Choosing a 3D printer: a focus on 5 models on the market



The additive manufacturing market has grown rapidly over the past few years, with more 3D printers being sold and used across the world. Indeed, according to a report by Grand View Research, while 2.2 million 3D printers were shipped in 2021, these shipments are expected to reach 21.5 million units by 2030. As such, we also witnessed an increase in the number of 3D printers available.

From FDM to SLS to DEDand more, there are a variety of machines depending on the process you are looking for. However, it can be difficult to know which 3D printer to choose.

To help you discover the solutions available on the market, we invite you to discover 5 machines every month, currently available in our comparator which lists hundreds of models, ranging from desktop printers and RepRap/kit to professional and industrial printers. Take a look at the selection below and see which are the most popular 3D printers currently on the market!

Prusa I3 MK3S

This 3D printer, which uses FDM technology, not only allows you automatic leveling, but also great ease of assembly. The machine is also the most popular desktop 3D printer on the market. In 2019, the Prusa I3 MK3S was even voted "best printer of the year" and received an "Editors Choice" award from the DIGITAL FABRICATION guide in the "Personal 3D Printer" sector.

As for the print volume, the user has a size of 250 x 210 x 220 mm and a magnetic and heated bed, which means that it is particularly easy to replace. In addition, you should know that this 3D printer can print up to five different materials at the same time. This is due to the MULTI-MATERIAL UPGRADE 2.0 ADDON update.

Kudo3D's Bean HR 3D printer

Kudo3D 's Bean HR 3D printer  stands out with a feature that fits its name well. According to the manufacturer, it could be considered the smallest desktop resin 3D printer in the world, with a build volume of only 6.8 x 12 x 16 cm and the printer dimensions barely larger than 20x20x16cm.

The printer is CE, FCC and PSE certified for micro-manufacturing so could be particularly useful for applications like jewelry or figurines, especially considering that the maximum Z resolution is 10μm while the pixel size XY is 31μm. The printer can print at around 10mm/h for a thickness of 30μm and the resins are cured via a mono 4K LCD screen.

NILS 480

The Polish manufacturer Sinterit specializes in the production of SLS 3D printers. Along with their compact line of 3D printers, which includes the  Lisa  ,  Lisa X  and  Lisa PRO , the manufacturer has also released an industrial printer called the NILS 480 . The latter has a printing volume of 200 x 200 x 330 mm, which makes it possible to manufacture larger parts.

The SLS 3D printer is compatible with PLA type plastics, TPU or even PET. In terms of dimensions, the machine measures 1,285 x 1,250 x 1,840 mm and weighs 300 kg. In addition, it is equipped with the Galvo laser system, this means that most 3D printing jobs can be completed in less than 24 hours.

By the way, Sinterit's SLS 3D printer offers a total of 32 settings that can be adjusted to your personal application's needs in terms of print characteristics.

Thus, users can enjoy the best quality and customization depending on the material used and the design of the part.Other options available on the machine include a surveillance camera to check the printing status as well as a touch screen to manage the manufacturing process. Finally,stl, 3mf , obj and 3ds. 

Digital Metal's DM P2500

Digital Metal, a company recently acquired by Markforged, is behind the DM P2500 , a metal 3D printerproductive and efficient, with a print volume of 250 x 217 x 70/186 mm. The printer is based on Digital Metal's exclusive technology, which projects a high-precision binder onto a bed of metal powder.

In addition to being fast and cost effective, it is a sustainable choice. Almost all of the unused metal powder is recycled, creating little waste. The printer allows components to be stacked as less than 1mm of space is required between them, eliminating the need for sometimes expensive and bulky supports.

The DM P2500 also offers the user the ability to mass produce and produce in large quantities, as it features high precision and repeatability from component to component. In addition, Digital Metal's machine operates at room temperature, eliminating the need to wait for heating and cooling cycles.

Another feature that simplifies the process is the absence of the need for a protective atmosphere and the ease of cleaning. In terms ofpost-processing , the surface quality is excellent. Overall, the printer is a solid choice for metal 3D printing needs.

Meltio M450 3D printer

Meltio is a Spanish company, more precisely from Linares (Jaén), which was founded in 2019 by a joint venture between Additec and Sicnova. They presented the M450 for the first timeat Formnext 2019. This 3D printer uses 3E metal deposition technology developed by Meltio.

The 3D machine is a professional printer with a printing volume of 150 x 200 x 450 mm (13.50 cm3). It is compatible with a wide variety of metals such as stainless steels, mild steels, titanium alloys, etc. The M450 has a nozzle that does not need to be changed, 3 heads and 6 built-in lasers.

You will be able to know in real time the metal 3D printing process and make the changes you deem necessary by controlling the process. The prints made with this printer reach a density of 100%!

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