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You can easily get confused while shopping for the best 3D printers under $3000. There are so many options on the market, from large format 3D printers to plug-and-play 3D printers. But we are here to help you. With this guide to the best 3D printers under $3000, you can choose from an already compiled list of products. Because you are willing to put $3000 on a 3D printer, it is safe to assume that you are not interested in budget 3D printers of less than $1000.
For this manual, we set the minimum price to $1000, excluding popular products such as the FlashForge Creator Pro and the Creality CR-10S. That said, our “budget” product here is well over $1000 and is not something that you would typically consider a budget 3D printer. Let’s have a look at the best 3D printers under $3000 in our comparison table, and then we’ll discuss them one-by-one.
Finding the best 3D printers under $3000 can be a challenging and time-consuming job, especially for those who are new to 3D printing. For this list, we focused on high-quality 3D printers for the consumer, also known as desktop 3D printers. We did not consider the most expensive 3D printers on the market, because the prices can reach above 3000 dollars and are exclusively industrial 3D printers. Let us know your thoughts on our list of best 3D printers under 3000 dollars in the comments section below.
List of the best 3D printers under $3000
Ultimaker 2+
The Ultimaker 2+ is one of the best 3D printers under $3000 on the market and is the first product you need to pay attention to when buying the best 3D printers under $3000. It is known for its precision and for being a reliable workhorse that can print non-stop for days on end, making it a highly recommended 3D printer for both professionals and hobbyists. Although it looks like it has a full casing, the Ultimaker 2+ is a semi-enclosed 3D printer with an open top and front.
It has a sturdy frame that contributes to overall stability and comes with a well-constructed configuration of a single extruder. Under the opening at the front, the Ultimaker 2+ has an LCD interface with dial operation and an SD card slot. Because the USB port on the back of the device is intended for firmware updates only, the file transfer from the box is limited to the SD card option. You can perform some upgrades and add a USB file transfer option or an OctoPrint installation, or both if you want the full set.
It is relatively easy to set up the Ultimaker 2+. It comes assembled from the box, so no large assembly is required. The only thing you could give problems during the first installation is the manual bed calibration process. In a few hours, you should be able to install the software, load the filament, level the print bed, tinker with the settings, and start printing. Because the Ultimaker 2+ has an active community, you can see what other users did during the initial installation, making their out-of-the-gate experience smoother. Overall, this is one of the best 3D printers under 3000 dollars.
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Pros:
- High-resolution prints
- Good build volume
- Sturdy frame
- Heated print bed
- Reliable and easy to use
- Open material system
Cons:
- Limited connectivity options
- High noise level
LulzBot Mini 2
The LulzBot Mini 2 is proof that great 3D printers are also delivered in small packages. It is the little brother of the TAZ 6, which is also on this list. It sells for well under $3000, making it one of the most affordable and best 3D printers under $3000. Of course, other products are $ 100-200 cheaper, but the Mini offers the best overall quality. The Mini is a 3D printer with an open frame and has a sturdy aluminum frame, making it much more stable and more robust than 3D printers with acrylic frames.
LulzBot 3D printers are known for their reliability and robust construction, and the Mini is no exception. It comes with an integrated power supply box, which reduces the footprint of the machine, making the Mini an excellent desktop 3D printer. At first glance, the Mini 2 looks a lot like the TAZ 6. But apart from the noticeable difference in physical dimensions, there is another easily noticeable difference between the two products: the TAZ 6 has an LCD interface on the power supply unit while the Mini it does not. Without a built-in interface, the file transfer on the Mini 2 is limited to a USB connection, which means that your computer must be open during printing.
Although the USB connection on the Mini 2 is reliable, several factors can disrupt your printing, such as a forced shutdown or accidental disconnection of the USB cable. The good news is that you can easily add an LCD interface for transferring SD cards or an OctoPrint installation for remote print management. Since the Mini 2 only costs you around $1500, you have a lot of extra money for upgrades. And overall, this is one of the best 3D printers under 3000 dollars.
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Pros:
- Open-source
- Rigid aluminum frame
- Extremely easy to use
- An automatic bed leveling system
- Great print quality
- Heated print bed with excellent adhesion
Cons:
- Limited build size
- No LCD interface
- USB file transfer only
MakerGear M3
Like the LulzBot Mini, the MakerGear M3 comes from an American company. It is a medium-sized 3D printer with an open frame and a single extruder setup, with the option to upgrade to a double extruder setup. If you want a 3D printer for a workhorse, the M3 is one of the best 3D printers under $3000. Produced in Ohio, the M3 comes assembled out of the box. It has a sturdy frame with an integrated spool holder, which reduces the overall footprint of the machine. The electronics, moving parts, and cables are all well secured, giving the M3 a clean and professional profile.
