FDM 3D Printer Selection Guide + Table

This guide is intended to provide the direction needed to select the FDM printer that is most appropriate for your budget and application. The entries are focused on consumer and prosumer printers, excluding industrial printers and top-end engineering filaments (ie: PEEK).

Table of Contents

• Interactive Table
• FDM Printers: Top Picks
• FDM Printers: Budget
• FDM Printers: Minimal Tinkering
• FDM Printers: Large Build Volume
• FDM Printers for High Temperature Filaments
• Miscellaneous: Resin, Industrial, and Safety

The table filters out $10,000+ printers by default - if you wish to see these press "Clear All"

FDM Printer Top Picks

Budget FDM Printers

A printer like the Kingroon, Artillery Hornet, Elegoo Neptune 2, or Anycubic Mega S will allow you to affordably enter the realm of 3D printing but without many of the quality of life features.

 Ideal for: general prints, trinkets, fixtures, and light-functional prints made from PLA and PETG

Minimal Tinkering FDM Printers

A printer like the Anycubic Kobra, Artillery Genius Pro, or Prusa Mini will provide quality of life features, will use higher quality of parts, and these companies have better quality control and support.

 Ideal for: general prints, trinkets, fixtures, and light-functional prints made from PLA, PETG, ABS, and flexibles.

Large Build Volume FDM Printers

A printer like the Artillery Sidewinder X2, Sovol SV03, Anycubic Chiron, or Tronxy X5SA Pro will provide an affordable large bed with varying degrees of QOL, reliability, and print quality.

 Ideal for: general prints and large items  (masks, cosplay) made from PLA and PETG.

FDM Printers for ABS, ASA, Nylon, and PC

These FDM printers have nozzle temps upwards of 300°C, an all-metal hotend, and bed temps above 100°C. This is perfect for printing higher-end materials.

Some filament requires an enclosure to prevent warping. A non-insulated enclosure will hold the chamber temperature at 30-50°C and will allow you to print with minimal warping on large prints. An insulated enclosure will hold temperatures at 50°C+ and eliminate warping, but the electronics need to be repositioned externally.

Cheaper printers can be modded to use high-temperature materials, but the easiest way to get started is to purchase one of these higher-end FDM printers.

Ultimate Resin Guide - compare resin printers, resin material, and equipment

Preparing for Resin Printing - setting up an enclosure, heating, ventilation, filtration, and cleaning equipment

FDM Printers Guide - comparison table and top picks for filament printers

Resin Properties or Filament Properties - comparison table and top picks for materials

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