Best 3D printer for 2021 – CNET [CNET]

Thanks to an army of creators who are passionate about handmade goods, maker culture is alive and well — which is why 3D printers are now more popular than ever. I first became interested in 3D printing a few years ago, when I started making everything from phone stands to tabletop game accessories to a sweet mini Millennium Falcon.

3D printing technology has come a long way since then, and I’ve doubled down by getting into 3D scanning and even laser cutting, which lets you sculpt real-world designs from leather and wood. 

3D printers, which range from affordable (under $300) to high-end (over $3,000), are awesome gifts for a creative person or the 3D printing enthusiast in your life — or even better — they’re great for you to craft your own personalized designs. Also, 3D printing technology is getting better and better, meaning the print quality of whatever it is you’re making is starting to look like it was made by a professional 3D printing service. Like I said, it’s a really, really cool hobby and it’s getting easier to find a great 3D printer to facilitate it.

I will note, though, that a cheap 3D printer is still going to cost at least a couple hundred bucks. If even a budget 3D printer is out of your price range, and you can still jump on the additive manufacturing trend by grabbing a 3D pen to play with until a desktop 3D printer is within reach.

I’ve taken a deep dive into the 3D printers available today and have chosen several options for people who want to start printing 3D objects and for those who want to update their existing 3D printing setup with a pro 3D printer. I’ve included both small and large 3D printers on this list. I’ve also taken other factors into consideration, such as print speed, the size of the build plate, the cost of PLA filament, the kind of print head included and more. Once you find the best 3D printer and you end up getting completely addicted to 3D printing and additive manufacturing, don’t blame me. (But if you do, here’s a handy 3D printing FAQ that should answer some of your questions.)

Entry-level 3D printers

Midrange 3D printers

High-end and professional 3D printers

Crazy things I’ve made on a 3D printer

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