9+ Best 3d Printer Under 500 Dollar | Unrivaled Guide 2023

The era of the much-celebrated “do it yourself” has finally arrived, that period where 3D printers are a reality within everyone’s reach. In the last few years, the 3D Printing market has had tremendous growth, and always tends to improve.

Want to know which can be the best 3D printer under 500 Dollars for you? Follow the next tips.

Best 3d Printer Under $ 500

You have been observing them for a long time and imagining everything you can create with a 3D printer, you bet it when the first models on the market cost thousands of euros and you waited and waited until they finally became more accessible but also more precise and diversified. in models and processing possibilities.

Also Read: Best Printers For Heat Transfers 

What is the best 3D printer?

From pens to professional machines, the world of 3D printers can be intimidating if we’re just starting out.

Technical terms like “FMD printer” or “SLA” are difficult to understand when you are not yet in the industry, and operations that we thought as easy as choosing the filament suddenly seem insurmountable for fear of ruining our brand new and expensive professional machine.

If you find yourself in the description you can certainly start off with the advice we will provide you in this article but let’s start with something practical and see which are the best 3D printers under $500 according to the public on the web.

Recommended Products

Let’s now move on to the section dedicated to market analysis, with a selection of 3D printers that we recommend you take into consideration. We will group them by price range according to their list price. You will also be able to see the online offers related to the list price, to understand which options the market offers you and what is the actual expense for each product of your interest.

Best 3d Printer Under $ 500 | