6 Best Small 3D Printers of 2019

1. FlashForge Finder

View on Amazon

Editor’s Rating: 4.7/5

This is perhaps the best value for money 3D printer around at this time. You get a really nice quality machine for less than 500 bucks. My only gripe with the product is that it’s a bit fiddly to set up.

Once it’s up and running this machine is a breeze for anyone to operate—beginners included. If you buy it new you’ll get a spool of PLA filament, a user guide, and a few maintenance tools in the box.

The FLASHFORGE Finder also has Wi-Fi connectivity. This means you can easily operate the machine from your local network. It’s a tough little printer, and one that’s nice and easy to move around.

The key attractions for this desktop 3D printer have to be its user-friendly operation, compact size, and affordable price. It has plenty of neat features to support these points.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_WvLw7tHSg

The printer has a nice distinct color touchscreen panel with manual controls set to the right of the machine. Users are quick to praise the after-sales support that many say is second to none.

2. Micro by M3D

View on Amazon

Editor’s Rating: 4/5

The good looking Micro MD3 3D desktop printer has been among the most successful 3D projects ever on Kickstarter. It’s a machine that provides you with consistent printouts of high quality.

This is an ideal choice for anyone who wants a user-friendly machine that’s super compact, affordable and makes very little noise. Although it has a few negatives it’s still an excellent value product.

The Micro also comes with a UL safety rating. This makes it a wise choice for the home user. It’s also a good choice for kids as it doesn’t have a heated print bed, but for some that’ll be an issue.

The Micro Motion Sensor Chip is a smart piece of technology that helps with positioning feedback for ultra-precision. And the printer’s multi-calibration system keeps the machine maintenance-free.

I recommend this printer for anyone who wants to learn all about 3D printing. It’s well-built, it’s affordable, and it’s reliable.

3. Printrbot Play

View on Amazon

Editor’s Rating: 3.9/5

My third pick in the under $500 category is the Printrbot Play. This is another great printer for homes and classrooms where there are kids. The protective cover over its hot end prevents accidental burns.

Anyone who wants to learn about the technology from the ground up can opt for the self-assembly kit. The rest will choose the pre-assembled printer (Model 1505) that’s ready to go out of the box.

The pre-assembled machine is easy to unpack and the initial setup is pretty straightforward. Using this 3D printer is quite easy after a little practice, but it’s not quite as undemanding as the Micro MD3.

The fan shroud/extruder cover is a safety feature worth considering for home or classroom use. The open source software also provides users with more creative options and flexibility.

The pre-assembled Printrbot Play has even won an award. It was voted the “Best 3D Printer for Schools” in the Make Magazine’s (Digital Fabrication Shootout) in 2015.

4. MakerBot Replicator Mini+

View on Amazon

Editor’s Rating: 4.6/5

The MakerBot Replicator Mini+ is quite a price jump compared to the previous three, but then it packs a lot more. It’s certainly portable and it prints faster, it’s user-friendly, and has a larger build volume.

This re-engineered, redesigned model has a sturdier construction thanks to the stiffer materials used. It’s a high-performance, quieter 3D printer too (58% quieter than its predecessor). This makes it a great choice for homes and educational environments.

Anyone who wants to move up from the entry-level machines won’t be disappointed with the MakerBot Replicator Mini+. It’s a feature-packed product that’s incredibly user-friendly to operate.

Some of the printer’s many key features include a clever, redesigned Z-stage along with improved filament routing. The build volume boasts a 28% increase on the earlier model.

Another unique feature is that the MakerBot Replicator Mini+ is cloud-enabled. This adds to the ease of printing and makes for a more convenient experience as you can control operations remotely.

What we all want from a smaller printer is excellent print adhesion, reliability, and consistent precision. This model delivers in these areas, but then you’d expect more with its higher price tag.

The main setback with this model is that it only uses Makerbot branded filament.

5. Formlabs Form 2

View on FormLabs

Editor’s Rating: 4.9/5

The Formlabs Form 2 is my top pick for this category because it delivers exceptional results every time. It’s a premium desktop 3D SLA printer for the serious hobbyists, universities and businesses.

This is an expensive machine compared to the earlier picks. However, compared to the industrial giants it’s a steal. What you get here is a professional printer in a much smaller package.

The quality produced by this SLA machine is always consistent. There’s no need to mess around adjusting parameters, filaments, temperatures or extruders as you do with FDM technology.

Those who invest in a The Formlabs Form 2 have to accept the higher running costs as well. The price of resin certainly makes printing expensive.

If you make, or intend to make money from your 3D printing endeavors, then the machine and running costs are all relative. Some would argue you can’t afford to gamble with anything but the best.

The key attraction of the The Formlabs Form 2 is that you can rely on it to produce quality parts with a minimum of fuss. Ease of use and predictable results means you can forget about the printing process and concentrate your efforts more on design and output.

6. Ultimaker 2+

View on Amazon

Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5

The Dutch made Ultimaker 2+ is my final pick for this guide. It’s a top-quality 3D printer in the over $2000 category. This is an incredibly versatile machine that’s popular among professionals.

It’s a 3D printer that can easily produce complex parts of all different shapes and sizes. It checks all the main boxes that consumers demand: print quality, build quality, precision, and reliability.

The machine is user-friendly and has a great support structure surrounding the product. This includes first-rate manufacturer support and a vast global community of likeminded people.

There’re plenty of great features to explore too. What stands out for me is the Geared Feeder, which guarantees greater overall reliability. And the interchangeable nozzles give you greater control.

Ultimaker’s talented engineers have introduced smart fancaps in this model. They’ve aimed them directly below the nozzle to achieve an even airflow. This results in improved, consistent print quality.

There’s a bunch of free extras too. Some of these include swappable nozzles, SD card and a USB cable. There’s also a glue stick, hex wrenches, lifetime support, a 12 month warranty and more.