What to look for when buying a 3D printer?

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What to look for when buying a 3D printer?

3D PRINTING HELP CENTRE

In the 123-3D help centre, we answer all your questions about 3D software and printer settings, problems you may experience during or after 3D printing and other 3D-related topics.

What to look for when buying a 3D printer?

You have made the decision and are going to buy a 3D printer. What fantastic news! Only, you have no idea which printer suits you and where exactly you should start. No problem, we are happy to help you on your way! Thanks to the tips below, you will know exactly what to take into account when purchasing a 3D printer.

Where to start?

Before buying a printer, consider what you will be using it for. Determine for yourself the answer to the following questions:

Which materials will you use for your 3D prints?
- For example, there are wood, metal, nylon, carbon filaments and SLA resins.
What are the dimensions of the prints you are going to make?
How detailed should the prints be?
Are you going to work with different colours in one print?
Does a print consist of several materials?
Are the prints placed and/or used outside or inside?
How familiar are you with the 3D printer software?
Do you want to assemble a kit yourself or are you looking for a Plug & Print printer?
Which connection do you prefer?
What options should be on the printer?
- Think of functionalities such as a built-in camera, automatic bed levelling or notifications as soon as the filament is almost empty.
Will the printer be used in a room where there are children?

When you have answered all these questions, selecting the right 3D printer is child's play. But to arrive at those answers, you probably need more explanation. Additional information about the printer itself, as well as what to keep in mind when using it, can be found below.

What do you need to know about the device itself?

How big will your 3D prints be?
Bigger isn't always better, remember that when you buy your first printer. If you are going to print relatively small objects, you only need to look at printers with a small print bed. The print surface of a 3D printer can be round or square and varies with our models from 120mm x 135mm x 100mm to 600mm x 400mm x 600mm. The greater the print volume, the more you pay for the printer. If you don't use the available space, that's a shame. On this comparison page, you can compare different types of printers and you can clearly see the differences in surface.

How detailed will your 3D objects be?
As with a ‘normal printer’, the resolution determines the accuracy of the prints. If you want to print objects with a lot of detail, you will need to purchase a high-resolution printer. However, the resolution is not only determined by the technical properties of the 3D printer, this also depends on the nozzle and various software settings. In general, resin printers are more accurate than ‘standard’ FDM printer. Resin printer work with a laser and with a special resin filament. Thanks to the laser cutting technique, even the smallest details become visible. Resin printers are advanced printers where mounting and calibration are considered complex. For that reason, we do not recommend resin printers for beginners.

Are you going for a dual extruder printer or a single extruder printer?
The extruder is the print head of a 3D printer. If you are going to work with one filament type of the same colour, a single extruder printer is ideal. However, if you want to create objects with different materials or colours, you need a dual extruder printer. In addition, a dual extruder printer ensures that you can work with support material. This enables you to make more complex prints and provides a greater range of options. Multiple print heads are required in that case, which has consequences for the purchase price of the 3D printer. Find out which single or dual extruder printers are available at 123-3D.

How familiar are you with the 3D printer software?
To make a 3D print, you need a so-called slicer software. This is the program you use to read a 3D file and give the printer the correct instructions. The 'slicer' also divides the 3D design into different layers. This software is always included with a printer or can be downloaded from the website of the relevant manufacturer. The most commonly used slicer software are Cura (Ultimaker) and Slic3r. Simplify3D is also well-known software, but is a paid variant.

Plug & Print 3D printer or do-it-yourself kit?
If you want to get started right away with your brand new 3D printer, we advise you to go for a Plug & Print 3D printer. After unpacking, it is immediately ready for use, unlike, for example, DIY printer kits. A disadvantage is: ready-made 3D printers are generally more expensive than DIY printers. Do-it-yourself printer kits are construction kits that allow you to build your printer from A to Z yourself. All required parts are included, as are the instructions, but putting it together is something you have to do yourself. Some models are relatively easy to assemble, while other models require some experience. Not sure whether you can put together a printer kit with your experience? Ask our experts!

How do you want to connect to the printer?
With most 3D printers it is possible to upload a file from a USB stick or SD card. In addition, more and more 3D printers are also equipped with a WiFi or Ethernet connection, which makes connecting even easier. If this is a determining factor for you, check carefully what the connectivity options of the printer are.

Which additional options are useful?
Some printers have extra features that may be useful or desirable for your purposes. Think of a camera, with which you can monitor the progress in real-time or options such as: automatic bed levelling, so that you don't have to manually control it every time you need to print. Or automatic notifications when the filament is low, reducing the chance of a failed print. Even a power outage can be instantly detected by some printers, causing the print to pause until the power is back on. If you are printing in a room where there are (curious) children, pets or other people, you may want to consider buying an enclosure. With some printers this is optional to purchase, with other printers this is part of the model. Options and functionalities are also reflected in the price of a 3D printer, therefore you should determine what functions are crucial for you and adjust the choice of printer accordingly.

What is important information about daily use?

What materials will you use?
As you may know, the filament is the ‘ink’ of a 3D printer. Filament comes in a range of shapes, sizes, colours and materials, although plastic is the basis for the majority of them, always check beforehand whether the filament type of your choice is suitable for the extruder of your printer. At 123-3D you can choose from the following filament types:

PLA

PLA is by far the most popular filament type for a 3D printer. It is also very popular among beginners, mainly because of its user-friendliness. It is available in many different colours and special variations such as glitter, satin or fluorescent filament. In addition, it is very easy to print with, strong, slightly flexible and heat resistant. Fun fact: it smells like popcorn! We recommend that you first gain experience with PLA filament before you start working with special filament. Would you like to know more about this beloved 3D filament? View all the properties of PLA here.

