Whether you're interested in 3d printing as a hobby, for school or work, having the equipment ensures that you can print objects of high quality. Plus, having the best home 3d printer means you have one at the convenience and comfort of your home, and it also saves you the cost of having to use commercial printers.

We reviewed the best 3d printers and outlined features to consider when buying them.

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What Is A Home 3D Printer?

A 3d home printer is designed for personal or small-scale use to facilitate the 3d printing process. The 3d printer turns digital files containing three-dimensional data—whether created on a computer-aided design (CAD) or computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) program, or from a 3D scanner—into physical objects.

We reviewed the best 3D printers for home use that are easy to set up and have great printing quality.

1. ELEGOO Saturn MSLA 3D Printer

ELEGOO Saturn MSLA 3D Printer UV Photocuring LCD Resin 3D Printer with 4K Monochrome LCD, Matrix UV...
  • 【Faster Printing Speed】Saturn 3D Printer...
  • 【Larger Build Volume】Saturn Has A Large...
  • 【Higher Precision And Easier...
  • 【Quality Prints And Consistent...
  • 【Warranty And Service】We Provide A 1-Year...

This is the best home 3d printer for large format printing.

The 3d printer offers excellent print quality at a reasonable price. Compared to others in the Elegoo series, it has a larger print area with 192*120*200mm build volume. In addition, the 3D printer comes with an 8.9inch 4K Monochrome LCD with an HD resolution of 3840 x 2400. This means that the printer can deliver more parts in the same amount of time as the smaller format Mars series of printers. 

The 3d printer has developed a two-bolt bed leveling that makes the leveling process a quick and painless process. This, combined with the native integration with the Chitubox slicer app, makes setting up and using the printer a simple process that is ideal for both beginners and experienced users. 

The 3d printer features Z-axis that utilizes a double linear guide-way structure, which can achieve steadier motion and greatly enhanced moving accuracy. In addition, with the Ethernet port on the back, Saturn now supports file transfer through your local area network, which is very handy for fast printing.

Pros

  • It's easy to set up
  • Features a large build volume
  • Great build quality

Cons

  • The build arm can have challenges calibrating

2. Monoprice Voxel 3D Printer

Monoprice Voxel 3D Printer - Fully Enclosed with Removable Heated Build Plate (150 x 150 x 150 mm)...
  • Quick change nozzle: unlike other 3D...
  • Heated, flexible, and removable: The...
  • Auto Leveling: the printer ships fully...
  • Auto feeding with filament sensor: makes...
  • Please visit Monoprice website and search for...

The Monoprice Voxel is the best home 3d printer for beginners. Right from the start, it does a great job insulating new users from the complexity of 3D printing.

The 3d printer comes fully assembled and doesn't require much setup. In addition, it features a quick change nozzle that allows you to change the nozzle in seconds without the need for tools.

The 3d printer features a removable, heated build plate. It can be heated up to temperatures of 60 degrees Celcius. The print volume is 6x6x6 inches, and the printer can handle ABS and PLA filament. In addition it has a built-in camera for monitoring prints.

Finally, the 3d printer operates its auto feeding with the filament sensor. This makes loading easier. In addition, it has a handy touchscreen control panel upfront and can receive print jobs via Ethernet, Wi-Fi or USB flash drive, and it works with a cloud service.

Pros

  • Beginner-friendly
  • It heats up pretty quickly
  • Good print quality

Cons

  • The camera is quite hard to use

3. ANYCUBIC Photon Mono X Resin 3D Printer

ANYCUBIC Resin 3D Printer, Photon Mono X Large LCD UV Photocuring Fast Printing with 8.9" 4K...
  • 3X Faster Resin 3D Printer: ANYCUBIC Photon...
  • Larger Printing Volume: ANYCUBIC Photon Mono...
  • Higher Accuracy and Stronger Stability:...
  • UV Cooling System: Our New UV cooling system...
  • More Function: A. Support Chitu box slicer,...

The Photon Mono X is a great choice for 3D printing enthusiasts. It has a large printing volume of 331 cubic inches that can print multiple models of the same size at one time. This helps save time and productivity.

