3D Printing on a Budget: What Do You Need to Know?

It is no secret that 3D printing is growing in popularity both at home and in industry. That is not to say that there are no obstacles that could prevent someone interested in the topic from taking it up as a hobby. The biggest one is the price. 3D printing can be expensive, between the machines, software, post-processing and of course material, the cost can creep up on users. For that reason, we decided to make a guide on 3D printing on a budget. We will take a look at everything from printer choice to filaments to software, post-processing and more to give you an accurate range for the most affordable options, including cheap 3D printers, to get into 3D printing.

For anyone who is not as well-versed on 3D printing, it is important to note that there are many technologies you can use. FDM, SLA, SLS, LPBF and more all have their benefits and their drawbacks, however for this guide we will be focusing mostly on FDM and SLA. Out of all the techniques, FDM is the most accessible to the everyday user, machines and materials often are lower cost than their counterparts. Though often not as cheap as FDM, there are also SLA printers that are more affordable, especially compared to the more industrial printers.

Budget 3D Printers

There are many different factors that affect printer price. First is, of course, the printing process used. More industrial technologies, especially those using metal, are understandably more expensive. Additionally, the size of the printer build plays a large role. However, it is entirely possible to find desktop 3D printers for under $200 using either FDM or SLA processes. Additionally, if you are willing to assemble the printer yourself, DIY kits are often more affordable than already assembled machines. Do note however, that depending on how much assembly you need to do, it could take several hours to accomplish.