At GoPrint3D, we sell 3D printers mostly to engineers, designers, manufacturers and other business and commercial users. However, we understand that in the consumer space, 3D printing is incredibly exciting and that a portion of our visitors are indeed looking for a 3D printer for their home or office.
To this end, we sell a number of 3D printers that are excellent for beginners. We strongly recommend that those who are new to 3D printing opt for a cost-effective fused filament fabrication (FFF) 3D printer to start with. A FFF 3D printer will give you the chance to hone your 3D modelling skills and get used to the 3D printing process. And crucially, it won’t cost you an arm and a leg to invest in a technology which is – admittedly – advancing at an incredible rate.
So without further ado, here’s our recommendations for beginners:
BEETHEFIRST
The BEETHEFIRST is manufactured by BEEVERYCREATIVE, a 3D printer manufacturer who specialise in 3D printers for beginners and educational environments.
This FFF 3D printer prints with PLA and has a generous 190 x135 x 125 mm build volume. It is also a bit of a strange one, in that it’ll print down to a resolution of 50-microns. This resolution is usually only found in 3D printers that cost twice as much and printing at a 100-micron resolution results in detailed, consistent prints that look great.
This 3D printer also boasts a sleek design and a built-in carry handle. It was actually designed by architects and designers, so it looks seriously impressive.
MakerBot Replicator Mini
The MakerBot Replicator Mini is the baby of the MakerBot range. It’s a 3D printer designed very much for applications where space is limited – although the build volume is the smallest on our list, at 100 x 100 x 125 mm.
It’ll print down to a layer height of 200-microns and it has some neat features, such as an on-board camera for remotely monitoring prints and MakerBot’s Smart Extruder, a feature which automatically pauses prints when the filament runs out.
At 200-micron, this 3D printer is best used for printing models that do not require intricate details – and the good news is parts printed with the Replicator Mini are consistent.
Ultimaker 2 Go
The Ultimaker 2 Go is the entry point to Ultimaker’s range of 3D printers, yet it packs the same impressive technology as its bigger brothers.
This 3D printer will print at a layer height of 0.02 – 0.25mm (20 – 250 microns) at print speeds of 30 mm/s – 300 mm/s, and it boasts a roomy build area measuring 120 x 120 x 115mm. And it only measures 258 x 250 x 287.5mm, so it’ll fit on practically any desk. When printing at a 100-micron resolution, a fantastic level of detailed can be captured without sacrificing print speed and this printer benefits from standalone SD card printing. You will also buy into the Ultimaker ecosystem, and the Ultimaker printers which are above this model are very good indeed.
The only downside? The Ultimaker Go does not have a heated build plate, so we only recommend printing with PLA. However, the BEETHEFIRST doesn’t have a heated built plate either – if you want one, consider the next 3D printer on our list.
Zortrax M200
If you are looking for something which will give you room to grow, then we recommend you consider the fantastic Zortrax M200.
This 3D printer is designed for professional applications, yet it’s very easy to use and it comes in at a fantastic price. It has a very large 200 x 200 x 185 mm (7.87 x 7.87 x 7.28 in) build volume and will print at a layer height of 90 – 400 microns (0.09mm – 0.4mm). It can also print a wider range of materials than other FFF 3D printers, including ABS, PLA, Z-ULTRAT, Z-HIPS, Z-GLASS and Z-PETG which are all Zortrax’s own filaments.
Crucially, the Zortrax M200 is a plug and play machine and the consistency of prints is very good indeed. This printer is also extremely reliable (one of the most reliable we have ever tested) and this machine benefits from auto-calibration – this feature reduces the need for manual calibration and speeds up the time to print. So overall, this is a fantastic 3D printer for beginners.
Other 3D printers
Although we have highlighted what we believe to be the four best 3D printers for beginners above, there are others to consider.
Notably, we recommend you check out the Up Mini which is the lowest price 3D printer we sell – it has a 120 x 120 x 120 mm build volume and will print down to a layer height of 0.20 – 0.35mm (200 – 350 microns). Another 3D printer to consider from the same brand is the Up Box which is a newer model ideally suited to beginners because it’s very easy to use. It boasts a build volume of 640 cubic inches and will print down a layer height of 0.10 – 0.40 mm.
However, the UP Box is the most expensive 3D printer on our list, coming in at over £200 more than the Zortrax M200. And so, it isn’t exactly the cheapest way to get into 3D printing – although the UP Box is very good, and ideally suited to those of you who want a 3D printer that you’ll grow into.
Need helping choosing a 3D printer? Ask us!
If you are still unsure about which 3D printer to go for, ask us for advice. Simply call us on 01765 540 115 or Talk To Us from our contact page and we will get back to you as quickly as possible.