Choosing your first 3D printer

Spec sheets compete on top speed, but top speed is the least useful number when choosing a first printer. Four decisions matter more.

1. What will you print most?

PLA and PETG, which covers gadgets, organisers, toys, cosplay props and most functional parts, print on any machine here. ABS, ASA and nylon, used for car parts, outdoor parts and anything that gets hot, need an enclosure, because they warp and crack when the air around them cools unevenly.

If you’re not sure, assume PLA. Most people print PLA ninety percent of the time.

2. Open or enclosed?

Open printers are cheaper and easier to reach into. Enclosed printers keep heat in, dust and pets out, and noise and smell down. An enclosure used to be a premium feature. The Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 now brings it to $349.

3. Bed-slinger or CoreXY?

On a bed-slinger like the Ender 3 V3 SE or A1 mini, the bed moves back and forth under the nozzle. It’s simple and cheap, but it limits speed on tall parts. On a CoreXY machine the bed only moves down while the nozzle moves in X and Y. That is faster and steadier, and it fits neatly inside an enclosure. Nearly every enclosed printer is CoreXY.

4. Do you need multi-colour?

Probably not on day one. Multi-colour systems (Bambu’s AMS, Creality’s CFS) are add-ons for most printers, and they waste filament on every colour change. Buy a printer that can take one later, and decide once you know what you like to print.

Our picks by budget

• Under $250, easiest start: Bambu Lab A1 mini. Small, but almost no setup.
• Under $400, best value: Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2. Enclosed CoreXY at an entry price.
• Around $550, the default: Bambu Lab P2S. Mature software and the most forgiving experience.
• Open hardware: Prusa CORE One+. Costs more, but you can repair it for years.
• Tinkerer’s budget pick: Creality Ender 3 V3 SE. Cheapest, with the most to learn.

Whichever you choose, budget around $50 for a few spools of good filament. Bambu PLA Basic is a safe start on any machine.