WANTED to try your hand at 3D printing but don’t know where to start? We have compiled a list of three of the best 3D printers for beginners.
Whether you’re model-mad, a wargame warrior or you want to start your Etsy Empire, our tried and tested picks will be sure to get you on your way to a printing party.
Best 3D printers for beginners at a glance:
- Best for beginners: Elegoo Saturn 8K
- Best for larger projects: Elegoo Neptune 3 Plus
- Best for detail: Phrozen Sonic Mighty
What are the uses of 3D Printing?
There are loads of uses for 3D printers: designers often use them to create product models and prototypes, but in recent years they have been used to create final products such as miniatures for tabletop gaming for scale wargames, cosplay items and accessories, and even household items like plant pots and keys rings.
If you can think of it, you can print it, more or less. There is even one brand we know called Get Nourished which 3D prints bespoke vitamin gummies based on an individual's needs.
What's the difference between FDM and MSLA printing?
Fused Deposition Extrusion (FDM) printing was one of the earliest forms of 3D printing technology. It works by using a nozzle to heat filament to melting point while moving to form the layers of a 3D object.
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An easy way to imagine this is to think of a glue gun drawing a picture using the glue. This is effectively what an FDM printer does, but in three dimensions.
Masked Stereolithography Apparatus (MSLA), is a type of resin printing and uses liquid photopolymer resin and ultraviolet (UV) light to build layers.
As the FDM printing method effectively draws each layer of the model versus the simultaneous layer curing of a resin printer, it is typically slower than printing a resin model. Resin printing is also capable of a higher level of detail and surface smoothness than FDM printing.
A downside to resin printing is that the photopolymer resin is toxic and care must be taken when handling it ensuring gloves and face mask are worn and the printer is used in a well-ventilated area. There is also a level of post-processing with resin prints requiring washing and UV curing.
MSLA - Phrozen Sonic Mighty 8K
- Phrozen Sonic Mighty 8K - shop here
Pros:
- WiFi connectivity
- Accessible USB port
- Sturdy four-bolt tightening for build plate levelling
- Easy setup
Cons:
- On the higher end of the price scale
- Camera functionality is not great
- No screen protection as standard
The Phrozen Sonic Mighty 8K is a beautifully crafted machine with a footprint of 337 x 337mm, height of 516mm and weight of 14.3kg; it fits well on any home desk or workbench.
Its generous build plate size and Z-axis height mean that you can comfortably print larger miniatures or busts without splitting the model into multiple parts over multiple printing runs.
The printer arrived in one large cardboard box and was extremely well packaged, with foam and film to protect the printer through transit. The printer comes fully assembled, so once unpacked it's ready for initial setup.
The overall build of the printer feels and looks great, from its sleek tapered orange lid to the crisp 5” display touch screen. The touch screen itself is high resolution and feels incredibly responsive as you flick through the options and menus. It also has a visually satisfying screen-saver animation that kicks in after a short period.
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In addition to the printer, the box also contains other tools and accessories required to get you started with 3D printing.
The initial setup was a breeze! When turning it on for the first time, the printer's on-screen tutorial guides you through a step-by-step process, starting with the testing of the LCD screen, Z-axis calibration and finally the XP finder print test. The XP test print file comes pre-loaded in the printer’s storage, so all you need to do is add your resin and you’re ready for your first print.
With the machine now fully set up, you are ready to print your miniatures, busts and models to your heart's content.
The large 10” LCD 8K screen gives an incredible XY resolution of 28.5 microns, (the average human hair is approximately 70 microns, so that's the level of detail we are talking about!).
There are three methods of importing 3D files to the printer, either physically using a USB drive, over a hard-wired network or via WiFi using your home network.
Two USB ports are provided, one at the front and one at the rear, with the front port providing ease of access so you don’t have to reach around to the side or rear whilst fumbling with a USB drive.
There is an ethernet port at the rear of the machine which allows the printer to be physically connected to a home network. However, for me, the best method is the WiFi capability of the Mighty 8K as the printer comes provided with a small USB WiFi dongle which allows you to connect the printer to your home WiFi network.
