Besides professional fields, 3D printing is also rising among amateur enthusiasts, while for newbies, how to choose the first printer? Today we want to introduce five easy-to-use and budget 3D printers for beginners under $500 in 2024.
Best 3D Printer for Beginners 2024 – Top 5 Easy & Budget 3D Printers Under $500 in 2024
Below is a list of the top 5 best 3D printers in 2024 for beginners, hobbyists, newbies, and kids. These printing machines may not be the newly released products this year, but they are still good to use and most of them have reduced the prices, which makes them more affordable for newcomers to use. We’ll introduce each 3D printer with its features, advantages, specifications, prices, and images (sourced from Amazon). What to note is that the price may change, and we list the latest prices found while writing this article, as well as the sources of these prices.
1. Original Prusa MINI+ Semi-assembled 3D Printer – Best Budget Beginner-Friendly 3D Printer
The MINI+ is a fully-equipped 3D printer produced by Original Prusa, as a successor of Prusa Mini, the Prusa Mini+ gets upgrades in the Y bracket and a SuperPINDA sensor, which are the differences between them. Original Prusa MINI+ is a small but capable FDM 3D printer kit that is suitable for beginners and enthusiasts due to its accuracy, reliability, quality print results, and customizable with a larger user community. Its auto-leveling sensor and open design make it approachable for beginners while still allowing advanced customization.
Product Specifications
– Type: FDM
– Build Volume: 7″x7″x7″
– Printer dimensions (without spool holder & external PSU): 380×330×380 mm
– Layer height: 0.05 to 0.25 mm
– Nozzle: 0.4 mm (default)
– Filament diameter: 1.75 mm
– Materials: Plastics (PLA, PETG, ASA, ABS, PC, CPE, PVA/BVOH, PVB, HIPS, PP, etc.
– Nozzle temperature: Up to 280 °C (536 °F)
– Heatbed temperature: Up to 100 °C (212 °F)
– Connectivity: USB port, RJ-45, Wi-Fi module (optional)
Price
– $459 (Prusa3d)
2. Toybox 3D 1-Touch Toy Printer – Best 3D Printer for Kids
This Toybox 3D printer is the best choice for parents with young kids, it provides an easy and engaging way for kids to learn 3d printing with endless possibilities for creativity. It uses biodegradable PLA filament, which is a great material for beginners. PLA has a relatively low printing temperature and is easier to handle compared to other options. And PLA filament is inexpensive and easy to find. The 3D-printed parts made from PLA have good strength and are durable. Users can browse the toy catalog online and download new designs they want to print, it supports any web browser, and the process is fun and simple, you don’t need to install apps, configure slicers, or copy or transfer files. The machine is lightweight and compact, which is ideal for small spaces. The only issue is that we did not find the product selling on the official website now, you may need to purchase from other sources.
Product Specifications
– Color: white
– Dimensions: 7.4″x7.4”x9.05″
– Build Volume: 2.76″x3.15″x3.54″
– Weight: 15.21 Pounds
– Volume: 9x8x10 cm
– Speed: 60 mm/s
– Resolution: 200 microns
– Bed: Easy-Peel Bed
– Compatible Systems: STL, OBJ, gCode
– WIFI: 2.4GHz
– Print Materials: PLA non-toxic plastic
– Voltage: AC 100V-240V
Price
– $299.00 (Amazon)
3. Anycubic Kobra 2 3D Printer – Best Fast Cheap 3D Printer for Beginner
If you want to find the best 3D printer for around $300, Anycubic Kobra 2 is an affordable option that features lots of high-end features of more expensive models. One of the biggest advantages of it is the fast printing speed, it can achieve up to 250 mm/s, boosted by features like the direct drive extruder and high-power heating, but not commonly used. The easy-to-use setup also makes it suitable for starters, the assembly is quite simple, and the auto-leveling process ensures prints are done properly without needing manual bed leveling. In addition, the Anycubic app and included slicing software is user-friendly and simple to use for novices. Its build quality will never disappoint you, sturdy build ensures reliable long-term use.
Product Specifications
– Type: Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)
– Dimensions: 19.1″x17.3″x17.1″
– Weight: 18.5 lbs
– Materials: PLA, ABS, TPU, PETG
– Build Volume: 8.7″x8.7″x9.84″
– Minimum Layer Resolution: 100 microns
– Maximum Layer Resolution: 400 microns
– Primary Interface(s): microSD card, USB Type-C
– Print Speed: Up to 250mm/s
Price
– $299.99 (Amazon)
4. Creality Ender-3 S1 Pro 3D Printer – Best 3D Printer for DIY
The Creality Ender-3 S1 Pro is also easy to assemble, as it comes mostly pre-assembled, and the touchscreen makes common controls readily accessible for newcomers or beginners. The CR Touch auto-leveling system helps ensure good first-layer adhesion without manual leveling. Dual-gear direct drive extruder ensures smooth filament feeding and retraction for dimensional accuracy at high speeds. The all-metal hot-end allows for temperatures up to 300°C for more filament options. When it comes to the parts, you can use it to print larger and more complex items compared to lots of other budget options, including functional prototypes. The Ender-3 S1 Pro has a large community for helping with troubleshooting issues.
Product Specifications
– Type: FDM
– Build Volume: 8.5″ x 8.5″ x 10.5″
– Dimensions: 490 x 455 x 305 mm
– Weight: 8.6 kg
– Material: PLA/PETG/TPU/ABS
– Extruder: Direct Drive
– Print Precision: ±0.1 mm
– Layer Height: 0.1- 0.35 mm
– Nozzle size: 0.04 mm
– Max print speed: 150 mm/s
– Nozzle temperature: 300 °C
– Bed temperature: 110 °C
– Connectivity: SD Card, USB-C
Price
– $284 (3duncle)
5. AnkerMake M5C 3D Printer – Fastest 3D Printer Under $300
AnkerMake M5C is a strong contender among the best cheap 3D printers in 2024, it comes with clear assembly instructions and can be set up in about 20 minutes, even by those new to 3D printing. The design of the M5C is compact yet efficient, with a combination of user-friendly features and robust construction. The direct drive extruder allows for better handling of flexible materials like TPU, which is an advantage for users looking to experiment with different filaments. All-metal hotend with bi-metallic heat break ensures high-quality print outcomes with various materials. The PEI print surface improves adhesion during printing and eases model removal after cooling, reducing the likelihood of damaging prints when removing them from the build plate. This printer operates at relatively low noise levels and can produce high-quality prints across a variety of tests.
Product Specifications
– Print Size: 8.7×8.7×9.8
– Print Speed: 500 mm/s
– Benchy Print (Max): 17 Min
– Filament: 1.75 mm
– Plate Temperature (Max): 100℃
– Hotend: All-Metal
– Nozzle: Brass, 0.4 mm
– Extrusion Flow: 35 mm³/s
– Hotend Tempreture (Max): 300℃
– Equipment Size: 466×374×480 mm³ (Without Filament
Holder)
– Materials: PLA, PETG / PET, ABS, PA, PLA-CF, PETG-CF, PA-CF
Price
– $260 (AnkerMake)
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