现代 3D 打印机比以往任何时候都更容易使用。它们也比早期的爱好者甚至商业模型更有能力和可靠。也许最重要的是，它们现在的定价方式使得任何想要的人都能负担得起。
我们精选了 500 美元以下的 10 款最佳 3D 打印机。每台打印机都受到相当数量的现实世界客户的高度评价，并且具有一两个功能，使它们与市场上数百台其他 3D 打印机不同。
如果您还不熟悉 3D 打印机术语，我们强烈建议您阅读HDG 说明：3D 打印如何工作？(HDG Explains : How Does 3D Printing Work?)(HDG Explains : How Does 3D Printing Work?)在继续之前！请(Please)注意，本文包含附属链接，其销售有助于我们创建这样的精彩内容！
负担得起的 3D 打印机的“最大”问题是它们往往太小。这意味着，如果您想打印比可动人偶更大的项目，您必须为获得特权付出一大笔钱。
Creality CR-10 V2(Creality CR-10 V2)位于我们此列表预算的上限，并提供非常宽敞的 300x300x400mm 构建体积。这款 V2 型号对原始CR-10进行了多项升级，其中包括更好的构建材料、更安静的操作以及在构建因某种原因必须停止时恢复打印功能。
如果您想以 500 美元的价格进行大尺寸、安静且可靠的打印， Creality(Creality)的这款新改进的大男孩打印机似乎没有太多竞争。
大多数 3D 打印机都有一个单一的材料挤出机，这意味着您只能使用一种类型的单色灯丝来打印您的项目。X-Pro 提供价格为 500 美元的双挤出机打印机，可以同时打印多种材料和两种颜色。
像这样的双挤出机系统可以进行一些真正复杂的 3D 打印。例如，您可以打印同时具有硬质和柔性材料的模型。这显然比单一材料打印要复杂得多，但是以这个价格拥有一台可以使用两种独立材料进行打印的打印机是一件大事。
X-Pro有一些智能功能。例如磁性连接的床和侧板。它还具有不错的构建体积，并且由于它是封闭的，因此您在打印过程中应该具有良好的温度稳定性。如果您想进行多材料打印，这是我们所知道的最便宜的选择。
快速(Fast)、节省空间的立式(Space-efficient Vertical)打印机：FLSUN Mini Delta 3D 打印机(FLSUN Mini Delta 3D Printer)
市场上的大多数 3D 打印机，尤其是预算部分的打印机，都是“笛卡尔”打印机。也就是说，他们使用三轴打印头，在构建体积内使用XYZ坐标。(XYZ)Delta机器人打印机（例如FLSUN Mini Delta）使用不同的方法将打印头移至构建体积内的所需位置。
打印头连接到三个上下独立垂直导轨的臂上。通过改变每个手臂的高度，头部可以在构建空间内自由摆动。
像这样的Delta(Delta)机器人打印机比笛卡尔打印机更快，可以打印需要在笛卡尔打印机中切片的高模型，并且可以更好地打印曲面。缺点是它们不能完全达到与笛卡尔等效的分辨率和精度水平。
Mini Delta价格实惠，与总体积相比占地面积小，并提供时尚的全金属设计。如果您需要 delta 机器人设计的特定优势，这是一个很好的预算条目。
最佳预算高分辨率树脂打印机(Best Budget High-resolution Resin Printer)：LONGER Orange 30
不久前，树脂印刷被保留给价值数百万美元的工程设施。现在树脂打印机已经牢牢地进入了消费领域，这款Orange 30是我们见过的最实惠的机型之一。
Orange 30可实现的精确和精细的打印效果令人难以置信。它使用 2560×1440 LCD屏幕来遮盖每个打印层，从而实现复杂的结构和令人惊叹的打印效果。它还使用UV LED(UV LEDs)矩阵进行固化，确保整个LCD屏幕上的 UV 光水平均匀。
这种基于 LCD 的SLA（立体光刻）是对已使用数十年的传统工业快速原型制作方法的一种新方法。这是利用现有消费技术实现新事物的明智方式。如果您不想构建结构模型并且主要关心美学，那么这必须靠近您的列表顶部。
您可以购买的第一台家用 3D 打印机并不适合普通用户。他们需要大量的组装、设置和维护。多年来，我们不得不建立公平份额的 3D 打印机，这是它们在很长一段时间内没有成为主流的关键原因。
