Best 3d printer under $300 – Top Reviews and Buying Guide 2023
Best 3d printer under $300 help you create high-quality metal components and prototypes today while consuming less time, energy, and materials. We have tested 50+ models over the past 3 months and found out different results against different printers.
Corporations and innovators are increasingly thinking about investing in technology that is fast and user-friendly while delivering excellent results.
Many people may now afford 3D printing because of its cheaper cost. Anyone wishing to start into the hobby has a lot of wonderful alternatives available in the cheap 3D printer category. Finding the cheap printer that best meets your needs can, however, become confusing with the wide variety of alternatives available. If you are a miniatures lover then you can also check this best 3d printer for miniatures.
Table of Contents
Best 3d printer under $300
We’ll discuss our top selections for the best 3D printer under $300 in this article. We’ve divided up these printers into several categories and provided a list of factors you should take into consideration before making a purchase.
It is important to recognize that while these less affordable solutions won’t produce the same high-quality results, they will therefore function. Cups, pots, figurines, phone covers, toys, replacement components, and much more may be produced with 3D printers. You should always make sure to look up a 3D printer’s characteristics and reviews online before making a purchase when it comes to selecting the best one.
Advantages of the 3D printer under $300
Small-budget 3D printers under $300 are an excellent method for newcomers, artists, educators, small company owners, or those who start their own 3D printer business.
They may both help you test your abilities and be utilized as a trial project because they are affordable. Regardless of cost, they deliver excellent outcomes.
Additionally, 3D printing allows for invention and expands the creativity of beginners, kids, or students by enabling the creation of mathematical or other complicated patterns that older technologies are unable to achieve.
3d printer provides great benefits for the supply chain process as well as for printing, which both improve your abilities and help your firm.
Top 5 Best 3d printers under $300
1. Anycubic Kobra – Top pick
2. Sovol SV01 – Budget Printer
3. Tronxy XY-2 – Quick Installation
4. Anycubic Mega S – Top Notch 3D Printer
5. Voxelab Aquila – Affordable
1. Anycubic Kobra – Top pick
The simplest model in the new Kobra family of FDM 3D printers is the Anycubic Kobra. To stay up with current 3D printing requirements, it provides extensive functionality.
Anycubic’s in-house created bed leveling mechanism aids in leveling your bed prior to printing. This will guarantee a first layer that is smooth and that your prints stick nicely to the bed. You have better control over the filaments and can print with flexible materials like TPU and TPE when using a direct extruder.
The build platform of this 3D printer is made of PEI-coated spring steel, making it simpler to adhere to and remove 3D prints. The huge 4.3-inch vertical touchscreen makes it easy to navigate the user experience.
This printer is a fantastic choice whether you’re a student, a hobbyist, or a novice seeking a high-quality FDM 3D printer at a reasonable cost.
Top Features:
- 3D printer with Intelligent Auto Leveling
- Large Print Size and Faster Printing
- Incredibly Smooth Printing
- Magnetic Removeable Platform
- LCD touch screen
- The touchscreen interface is simple and easy to use.
- Many different types of materials are compatible.
- simple assembly procedure
- Support for slicers isn’t very good.
- Feels plasticky
2. Sovol SV01 – Budget Printer
The highest build volume for a 3D printer under $300 is provided by Sovol’s SV01, which measures 280x240x300 mm. Large items may therefore be printed without needing to cut them up into smaller parts. For instance, this makes it simple to 3D print cosplay props.
With a build volume of 280 x 240 x 300 mm, you can create substantial prints. This goes beyond the Enders.
As opposed to Ender’s Bowden, the Sovol has a direct drive extruder. This is appropriate for filaments like TPU that are flexible and abrasive. Additionally, direct driving prevents overstringing. The drawback of these extruders is that they slow down printing.
The SV01’s glass bed enables better sticking while the process is running as well as better removal afterward.