ABS

ABS is is a common thermoplastic polymer filament. It is a very strong material that is both heat and water-resistant. ABS is available in many different colours, including metallic and bright neon colours. A disadvantage to this type of filament is that a strong smell is released during printing. Only use this filament in well-ventilated areas. Read more about the specifications of this ABS filament.

PETG

PETG filament combines the advantages of ABS and PLA in one filament. That is, it is a user-friendly and strong filament type. It is also extremely versatile, allowing you to print objects in any desired shape. Curious about the other properties of PETG? View our PETG filament information page.

Wood

Wood filament is a special filament that falls under PLA filament. This special filament feels and smells like real wood! That's because about 20% of it consists of real birch, green, black or mahogany wood. Because this filament is based on PLA, it is easy to print, even without a heated bed. It is important that the correct nozzle is used. If you print with a nozzle that is too small, the wood particles can cause blockages.

Metal

Just like wood, metal filament actually falls under the name PLA filament, but it is about 3 times as heavy. This special filament really has the same look and feel as metal. It is available from us in copper, bronze, aluminium and brass variants. This type of filament can be easily finished, sanded or polished.

ASA

ASA filament is a very strong and slightly flexible material that is water-resistant. In addition, it is resistant to UV radiation and chemicals. This durable filament is therefore widely used for printing prototypes, car parts and objects that are used outdoors. Would you like to know more about this filament type? Read more on this ASA page.

GreenTEC

GreenTEC is the most durable and environmentally friendly filament type currently on the market. This fully biodegradable filament consists of 100% natural raw materials. It is therefore fully recyclable and also Carbon-neutral. This material is easy to print, flexible and food safe. On this page, you can read more about this ‘green’ GreenTEC filament.

PVA

Like GreenTEC, PVA is biodegradable. Because this filament type is soluble in water, it is very suitable as a support filament. It is used to create complex prints, for example, to support cavities or openings in your print. PVA adheres excellently to PLA and ABS, but can only be used as a support material in a printer with multiple print heads (extruders). Curious about the other properties of this PVA filament? View all features of PVA.

Flexible (TPE or TPU)

TPE or TPU is a flexible filament that is very similar to rubber. This type of filament is becoming increasingly popular and is often used for the production of shoe soles, telephone cases or anti-slip objects. The material is resilient, soft and also has a shock-absorbing effect. Check in advance whether the extruder is suitable for flexible filament. View this page and learn more about flexible filament.

Nylon

Nylon is a strong, semi-flexible and durable filament type. This material has a good heat resistance and is ideal for printing functional objects, such as tools, tie wraps or hinges. Nylon filament is stronger than PLA or ABS and is incredibly versatile. A disadvantage is that it is not suitable for all types of extruders and hot ends. Discover the other features of this filament on this nylon information page.

HIPS

HIPS filament is often used as a base filament or as a support material. This filament is soluble in limonene, making it easy to remove from the print. This material is easy to process and paint and is usually used in combination with a dual extruder printer. On this HIPS filament page, you will find everything about the properties of this filament.

Are you going to print objects that will be used outdoors?
As you can read above, not every filament type is made for extreme conditions. For example, not all filament types are heat, water or UV resistant. Do you want to use your printed items outdoors? Then choose ASA filament. Would you like to learn more about the characteristics of other filaments? Check out this page and learn all about the different types of filament.

YES! You are ready to select a printer!

Thanks to the above information you should now be able to answer the previous questionnaire. You now have a clear picture of how you will use the printer and what functionalities are important. The next step is to find out which printer suits your needs. And while you can now search a lot more specifically, we understand that the information available can be overwhelming. To help you on your way, we have therefore designed this 3D printer comparison page. This way you can see all models of a specific type below each other and you can compare on price, functionality and other specifications.

If you are not sure what to do, please contact our customer service. They will gladly help you!

What to look for with a second-hand 3D printer?

It is very tempting to take a look at websites where second-hand 3D printers are offered. However, 3D printers consist of precision parts. If a 3D printer is not properly treated or maintained, it can have adverse consequences. Certain adjustments, the frame, the sliding rails - handle with care, are certainly in place here.

A small (not visible) amount of damage or bending can cause all your prints to fail. It is then extremely difficult to pinpoint the exact problem, making a quick solution impossible. This causes frustration, so you will not enjoy your 2nd hand 3D printer. You want to avoid that.

If you are looking for a reliable 3D printer, it is best to purchase it from experts, true enthusiasts and professionals. Did you know, for example, that our employees are completely crazy about 3D printing? They prefer to be printing all day long. That means that they know the challenges and that they know which things are important when purchasing a first, second or perhaps fifth 3D printer (we don't judge). Be advised by people with a passion for 3D printing and order your 3D printer or 3D parts at 123-3D.ie.

Do you have another question?

Have you not been able to find the answer to your question in the overview above? At 123-3D.ie we are busy with 3D printing every day and we like to follow every development. We are happy to share the knowledge and experience that we have built up over the years with you in our 3D printing help centre!
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What to look for when buying a 3D printer?

3D PRINTING HELP CENTRE

What to look for when buying a 3D printer?

Where to start?

What do you need to know about the device itself?

What is important information about daily use?

YES! You are ready to select a printer!

What to look for with a second-hand 3D printer?

Do you have another question?

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My 123-3D.ie

Customer reviews

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Follow us on social media

Official dealer

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What to look for when buying a 3D printer?

3D PRINTING HELP CENTRE

What to look for when buying a 3D printer?

Where to start?

What do you need to know about the device itself?

What is important information about daily use?

YES! You are ready to select a printer!

What to look for with a second-hand 3D printer?

Do you have another question?