The 10 Best 3D Printers of 2018

Product development in the printing landscape has been metamorphosising swiftly with more efficient, streamlined products being made available at a rapid rate. There are so many beneficial innovations with 3d printing, including the ability to get acrylic cut to size which would be helpful for sustainability with plastics. The manufacturing industry has been evolving at much the same pace, with 3D Printing being dubbed as the silent revolutionary. Recent reports have alluded to extraordinary developments in this niche across several verticals namely medicine, aviation, prototypes and proof of concept models to mention a few. What’s more it’s been reported that scientists are experimenting with printing technologies and living tissue with the hope to one day print functional hearts and livers, a sure sign that 3D technologies are bound to be a game changer.

With the promise that 3D Printing and other emerging technologies holds and the change that it’s creating in even bigger sectors, Aniwaa the emerging tech hardware specialist has created a unique guide to the top 10 3D printers of 2018. Aniwaa’s selection has not been based on their views alone, but they’ve also included the ratings of several other trusted entities namely; Amazon, 3DHubs, Make and Pinshape. Each of the printers mentioned below have received at least one award, they’ve been tested on YouTube at least once and have large communities with active users providing feedback on the product. If you’ve been looking for a new printer with 3D capabilities to recreate your designs with, it’s likely there’s something in this guide for you.

The meta score which has been assigned to each product is an aggregate of the ratings the item received from trusted third parties (Amazon, Make, 3DHubs and Pinshape). Read more about the top 3D printing technologies in 2018 below.

1.Original Prusa i3 MK3

Metascore: 4.7/5

Manufactured by Prusa3D this model is known for its reliability. It was selected as one of the best budget 3D Printers for 2018 and retails at $999.

2. MakerGear M2

Metascore: 4.6/5

This high-quality device, offers a nice blend of features: speed, quality and price, retailing at $999. With rip roaring feedback from its users, it has been praised as one of the best printers on the market and boasts several awards from 3D Hubs.

3. SeeMeCNC Rostock MAX v3

Metascore: 4.6/5

The Rostock SeeMeCNC printer is the newest version of the standard Rostock printer. With several reviews from 3DHubs it has been described as the ideal tool for clean prints. With a retail price of $999, the SeeMeCNC Rostock printer was also shortlisted in 2017 as one of the best budget printers.  

4. Craft Unique CraftBot Plus

Metascore: 4.5/5

The Craft Unique CraftBot is everything that its name alludes to and more. The printer is available in several colours and has multiple functions with its heated bed. Retailing at $1,099; this award-winning model is what you want especially if you need to print with different types of filament i.e. HIPS, ABS along with PLA.

5. Ultimaker 2+

Metascore: 4.4/5

With swappable nozzles, a heated bed and adjustable gear strength, the Ultimaker 2+ was selected as one of the best prosumer 3D printers in 2017. Retailing at $1900, it comes with a lot of versatility and functionality and can print with a wider variety of filament options.

6. Zortrax M200

Metascore: 4.3/5

Featuring a heated print bed and automatic calibration the Zortrax M200 is very similar to the Ultimaker 2+, both winners of the prosumer award. The Zortrax M200 is both easy to use and delivers consistent results. Retailing at $1,990 it’s worth every penny, especially as it’s been dubbed a 3D printing workhorse.

7. LulzBot Mini

Metascore: 4.3/5

Voted one of the best plug-n-play options on the market the LulzBot offers a number of possibilities. As its name indicates i.e. Mini, it provides a small volume build. If you’re an entry-level user, this printer may just be the right fit for you. Retailing at $1,250 it’s suitable for advanced users as well.

8. LulzBot TAZ 6

Metascore: 4.2/5

Another classic in the selection is the LulzBot TAZ 6. Selected 2 years in a row for the Workhorse Award and Outstanding Open Source model by 3D Hubs, the printer has a number of great features. If you need to work with a number of filament materials, look no further. Retailing at $2,500, this automatic bed levelling, self-cleaning printer, consistently delivers accuracy.

9. FlashForge Creator Pro

Metascore: 4.2/5

The FlashForge Creator Pro printer is made to last, if reliability is what you’re after, this sturdy hold metal frame printer is worth a look. Besides being easy to repair and maintain, the Creator Pro also allows for multi-material printing. Retailing at $1,299, it’s been a winner of the 3D Hubs Workhorse Award and the Enthusiast Award.

