TechJunkie Expert Recommendations
TechJunkie is supported by our readers. When you make a purchase through our links, we may earn a commission. Read More.
You can find many 3D printers on the market that fit different budgets. It can be hard to pick the one that is right for you, so we’ve done some research without you even having to step foot in a store. You will need to determine if a printer has good print quality, speed, price-performance ratio, build volume, etc. You should also take note of what type of materials the printer you’re looking at supports. The most common materials are ABS and PLA, but others can also use NYLON, TPE, HIPS, TPU, Wood Fill, Metal Fill, etc. You should also think carefully about the type of prints you want to do; you need to decide if you need a big printer or if you’ll be okay with a smaller option. The most affordable printers you can get sell for under $300, while the more upscale models cost more than $3,000. Thankfully, many mid-range options have been taking the market by storm over the years, and you can expect to print some high-quality 3D models. Let’s look at some of the best mid-range 3D printers in 2022.
The Monoprice Voxel is an attractive choice to many because, along with having a reasonable price tag, it also allows you to achieve quality prints in the comfort of your home. A unique feature it has is the quick change nozzle that makes switching out the nozzles easy and fast without using extra tools. It also has a removable and flexible heated build plate that you can quickly change out to start a new print. The plate can be heated up to 60°C. Loading your filaments into the printer is easy thanks to the auto-feeding feature that works with the filament sensor. The sensor will automatically notify you when you are low on filament and pause the printer until you reload it. You won’t need to worry about the initial setup because the Voxel is shipped fully calibrated and ready to use. It’s also easy to adjust the distance of the bed and the nozzle using the touchscreen display on the printer. The printer works with Mac OS X, Windows XP/Vista/7/8/10, and Linux. If Voxel could improve certain areas, it would be its Wi-Fi connectivity and software.
Fast printing processPrint bed is removable, flexible, and heatedFantastic print quality for its price
Wi-Fi connectivity and software needs improvements
If you’re looking for the best 3D printer that guarantees low-cost, SLA printing, the ANYCUBIC Photon Mono X is the ideal choice for you. This printer is a fast resin 3D Printer with a maximum print speed of 60 mm/h. Its printing volume is about 7.55″ x 4.72″ x 9.84″, so it’s large enough for you to print multiple models of the same size simultaneously. Users can also set the printer to stop printing immediately after opening its cover. This printer is four times faster than the Photon because its layer printing time is decreased to only 1-2 seconds. Its increased speed is all thanks to its 8.9-inch 4K Monochrome LCD. The printer promises ultra-precision printing thanks to its matrix parallel UV light source. It’s even more stable because of its clearance nut combination, stepper motor, and dual linear rails utilized by its Z-axis. Users should download the ANYCUBIC app when printing because it allows you to monitor the UV Photocuring printing progress instantly. You also won’t have to worry about the printer overheating since it has a new UV cooling system. The other valuable features are a safe power supply with UL certification, a new responsive and intuitive UI menu, and a support Chitu box slicer. You will get a machine security guarantee for a year and a lifetime of technical support upon purchase.
Fast and high quality printingLow-cost SLA printing
Some users experienced print failuresIts slicing software can have inconsistent support
Another 3D printer from ANYCUBIC that’s worth the purchase is the ANYCUBIC Vyper. The printer might be small, but its printing volume can reach 9.6 x 9.6 x 10.2 inches. It features an intelligent, automatic leveling system that can detect 16-points and instantly adjust its nozzle’s height. It takes one click to auto-level it, and your printer will be good to go without any extra input. The Vyper packs a punch with its Cortex -M3 architecture main control chip and 32-bit motherboard, so you can expect it to run smoothly and quickly. It also won’t be loud since it has a TMC2209 silent driver and voltage output control. The Vyper has a PEI spring steel magnetic platform that works well, even at high temperatures. You can use filaments like ABS, PLA, TPU, and PETG. The printer can handle a heavy workload because it has a double fan two-way heat dissipation system that can cool the printer down quickly. Your prints will be precise and without any print layer marks since the printer has a patented Z-axis gap elimination module. Users can easily control the printer using its 4.3-inch touch screen. The Vyper also has a double-gear extrusion system, material breakage detection, resume print function, and it’s easy to assemble. Like other ANYCUBIC products, you will get lifetime technical support and a year’s worth of machine security.
Impressive automatic leveling and calibrationHeated bed is removableBuild volume is large
Not the safest printer to use because of its open-air designLacks Wi-Fi connectivity
When you no longer consider yourself a beginner in 3D printing, you can go for intermediate printers like the FlashForge Adventurer 4. This printer features a removable snap-in nozzle that will only take about three seconds to replace, and the best part is you won’t need any extra tools to do it. The nozzle can heat up to 265℃, and it supports filaments like PETG, PETG-CF, PC, ABS, PLA-CF, PLA, and PC. The Adventurer 4 has real auto-leveling and superb first-layer printing. Your platform will run steady thanks to its dual Y-axis guide rail, and it will ensure flatness using a software-controlled 9-point compensation. You can conveniently head to another room and cook or watch TV while printing because the printer has a built-in HD camera that can send photos of whatever’s printing to your phone or computer via Wi-Fi. This printer also has a removable magnetic build plate with a 200 x 200 x 250 mm maximum print volume. The plate can be bent using two handles, so removing models is easy and quick. You won’t have to worry about your prints getting dusty or having foul smells since the printer has a HEPA13 air filter. An external bracket is unnecessary because the printer already has a built-in 1 KG filament spool holder.
Has a built-in camera to monitor prints remotely via WifiRemovable snap-in nozzleCompatible with multiple materials
Lacks filament loadingSome might find changing the nozzle to be confusing
The Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K 3D Printer is a stand-out for mid-range SLA printers on the market. Its selling point is its 8K resolution, with its LCD module reaching around 7500 X 3240 pixels. You get a maximum build volume of 6.5 x 2.8 x 7 inches, and the printer makes use of a Linear Projection LED Module. You can immediately start printing once you unbox the printer because it already comes with a plastic scraper, metal scraper, an Allen key, disposable gloves, funnel, 80 grit Sandpaper, and two pre-sliced test prints. You even get an 8 GB USB thumb drive containing ChituBox Basic 1.9.0 slicer software and a Quick Start guide. Users can get smoother and more detailed prints when using the printer with Phrozen’s Aqua Gray 8K resin. The Sonic Mini 8K features a sturdy design made from metal, and the FEP won’t touch your work surface thanks to its all-metal vat with feet. You will also love its fantastic adhesion from its laser-etched build plate. This 3D printer is ideal for those who plan to print jewelry and miniatures. Some reported that the build plate isn’t the simplest to clean, but it’s doable. It’s also not the most affordable compared to its competitors, but the quality of prints you get makes the price worth it.
8K resolutionImpressive print adheranceEasy to operate
Some users have reported some struggle when attempting to clean the build platePricey compared to its competitors
82 Articles Published
We're not just tech junkies, but we're also tech experts. Each and every "Best of.." list on TechJunkie is curated by our content-area subject matter experts to provide a well-rounded, unbiased perspective to help and inform you, our reader. Our lists are constantly reviewed and updated, so you can be sure you're reading relevant and up to date information.
Copyright @2024 TechJunkie
Copyright @2024 TechJunkie
If you don’t see an app that should be here, let us know what it is