FlashForge Finder提供简单、用户友好的打印机体验。它的设计还可以安全使用，圆角并在需要时大量使用塑料。打印机的操作通过带有友好图形界面的彩色触摸屏进行。它很安静，辅助调平并与WiFi配合使用，因此您可以将它放在任何地方。它几乎是完美的入门级 3D 打印机。
Phrozen Sonic Mini(Phrozen Sonic Mini)使用与Longer Orange 30相同的(Longer Orange 30)LCD固化系统，但价格要低得多。最大的权衡是打印分辨率的降低，但在这个价格范围内， Sonic Mini仍然可以比任何挤压打印机更好地实现精细细节。
Sonic Mini的一项非常酷的功能是其广泛的树脂兼容性。您不必坚持使用第一方树脂甚至LCD树脂。这款打印机甚至可以与DLP投影仪打印机树脂一起使用！PHROZEN将其LCD的使用寿命定为 2000 小时，因此除非您出于其他原因决定升级，否则您也可能会从这款入门级机器获得多年的服务。
就 3D 打印机而言，Creality Ender 3是“足够好”的定义。这是一款开放式设计机器，具有挤压式笛卡尔打印机应具备的所有最重要功能。
这是一台开源(Source)机器，这意味着那些喜欢修补和定制的人可以真正进入机器的软件核心，或者从社区模块中受益。虽然它是半组装以降低成本，但组装似乎很容易，以至于他们推荐它作为儿童项目。
构建量非常可观，并且您可以获得传统的高级功能，例如以优惠的价格恢复打印。如果您对 3D 打印感到好奇，并希望在基本坚固的机器上获得良好的第一次体验，那么Ender 3看起来就是适合您的工作。
这款来自JG Maker(JG Maker)的低于 200 美元的 3D 打印机跨越了基本的业余级涉猎打印机和更严肃的机器之间的界限。它具有开放式床设计和不错的构建体积，因此您应该能够打印最有用的物品，而不仅仅是小玩意。最重要的是，它有一个灯丝跳动传感器，可以让您恢复打印。价格惊人的功能！
您也可以从 SD 卡打印模型，这意味着您的打印机和计算机不必彼此靠近。WiFi本来是一个不错的功能，但拥有一个sneakernet解决方案比被迫将机器连接到PC要好。
在您的预算中增加 100 美元将在性能、构建体积、噪音水平和整体体验方面获得良好的收益。如果这对你的血液来说太丰富了，那么魔法(Magic)是一个很好的选择。
CR-100 Mini采用儿童友好的红色或黄色卡车设计，适用于任何早熟的年轻工程师的教室或卧室。这台打印机不需要任何组装，它具有自动调平功能，并且具有相当小的构建体积。不是一台你可以真正用来制作实用物品的打印机，但它非常适合制作玩具模型和教小孩子们几乎肯定会在成年后必须使用的技术。
它足够小，可以远离无人监督的手，也足够便宜，可以让学校大量购买。
影子(Shadow)不需要太多解释。它是一款构建体积小、分辨率高的机器。它非常适合想要制作不适合承重或耐用的详细人物和其他模型或原型的任何人。
对于这个价格，它处于冲动购买领域，但它的价格将比大多数挤出机型打印机好很多倍。如果您希望将您的龙与地下城爱好(Dungeons)提升(Dragons)到一个新的水平，这绝对是您将获得的最佳优惠！
现实世界的复制者？
虽然我们还没有完全达到你在星际迷航(Star Trek)中看到的现实世界的复制机，但仍然令人难以置信的是，你可以从这些最好的 3D 打印机中购买相当于桌面生产设备的设备。低于 500 美元。
无论(Whether)您只是想体验这项技术，还是想为您的新 3D 打印机提供实际应用，毫无疑问，这是当今最酷的小工具之一。
对于 3D 打印机的用途，您有什么好主意吗？在评论中分享(Share)它们，让我们知道您为什么想要一台 3D 打印机，或者自从得到它后您用您的打印机做了什么。
10 Best 3D Printers for Beginners Under $500
Modern 3D printers are much easier to use than they’vе ever been. They are also much morе capablе and reliable than early hobbyists and even сommercіal modelѕ. Perhaps most importantly, they are now priced in such a way that anyone who wants one can afford it.
