The additive manufacturing industry has experienced rapid growth in recent years. Forecasts suggest the 3D printer market will more than double in size over the next decade. According to a report by Grand View Research, the number of 3D printer shipments reached 2.2 million in 2021 and is expected to reach 21.5 million by 2030. As a result, the market now offers a greater variety of 3D printers. From FDM to SLS to DED and more, there are numerous options available for each 3D printing technology. However, with so many choices, it can be difficult to make the right choice. To help you navigate the market, we feature five printers each month in our comprehensive comparison, which covers hundreds of 3D printers including desktop, RepRap/Kit, professional, and industrial models. Check out the selection below to discover the currently popular selection of 3D printers!
The UltiMaker S5, an FDM 3D printer With a wide range of materials
Although it’s not the latest version of UltiMaker, the UltiMaker S5 remains one of the company’s most popular 3D printers. This composite dual-extrusion FDM solution features a larger build volume than previous models such as the S3, measuring 330 x 240 x 300 mm, the same as the UltiMaker S7. In fact, the company sees the printer’s best features as greater space for larger parts and compatibility with more materials (over 280), including PLA, PETGABS, CPE, Nylon, PC, TPU and PP, among others. Other features include filament run-out detection, automatic nozzle lifting system and UltiMaker’s legendary replaceable print cores. However, please note that like all UltiMaker devices, the compatible filament diameter is 2.85mm. The printer also features a partially enclosed build chamber that is passively heated, a heated build plate and nozzle that can be heated to 180-280°C.
The TruPrint 3000, a flexible choice for industrial 3D metal printing
Trumpf, a manufacturer of machine tools and 3D printers, has a machine catalog that offers both laser metal melting and laser metal deposition technologies. Your TruPrint 3000 3D printer is a highly productive and partially automated 3D printing system for industrial series production and measures 3385 × 2005 × 1475 mm. It is particularly suitable as a universal medium format machine (LMF/PBF/LPBF) with industrial parts and powder management. The printer is characterized by its flexibility, quality and productivity in series production in 3D printing, which is guaranteed by the fullfield multilaser option with two 500 watt lasers. The melt pool monitoring of the TruPrint 3000 also ensures comprehensive monitoring. The printer from Trumpf can be used in almost all industries as it has a construction volume of 300 x 300 x 400 mm. Its maximum print density is 20 µm.
The Formlabs Form 3B, an SLA printer for healthcare professionals
The Form 3B from the American stereolithographic 3D printing giant is a professional resin 3D printer for medical professionals. The original 3B was released in 2019 and the latest version, the 3B+, was released in 2022. Both versions have a build volume of 146 × 145 × 185 mm and are ideal for use with Formlabs’ entire SLA material library, including sterile and biocompatible materials medical and dental additive manufacturing projects. To maximize the effectiveness of the printer, the 3B is designed to operate 24/7 with minimal supervision and easy integration into existing workflows. This makes the 3B a user-friendly tool with the high quality and tradition of Formlabs.
Carbon M2: High speed, high quality
The Carbon M2 is a resin 3D printer developed by American manufacturer Carbon. It offers a print volume of 189 x 118 x 326 mm, far surpassing its predecessor, the Carbon M1. It uses Carbon’s exclusive DLS (Digital Light Synthesis) technology, which speeds up the printing process by 25 to 100 times compared to traditional resin 3D printing methods. This method involves passing light through an oxygen-containing window into a container containing UV-curable resin. The Carbon M2 ensures not only exceptional speed but also high strength of printed objects and is compatible with carbon-based materials such as rigid polyurethane (RPU), elastomeric polyurethane (EPU) and many others. With dimensions of 540 x 654 x 1734 mm, this 3D printer comes with a full-service package including installation, training and technical support.
The Samylabs ALBA 300, a compact metal solution
Samylabs is a Spanish company based in Bizkaia, Spain. The company specializes in the additive manufacturing technology SLM (Selective Laser Melting). Its 3D printer, the ALBA 300, is compact and can therefore be used in large factories as well as in offices or laboratories. The ALBA 300 has a print volume of 160 mm x 200 mm. The most outstanding features of this 3D printer include its 300W laser and its sealed chamber that allows working with argon and nitrogen, which allows printing stainless steel and various alloys. It is worth mentioning that the entire development of the printer, from the software to the mechanical and electrical details, was developed by Samylabs and ONA. In addition, to make it easier for operators to operate, this machine is designed to be as easy to handle as possible, including simplifying the cleaning process.
Which 3D printer would you choose? Which 3D printing technology is most relevant to your business? Let us know in a comment below or on our LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter pages! Don’t forget to sign up here for our free weekly newsletter, with the latest 3D printing news delivered straight to your inbox! You can also find all of our videos on our YouTube channel.