10. BCN3D Sigma

Metascore: 4/5

The Spanish made Sigma R17 offers a user experience second to none, with its huge touch screen creating fluidity. Retailing at $2,795 the Sigma has the ability to print with a large variety of materials and has earned itself a mention in the 2017 3D Hubs Report, with its achievement of the Workhorse Award.

Even if it seems like a lot, this article was just meant to provide you with some top-level information. If you want a comprehensive in-depth look into the latest in 3D printing technologies, be sure to check out Aniwaa’s guide. They also have a search engine comparison tool, with over 1500 products to compare and review. Whether you fancy making yourself a functional wristwatch for personal use or need a new toy to get your models complete in time, we hope this guide may assist you in finding the technology you need.

The post Top 10 3D Printers 2018 appeared first on Armchair Arcade.

The box.

What’s inside.

As you would expect, the filament comes shrinkwrapped with a desiccant pack inside a cardboard box. The spool itself has filament slots to help with storage, as well as a small viewhole about three quarters of the way down to see when you’re running low.

Mounted on my Flux Delta+.

Since this is standard PLA, there are no special print temperature or heated bed requirements. The former can range from 195 – 210 degrees Celsius, while the latter can range from 0 – 60 degrees Celsius. I’m testing it on a Flux Delta+, which has no heated bed, using its standard highest resolution output settings.

A post shared by Bill Loguidice (@bill_loguidice) on Dec 17, 2017 at 12:02pm PST

For a change of pace, I decided to test print a silly Poop Emoji from Thingiverse for my youngest daughter. As you can tell from the photos, the end result was excellent, with smooth output of uniform color. It’s clear that Asani has a winner of their hands with this filament.

Finished!

Front.

Side.

Rear.

Pluses:
– Accurate dimensions
– Consistent color
– Smooth, silky output
– Reasonable price

Minuses:
– Nothing of note

Summary:
You’ll be happy with the output of this high quality PLA filament.

Thanks to Asani for the discounted review unit.

The post Review: Asani PLA 3D Printing Filament appeared first on Armchair Arcade.

The box.

The filament.

As you expect from 3D MARS, the 12% Wood-infused PLA comes professionally packaged in a shrinkwrapped casing complete with dry pack (desiccant) inside a cardboard box. My test printer this time is a Flux Delta+. Since the roll didn’t fit in the printer’s chamber – which really can only accommodate rolls half the size – I used a Creker 3D Printer Filament Spool Holder.

Loaded into my printer.

Another angle.

Using my digital calipers, I noted that the filament’s dimensional accuracy was to spec. My printer was able to handle the unusual PLA material without much issue, and my test object’s print quality proved excellent, despite a few rough spots. Even though it’s still mostly plastic, the filament does indeed feel like wood – and even smells a bit like it when printing – and the final output reflects those properties.

A post shared by Bill Loguidice (@bill_loguidice) on Aug 14, 2017 at 6:53pm PDT

A post shared by Bill Loguidice (@bill_loguidice) on Aug 15, 2017 at 3:40am PDT

As usual, if you’re looking for good quality PLA, 3D MARS has a great, unique solution with their Wood-infused product.

Finished!

A closer look.

Pluses:
– Unique filament, but still works like standard PLA
– Dimensionally accurate
– Excellent output

Minuses:
– Large roll may not work with all 3D printers
– Unlike standard PLA, has a scent when printing
– May need a bit more sanding than usual for PLA for the best finish

Summary:
A unique, quality wood-like PLA filament.

Thanks to 3D MARS for the review unit.

The post Review: 3D MARS Wood-infused PLA 3D Printing Filament appeared first on Armchair Arcade.

The box.

Inside the box.

As you expect from 3D MARS, the Black PLA comes professionally packaged in a shrinkwrapped casing complete with dry pack (desiccant) inside a cardboard box.

Locked and loaded.

Usage was straightforward. I placed it on my Creker 3D Printer Filament Spool Holder and used high quality default settings on my New Matter MOD-t. As you can see from the output, overall quality was excellent, even on my modest test printer.

A post shared by Bill Loguidice (@bill_loguidice) on Aug 14, 2017 at 6:53pm PDT

A post shared by Bill Loguidice (@bill_loguidice) on Aug 15, 2017 at 3:40am PDT

Using my digital calipers, I noted that the filament’s dimensional accuracy was to spec. My printer was able to handle the material without issue, and the final object print quality proved superior, with a nice strong structure.

Finished!

The final Fortune Cat looks great.

As usual, if you’re looking for good quality PLA, 3D MARS has a great solution with their Black.