The SV01’s filament identification, restart printing functionality that defends against a power outage, and thermal runaway precautions are among its top-notch safety and quality-of-life features.
The big print capacity of the Sovol SV01 3D printer might not suit everyone’s requirements. However, it provides a large build volume at a fair cost for people who are interested in 3D printing helmets, armor, or other costume accessories.
Top Features:
- Removable Glass Plate
- Semi assembled Kits
- Additionally, a power supply helps shield your printer from unexpected power spikes.
- Our whole product line is sent to customers straight from the manufacturer.
- Large print volumes enable larger prints.
- Simple to set up
- There are excellent safety features.
- It is simple to put together even for beginners.
- Fan noise may be annoying.
- It is not practicable to put the filament sensor there.
3. Tronxy XY-2 – Quick Installation
One of the greatest 3D printers for beginners is the Tronxy XY-2, a somewhat uncommon model. It is simple to set up, easy to use, and reasonably priced. The touchscreen of the XY-2 is simple to use and intuitive.
The Tronxy XY-2’s automatic bed leveling is another wonderful feature. To determine if the bed is leveled or not, a sensor monitors 26 locations on the mattress. The interface indicates which knobs to use to level the bed if it isn’t already level.
Sadly, this 3D printer has a reputation for being a loud Nancy. Consider adopting another one if you want your printer to be an excellent, quiet little printer.
Moreover, the print quality may be better. Additionally, since the print surface is poor, erasing prints might be difficult.
Having said that, we unquestionably advise the Tronxy XY-2 for someone just beginning their 3D printing career.
Top Features:
- A user-friendly interface
- Quick Installation
- Has a lot of features
- Best for beginner
- Because of the enormous size, you may create bigger prints.
- Auto bed level saves time.
- Simple to set up
- Louder voice
- The print quality is only fair.
4. Anycubic Mega S – Top Notch 3D Printer
The ANYCUBIC Mega S performs an excellent job at producing top-notch 3D prints while maintaining the printer’s affordability. You can’t expect it to function in the same way as its more costly competitors because it is an entry-level printer. The printer is simple to put together, so you won’t need assistance from a professional.
The improved Titan extruder on this printer allows more accurate extrusion. You receive more precise prints without any clogging problems due to its mechanical design and filament drive, which guarantee compatibility with the majority of filaments. You won’t have to worry about losing your work in the event of a power loss since the printer will continue from the last point it saved.
Additionally, the printer contains a sensor that will stop printing if the filaments run out. The maximum print capacity for the Mega S is 8.27 x 8.27 x 8.07 inches. The ANYCUBIC Ultrabase, a proprietary component of the printer, provides superior adherence for your prints thanks to its micro-porous layer.
The printer’s user-friendly and responsive TFT touchscreen makes it simple to use. With every transaction, ANYCUBIC provides consumers with lifelong technical support and customer care.
Top Features:
- The double-rod motor outperforms the conventional clutch motor in terms of durability.
- TFT Touch Screen: As responsive as using a phone
- When experiencing power disruptions, one click will restart from the previous place that was recorded.
- With 8 screws and 3 cables, ANYCUBIC Mega S 3D printer can print objects quickly.
- fantastic print quality considering the cost
- Auto bed level saves time.
- Simple to set up
- Some people may find the positioning of the filament sensor strange.
- Fan noise may be rather loud.
5. Voxelab Aquila – Affordable
It’s simple to understand why so many people choose the Voxelab Aquila 3D printer. The price is below $200. This printer heats up in about five minutes and is remarkably quiet. You won’t have any deformed prints because of the carbon crystal silicon glass plate. Because of its V-profile pulley, the printer moves smoothly.
Through its improved feeding module, the Aquila additionally guarantees steady feeding. It has a color screen and a rotary knob, making the printer simple to use. It features a power-off feature to prevent any unforeseen shutdowns, and after you boot it back up, you can immediately pick up where you left off with printing.
