Metal 3D printers are incredible devices in the additive manufacturing world that enable people to turn digital designs into real metal objects. Their ability to produce intricate and durable metal parts is revolutionizing industries ranging from aerospace to healthcare. However, the high costs of these amazing machines have been an obstacle for many hobbyists and professionals. But don’t worry, as the landscape is changing. Now, within the metal 3D printing space, budget-friendly options have emerged. Despite initial assumptions about being unaffordable, there are now viable low-cost choices. In exploring the “Cheapest Metal 3D Printers,” we look at some of the most cost-effective solutions for those eager to start metal 3D printing.
What will you see here?
Creality Ender 3 V2 Neo 3D Printer
The Official Creality Ender 3 V2 Neo 3D Printer has a price tag of $246* and boasts a sturdy metal frame. It measures 17.24 inches deep, 16.7 inches wide, 18.58 inches high, and weighs around 17.2 pounds. This FDM 3D printer features an innovative printing platform made up of a detachable PC spring steel magnetic build plate. The unique pairing of a PC coating, spring steel sheet, and magnetic sticker on the build plate enables models to instantly stick when detached. The PC coating boosts filament adhesion during printing to make sure finished models hold firmly to the plate. What makes it stand out is how easy it is to remove models - a simple bend of the print sheet effortlessly releases completed 3D prints.
Easy User Interface and Assembly:
The new Creality Ender 3 V2 Neo 3D Printer is quicker and easier to set up than the Ender-3 V2, needing only three basic assembly steps. This pre-built printer is very beginner-friendly, saving setup time and boosting efficiency. The upgraded 4.3-inch touchscreen interface has a model preview function that lets users easily monitor the printing progress and shape. This convenient feature keeps users informed on the model status. The printer also supports nine languages, meeting the varied needs of customers worldwide.
Silent Motherboard and Auto Bed Leveling:
The Creality Ender 3 V2 Neo 3D Printer has an upgraded CR Touch Auto Bed Leveling system that uses 16-point automatic bed leveling to remove the need for manual adjustments. This smart leveling system is easy to use and automatically accounts for uneven spots on the hotbed, saving users a lot of time they previously spent on manual leveling. The printer comes with Creality's silent motherboard, which provides stronger interference resistance, faster and steadier motion, and quiet operation. The extruder has also been upgraded to an all-metal design, giving it more extrusion force, better durability, and reducing nozzle clogs. In summary, the Ender 3 V2 Neo 3D printer has an advanced auto bed leveling system, a customized silent motherboard, and an improved all-metal extruder to make printing easier, faster, and quieter.
- CR Touch Auto Bed Leveling
- 4.3 Inch UI User Interface
- Full-Metal Extruder
- Dependence on Electricity
Anycubic Kobra 2 Neo 3D Printer
The Anycubic Kobra 2 Neo 3D Printer, priced at $239*, packs professional-grade capabilities into its compact 5x5x5" and 20 lbs frame. Operating with user-friendly Marlin firmware, it offers reliability with a 1-year warranty and lifetime assistance. Standing out with 5X High-Speed capabilities, it boasts a remarkable 65% reduction in print time compared to standard printers, reaching a Max Print Speed of 250mm/s while balancing precision at the suggested 150mm/s. The Integrated Extruder and LeviQ 2.0 Automatic Leveling system enhance efficiency, featuring an upgraded extrusion system, a powerful 60W hot end, and a high-speed cooling fan. The LeviQ 2.0's Automatic Leveling intelligently compensates for Z-axis offset, allowing customization for various user needs. This pint-sized powerhouse combines speed, accuracy, and innovation for rapid and efficient 3D printing experiences.
The Anycubic Kobra 2 Neo is an entry-level 3D printer, notable for its affordability, user-friendly design with auto-leveling and touch screen interface, and basic features like filament runout sensors. Despite not having advanced capabilities found in pricier models, its balanced approach suits beginners prioritizing ease of use and cost-effectiveness while offering a stepping stone for future exploration.
- Compact design
- Advanced Firmware Features
- Specific Warranty periods
TRONXY CRUX1 3D Printer
The TRONXY CRUX1 3D Printer, costing $169*, has compact dimensions of 7.09 inches deep by 7.09 inches wide by 7.09 inches high and weighs 5.8 kilograms. This small 3D printer, sold as a partially assembled kit, appeals to both beginner users and those looking for a portable home office device. With high flexibility and an emphasis on efficiency, the CRUX1 guarantees fast assembly, saving precious setup time for users. Its adaptable design makes it suitable for a variety of uses, stressing versatility, convenience, and simplicity of use for a wide range of users.
