Key specs – Printing type: Dual-extruder FDM; Print materials: 1.75mm ABS, PLA, PETG; Nozzle diameter: 0.4mm; Print resolution: 0.1mm; Quoted printing speed: Not stated; Print volume (WDH): 230 x 150 x 150mm; Printer dimensions (WDH): 550 x 360 x 550mm; Interface: 4.3in colour touchscreen; Connectivity: Micro USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi For such an inexpensive device it comes with a sizeable printer area of 220 x 220 x 250mm, allowing you to make substantial objects ifyouhavethe patience towait forthem to be finished. Dual Z-axis synced by a quality timing belt, ensuring high print quality. Auto Filament Loading / Unloading It is possible with some technical skills to add bed levelling with products like theBLTouch, and for those with a bed that isn’t entirely flat, that’s worth serious consideration. The minimum layer height of 100 microns allows for some very detailed models to be printed, and the process can be controlled by PC over USB, or fromG-codefilesstored on a microSD card.

The Creality Ender 3 V3 SE has popped up as an alternative to the Ender-3 V2 series by featuring a maximum print speed of 250 mm/s and an“optimized” UI that shows auto-leveling progress and printing parameters. With its 4.5in colour touchscreen the 3D45 is a breeze to use, and you can share it across multiple computers too – the supplied software supports both Windows and macOS – making it ideal for workshops and educational settings. If you want to make a model out of more than one material (or in more than one colour) you can often pause the printer part-way through a print job, switch filaments, then resume printing. In this way you could, for example, print an object with a red bottom and a blue top. If you want to combine colours more intricately than this, you’ll need a printer with a dual extruder head, which can switch between two different filament feeds as it prints each layer.

Creality's New Printer Ender 3 S1 Unboxing

The latest brainchild of Creality sports a build volume of 220 x 220 x 250 mm, auto-leveling, a direct-drive extruder, a dual Z-axis, dual linear Y-axis shafts, and automatic filament loading and unloading. Another thing to note is that the Photon doesn’t connect directly to a computer: rather, you have to save your models to a USB flash drive (one’s included in the box), then plug that into the Photon and select the file you want to print. Still, this is easy to do, thanks to a 2.8in colour touchscreen – and the end results are stunning, especially for the price. As the technology has advanced, 3D printers have become increasingly accessible and affordable for hobbyists, professionals, and businesses. Paired with the best 3D modeling software for 3D printing, they offer an unrivalled creative space for product design, prototyping, or just building fun creations. The Digilab 3D45 isn’t cheap, but it comes from a respected brand and has numerous features to satisfy 3D printing devotees. For one, it can print models of up to 254 x 152 x 170mm in size, and its fully enclosed design emphasises safety and keeps the noise to a minimum. As 3D printer designs go, the Ender 3 is a reworking of the same concept that Creality developed with the previous Ender models and the CR-10 series machines. It differs from typicalPrusastyle designs in only having a singleZ-axishelical shaft, relying instead on angled bearings to keep the horizontal support arm at 90 degrees to the vertical.

Smaller to place around, but Creality Ender-3 V3 SE 3D printer still offers an ample build volume of 220*220*250mm. One tap to load the filament, and one tap to unload it. Handy for filament replacement. Compact and Sleek Design For those unfamiliar with this design, the Ender 3 is an FDM (Fused Deposition Modelling) 3D printer that comes with a 0.4mm nozzle and can extrude a variety of 1.75mm plastic filament. The print base is only 120mm square, and the maximum print height is 12cm, so it won’t do for big, ambitious projects, but on the plus side, the printer itself only has a footprint of 287 x 190mm, so it’ll won’t dominate your desk. You don’t necessarily even need to connect it to a computer, as the Select Mini V2 can print directly from an SD card – or you can use its built-in 2.4GHz Wi-Fi receiver to operate it remotely.Designed for workshops and schools, the Replicator+ is one of the fastest 3D printers around. It offers great accuracy and quality, and it can produce large objects with footprints of up to 295 x 195mm.

In addition to the tools and spares is an 8GB microSD card with documentation, software and demo files. Creality even throws in a microSD card to USB adapter. Still, while the Replicator+ isn’t a budget choice, its speed and versatility are impressive: if you’re looking for a 3D printing workhorse, it’s well worth considering. printing isn’t quite as straightforward as regular paper printing. It’s a slow process – expect to wait an hour for even fairly small objects to emerge – and you may need to trim off excess plastic and generally finish up your model by hand once the printing process is complete. But the problem with the Ender 3 which caused us the most headaches was one that confronts most people trying to print in 3D–bed levelling.Designs like thePrusai3, and its clones, have automatic bed levelling, and it won’t take long to envy those with that feature.Another question is whether you want a neatly self-contained printer or one where the workings are exposed for all to see. The latter style is easier to maintain, and if you’re into engineering and gadgetry you may prefer the look. However, 3D printing involves moving mechanical parts, and the extrusion unit can heat up to above 250°C – so an enclosed model is more appropriate for a domestic setting. An enclosed design will also minimise the noise from whirring motors and cooling fans. How does a 3D printer work?