Printing on paper is so 10 years ago. From smartphones to drones, technology evolves quickly, and we try to keep up. The prospect of owning a 3D printer may seem out of this world now, but the future isn't as far away as it might seem. In 2005, British engineer Dr. Adrian Bowyer founded the RepRap project, an undertaking designed to build a machine capable of replicating itself, piece by piece. Utilizing the process of additive manufacturing — wherein an object is created by laying down successive layers of material until completion — Bowyer's team built their dream into a reality. 3D printers are capable of utilizing several different materials to produce a nearly endless selection of objects. From football shoes to prosthetic limbs, 3D printers are making it easier (and cheaper) to manufacture a diverse array of items, for both industry and consumer use.
Related: The best 3D printers under $1,000 let you get creative without going broke
In the ten-plus years since RepRap began, the market for household 3D printers has exploded, and there are now dozens of options available for the creative mind to consider. 3D printers utilize CAD (computer-aided design) modeling software like Blender and Tinkercad to automatically turn blueprints into realities, and websites like Shapeways and Thingiverse provide spaces for designers to share their blueprints with the public. 3D printers as cheap as $400 are now readily available for consumer purchase, but those aren't really the printers you want to read about. You want to read about the cream of the crop — the best that money can buy, no holds barred. Well, look no further (except further down the page), because we've put together a comprehensive list of the top 3D printers on the market.
Ultimaker 2+ ($2,500)
The second offering from Dutch company Ultimaker had it all: speed, style, and versatility. So what did they do? They went out and made it better. Sporting a build volume (the amount of space in which you can print objects) of 8.8 x 8.8 x 8.1″, the printing chamber in the Ultimaker 2+ is one of the largest out there. The printer is capable of printing layers just 20 microns thick, and can print at a top speed of 300mm/s (though it can't do both at once), a combination of speed and attention to detail that no other printer can boast. Utilizing FDM (fused deposition modeling) technology to thread filament from a side-mounted spool through to the nozzle, the Ultimaker is compatible with several different types of filament, from standard PLA and ABS plastic s to food-safe sterile filaments like XT from Dutch filament production company ColorFabb. The release of the 2+ included a slew of new features, like an improved filament feeder with stronger gears and a more accurate printhead optimized to easily switch between nozzles. For $395 you can purchase an extrusion upgrade kit for your Ultimaker 2, and for an additional $500, you can snag the Ultimaker 2+ Extended, with a build volume of 8.8 x 8.8 x 12″. Read our full review of the Ultimaker 2 here.
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Amazon
FormLabs Form2 ($3,500)
In 2012, FormLabs launched the first 3D printer to use SLA (stereolithography) technology. The Form1 utilized ultraviolet laser beams to solidify liquid photopolymer resin, 'drawing' the object from the base up within a pool of resin. In 2014, they released the Form1+, an upgrade that became the best selling SLA 3D printer of all time. Their 2015 offering, the Form2, improved upon its predecessor in nearly all aspects, making it one of the best printers currently in production. Featuring a 5.7 x 5.7 x 6.9″ build volume and a maximum resolution of just 25 microns, the Form2 is nearly as powerful as the Ultimaker 2. Equipped with a touch screen with simple one-button functionality and a cartridge system that enables quick and easy switching and refilling of materials, the Form2 brings incredible creative power to 3D printing newbies as well as experienced artists. It's compatible with 3rd party resins as well, but beware: they don't come cheap.
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Amazon FormLabs
LulzBot TAZ 6 ($2,500)
The open source TAZ 6, from Colorado-based Aleph Objects, Inc., puts custom FDM modeling into your hands. With a huge 11 x 11 x 9.8″ build volume and a nozzle capable of layering at just 75 microns, the TAZ 5 can print along the x-axis at up to 200mm/s, making it one of the faster options on the market. The new metal hot-ends render the printer capable of handling a diverse array of filaments, including polyester- and nylon-based filaments. The TAZ's open source nature is the main draw for potential consumers, as you can use basically any printing software — though it does ship with Cura LulzBot Edition. For experienced users, the TAZ can also be modified to fit a dual extruder to simultaneously print two different filaments.
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Lulzbot
Sinterit Lisa
Sinterit's Lisa printer eliminates the need for any in-chamber support by using selective laser sintering (SLS) technology. Rather than spools of filament or pools of liquid resin, SLS printers use high-powered lasers to fuse powdered materials into 3D shapes. As each layer is completed, the platform lowers. The residual powder remains and becomes a support structure for the object being printed, and can be used in the next print. The Lisa features a solid build volume at 5.9 x 7.9 x 5.9″ and the laser fuses layers at a maximum resolution of 60 microns. The Lisa is also capable of printing two objects at once, though the build volume is relatively limited. Unfortunately, the Lisa currently only uses PA12 black powder, which is pretty much only available from Sinterit at a fairly high price.