Once the printer is connected (which is as easy as connecting any smartphone or device to your WiFi) you can easily use your computer to drag and drop your files to the printer's 3.5GB internal storage.
The Sonic Mighty 8K allows you to change the settings of a file even after it has been sent to the printer, meaning you do not have to go back and forward from your slicing software if you are trying to dial in your print settings.
On the topic of slicing software, the printer comes with copies of the free versions of Lychee and Chitubox loaded onto the provided USB stick.
The Sonic Mighty 8K also comes with an integral camera within the build enclosure of the printer. The camera is accessible via the PhrozenGo app; however, the camera does not allow for direct streaming and you can only capture still image. Also, due to its placement, the images appear dark and can be hard to see.
Hopefully with further development to firmware and software the functionality of the camera can be improved, however it is still nice to have.
Specifications
- System: Phrozen OS
- Operation: 5" in Large Touch Panel
- Slicer Software: CHITUBOX V1.9.4
- Connectivity: USB | Ethernet | Wi-Fi
- Built-in Memory: 3.5 GB
- Design: Technology Resin 3D Printer - LCD Type
- Light Source: Linear ProjectionLED Module
- XY Resolution: 28 µm
- Layer Thickness: 0.01-0.30 mm
- Maximum Printing Speed: 70 mm/hr
- Power Requirement: DC 24V;5A
- System Power: 120W
- Printer Size: 33.7 x 33.7 x 51.6 cm
- Print Volume: 21.8 x 12.3 x 23.5 cm
- Printer Weight: 14.3 kg
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MSLA - Elegoo Saturn 8K
- Elegoo Saturn 8K - shop here
Pros:
- On the cheaper end for 8K printers
- Internal air filter
- UV lid comes ready to receive retrofitted air exhaust system
- Pre-installed screen protector
Cons:
- No WiFi connectivity,
- USB port on the side of the machine
Having previously used the Elegoo Saturn S, we were excited to finally have the opportunity to test out the Saturn 8K printer and, thankfully, we were not disappointed.
Upon opening the box and removing the well-thought-out packaging, we were greeted by the familiar vibrant red UV-filtered lid that Elegoo is known for on its resin 3D printers.
The footprint of the printer is only 280 x 240mm meaning it's compact, efficient and can fit on the smallest of workspaces.
The 10” mono LCD screen provides stunning levels of detail with its 28.5-micron resolution and the internal build volume of 219 x 123 x 210mm means you can print all but the largest models in a single print.
Elegoo has stayed true to form with the impressive build quality of this machine, from the all-metal resin vat to the sturdy dual Z-axis linear rails, providing precise vertical movement of the build plate.
The Saturn 8K is also pre-installed with a nine-hour hardened tempered glass LCD screen protector, which was a welcome improvement over the Saturn S.
On the subject of the build plate, the print surface is sandblasted, which gives it a high level of adhesion and means that the prints will stay secured to the plate and fight off suction forces.
As with the majority of resin printers, the Elegoo Saturn 8K comes complete with a set of accessories and consumables to get you started with 3D printing. The accessory pack includes a metal and plastic scraper, a set of Allen keys for levelling the plate, disposable filters, a face mask and rubber gloves so all you need to do is add resin!
The setup was quick and painless with the instruction manual, which gives easy-to-follow instructions and numbered images to guide you through the process.
There are also online videos if you need extra assistance, but these were not necessary to get up and running, with the whole process taking less than 15 minutes.
The operation of the printer is via a 3.5” touch screen. And, whilst it was not as exciting as other printers in this range, it is more than adequate.
There is no network functionality on the Saturn 8K, so files can only be transferred to the printer via a USB stick, one of which is provided with the printer.
The USB port is located on the right-hand side of the printer and while this is fine if you have adequate space in your work area, it can be awkward if you have other equipment nearby.
