Like every year, we present our Top 5 3D printers in 2018. Well actually it is a list of our favourite 3D printers based on 5 categories for different types of users. We considered many factors like price, functionality and quality of each 3D printer.
Our top 5 3D printers in 2018 are presented in an ascending price order:
DIY-Kit 3D printer
For the do-it-yourself kits, we recommend our absolute favorite, the Delta Rostock 3D printer . The reason is that assembling a 3D printing kit takes a lot of time and hardly pays off for the wallet considering work hours. Nowadays, many manufacturers, e.g. the Flashforge Finder, and somewhat older devices, compete with Kits like the Prusa i3 from Anycubicin price.
We recommend the Delta Rostock 3D printer which in addition to the low price offers a unique shape and printing mechanism. This way you have long-term benefits even if you decide to buy a higher-quality device later on. Most desktop 3D printers usually have a cube shape and this device will stay different. The Delta Rostock 3D printer in comparison is exceptionally well suited for certain objects due to its high and round shape. Thus, the device will sooner or later always be practical and useful, no matter which 3D printer you buy afterwards.
For the small budget
At this point our opinions differ, as there are 2 very good options depending on your budget and what you define as cheap. For one thing, our price favorite is the previously mentioned Flashforge Finder which offers everything you need to get started in 3D printing. But when it comes to actually calling out a Top 5 3D printer in 2018, in the long term, we'd rather recommend Craftunique's Craftbot Plus 3D printer. This device offers a lot more in terms of quality and functionality for a relatively cheap price. Nevertheless, you will surely be happier in the long term than with the Flashforge Finder which is already on the market for 3 years. This is the only category in which we have two winners depending on what you call a budget 3D printer.
Middle class 3D printer
The Zortrax M200 3D printer is likely to be the winner of our Top 5 3D printers in 2018. The unit's standard price is almost twice that of Craftunique's Craftbot Plus 3D printer, yet you can also find it as a bargain at the same price on e.g. Amazon. In that case, it is a high quality device for an unbeatable price. Otherwise, we count it among our middle-class favorites certainly in 2018 this machine will fulfill all your desires.
High-end 3D printer
As always, there is also the high-end category in our selection with the absolute cult brand Makerbot. The manufacturer has steadily developed its Makerbot Replicator 2, always raising the quality and functionality to the highest level for the entire market. Therefore, with the necessary budget of almost 3000 € for the Makerbot Replicator+, we recommend this device as one of our top 5 3D printers for 2018. The machine offers an optimal print sizes as well as volume due to the lengthy shape, an integrated camera and an high-end print head. Alternatively, you can also consider the Ultimaker 3 as the biggest competitor for Makerbots Replicator+.
SLS 3D printer
For every Top 5 3D printers rating, we have at least one SLS printer to choose from. These devices use liquid resin, instead of plastic filament, in combination with lasers for printing. As a result, the operation is more complex and more space is necessary for operation, plus the material is relatively expensive. However, in return you receive high-quality results for very small objects which is necessary for certain application areas.
When it comes to SLS 3D printer, you cannot ignore the manufacturer Formlabs. The company has made the SLS printing process with its Form 1 mass market adoptable for private use. However, before one of their latest high-end devices is listed, you should definitely look at the Formlabs Form 1+. If the functionality provided is sufficient, we recommend this SLS 3D printer model instead of newer much more expensive models. This is probably the last year in our list for this device due to the rapid development of the SLS devices in 2019.
Conclusion
From our 2017 list, not much has changed in our list of favorites. Although new 3D printers and manufacturers are venturing onto the market all the time and scoring in many respects, high-quality classics remain consistently at the top for some years. We are curious what the coming year for the selection in 2019 will bring and keep you up to date.
Feel free to ask questions or show us improvements for 2019 via the comment section below or our contact form.