FDM 3D Printer Selection Guide + Table

This guide is intended to provide the direction needed to select the 3D 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).

To browse resin printers, visit our Resin Guide

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Table of Contents

1. FDM Printers: Top Picks
2. FDM Printers: Budget
3. FDM Printers: Minimal Tinkering
4. FDM Printers: Large Build Volume
5. FDM Printers for High Temperature Filaments
6. Miscellaneous: Resin, Industrial, and Safety
7. Interactive Table

FDM Top Picks

Budget FDM 3D 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 3D 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 3D 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 3D Printers for ABS, ASA, Nylon, and PC

These printers need nozzle temps upwards of 300°C, bed temps above 100°C, and an enclosure. A non-insulated enclosure will hold chamber temperatures at 30-50°C and will allow you to print with some 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 these materials, but the easiest way to get started is to use a printer like the Qidi X-Plus. Another enclosed printer with dual-extrusion is the Qidi I-Fast.

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

To compare resin printers, browse resin, and get equipment inspiration visit our Ultimate Resin Guide.

To compare FDM printers via an interactive table, side-by-sides, and in-depth articles.

Application & Safety FAQ answers common questions about resin.

Ventilation Simulations has animations for common DIY venting setups, and Heating Resin Printers during winter provides data for specific heat sources.

Our Resin Print Settings Table has associated images, mixes, and does a resin giveaway.

To browse resin properties and find your ideal strong, durable, flexible, or high-temp resin visit our Resin Properties Table. To find properties of filaments, visit our FDM Properties Table.

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