Best 3D Printer For Each Purpose

--- title: 'Best 3D Printer For Each Purpose' date: '2023-08-23' summary: 'The Best 3D Printer to choose for each purpose' image: 'https://assets.mattermanifest.com/uploaded/site/blog/best-printer-for-each-purpose/Title-Image.png' author: 'MatterManifest' tags: ['About', 'MatterManifest'] --- # The Best 3D Printer For Each Purpose Breakdown the process of choosing the ideal 3D printer by considering what you intend to print and quickly see the top choice(s) for each purpose. 1. [Best Cheap/Starter Printer](#the-cheapest-starter-printer) 2. [Best Printer for Multi Color](#the-best-multi-color-printer) 3. [Best Printer for Farming](#the-best-farming-printer) 4. [Best Printer for Large Items](#the-best-printer-for-big-items) # 1. The Cheapest Starter Printer If this is your first 3D Printer, or your goal is to get started with as little money as possible, stick with the tried and true path and get an Ender 3. The Ender 3 series is the most popular and most common 3D Printer for beginners. It's a great way to get into 3D Printing for under $300 and can give you a decent printing experience. Because it's the most common printer, you will likely be able to find discounts or buy it used. The common issues are well known with plenty of online support and videos for most issues you will run int. Take a look at [Basic Printer Selection](https://mattermanifest.com/blog/start-3d-printing-with-300) for more information about the Ender 3 series and each printer. Our current recommended best Ender 3, is the [Ender 3 V3 SE](https://www.amazon.com/Creality-Ender-V3-SE-Printer/dp/B09JFR3JJP/?th=1). ![Ender 3 V3 SE](https://assets.mattermanifest.com/uploaded/site/blog/best-printer-for-each-purpose/ender-3-v3-se.png) # 2. The Best Multi Color Printer If you want to print multi-color items or multi-material items, the Bambu P1S with AMS ($949 USD) is your best bet. The P1S is an upgraded version of the P1P which includes a full enclosure and some upgrades to cooling - highly necessary for any materials beyond PLA for potentially toxic fumes and proper print quality. The AMS (Automated Material System) works out of the box whereas the P1P requires an upgrade kit and assembly to work with the AMS. With this system, you will be able to print to 4 different materials simultaneously. It should be noted that printing in multiple materials is neither straightforward nor cheap, as you will need to: - Purchase and stock multiple filaments - Have an adept understanding slicing with Bambu Studios - Working with different file types such as .3mf in addition to .stl - Consider safety and best practices using different material types such as ABS ![Bambu Labs X1C](https://assets.mattermanifest.com/uploaded/site/blog/best-printer-for-each-purpose/Bambu-P1S-AMS.png) # 3. The Best Farming Printer If you want to create a business selling functional 3D Printed parts, you will likely need to manage multiple printers running reliably for a long time in a dedicated space. A print farm operation must be managable beyond the ease of operating a single printer. Below we break down comparison between the top two options, Prusa MK4 and the Bambu X1C. First, both printers are top of the line when it comes to semi-professional 3D Printers and offer capabilities that will solve most issues found in entry level 3D Printers such as: - First layer calibration - Wifi connection and wireless printing - Excellent Print Quality - High quality build and hardware - Smart failures and overheating protection | Factors | Prusa MK4 | Bambu X1C | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------: | :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------: | :-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------: | | Cost | $1099 | $1199 | | Build Volume | 250 x 210 x 220 mm | 256 × 256 × 256 mm | | Max Nozzle Temperature | 290°C | 300°C | | Max Bed Temperature | 120°C | 110°C | | Print Speed | [20000 mm/s²](https://blog.prusa3d.com/announcing-original-prusa-mk4_76585/) | [20000 mm/s²](https://us.store.bambulab.com/products/x1-carbon-3d-printer) | | [Noise Level](https://forum.prusa3d.com/forum/english-forum-original-prusa-i3-mk4-general-discussion-announcements-and-releases/prusa-mk4-vs-bambu/paged/6/) | 25-45 dB | 55-70 dB | | Enclosure | (Optional) Add-on for [$350](https://www.prusa3d.com/product/original-prusa-enclosure-3/) | Included | | Camera | - | 1920x1080 30fps | | Repairs and Modability | Great - [Open source parts](https://help.prusa3d.com/article/printable-parts-for-original-prusa_1824), [Rich documentation](https://help.prusa3d.com/article/factory-repair_267131), Community highly knowledgable | Poor - [Closed source parts](https://us.store.bambulab.com/collections/maintenance-parts-x1-series), [Simple Documentation](https://help.prusa3d.com/article/factory-repair_267131), Community limited in knowledge | | Customer Support | 24/7 tech support via live chat and email in seven languages | Troublshooting diagnosis and Ticket-based support | | Multi-color Add-on | [MMU3 - $299](https://www.prusa3d.com/product/original-prusa-mmu3-upgrade-kit-for-mk3s-2/) | [AMS - $349](https://us.store.bambulab.com/products/ams-multicolor-printing) | | Design | Bed Slinger (Y-Axis Bed Movement) | CoreXY (Z-Axis Bed Movement) | | Preview | ![Prusa MK4](https://assets.mattermanifest.com/uploaded/site/blog/best-printer-for-each-purpose/Prusa-MK4.png) | ![Bambu X1C](https://assets.mattermanifest.com/uploaded/site/blog/best-printer-for-each-purpose/Bambu-X1C.png) | ### 3.1 Choose Prusa MK4 (Assembled): To minimize farm costs and make maintenance easier If something goes wrong with your printer, you will have more resources and cheaper costs due to Prusas' Open-sourced software and a highly knowledgable community. Since Bambu Labs are closed source, any repairs or replacements are likely more expensive. - Tried and true award winning printer design proven to be highly reliabile and modable - Integrated with PrusaSlicer, industry leading open-source Slicing Software - Bed slinger design has less moving parts making it easier to maintain and repair - Option to purchase kit for self-assembly for a $300 discount - Rich documentation and open source software with active and knowledgable community - Excellent Customer Support with 24/7 live chat and email support ![Prusa MK4](https://assets.mattermanifest.com/uploaded/site/blog/best-printer-for-each-purpose/Prusa-MK4.png) ### 3.2 Choose Bambu X1C: To maximize profits and customization at a higher maintenance cost The X1C prints in multiple colors and materials better than MK4s. This capability opens up more customization potential. On average a customer will [pay 20%](https://www.optimonk.com/product-customization-benefits/) more for a customized product. - Innovative printer known for easy setup and excellent multi-color printing - Integrated with Bambu Handy (Mobile App) and Bambu Studios (Built on PrusaSlicer) - CoreXY design with more parts and features such as fully enclosure and camera - Option to purchase bundled with AMS (multi-material system) at a $100 discount - Detailed self-repair documentation and fast growing community - Excellent quality and compatibility for higher temperature and semi-toxic materials such as PETG, Nylon, ABS and ASA ![Bambu X1C](https://assets.mattermanifest.com/uploaded/site/blog/best-printer-for-each-purpose/Bambu-X1C.png) # 4. The Best Printer For Big Items With larger prints, more time and material is wasted with failed prints. Two key printer features to increase the chance of printing large items successfully: (1) Automatic Bed Level and Calibration. (2) CoreXY design instead of a Bed Slinger design (Heavier prints are more likely to fail when moved back and forth with the printbed). The Ender CR-10 Smart Pro is closer to an entry level printer and lacks the features to eliminate many common print failure reasons. Your Prusa XL will be more than 2x more expensive initially, but will save you in time and filament costs over time. | | Ender CR-10 Smart Pro | Prusa XL (Kit) | | -------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | Cost | $799 | $1999 | | Assembly Time | 30 minutes | 5 hours | | Build Volume | 300mm x 300mm x 400mm | 360mm x 360mm x 360mm | | Size | 578mm x 522mm x 648mm | 800mm × 800mm × 900mm | | Bed Leveling | Manual Assisted | Auto | | Multi Color Printing | - | Included | | Wireless Printing | - | Included | | Preview | ![Ender CR 10 Smart Pro](https://assets.mattermanifest.com/uploaded/site/blog/best-printer-for-each-purpose/Ender-CR-10-Smart-Pro.png) | ![Prusa Xl](https://assets.mattermanifest.com/uploaded/site/blog/best-printer-for-each-purpose/Prusa-XL.png) |

Best 3D Printer For Each Purpose

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