Which 3D Printer should I purchase? It’s a common question that I get via e-mail, and I figured I would make a little guide about it. This isn’t a be-all end-all guide to the purchase of 3D printers. It’s mainly an opinionated guide, where I suggest printers based on budget, requirements and experience level. We will take a look at some of the most popular budget-friendly 3D printers. As well as one or two of the more expensive options out there.

Budget $150 to $300

#1 Creality Ender 3

Our #1 pick is the Ender 3 in this budget range. You can’t seem to go wrong with these printers, with the majority of them working straight out the box. We personally have several Ender 3’s which run nearly constantly on our print farm. It’s got decent build space, at 235mm by 235mm by 250mm in the Z axis. This is plenty of room for most beginners looking to get their first experience in 3D printing. Another major bonus with this 3D printer is that many of them have been sold, which means there are tons of online resources for support and upgrades. Websites such as Thingiverse have pages upon pages of 3D printable upgrades. Many manufacturers like TH3D have taken to manufacturing upgraded components to bring these printers to the next level. Overall you cannot go wrong at an average price of around 180$ via the Creality3D store.

Ender 3 Specs

Technology: FDM
Print Area: 220 x 220 x 250mm
Nozzle: 0.4mm
Filament: 1.75mm PLA, ABS, TPU
Max. Print Speed: 200mm/s
Max. Layer Resolution: 0.1mm
Print Precision: +/-0.1mm
Heated Bed: Yes
Connectivity: SD Card, USB
LCD Screen: Yes

#2 Creality Ender 3 Pro

Our #2 pick is the upgraded version of the Ender 3. It’s got several upgrades for only $209 USD. Creality Ender 3 Pro is an upgraded version of Ender-3, it comes with the Meanwell power supply and new build plate sticker, also they claim to have redesigned the aluminum extrusion. The Ender 3 Pro boasts the same outstanding performance as the Ender-3, upgraded components make Creality Ender 3 Pro more stable, durable. You can also buy it at the Creality3D store.

Ender 3 Pro Specs

Print volume: 220 x 220 x 250mm
Nozzle: Single 0.4mm
Filament: 1.75mm
Heated bed temperature: 110℃
Max. print speed: 180 mm/s
Layer resolution: 0.1 – 0.4mm (100-400 microns)
Connectivity: SD card reader
LCD screen: Yes
Print precision: +/- 0.1mm
Packing type: Unassembled kit

Budget $300 – $1000

#1 Creality Ender 5

The number one pick on the higher budget is our favorite printer out of the whole lot. This Ender 5 is made with a box style frame with four vertical extrusions which severely improve the rigidity of the printers. Another important note is that the bed is the Z axis here (vertical movement only), unlike the Ender 3 where it has to move back and forth. There are several versions available and they routinely come available on eBay for as low as 200$ “Open Box” which I have scored several times. The Ender 5 Pro is available on Creality3D website for $382 which is still a great deal, although coupon codes are routinely found via Slickdeals. The Ender 5 pro will come equipped with the Silent mainboard that many people spend an extra 50$ to perform! It’s really a neccesity if you are planning to use these printers somewhere you have to listen to them. If you can find the right deal, and your budget allows it I suggest this printer be your first purchase. I have modified my Ender 5 quite heavily. It’s now the most stable and efficient printer in my fleet. Buy it at the Creality3D store.

Ender 5 Specs

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

Brand: Creality
Model: Ender 5
Assembly: pre-assembled

PRINTING PROPERTIES

Build volume: 220 x 220 x 300 mm
Min. Layer Height: 0.05 mm
Frame: Aluminum
Nozzle Quantity: One
Nozzle diameter: 0.4 mm
Max. print temperature: 260℃
Nozzle diameter: 1.75 mm
Connectivity: SD Card, USB
XY-axis positioning accuracy: n/a
Z-axis positioning accuracy: n/a
Voltage: 100-240V

PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT

Product weight: 11 kg
Package weight: 12 kg
Product size: 400 x 380 x 400 mm
Package size: 500 x 500 x 420 mm

#2 Creality CR-6SE

Our second pick for the higher budget printers is for the CR-6SE. This 3D printer is more expensive than the Ender 3; but for a good reason. It’s got the same build platform, but it comes with much more upgraded options. If you plan to 3D print things that are small such as mini figurines, this printer is a good choice. Out of the box it’s equipped with an upgraded mainboard. It is silent, has auto bed leveling, Carborundum glass build platform, filament sensors, modular nozzle, HD color touch screen, dual Z-axis and more! It’s well worth the money if you have the budget to afford it. You will end up wanting all of these upgrades on your printer anyway. It’s basically a Prusa clone for several hundred less! Best place to buy is at Banggood.

CR-6SE Specs

Single extruder, 1.75mm filament device
Minimum layer size of 0.1mm
Build volume of 235 x 235 x 250 mm
Hot end maximum temperature of 260C
Print speed 80-100mm/s
110mm color touchscreen for control, English and Chinese language interfaces provided
Heated print surface, up to 110C
350W power supply
Modular nozzles for straightforward swapping
Easy assembly, Creality says it can be completed in only five minutes

#3 Creality CR-10v2

Our final pick is a printer that we have just begun to research. It’s Creality’s newer version of the CR-10 platform, which is what started the whole enterprise for them. This is one of the larger build volumes that you can get for this price point, at 300mm by 300mm by 400m in the Z axis. It also comes equipped with the silent mainboard, an all-metal direct drive extruder, Meanwell power supply, and filament sensors. There are also upgrade options for BLTouch auto bed leveling to be added. It’s a great design for a cheap price, you get more room to design larger prints. Buy it for $452 at Creality3D store.

CR-10v2 Specs

GENERAL SPECS

Technology: FDM
Year: 2019
Assembly: Assembled
Mechanical arrangement: Cartesian-XZ-head
Manufacturer: Creality

3D PRINTING PROPERTIES

Build volume: 300 x 300 x 400 mm
Feeder system: Bowden
Print head: Single nozzle
Nozzle size: 0.4 mm
Max. hot end temperature: 260 °C
Max. heated bed temperature: 100 °C
Print bed material: Carborundum glass platform
Frame: Metal
Bed leveling: Automatic and manual
Connectivity: SD card
Print recovery: Yes
Filament sensor: Yes
Camera: No

MATERIALS:

Filament diameter: 1.75 mm
Third-party filament: Yes
Filament materials: Consumer materials (PLA, ABS, PETG, TPU)

SOFTWARE:

Recommended Slicer: Cura, Simplify3D
Operating system: Windows (XP or higher), MacOSX, Linux
File types: STL, OBJ, AMF

DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT:

Frame dimensions: 420 x 550 x 650 mm
Weight: 11.5 kg