Welcome to our list of the best desktop 3D printers for 2023. 3D printing technology has come a long way in recent years, and there are now a wide variety of high-quality options available on the market. Whether you're a professional designer, a maker, or just want to experiment with 3D printing at home, there's a 3D printer out there that will suit your needs. In this article, we've compiled a list of the top desktop 3D printers for 2023 based on factors such as print quality, ease of use, and price. Whether you're looking for a budget-friendly option or a high-end machine, we've got you covered. So without further ado, let's dive into our top picks for the best desktop 3D printers of 2023.
1. Bambu Lab X1 Carbon:
The Bambu Lab X1 Carbon Combo is a new and ground breaking 3D printer that was introduced in mid-late 2022. It has many features that make it significantly better than other 3D printers on the market. Let's look at some of the pros and cons of the Bambu Lab X1 Carbon Combo:
Pros:
- Speed: This 3D printer is FAST. It is a coreXY 3D printer that prints 2-3 times faster than most 3D printers. It has 20 m/s² acceleration and 500mm/s velocity.
- Multi-color and Multi-material: The Bambu Lab X1 Carbon Combo can print almost all regular filaments and exotic materials. It can also print up to 16 colors at once. It is able to print so many colors through what is called the AMS or Automatic Material System.
- Ease of use: The Bambu Lab X1 Carbon comes completely pre-assembled. It only requires removal of some protective packaging materials and parts.
- Automatic bed leveling: Like most high end 3D printers, the Bambu Lab X1 Carbon Combo has automatic bed leveling. This removes the hassle of having to tinker with the machine to get it to print correctly.
- Automatic extrusion calibration: This printer uses cameras and Lidar to automatically calibrate extrusion flow rates and ensure perfect print quality.
Cons:
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Price: The Bambu Lax X1 Carbon currently cost roughly $1,500 USD. While this may sound like a lot for a desktop 3D printer, because of this printer's features and print speed it very well may be worth the cost.
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Closed system: This printer is similar to Apple in that the hardware and software are proprietary. If you need replacement parts you must order through Bambu Lab or submit a support ticket. Many of the features rely on their Cloud services as well.
Overall if budget is not an issue, this is the 3D printer for you. It is positioned to be the most popular 3D printer of 2023 and beyond. It alone is pushing the desktop 3D printing industry forward and anyone who wants a groundbreaking 3D printer with top-of-the-line features should get the Bambu Lab X1 Carbon Combo. Buy the Bambu Lab X1 Carbon Combo
2. Creality Ender 3 Pro:
The Creality Ender 3 Pro is a popular and affordable 3D printer that has gained a lot of attention in the maker community. Let's take a look at some of the pros and cons of the Ender 3 Pro to help you decide if it's the right 3D printer for you.
Pros:
- Affordable: One of the main selling points of the Ender 3 Pro is its price. It's a budget-friendly 3D printer that offers a lot of value for the money.
- Relatively easy to set up: The Ender 3 Pro is designed to be easy to set up and use. Assembly time usually takes about 1-3 hours.
- Decent print quality: Despite its low price, the Ender 3 Pro is capable of producing high-quality prints. It has a heated bed, which helps to improve bed adhesion and reduce warping.
- Wide range of materials: The Ender 3 Pro can print with a wide range of materials, including PLA, PETG, and TPU. This gives you a lot of flexibility when it comes to choosing your printing materials.
Cons:
- No automatic bed leveling: One of the downsides of the Ender 3 Pro is that it does not have an automatic bed leveling feature. This means you'll need to manually level the bed before each print, which can be time-consuming.
- Limited build volume: The Ender 3 Pro has a relatively small build volume, which may be limiting for some users. If you need to print larger objects, you may need to look for a printer with a bigger build volume.
- No enclosure: The Ender 3 Pro does not come with an enclosure, which can be a problem if you're printing with materials that emit harmful fumes. It's worth considering whether you'll need an enclosure or not before purchasing the Ender 3 Pro.
- Reliability: The Ender 3 Pro does require some tinkering in order to get it printing perfectly. Beginners may struggle with bed leveling and trouble shooting issues that arise.
Overall, the Creality Ender 3 Pro is a great budget 3D printer that offers good value for the price. Despite its inexpensive price point it can produce high-quality prints. However, it does have some limitations, such as the lack of automatic bed leveling and a medium build volume, which may be deal-breakers for some users. But the Creality Ender 3 Pro
3. Bambu Lab P1P:
The Bambu Lab P1P is for those of you who want to print fast on a budget. It is essentially a stripped down version of the Bambu Lab X1 Carbon Combo. You can still use the Auto Material System with this printer and print up to 16 colors at once. This printer does not come with an enclosure but you have the ability to 3D printer your own. This printer cost roughly $700 USD, making it competitively priced in the market. It is expected to become on of the most popular 3D printers of 2023. Buy the Bambu Lab P1P
4. Prusa i3 MKS3+:
The Prusa i3 MK3S+ is a popular and highly regarded 3D printer that has gained a lot of attention in the maker community. Let's take a look at some of the pros and cons of the Prusa i3 MK3S+ to help you decide if it's the right 3D printer for you.
Pros:
- Excellent print quality: The Prusa i3 MK3S+ is known for producing high-quality prints with smooth finishes and fine details. It has a heated bed and a filament sensor, which help to improve bed adhesion and reduce the risk of failed prints.
- Wide range of materials: The Prusa i3 MK3S+ can print with a wide range of materials, including PLA, PETG, and TPU. This gives you a lot of flexibility when it comes to choosing your printing materials.
- Automatic bed leveling: One of the key features of the Prusa i3 MK3S+ is its automatic bed leveling system, which helps to ensure that the bed is perfectly level before each print. This can save a lot of time and hassle compared to manually leveling the bed.
Cons:
- Price: The Prusa i3 MK3S+ is relatively expensive for what you get and a pre-assembled printer will cost an extra couple hundred dollars.
- Assembly required: The Prusa i3 MK3D+ comes as a kit and can take up to 8 hours to assemble. It is relatively difficult to assemble compared to other 3D printers. However, you can pay extra for a pre-assembled kit.
- No Enclosure: This 3D printer does not come with an enclosure, therefore, printing with exotic materials maybe difficult and large parts may be prone to warping.
Overall if you are looking for a high end open-source 3D printer, then this is the 3D printer for you. Buy the Prusa i3 MK3S+
5. Creality CR10:
The Creality CR-10 is a great budget, large format 3D printer. It is basically an extra large Creality Ender 3 Pro, however, despite being bigger than the Creality Ender 3, the CR-10 is actually easier to set up as it comes partially assembled. If you are looking for a great value, large format 3D printer, then the Creality CR-10 is for you. Buy the Creality CR-10