Lightweight with Cantilever Structure:
The TRONXY CRUX1 3D Printer is a lightweight 3D printer, weighing less than 6 kg. This compact design makes it perfect for students and kids, giving them an accessible way to make toys and learn about technology. With its cantilever structure, the printer distributes force evenly, ensuring it has good load capacity and stays stable as it prints. The printer's one-piece molded design simplifies installation, streamlining the process and improving efficiency.
XYZ Axis design with Direct-Drive extruder:
The TRONXY CRUX1 3D Printer has a unique XYZ Axis design that includes a Y-axis rail system for smooth and fast operation, improving accuracy and stability. The X-axis has a belt tension adjustment knob for easy tuning, minimizing layer issues in prints. The Z-axis enables easy height changes with a manual screw limiter. The CRUX1's Direct-Drive Extruder, positioned near the print head, allows steady and rapid filament feeding for more precise extrusion. Working with common materials like PLA, ABS, PETG, and TPU, the CRUX1 delivers versatility and accuracy, making it a dependable option for a wide range of 3D printing applications.
- Unique XYZ Axis Design
- Compact and lightweight
- Direct-Drive Extruder Compatibility
- Entry-level performance
Voxelab Aquila X3 Max
The Voxelab Aquila X3 Max, which costs $329*, offers a balance of affordability and advanced capabilities. At 15.74" deep, 15.74" wide, and 15.74" high, with a weight of 17 kilograms, this 3D printer has a large build area. The newly upgraded 25-point auto-leveling feature ensures a smooth first layer of printing and easy use, while the doubled print speed boosts efficiency and saves time. In addition, Voxelab demonstrates its dedication to customers by offering lifetime tech support and a 1-year warranty on all its 3D printers. This shows their commitment to customer satisfaction and assistance.
Large build volume with Run-Out Detection:
The Voxelab Aquila X3 Max 3D Printer has a very large build area measuring 15.7 inches by 15.7 inches by 15.7 inches (400 x 400 x 400mm). This substantial build volume gives you plenty of space for printing a wide variety of household and everyday objects. The large size not only allows you to print bigger projects, but also opens up creative possibilities. The printer also comes equipped with Filament Run-Out Detection. This feature automatically pauses printing and displays a notification on the screen if the filament runs out or breaks. Pausing the print allows you to fix the issue without losing progress, making printing more reliable. Overall, the expansive build volume and filament detection of the Voxelab Aquila X3 Max 3D Printer provide ample space for prints, creative freedom, and enhanced reliability during the 3D printing process.
Open-Source Firmware and Hardware:
The Voxelab Aquila X3 Max 3D Printer prides itself on having open-source hardware and software, focusing on ongoing improvements and frequent updates to add helpful capabilities. With open-source code and an N32 mainboard, users can customize or enhance the software to align with their needs, promoting a feeling of personalization and enabling the enjoyment of do-it-yourself (DIY) endeavors. This dedication to open-source values not only guarantees the printer stays current with the most recent innovations, but also empowers users with the liberty to adapt the 3D printing process to suit their specific requirements and tastes. This commitment to open-source principles allows the machine to stay up-to-date while also enabling users to customize their 3D printing experience.
- Open-Source Hardware & Firmware
- Increased printing speed
- Great warranties and assistance
- Printer is relatively heavy
Geeetech Mizar M 3D
With dimensions of 20.9 x 11.4 x 19.3 inches and weighing 22.49 pounds, the $569*. Geeetech Mizar M 3D Printer is engineered for precision printing. Its dual Z-axis and Y-axis design improves print stability, allowing it to produce delicate models with 0.1mm accuracy. The dual-gear extruder provides strong torque to ensure consistent filament flow, and the included belt tensioner enables easy adjustment for optimal print quality. Furthermore, the rigid hotbed design prevents deformation, while the auto-leveling feature, magnetic plate, and steel sheet promote strong part adhesion and easy removal within the generous 10.0 x 10.0 x 10.2-inch build area. Overall, the Mizar M is designed for stable, high-precision 3D printing.
Intelligent Multicolor 3D Printer:
The Mizar M 3D Printer from Geeetech is a flexible dual nozzle machine that allows for multi-color 3D printing. With its two print heads, the printer can seamlessly switch between different filaments to produce models with multiple colors. The gradient color feature mixes two filaments to generate completely new colors and supports gradient mixing mode for unique color transitions within a print. It has a Super Silent Motherboard with a high-performance 32-bit processor that prints faster while significantly reducing stepper motor noise to below 50 decibels. The Mizar M also has handy features like auto-bed leveling, an LCD touchscreen interface, filament runout detection, and print recovery to make it an intelligent and efficient choice for 3D printing hobbyists.