Pluses:
– Dimensionally accurate
– Excellent material strength
– Excellent output

Minuses:
– Large roll may not work with all 3D printers

Summary:
Accurate dimensions and excellent output in a large roll of Black PLA filament add up to an excellent value.

Thanks to 3D MARS for the review unit.

The post Review: 3D MARS Black PLA 3D Printing Filament appeared first on Armchair Arcade.

The box.

The contents.

Loaded and printing.

A post shared by Bill Loguidice (@bill_loguidice) on Aug 12, 2017 at 11:24am PDT

As expected from Tactink, the Clear PLA comes professionally packaged in a shrinkwrapped casing complete with dry pack (desiccant) inside a cardboard box. You also get a second resealable storage bag for when you need to store any unused filament. My test printer is a Flux Delta+. Since the roll didn’t fit in the printer’s chamber, which really can only accommodate rolls half the size, I used a Creker 3D Printer Filament Spool Holder.

Finished!

Using my digital calipers, I noted that the filament’s dimensional accuracy was to spec. My printer was able to handle the material without issue, and the final object print quality proved excellent, with a nice strong structure. The Clear proved to be translucent when printed thin and more crystalline when printed thick.

A post shared by Bill Loguidice (@bill_loguidice) on Aug 13, 2017 at 5:34am PDT

As usual, if you’re looking for good quality PLA, Tactink has a great solution with their Clear.

This vase printed wonderfully.

Under different lighting.

Shining a light source through the filament really shows off its clear properties.

Another look.

Pluses:
– Dimensionally accurate
– Translucent when printed thin and crystalline when printed thick
– Excellent material strength

Minuses:
– Large roll may not work with all 3D printers

Summary:
Accurate dimensions, good optical properties, and reasonable pricing for a large roll of Clear PLA filament add up to an excellent purchase.

Thanks to Tactink for the review unit.

The post Review: Tactink Clear PLA 1.75mm 3D Printer Filament appeared first on Armchair Arcade.

Get 10% off on Tactink RED PLA 3D printing filament with coupon code MJVOZW94 . Amazon Purchase link. The Armchair Arcade review.

Tactink RED PLA 3D printing filament

Get 10% off on Tactink WHITE PLA 3D printing filament with coupon code 8DZWPNII . Amazon Purchase link.

Get 10% off on Tactink BLACK PLA 3D printing filament with coupon code EYLZ7O59 . Amazon Purchase link.

Tactink BLACK PLA 3D printing filament

The post Special Offer: Save 10% on Tactink PLA 3D Printing Filaments appeared first on Armchair Arcade.

The box.

Inside the box.

The Stronghero3D comes packaged inside a solid cardboard box. As expected, the spool is shrinkwrapped with a silica gel pack. The PLA raw materials are from Natureworks 4032D with a roll size of 0.75 kg (1.65 lbs) in a standard 1.75mm diameter with the expected +/-0.05mm dimensional accuracy.

The spool loaded on my printer.

The fish printed well, but my printer didn’t fuse part of the tale properly, which fell off midway through.

Usage was straightforward. I placed it on my Creker 3D Printer Filament Spool Holder and used default settings on my New Matter MOD-t. As you can see from the output, overall quality was excellent, even on my modest test printer.

The emoji printed well.

Because of the way the roll is colored, you really don’t know quite what the coloring of the final model will ultimately look like. For instance, my first prints were somewhere between a peach and a pink. While this is obviously a no-go for models that you need output as a specific, uniform color, it does create a great, distinctive look when the exact coloring doesn’t matter.

Printing with the unusual Stronghero3D multicolor PLA. Review on Armchair Arcade in a few days. #3dprinting #3dprinter #making

A post shared by Bill Loguidice (@bill_loguidice) on Jul 23, 2017 at 7:58pm PDT

Thanks to Stronghero3D for the review unit.

The final output.

A closer look.

Pluses:
– Clever concept
– Quality design
– Relatively inexpensive for an unusual filament

Minuses:
– No way to predict the coloring of the output

Summary:
If you don’t mind unpredictable color output, the quality and distinct look of this unusual 3D printer filament is rather nice.

The post Review: Stronghero3D FDM 3d printer filament PLA Multicolors Gradient appeared first on Armchair Arcade.

The box.

The contents.

Loaded on my printer.

Another angle.

The PolyLite comes packaged as you would hope, in a vacuum sealed bag (it’s even resealable) with desiccant inside a cardboard box. When you free this filament from its packaging, the first thing you’ll probably notice is the nice clear spool. I find that particularly useful, because the 3D printers I have don’t offer ways to check how much material is left. At least with this clear spool, I have a literal window into how much material is left on my spool.