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Sinterit
Mcor ARKe
At first glance, the Mcor ARKe simply looks like a color printer you could find in any office building. But the ARKe — one of few 3D printers to print in full, photorealistic color — is so much more than that. Utilizing Mcor's unique selective deposition lamination (SDL) technology, the printer fuses sheets of regular A4 office paper together, layer by layer, to create 3D objects and models up to a build volume of 9.5 x 8 x 4.9″. SDL refers to the method by which the paper is fused together; the machine applies adhesive selectively to each sheet of paper, depositing a higher density of adhesive to the part of the paper that will become the model and a lower density of adhesive to the part of the paper that will remain as a support structure during the printing process. The ARKe prints with a maximum resolu tion of 100 microns, so don't expect the level of detail that the Ultimaker is capable of.
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Mcor
ZMorph 2.0 SX ($2,690)
The ZMorph 2.0 SX Multitool is an absolute beast. With a build volume of 9.8 x 9.3 x 6.49″ and a total weight of 20kg, the futuristic SX won't be overlooked in any space. Using the same FDM technology as the Ultimaker, the SX is compatible with over 30 types of filament, including wood, machining wax, and EVA foam. Its claim to fame, though, is its versatility, not just as a printer, but as a laser cutter and CNC wood cutting tool. Users can switch between modes using the simple touch screen on the front of the SX, creating models and modifying them in the chamber. ZMorph's "Closed Loop" error correction system ensures that precision is maintained throughout the printing process, checking each layer for accuracy before the next layer is laid. The machine prints at a maximum resolution of 50 microns, and models can be managed — and printed — through SD cards rather than a computer, if desired.
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ZMorph
Voxel8 ($8,999)
Looking to print fully functional electronics directly from your desk? Or perhaps you need to print something conductive? Voxel8, created by a research group led by Harvard professor Jennifer Lewis, is the only 3D printer on the open market to produce self-sufficient electronics. Using a special silver ink designed by the Lewis team, the Voxel8 can create objects far more conductive than with regular carbon ink. The printer (for now) exclusively prints with PLA and the silver ink, somewhat restricting practical uses of printed items for the time being. But the tools are there for this to be a game changing device; the Voxel8 uses proprietary modeling software that allows you to insert virtual electronics components — resistors, LEDs, etc. — and pauses the printing process so you can insert the components when the tim e comes. Though this may not be the ideal 3D printer of choice for the average consumer, it could truly revolutionize the world of 3D printing.
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Voxel8
DeltaWASP 20/40 ($2,800)
Using a Delta style robot deposition system rather than the more common Cartesian style FDM, the Italian-made DeltaWASP is a powerful — and beautiful — 3D printer. With a changeable extruder that renders the machine capable of handling a diverse array of filaments (including polystyrene, clay, and porcelain), the WASP packs more power into its slender frame than most printers have in total. Its slim chamber houses a fairly large 7.9 x 7.9 x 15.8″ build volume, and it can print incredibly quickly at 300mm/s. Slow it down a bit, and the WASP is capable of printing at just 50 microns per layer. The DeltaWASP is available in 20/40 (the regular size) as well as larger (60/100) and smaller (40/70) versions. A Turbo version is also available, capable of printing at 1000mm/s (!).
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iMakr
Zortrax M200 ($1,990)
It might sound like a prescription drug, but don't let the name fool you. Zortrax's M200 printer is one of the best values on the market, combining power and extreme accuracy with reliability and multi-material compatibility. The M200 is an excellent choice for a hobbyist or first-time 3D print artist, as it's basically capable of printing directly out-of-box with minimal software setup. With a respectable 7.9 x 7.9 x 7.1″ build volume and six different compatible filaments, the M200 offers a decent level of freedom and customization without making things too esoteric. The machine excels at printing with ABS, but other filaments from Zortrax (like Z-ULTRAT, similar to plastic used in injection molding) are available if you want to make things more interesting. The M200 is so accurate that less than 10 % of test prints failed, including mammoth 60-hour print jobs.
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Zortrax
Carbon M1
If you're a hobbyist or you're just looking to make something fun, the Carbon M1 isn't for you. The M1, built to produce high-quality, low-volume prints, excels in creating prototypes and test parts with exceptional surface finish and high quality resolution. Its relatively limited 5.7 x 3.2 x 13″ build volume matters little when the quality of production is so high. Utilizing a unique resin-based technology dubbed CLIP (Continuous Liquid Interface Production), the M1 projects ultraviolet light through a "dead zone" filled with uncured liquid resin. The build platform, attached to the top of the printer, rises slowly as the curable resin is solidified by the UV light. The object is then baked in a force-circulation oven to strengthen the resin, resulting in greater tensile strength. The M1 is compatibl e with five different resin types, ranging from highly elastic polyurethane to high-strength cyanate ester.
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Carbon
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