Unlike most 3D printers, the M3 comes standard with a glass bed. The print bed is heated, which opens the door to materials with high temperatures. Setting up the M3 is simple. MakerGear contains a good manual, which makes the first installation less frustrating, although the manual can use polishing in different areas. You should be able to go through the initial setup within a few hours. In case you need help, many videos on the internet can help you. The M3 also has an active community, so you can ask other users in case you encounter some problems during the first installation.
The M3 is one of the best 3D printers with high resolution on the market. When it comes to overall print quality, people often compare it with the LulzBot TAZ 6. It can produce accurate and smooth 3D models with the right settings. If you want to be able to print consistently in high resolution, you have to do a lot of tinkering beforehand. Bringing the M3 to such a level can be challenging and frustrating, so do not expect to get it done after just a few hours of adjustments to the software. Overall, this is one of the best 3D printers under 3000 dollars.
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Pros:
- Good build volume
- Glass print bed
- Excellent print quality
- Easy to set up
- Good customer support
- Active online community
Cons:
- High noise level
- Open structure
Zortrax M200
The Zortrax M200 is another 3D printer for workhorses. It comes from a Polish company that focuses on making 3D printing easier for professionals. If you want a 3D printer that can reliably produce quality prints, the M200 is a reliable option and is one of the best 3D printers under $3000. Originally the M200 was an open structured machine, similar to the Ultimaker 2+. Zortrax has made some changes since the original M200 release, with the current model now sporting side panels.
Although the top is still open, the current shape of the M200 is now better protected against dust and other objects and is much better at printing with high-temperature materials. Because the M200 can be easily removed from the box, it can be considered a plug-and-play 3D printer with an initial setup time of 30 minutes to an hour. The print bed is relatively comfortable to level, and the filament, which is fed from a built-in bobbin holder on the back of the machine, is simple enough to load into the feeder. Installing software is also easy.
With the right settings, the M200 can produce 3D models with impressive print quality. And with the heated print bed, it can also print with more advanced materials such as ABS and flexible filaments. However, you need a full enclosure for individual filaments, so make sure you know what you are getting into before you try advanced materials. Overall, it is one of the best 3D printers under 3000 dollars.
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Pros:
- Plug-and-play setup
- Comes assembled
- Now includes official side covers
- Consistent print quality
- Good build volume
- Sturdy frame
Cons:
- Closed-source
- The built-in spool holder is too small
Raise3D N2
The Raise3D N2 is similar to the LulzBot TAZ 6 because it offers high-resolution printing and a large build volume. It can also print with different materials, including materials with high temperatures, from different brands, thanks to the open material system. What distinguishes the N2 from the TAZ 6 is that it offers a complete housing out of the box. With the TAZ 6, you have to build or buy your housing. The N2 was designed by a company with Kickstarter roots and is a large format 3D printer housed in a rigid metal frame.
It has a large footprint and is much heavier than most non-industrial 3D printers. The single extruder N2 costs about $ 2,800, while the twin extruder model is only a hair of less than $ 3,000. If you do not plan to dive in multi-color prints and complex 3D models that require soluble carriers, take the single-extruder N2. The N2 is assembled out of the box. No large assembly is necessary during the first installation. You can start printing within an hour. Charging the filament is simple, and leveling the bed is simple. It features a heated bed with print and an easy-to-use 7-inch touchscreen interface.
Unfortunately, the current model of the N2 still lacks a built-in camera, which would have made print printing more convenient. The N2 stands out not only because of its imposing physical dimensions but also because of its officially noted maximum low resolution of 10 microns. It can produce stunning, high-resolution prints when it is correctly calibrated. But although it is worth drooling, it is not easy to give the N2 a perfect calibration. A significant amount of craftwork is required before you can print consistently in high resolutions. Overall, this is one of the best 3D printers under 3000 dollars.
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Pros:
- Large build volume
- Fully enclosed
- Rigid metal frame
- High-resolution prints
- Intuitive touchscreen interface
- Open material system
Cons:
- Large machine footprint
- Not easy to move around