A post shared by Bill Loguidice (@bill_loguidice) on Jun 17, 2017 at 8:04am PDT

In terms of dimensional accuracy, the stated specifications check out on my digital multimeter. Since this is a full 2.2 lb (1 kg) spool of filament, I’m using it with my usual Creker 3D Printer Filament Spool Holder.

Just finished printing a fortune cat.

A closer look at the fortune cat.

Performance of the PolyLite was excellent. The output was smooth, with a nice matte finish. Even using it on my modest New Matter MOD-t, the results were impressive. If you’re looking for a great value in PLA, I can highly recommend the Grey from PolyLite.

Pluses:
– Great value
– Good consistency
– Nice matte finish

Minuses:
– Large, heavy spool may not work with every printer

Summary:
An excellent value and great performance make for a great choice in Grey PLA.

Thanks to PolyLite for the review unit.

The post Review: PolyLite PLA 3D Printer Filament appeared first on Armchair Arcade.

The box.

Inside the box.

As you might expect, the Tactink comes professionally packaged in a shrinkwrapped casing complete with dry pack (desiccant) inside a cardboard box. Per usual for a full-sized spool, I’m relying on an external spool holder from Creker, which makes handling these larger rolls much easier for my modest New Matter MOD-t 3D printer.

Loading into my printer.

Another angle.

Using my digital calipers, I noted that the filament’s dimensional accuracy was to spec. My printer was able to handle the material without issue, and the final object print quality proved excellent, with a nice strong structure. The spool’s vibrant red coloring held true in the final print.

A post shared by Bill Loguidice (@bill_loguidice) on Jun 11, 2017 at 7:14pm PDT

Having had such excellent results with the red PLA from Tactink, I’m curious about some of their other colors, especially the clear. For now, I can say if you’re looking for a true red PLA that delivers quality results, Tactink has a great solution.

Just finished printing!

Another look.

Pluses:
– Dimensionally accurate
– True red coloring
– Excellent material strength

Minuses:
– Large roll may not work with all 3D printers

Summary:
Accurate dimensions, excellent coloring, strong structure, and reasonable pricing for a large roll of PLA filament add up to an excellent purchase.

Thanks to Tactink for the discounted review unit.

The post Review: Tactink Red PLA 1.75mm 3D Printer Filament appeared first on Armchair Arcade.

The box.

Inside the box.

First off, it’s packaged properly. It’s in an overwrapped cardboard box, then the filament itself is shrinkwrapped with a silica gel (desiccant) packet. As for the filament, I’m reviewing the white, and I can say it’s really white, with low reflectivity. Using my digital electronic calipers, I can confirm that my roll had consistent dimensional accuracy.

My usual white spool, on the left, is more reflective and not quite as bright white as the 3D MARS filament.

Loaded using my external spool holder.

This is a large 1.2kg spool, which is much heavier and larger than the usual .5kg spools. Fortunately, using my Creker 3D Printer Filament Spool Holder with Bearing, even my modest New Matter MOD-t 3D printer can accommodate it without issue. Since this PLA works with an extrusion temperature of 195°C – 220°C (383°F – 428°F), as long as it can handle a larger spool size, I can’t imagine any printer not being able to work with this material.

A post shared by Bill Loguidice (@bill_loguidice) on May 26, 2017 at 6:32pm PDT

A post shared by Bill Loguidice (@bill_loguidice) on May 27, 2017 at 4:49am PDT

The first print at the larger size had some slippage starting at the necks.

The second print at a smaller size came out much better.

As you can see from the images, output quality is excellent, despite my printer “slipping” from the neck up on the first cat model (unfortunately, it does that once in a while; I have two other printers on the way; Anyway, I then printed the cat models at a smaller size, which you can see resulted in no slippage) and there being a slightly stronger odor than I’m used to with PLA. Nevertheless, considering the price is less than most spools of filament half its size, it’s easy to recommend the 3D MARS filament.

Pluses:
– Well packaged
– Meets stated specifications
– Pure white color with low reflectivity
– Low price equals high value

Minuses:
– Might be too large and heavy of a spool for some printers
– Slightly stronger odor than other PLA

Summary:
If you can work with large spools of filament, the 3D MARS 3D Printing Filament (PLA) is a high quality, value-priced choice.

Thanks to 3D MARS for the review unit.

The post Review: 3D MARS 3D Printing Filament (PLA) appeared first on Armchair Arcade.