The Aquila has an easy-to-use XY axis adjuster that makes changing the belt tension quick and simple. The printer is delivered to you partially completed, and assembling it won’t take too long. Voxelab provides lifetime technical assistance in addition to a 12-month guarantee. Additionally, the business guarantees that you will always hear back from them within 24 hours.
Top Features:
- Silent printing and quick heating
- When the power turns back on, the Aquila 3D printer could automatically resume printing.
- The convenient kit is delivered half completed.
- A 12-month warranty and lifetime technical assistance are included with every Voxelab 3D printer.
- Easy to setup
- Affordable price
- Micro SD card use complicates matters
- Some believe the printer doesn’t heat up sufficiently.
Top buying tips to buy a 3D printer under $300
Durability
One of the most crucial qualities of a 3D printer is durability. No matter how many bells and whistles the printer has, if it consistently clogs, breaks, or fails to print the documents you need it to, it is useless. Fortunately, 3D printers have advanced much from their early wooden frames and now have solid metal frames and high-quality parts, so you can be confident that every time you push print, the printer will produce the desired thing.
Easy to use
The majority of 3D printers for home usage, in the beginning, were kits that consumers had to assemble. Anyone who wasn’t a dedicated tinkerer was turned away because this took both time and knowledge. Modern printers now come in much simpler-to-assemble components that often just require a few connections to be connected and a few tiny bolts to be screwed in before printing can begin. You can simply relax that every printer on this list would not need an engineering degree and a week’s worth of time to get started and running.
Quality
Print performance has improved by huge leaps over the past couple of years. Budget printers may now produce prints that are comparable in quality to those produced by expensive printers that cost several thousands of dollars only a few years ago. Resin printers take that a step much further with prints that are unrecognizable from casted miniatures used in tabletop gaming.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is it worth having a cheap 3D printer?
Budget 3D printers have trade-offs, but you can still get prints of excellent quality from them, so these devices are undoubtedly worth taking into account. In the market, the Creality brand has led the way with its affordable 3D printers that still deliver excellent results.
2. Is 3D printing tough to understand?
When you have the right knowledge, 3D printing is a very easy process. 3D printer manufacturers realize that ease of set-up is a big factor when it comes to 3D printing beginners, so most have particularly made it easy to work properly from start to finish. Set up can take minutes.
3. Is 3D printing a profitable idea?
Yes, using a 3D printer to make money is possible. And there are a lot of ways that you can do it, whether that’s selling 3D printed objects or digital products, or even trying to offer a 3D printing service in your local region.
4. Is 3D printing cheaper than production?
In comparison to other manufacturing processes, such as injection molding, 3D printing is significantly more affordable for the production of prototypes that confirm the form and fit. Manufacturing unique functional parts can frequently be done at a competitive price.
5. How many hrs does it take to learn 3D modeling?
On average, learning the foundations of 3D design takes from 6 to 12 months, while mastering all its capabilities may continue for years.
Conclusion – Best 3d printer under $300
It’s no longer just the domain of tech-savvy hobbyists to engage in 3D printing. There will soon be a large number of 3D printers that can be used by users with just a plug-in and a few button presses to begin printing. Companies are now even manufacturing inexpensive printers that can generate advanced 3d prints for only a few hundred bucks.
Be forewarned: an economical 3D printer may be a doorway into more costly equipment and expensive customizations that can take your prints to the next level. A cheap printer, however, will acquire you the required skills to start designing models or try expert-level print projects.
Please share your opinions on this list with us. Please let us know in the comments section below if there is anything you think we forgot.
Hi, This is Alice , author of The Geek Cart and I mainly write about Printer Reviews and informational posts that helps readers, I received my MFA in Creative Writing internationally. I have written blogs and Printer reviews that i tested by my own with the partnership of famous brands for their printers. With my well researched artilces and reviews about printers you can make your printer life easier.