The Pinshape 3D printer pages list over 500 3D printers, which are split into three separate categories: Professional, Prosumer, and Hobbyist, though some of the printers do cross over into multiple categories. The new guide only used the top reviewed 3D printers from these pages.
Lauren Watkins, the Team Lead at Pinshape, said, “When we surveyed our users, the number one question on their mind was ‘which 3D printer [should] I buy?’ Although the answer will vary from person to person, the goal of this guide is to make 3D printer reviews and information easily accessible so they can make an informed decision before purchasing.”
Pinshape put together its guide, which displays models from each of the top printers that were 3D printed by community members, in order to help the 3D community decide which of the many available options is best for them. In addition to the displayed models, Pinshape’s 3D printer guide also includes a brief description of each 3D printer’s benefits and features, as well as a short list of pros and cons and some of the top reviews for each listed printer. Most of the listed 3D printers are FDM machines.
Professional
In contrast, the FDM Zortrax M200 has a higher build volume and only costs $1,600. The plug and play M200 offers automatic bed leveling and ‘amazing’ print quality in multiple materials, but Pinshape mentions that it does have “difficulty using 3rd party materials.”
Speaking of dual extruders, the FDM BCN3D Sigma, which will set you back €2,655.95, was one of the first printers to offer this feature. The dual extruders, along with the printer’s construction and size, are all listed as pros, but the printer’s noise level is mentioned as a con. But the description does mention that these levels have improved since the printer’s February update.
Prosumer
The open source TAZ 6 by LulzBot is geared towards the more experienced prosumer, and is the most updated printer in the whole TAZ family. One reviewer said that the printer was easy to set up, and while its $2,500 price tag was listed as a con, Pinshape said that many users said the price was worth it. The dual extruder CEL Robox has a heated bed, and its HeadLock system makes it easy for users to exchange the single material head for the dual material head. But while the inexpensive $999 printer is listed as easy to set up, the fact that it’s not open source is a con.
Hobbyist
Hobbyist 3D printers typically offer a lower price point, and all of the printers listed in Pinshape’s Hobbyist section “come with large communities that help you to continue discovering, learning, and troubleshoot any issues you might run into.”
When the Monoprice Select Mini was released at a price of just $200, it was one of the most inexpensive 3D printers to hit the market, and though it has a smaller build volume, it does print parts with pretty good quality.
The Robo R1+ is the updated version of the original Robo R1, and features a build size that’s bigger than a lot of other entry level printers, which allows users to print larger designs. Its auto bed leveling and $727 price point were also listed as pros, but Pinshape notes that it will take some adjusting once it’s out of the box.
Rounding out Pinshape’s 3D printer guide is the last entry in its Hobbyist category, the Flashforge Finder. The $457 printer has a smaller bed size than the others in this category, but it’s USB-equipped and only requires minimal setup. However, it doesn’t have a heated bed, and the printer only works with PLA material.
What do you think of these recommendations? Share your thoughts in the Pinshape forum at 3DPB.com.