Best 3D Printers in 2023

3D Software

There are a lot of software tools to choose from, from open source to industrial grade. It is advisable for beginners to start with Tinkercad, which can be utilized in your browser without installing it on your computer. It is free and works without restrictions. It walks you through beginner lessons and generates an exportable file, such as OBJ or STL, that you can print once you’ve mastered the lessons. You then need to slice your model to prepare it for your 3D printer.

Slicing: From printable file to 3D printer

In the world of 3D printing, slicing is the process of taking a printable file and converting it into a set of files that can be used to print an object. This process is done by software that is commonly referred to as a slicer. The first step in slicing is finding the right software. There are many slicers available on the internet, but there are also many free ones that you can download and use.

Types of 3D Printing Technologies and Processes

ASTM has established a group of standards that categorizes additive manufacturing processes into seven categories:

1. Vat Photopolymerisation
   • Stereolithography (SLA)
   • Digital Light Processing (DLP)
   • Continuous Liquid Interface Production (CLIP)
2. Material Jetting
3. Binder Jetting
4. Material Extrusion
   • Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)
   • Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF)
5. Powder Bed Fusion
   • Multi Jet Fusion (MJF)
   • Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)
   • Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS)
6. Sheet Lamination
7. Directed Energy Deposition

Vat Photopolymerization

A Vat Photopolymerization-based 3D printer contains a photopolymer resin container. UV light is used to harden the resin in a layer-by-layer fashion.

Stereolithography (SLA)

Charles Hull invented SLA in 1986, as well as 3D Systems, which developed stereolithography technology. SLA uses a vat of photopolymer resin that cures by UV light and an ultraviolet laser to create object layers one after the other. For every layer, the laser beam draws a cross-section of the part pattern on the resin’s surface. The laser cures and hardens the substance as it traces the pattern on the substance, leaving it stuck to the layer below. The elevator then descends a distance corresponding to a single layer thickness, usually 0.05 mm to 0.15 mm (0.002″ to 0.006″). A blade filled with risen then sweeps over the cross-section of the part, coating it with fresh material. The next layer is then drawn on this fresh surface, connecting the previous layer. In SLA, the use of support is often required in order to ensure the best results.

Digital Light Processing (DLP)

In DLP, a photosensitive polymer is used to print using light. SLA utilizes light from a laser, while DLP utilizes other types of light sources. DLP is comparatively fast when compared to other 3D printing methods.

Continuous Liquid Interface Production (CLIP)

CLIP is one of the fastest Vat Photopolymerisation processes, which is created by Carbon and marketed by 3D Carbon. Digital Light Synthesis is used at the core of CLIP. A custom high-power LED light engine projects UV images that partially cure UV-curable resin. As a result, the resin partially cures in a precisely controlled manner as the UV image exposes a cross-section of the 3D-printed part. A thin interface of uncured resin forms between the window and the printed part, which is known as the dead zone because it is permeable to oxygen and has a thickness of about 10 microns.

Material Jetting

A material is dripped through a tiny nozzle in a manner similar to how an inkjet paper printer operates, but it is layered and hardened by UV light in this process.

Binder Jetting

Binder jetting uses both powders and liquids. In order to stick the powder particles together, the nozzles used during binding injection create liquid jets that flow over the powdered material in even layers and bind it together. The finished print is washed and the powder is removed, which can be reused to create the next object. The procedure was invented in 1993 by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Material Extrusion

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)

An extrusion nozzle melts plastic filament and controls its flow. Numerically controlled mechanisms control the horizontal and vertical positioning of a nozzle that extrudes molten material. The material is extruded and quickly solidifies after it exits the nozzle. It is then extruded to create layers as the material hardens. FDM works by supplying melted plastic to a nozzle that controls the flow.

Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF)

To avoid legal restrictions, the RepRap project members coined the phrase Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF). They wanted to use the term Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) but were advised that this might cause legal problems because Stratasys, a company that sells fused deposition modeling machines, holds a patent on the technology.