We’ve pulled together a selection of 10 of the best 3D printers under $500. Each one is highly rated by a decent number of real-world customers and has one or two features that set them apart from the hundreds of other 3D printers on the market.
If you’re not already familiar with 3D printer jargon, we strongly recommend you read HDG Explains : How Does 3D Printing Work? before proceeding! Please note that this article contains affiliate links, sales of which help us create great content like this!
The “biggest” problem with affordable 3D printers is that they tend to be too small. Which means if you want to print projects that are larger than an action figure you have to fork out a sizable stack of money for the privilege.
The Creality CR-10 V2 comes in at the upper limit of our budget for this list and offers a very spacious 300x300x400mm build volume. This V2 model boasts a number of upgrades over the original CR-10, not least of which includes better build materials, quieter operation and a print resume function if the build has to stop for some reason.
If you want large, quiet and reliable printing at the $500 price point there doesn’t seem to be all that much competition for this newly-refined big-boy printer from Creality.
Budget Dual Material Printing: QIDI TECH X-Pro
Most 3D printers have a single material extruder, which means you can only print your project using one type of filament in a single color. The X-Pro offers a dual-extruder printer at the $500 price point that can print in a variety of materials as well as in two colors at once.
A dual-extruder system like this allows for some truly complex 3D prints. For example, you can print a model that has both hard and flexible materials.This is obviously more complex than single material prints, but having a printer that can print using two independent materials at this price is a big deal.
The X-Pro has some smart features. Such as the magnetically attached bed and side panels. It also has a decent build volume and, since it’s enclosed, you should have good temperature stability during your print. If you want to get into multi-material printing, this is the cheapest option we’re aware of.
Most 3D printers on the market, especially in the budget segment, are “cartesian” printers. That is, they use a three-axis print head using XYZ coordinates within the build volume. Delta robot printers such as the FLSUN Mini Delta use a different method of getting the print head to its desired location inside the build volume.
The print head is attached to three arms that run up and down independent vertical rails. By varying the height of each arm, the head can swing freely within the build space.
Delta robot printers like this are faster than cartesian printers, can print tall models that would need slicing in cartesian printers and can do a better job of printing curved surfaces. The downside is that they can’t quite reach the same level of resolution and precision as a cartesian equivalent.
The Mini Delta comes in at a fantastic price, has a small footprint compared to its total build volume and offers a stylish all-metal design. If you need the specific advantages of the delta robot design, this is a good budget entry.
Best Budget High-resolution Resin Printer: LONGER Orange 30
It wasn’t too long ago that resin printing was reserved for multi-million dollar engineering facilities. Now resin printers have firmly entered the consumer space and this Orange 30 is one of the best affordable models we’ve seen.
The precision and finely detailed prints that are possible with the Orange 30 are incredible. It uses a 2560×1440 LCD screen to mask each of the print layers, allowing for complex structures and stunning prints. It also uses a matrix of UV LEDs for curing, ensuring uniform levels of UV light across the LCD screen.
This LCD-based SLA (stereolithography) is a new approach to the traditional industrial rapid prototyping method that’s been in use for decades. It’s a smart way to use existing consumer technology to achieve something new. If you don’t want to build structural models and care mainly about aesthetics, this has got to be near the top of your list.
