filament Materials: PLA, ABS
• Volume: 120 x 120 x 120 mm
• Minimum Layer Height: 50 microns
• Maximum Layer Height: 350 microns
• Extruder Head: Single
• Open Source: Yes
• Third Party Materials: Yes
• Heated Platform: Yes
• Filament Diameter: 1.75 mm
• On-Printer Controls: Yes
• Connectivity: USB, SD Card

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17. Robo C2 3D Printer

Robo C2, slightly below the $1000-dollar mark comes with an array of connectivity. It surprisingly uses a smartphone application to which one can see the status of the printing progress from it. It can also be integrated into the Chromebook. This comes with an onboard feature that enables slicing, and one doesn’t need to download a printing program to be used.

Amazon Alexa has even more incredible features. You can pause, cancel or check the status of prints using a voiced command prompt. That isn’t the end of the features of this amazing printer, and it can achieve the printing speed of 300mm/s with a resolution as finer as of 20 microns. Included is a 3.5” LCD touchscreen for easy navigations.

The printer also has a sensor to detect if the filament is running out and is automatically calibrated. The leveling print platform self-operates.

Robo C2 is the smallest most portable 3D printer on the market today. The printing speed achieved by this printer is hardly found on a 3D printer of less than a thousand dollars. Have I mentioned that it supports more than 20 materials? Yes, many Robo legacy materials comprise of PLA, carbon fiber, wood, flexible and metal infused materials. It doesn’t have a heated bed; therefore, it doesn’t print 3D objects of the ABS filaments.

There is no limit to your ingenuity and creativity in designing your objects and writing them. This printer enhances and builds your confidence for it can produce whatever you design.

Key Features

• Printer Type: FDM
• Material: PLA
• Build Volume: 127 x 127 x 150 mm
• Min Layer Height: 20 microns
• Extruder Head: 1
• Open Source: Software
• Compatible with 3rd Party Material: Yes
• Heated Platform: No
• Filament Diameter: 1.75 mm
• On-Printer Controls: Yes
• Connectivity: USB, Wifi

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18. Polar 3D

This is another stunningly designed printer that is light-weight, easy to carry around and has no complicated setup or calibration even the moment you unpack from the box. It’s a plug and plays machine that can be relied on.

This printer belongs to an entirely different category from other 3D printers on the list. It is constructed around a polar coordinate system making its bed a rotating one. The print head moves vertically and horizontally. How it functions is with two stepper motors which render it highly efficient. Its build volume is big enough for desirable printing projects.

Caution must be exercised while using this printer as the print head isn’t covered or enclosed in a chassis. The print bed is made from glass and doesn’t heat. It comes with Aqua Net Extra Super Hold spray that is sprayed on the bed to help the object stick during the printing progress. Doing this for ABS filaments doesn’t work. Only a glue stick will solve the problem.

It has a camera under the print head to provide live feed on the status of the print. Well, that’s a surprise. Another surprise is how the printer is controlled online through a cloud interface that imports all its settings online. This is an advantageous feature to teachers who need to decide what kind of models should be printed and from what order.

It uses non-proprietary 1.75mm filaments to print its objects.

Key Features

• Printer Tech: FDM
• Material: PLA
• Build Volume: 203 x 152 mm
• Min Layer Height: 50 microns
• Max Layer Height: 400 microns
• Extruder Head: 1
• Open Source: No
• Compatible with 3rd Party Material: Yes
• Heated Platform: No
• Filament Diameter: 1.75 mm
• On-Printer Controls: No
• Connectivity: USB, Wifi, SD Card

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19. Geeetech Delta Rostock G2s

Geeetech Delta Rostock G2 is a DIY kit ready for assembly by whoever opts to buy it. Faster than most Cartesian models, Delta machines are also enticing and focus on precision as well.

Falling under the $500 price estimation, this 3D printer is characterized by its dual extruders. That already tells you that you can print dual colors simultaneously. This isn’t a feature many printers that fall under this price mark have. As such, it could by itself convince you to buy this printer.

A sizeable volume adds to this feature of the Geetech G2s. It has a heated plate that supports printing with the ABS filaments. PLA, wooden and nylon filaments are also compatible with this printer. It’s been customized to have an LCD control screen where a user can take note of the printing progress. It also has an SD card port that allows for untethered printing.

It is also auto-controlled and calibrated. The filament is pushed by the extruder through the two heads separately. What this means is that mixing two colors during printing isn’t applicable. The calibration also allows that one doesn’t have to go through the hassle of controlling or calibrating the printer except for the first time when you are assembling or unwrapping it from the box.

The flexible effectors and diagonal frames are metal parts that provide stability as well as maintaining the printing precision. The whole machine is a construct of aluminum and laser-cut acrylic plate. The effectors are the ones that affect the printing and accuracy of the printer.

The printer can be upgraded to newer versions of the G2 and G2 Pro which have significant improvisations that work better than the current ones.

Key Features

• Printer Type: FDM
• Material: PLA, ABS, Nylon, Wood
• Volume: 200 x 200 x 170 mm
• Min Layer Height: 100 microns
• Extruder Head: Dual
• Heated Platform: Yes
• Filament Diameter: 1.75 mm
• On-Printer Controls: No
• Connectivity: USB, SD Card

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20. XYZPrinting da Vinci 2.0 Duo

This is another XYZ 3D printer that uses the XYware and technology to print and produce good quality results. If you’re looking not into breaking your bank and want speedy 3D printing, this printer is for you.

It features a dual-extruder model that enables you to use two filaments at once even if they’re of different colors. This way, the printing process is hastened and at the same time achieving the best and satisfactory results.

Da Vinci 2.0 also has a cloud storage. The designs for your models are stored without having you load external devices to save them in it or even worry about misplacing your blueprints. It has electric maintenance service that enables the printer’s firmware to upgrade on its own. Print bed detection and nozzle cleaning are initiated.

One disadvantage though is that the filaments it supports are proprietary. Moreover, the machine isn’t portable. The prints that the device can manage come at ultra speeds of 150 mm/s. It has a large volume and has a precision of approximately 12.5 microns.

The dual-cartridge fit perfectly into the printer’s external shell, and you’ll be able to mix various colors to have prints which are multi-coloured.

Brimming with technology, it is heavy and comes at 60 lbs which isn’t ideal for people who move around a lot. Another limiting factor is that despite its amazing features, it only supports ABS and PLA. The cartridges that come loaded in this printer luckily are the same as those of other brands, so in case of a problem, you should easily get one cartridge that fits it.

Whether you are trying out a printer or you are experienced in that sector, this 3D printer allows you or anyone else for that matter to convert various drawings into three-dimensional models.

Key Features

• Printer Type: FDM
• Material: PLA, ABS
• Volume: 150 x 200 x 200 mm
• Min Layer Height: 1o0 microns
• Max Layer Height: 400 microns
• Extruder Head: Dual
• Open Source: No
• Compatible with 3rd Party Material: Yes
• Heated Platform: Yes
• Filament Diameter: 1.75 mm
• On-Printer Controls: No
• Connectivity: USB

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Conclusion

While there are many more printers which cost way less than $1000 and are not listed here, it doesn’t mean they are of better quality than the above neither can we say they are of poor quality. What we all need vary and that alone defines what type of a printer (3D) you’re going to buy.

The above review follows no particular order except for the fact that they are all under a thousand-dollar sign and have been rated by some users as the best in terms of how economical they are. Have fun venturing out into the world of 3D printing. I hope the printer you find won’t dig deep into your pocket and at the same time give you a desired and satisfactory printer.

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