A resin printer uses a laser to cure liquid resin, turning it into hardened plastic via a process known as photopolymerization. SLA printers (also known as resin printers) seemingly pull completed 3D models out of a pool of liquid resin as if by magic. And the models are generally of very high quality, often with a better resolution than filament-based FDM printers.

The 3d printer comes with an 8.9inch 4K Monochrome LCD with an HD resolution of 3840 x 2400. In addition, it has a maximum print speed of 60mm/h, 3X faster than other resin 3d printers.

The Photon Mono X creates high-quality SLA prints quickly.  It can be used with a 4K monochrome screen to achieve ultra-precision printing. The Z-axis utilizes dual linear rails, stepper motor and clearance nut combination dramatically improve stability while in motion and reduce the risk of layer shifting.

Finally, the UV Photocuring printing progress can be monitored in real-time, and the printing setting can be adjusted with the ANYCUBIC app. In addition, the UV cooling system contains exclusive UV heat dissipation channels that can efficiently cool down and ensure stable printing performance and longer service life.

The Photon Mono X is an excellent resin printer—(Anycubic even includes gloves in the box to handle the resin) and requires a more substantial commitment than FFDM. However, if you have the time and interest, the results are worth it.

Pros

  • Easy to assemble and level
  • Features dual-axis rails for improved stability
  • Has a large build volume

Cons

  • Slicing software produces inconsistent support

4. Flashforge 3D Printer

FLASHFORGE 3D Printer FDM 3D Printing Machine
  • 【Design for Kids】-- The FlashForge Finder...
  • 【Touchscreen】-- This 3.5-inch touchscreen...
  • 【Quiet to Use】-- This little fella is...
  • 【Removable Build Plate】-- A necessity...
  • 【Reliable After-Sales 】-- Customer...

Regarding the best 3d printers, this is the best home 3d printer if searching for something budget-friendly.

The FDM printer has a 3.5-inch touchscreen that's clear and very easy to use. It features a slide-in build plate that allows you to draw it out of the printer and easily remove the finished 3D prints. The bed leveling feature is not automated and involves tightening and loosening screws as a level sensor tries to find the build plate. An audio alert lets you know when everything is adjusted.

The 3d printer also has precise leveling that helps improve printing quality. In addition, the plate is not heated, making it a safe choice for young users.

The 3d printer comes fully assembled, plus its cube-shaped design means that it doesn't take a considerable amount of desk space. But, unfortunately, the printer only works with an SD card.

Pros

  • Quiet and safe
  • It's a reliable printer

Cons

  • The leveling process takes time

5. ANYCUBIC Vyper 3D Printer

ANYCUBIC Vyper 3D Printer, Auto Leveling Upgrade Fast Integrated Structure Design with TMC2209 32...
  • Large Print Size & Auto Leveling, Small body...
  • Accurate & Silent Printing, Vyper FDM 3D...
  • PEI Spring Steel Magnetic Platform, Vyper 3D...
  • Fast Printing, Vyper printing head adopts a...
  • More Function, A, Fast Assembly, integrated...

The Anycubic Vyper is the best 3d printer for high-throughput 3D printing. The printer comes packed with impressive features.

The 3d printer does require manual leveling as it has an intelligent leveling system that can automatically adjust the uneven hotbed, thus realizing one-touch leveling and printing. Its equipped with a 32-bit motherboard and a high-performance Cortex -M3 architecture main control chip. The integration of the TMC2209 silent driver makes the motherboard have both silent printing and precise voltage output control, which ensures more accurate and silent printing.

The platform of the Vyper 3D Printer adopts a new technique of special coating combined with spring steel, which features non-deformation at high temperature, scratch-resistant coating and easy model removal by bending or popping. Moreover, it is compatible with different filaments, such as PLA, ABS, PETG, TPU, etc.

The Anycubic Vyper printing head adopts a double fan two-way heat dissipation system, helping to cool down models rapidly. Compared with ordinary 3D printers, the printing quality is the same while the printing speed is faster, reaching 100mm/s.