Equipped with Auto levelling and Smart Manual:
The Mizar M IDEX 3D Printer is an innovative model with a two-part leveling mechanism that provides both automatic one-touch bed leveling and an Intelligent Manual Leveling mode. The digital manual leveling, which is controlled through the touchscreen interface, enables precise 0.1mm height adjustments without having to manually turn screws. This convenient feature suits the needs of novices, hobbyists, and professionals, offering versatile and easy-to-use 3D printing functionality. Furthermore, the printer enables effortless hot bed leveling by sliding A4 paper under the nozzle, making the leveling procedure straightforward and accessible for users of all expertise levels.
- Dual Z-Axis and Y-Axis Design
- Hotbed design
- Auto Leveling with Magnetic Plate
- Might be difficult for beginners
ELEGOO Neptune 4 Max 3D Printer
The ELEGOO Neptune 4 Max 3D Printer is priced at $558* and has dimensions of 31.1 inches deep by 27.17 inches wide by 11.42 inches high, weighing 43.5 pounds. It is compatible with laptops and PCs, supporting Windows, Mac OS, and Linux operating systems. This printer features a self-developed dual-gear direct drive extruder with a 5.2:1 gear reduction ratio for powerful extrusion and smooth filament feeding. It is equipped with a metal throat pipe and a unique air duct design to minimize nozzle clogging risks. Powerful double-sided cooling fans and model blower fans enhance printing to prevent warping and improve print quality. Connectivity options like WiFi, USB drive, and LAN allow easy one-key file transfer to initiate print jobs.
Fast-speed printer with massive build:
The ELEGOO Neptune 4 Max 3D Printer comes with the powerful Klipper firmware, allowing it to print incredibly fast - up to 500mm/s (default is 250mm/s) and accelerate up to 8000mm/s. Using the high-speed mode is recommended to get the best performance. With its huge 16.53”x16.53”x18.89” (420x420x480mm) build area, the Neptune 4 Max has plenty of space for ambitious and complex designs, fitting large models or multiple smaller prints at once. This combination of lightning-fast speeds and massive build volume makes the Neptune 4 Max a great choice for users who want both speed and flexibility in their 3D printing.
Excellent printing and High-temp nozzle:
The ELEGOO Neptune 4 Max stands out with its ability to produce precise and high-quality 3D prints. It utilizes features like input shaping, pressure advance, and acceleration sensors on the X and Y axes to automatically calibrate and minimize the effects of vibrations on print accuracy. This allows users to achieve fine details, exceptional quality, and fast print speeds at the same time. Additionally, the 3D printer has a high-temperature nozzle with an extended hot-end design, a 60W ceramic heater, and auto PID tuning. Together, these promote quicker, smoother melting and extrusion so the printer can print various materials like PLA, PETG, ABS, TPU, and nylon. This versatility and reliability make it suitable for a wide range of 3D printing applications. The innovative technologies of the ELEGOO Neptune 4 Max enable it to excel at precise, superior-quality 3D printing.
- Powerful Extrusion
- Effective Cooling System
- Great connectivity options
- Printer is relatively heavier
Which features to consider for Metal 3D Printers?
When looking at metal 3D printers, there are a few important aspects to focus on. The build volume is key to handling projects of different sizes. Print resolution matters for getting detailed and precise prints. You’ll want to check which materials the printer works with to make sure it’s appropriate for what you need to make. Advanced capabilities like dual extrusion nozzles or auto bed leveling also add functionality. On top of all that, assessing the printer’s dependability, assistance options, and user-friendliness is vital for having a smooth and effective metal 3D printing process overall.
Does a metal 3D printer affect flexibility?
The flexibility of a metal 3D printer is impacted by multiple aspects. The build volume, which determines the magnitude and proportions of printable objects, is extremely important. Furthermore, material suitability and print resolution affect the printer’s adaptability for different uses. Sophisticated capabilities like multi-material printing and automated workflows additionally improve the printer’s versatility. Looking at all of these factors together guarantees that a metal 3D printer matches particular project needs, providing the adaptability necessary for a wide range of manufacturing or prototyping applications.
Conclusion
Metal 3D printers are at the forefront of innovative production methods, bridging the gap between digital designs and tangible metal objects. The significance of these printers is their ability to transform industries by creating intricate, sturdy, and precise metal components for uses ranging from aviation to medicine. In exploring the “cheapest metal 3d printer,” we’ve compiled a guide to some of the most reasonably priced yet robust choices, tackling a common obstacle to entering metal additive manufacturing. However, it’s important to recognize that even the most cost-effective options may have limitations, like potential learning curves or compromises in certain aspects. In summary, while these printers may have drawbacks, their accessibility, and remarkable capabilities make them appealing selections.
Apart from these, FLASHFORGE Adventurer 5M 3D Printer is also one of the best to consider.