Specifications:
- System: EL3D-3.0.1
- Operation: 3.5 Inch Touch Screen
- Slicer Software: CHITUBOX
- Connectivity: USB
- Technology: MSLA Photocuring
- Lightsource: UV Intergrated Light
- XY Resolution: 0.0285mm (7680*4320)
- Z Axis Accuracy: 0.00125mm
- Layer Thickness: 0.01-0.2mm
- Printing Speed: 30-70mm/h
- Power Requirements: 100-240V 50/60HZ 24V 5A
- Printer Dimensions: 280mm(L) *240mm(W) *462.5mm(H
- Build Volume: 218.88mm(L) *123.12mm(W) *210mm(H)
- Weight: 24.25lbs (11kg)
FDM – Elegoo Neptune 3 Plus
- Elegoo Neptune 3 Plus - shop here
Pros:
- Large build volume
- Removable PEI magnetic platform
- 49-point automatic bed levelling
- Integral LED light strip
Cons:
- The umbilical cord for the hot end can drag across the print bed
The Elegoo Neptune 3 Plus was our first foray into FDM printing, so we were eager to get stuck into the other side of 3D printing.
Due to the way FDM printers work, they do require some more assembly than the resin printers I am used to. However, the instructions are extremely detailed and easy-to-follow and Elegoo has some great installation videos on its YouTube channel to walk you through step-by-step.
The two major components were the printer base and the upright gantry posts that support the moving nozzle. All the tools and screws that are required come included in their separate little bags, all named and separated for easy identification.
Once all of the parts were assembled, the impressive size of the printer became apparent checking in at 578 x 533 x 640mm in overall size, which dwarfs our other resin printers!
As with other Elegoo products we have used before, the build quality was great, with the sleek machined aluminum construction and it’s aesthetically-pleasing cold blue-grey colour scheme giving a stark contrast to our workspace.
Upon booting the printer up for the first time, the handy 4.3” capacitive touchscreen blinked to life, displaying the Elegoo logo before presenting the home screen and menu options.
As with resin printers, you must go through the bed-levelling process, which is all described and easy to follow. The first steps are manual which require some physical adjustments but, after that, the automatic bed levelling takes care of the rest, using a non-contact high precsion sensor which collects deviation data at 49 points on the bed.
With the setup complete, it was time to try our first FDM 3D print! We inserted the micro SD card into the printer and selected the pre-loaded test file, which was a handy little Budha. We were pleasantly surprised at how well it had turned out and how easy it was to remove from the build bed with the removable PEI magnetic sheet making it a breeze.
After the success of the test print, we were ready to try something bigger and more detailed. We installed the provided copy of the Elegoo Cura slicing app onto our computer and got to searching for the first file to print.
For the first print, we settled for some gaming board terrain in the form of a destroyed gothic style church. We opened up the Elecoo Cura slicing app and opened the file to be sliced and saved onto the provided SD card.
One issue we came across whilst printing this larger model is that the umbilical cord of wiring that serves the hot-end had a tendency to droop across the build plate which caused a couple of print failures. Luckily someone else had the same issue and designed a modification that you could print and install yourself to fix the problem.
We were extremely impressed with the level of detail the Elegoo Neptune 3 Plus produced with even the smaller details of the print being perfectly formed.
Specifications:
- Frame material: CNC machined aluminium extrusion
- Modeling technology: FDM(Fused Deposition Modeling)
- Rated voltage: 100-240V 50/60Hz
- Forming size: 320X320X400(mm³)
- PEI area size: 330X330mm
- Equipment dimensions: 578*533*640mm
- MAX. nozzle temperature: 260° Celsius
- MAX. hotbed temperature: 100° Celsius
- File transfer method: TF Card, USB
- File format: .stl, .obj, .amf
- Filament compatibility: PLA, ABS, TPU, PETG, Wood, Marble, etc
- UI Language: English, French, German, Russian, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese
- Resume printing: Yes
- Filament detection: Yes
- Net weight: 14.2KG
The verdict:
All these 3D printers were powerhouses in their own right but our favourite was the Phrozen Sonic Mighty 8. We found it to have a robust build quality and the Wi-Fi connectivity came in handy more than you would think.
It came fully assembled which was refreshing in a world of DIY and was ready for initial set-up straight out of the box.
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