Pros

  • Uses both SD card and USB connectivity
  • Features automatic bed leveling
  • Advanced cooling design
  • Has a high printing speed

Cons

  • The Cura profile needs to be optimized

Features To Consider When Buying Best Home 3D Printer

a) Size

The size of the 3d printer you buy is essential. It's vital that you ensure that the external dimensions of the printer will fit your workspace. It's not advisable to move the 3d printer around once you have it leveled and working correctly, so ensure it won't be in the way.

In addition, ensure to check the build volume or maximum size that the 3d printer can build. A larger build volume often equates to a larger printer. On the other hand, some designs maximize the print volume without making the printer overly large.

b) Printer Type

You'll come across two types of 3D printers when searching for the best home 3d printer: FFF (fused filament fabrication) and SLA (stereolithography).

FFF printers — which cover FFM (fused filament manufacturing) and FDM (fused deposition modeling) devices — operate by melting a plastic filament in a moving printhead to form the model.

In contrast, SLA printers use an ultraviolet (UV) laser to solidify a resin, focusing the laser forming the solid model.

FFF printers are cheaper, simpler and easier to use, although some SLA models like the Peopoly Phenom are offered at a lower cost.

c) Material Selection

The printing material you select when using your 3d printer matters. The filament material used by FFF style printers is available in various materials, such as PLA (a brittle, biodegradable material), ABS (the same plastic used in Lego blocks), nylon, TPE (a soft, rubber-like material) and HDPE (a light, rigid polystyrene). Most of these materials, particularly PLA and ABS, are available in a vast range of colors. In addition, filaments come in 1.75 mm and 3 mm, which are not interchangeable.

SLA printers have lesser options than their FFF counterparts. The best 3D printers can use a diverse range of materials, each with its strengths and weaknesses.

It's worth noting that some printers only permit the use of approved materials or materials produced by the same company that made the printer.

d) Noise

Noise is a practical factor to consider when considering the best 3d printer for home/personal use. 3D printers run for hours to build tiny parts. A noisy printer can be a challenge in a bedroom or living room and generally where silence is desired. It's essential to read reviews to know the noise level so you have an idea of what to expect.

e) Availability of Spare Parts

It's not unexpected for 3d printers to break, so you'll want to settle on a model whose parts are easy to source.

Home 3D printers are usually based on freely available open-source designs. At the same time, some of the most affordable 3D printers are based on well-proven designs. These 3D printers are great as spare parts are readily available. In addition, a lot of printers also use some 3D printed parts in their designs. This is great as, over time, you can print your spare parts from freely available designs.

f) Print Speed & Quality

Quality of print is a critical factor when searching for the best 3d printers. The minimum layer height and nozzle size influence print quality. Most printers let you change the nozzle size. Generally, the smaller the nozzle, the better the quality of print and the longer it takes.

The minimum layer height is fixed for each printer. The smaller the height, the higher the quality of print. What's great about layer height is that you can set it to any value larger than the minimum in the software. This means you can print fast by increasing layer height and then do a quality print afterward by decreasing it in the settings. If you want high-quality prints ensure to get a printer with a very small minimum layer height.

  • Print Volume

All 3D printers have a limit on the size of 3D print they can produce. The limit is defined by the size of the print bed and how far the printer can move the printhead. It is usually measured in cubic inches, but you should pay attention to each dimension that determines the maximum size 3D print the device can create. 

g) Control System

Most 3d printers for home use feature a stand-alone control system. When searching for the best 3d printers, consider the control system and how it operates. For example, you should transfer files G-code files to the printer and let it do the printing. In addition, an open-source system can work as replacement parts are freely available.

h) Safety Features

When handling a 3d printer, it's essential to search for features that will aid in your printing experience. For example, automatic nozzle cooling for when a print is complete. Likewise, if the printer has a heated bed, consider a feature that automatically shuts it off when the print job ends. Finally, you'll want to avoid damaging prints with excess filament by retracting the nozzle automatically when a print is either paused or complete.

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