The FFF process is similar to the one used by commercial fused deposition modeling machines. The difference is that the RepRap machine uses plastic filament instead of pellets of plastic and does not require support structures.

Powder Bed Fusion

Multi Jet Fusion (MJF)

Hewlett Packard developed Multi Jet Fusion technology, which uses a sweeping arm to apply a powder layer, and then an inkjet to apply an adhesive over the material. The inkjets also deposit an edge-finishing agent to ensure dimensional accuracy and smooth surfaces. Finally, thermal energy is used to cure the material.

Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)

Using a high-powered laser, SLS fuses small particles of powder into a three-dimensional mass. The laser scans the cross-sections (or layers) on the surface of a powder bed and fuses the powder selectively. Once each cross-section has been scanned, the powder bed is lowered by one layer thickness. A new layer of material is then applied and the process is repeated until the object is finished.

Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS)

In DMLS, metal powder is used instead of filament to create objects. The powder is used as a support structure for the object, and any unused powder remains as it is. As a result of the increased laser power, DMLS is able to produce more accurate and detailed objects. The metal powder is fused together by the laser, layer by layer, to create a solid object.

Sheet Lamination

Sheet lamination utilizes sheets of metal, paper, or some sort of polymer that are adhered together with external force. Ultrasonic welding is utilized to weld together metal sheets into layers, after which they are CNC milled into the proper shape. Paper sheets may also be utilized, but they are adhered together using adhesive glue and then cut into the appropriate shape using precise blades.

Directed Energy Deposition

The deposition process begins with a laser beam melting the metal powder and depositing it onto the surface of a powder bed. The laser beam is directed by mirrors and an optical system that can control the direction of the laser beam. This allows for 3D printing of complex objects with moving parts, such as gears or cogs, on a single print bed. The laser beam can be directed to deposit metal powder in a specific pattern to create the desired shape.

Resin vs Filament 3D Printing

A UV image is projected onto a liquid resin using an SLA/DLP printer to create a solid layer. The resin is then cured by light. The cheaper models use an LCD screen to produce a UV image, which then solidifies as a layer. With a standard filament printer, you can print models with very fine details, but you will need a build area that is much larger than the usual one. Now that the print bed rises slightly, the next layer can cure. As a result, you can create finished products with much less postprocessing.

The downside is that they do not have the same build plates as filament (FDM) printers, so you cannot make large items on them. They are also slower than FDM printers since they need to cure. After the print has been printed, you must wash and cure it again to obtain maximum effect. Both of these issues have been addressed in recent years. You may now purchase a wash and cure station that will accelerate the curing process, and Peopoly has released Phenom, a large resin printer that will print your parts.

You are most likely familiar with the style of printing known as Fused deposition modeling (FDM). Plastic filament is melted through a hot end and deposited on the build plate in FDM 3D printing. The next layer is then added on top of the previous layer to create 3D objects. FDM printers are utilized by makers all over the world because they are versatile and simple to set up. FDM printing is wonderful for producing real objects. It is simple to learn and set up. FDM printing is great at producing practical prints. FDM printers are frequently utilized by maker communities all over the world because they are cheap and reliable. They may be used to create substantial models and moving parts.

FDM printing can be ground if you desire to create smaller models in higher detail. It is not to say that a well-tuned FDM printer can’t provide you with nice detail; they can. You can see that the Joker model created by Wekster is nicer than the plastic version, even though it doesn’t look as good as the resin version.

So, which should you buy?

The right printer will vary depending on what type of printing you want to do. You may be looking for miniatures for board games, high-quality models, or production-quality parts. An SLA/DLP printer will provide the greatest degree of resolution. If you’re looking to create large-scale models, cosplay outfits, or prototypes, an FDM 3D printer is probably your best bet. It gives you a huge range of choices at a great price.