The first 3D printers that you could buy for home use were not meant for the casual user. They needed significant assembly, setup and maintenance. We’ve had to build our fair share of 3D printers over the years and this is a key reason they’ve not been mainstream for such a long time.
The FlashForge Finder offers a simple, user-friendly printer experience. It’s also designed to be safe to use, with rounded corners and liberal use of plastic where needed. Operation of the printer happens through a color touch screen with a friendly graphical interface. It’s quiet, has assisted leveling and works with WiFi, so you can put it anywhere. It’s pretty much the perfect entry-level 3D printer.
The Phrozen Sonic Mini uses the same LCD curing system as the Longer Orange 30, but comes in at a significantly lower price. The biggest trade off is a reduction in print resolution, but the Sonic Mini can still achieve fine detail better than any extrusion printer at this price range.
One very cool feature of the Sonic Mini is its wide resin compatibility. You don’t have to stick to first party resin or even LCD resin. This printer will even work with DLP projector printer resins! PHROZEN rates the lifespan of their LCD at 2000 hours, so you’re also likely to get years of service from this entry-level machine unless you decide to upgrade for other reasons.
The Creality Ender 3 is the very definition of “good enough” when it comes to 3D printers. It’s an open design machine that has all the most important features an extrusion-type Cartesian printer should have.
It’s an Open Source machine, which means those who like to tinker and customize can really get into the software guts of the machine, or benefit from community mods. While it is semi-assembled to cut down costs, it seems assembly is so easy that they recommend it as a project for children.
The build volume is more than decent and you get traditionally premium features such as print resuming at a great price. If you’re curious about 3D printing and want a good first experience with a fundamentally solid machine, the Ender 3 looks like the one for the job.
Best For Hobbyists With Small Budgets: JGMAKER Magic
This sub-$200 3D printer from JG Maker straddles the line between a basic hobby-grade dabbling printer and more serious machinery. It’s got an open bed design and a decent build volume, so you should be in a position to print most useful items and not just small curiosities. Most importantly it has a filament runout sensor and allows you to resume printing. Fantastic features at the price!
You can print models from an SD card as well, which means your printer and your computer don’t have to be anywhere near each other. WiFi would have been a nice feature, but having a sneakernet solution is better than being forced to tether the machine to a PC.
Adding $100 to your budget will see good gains in performance, build volume, noise level and the overall experience. If that’s just too rich for your blood then the Magic is an excellent choice.
Available in a kid-friendly red or yellow truck design, the CR-100 Mini is priced for the classroom or the bedroom of any precocious young engineer. This printer doesn’t require any assembly, it has automatic bed-leveling and sports a rather tiny build volume. Not a printer you could really make practical items with, but perfect for making toy models and teaching the little ones about the technology they’ll almost certainly have to use as adults.
It’s small enough to lock away from unsupervised hands and cheap enough to enable bulk purchases by schools.
The Shadow doesn’t need much explanation. It’s a high-resolution machine with a small build volume. It’s perfect for anyone who wants to make detailed figures and other models or prototypes that aren’t meant to be load-bearing or durable.
For this price it’s in impulse-buy territory but it will outperform most extruder-type printers at many times the price. If you’re looking to take your Dungeons & Dragons hobby to the next level, this is absolutely the best deal you’re going to get!
Real-world Replicators?
While we’re not quite there yet when it comes to real-world replicators like the ones you’ve seen in Star Trek, it’s still mind-boggling that you can buy what amounts to a desktop production facility from these best 3D printers for well under $500.
Whether you just want to play with the technology or have practical applications for your new 3D printer, there’s no doubt that this is one of the coolest gadgets to own today.
Do you have any cool ideas when it comes to what a 3D printer can be used for? Share them in the comments and let us know why you want a 3D printer or what you’ve done with yours since getting it.
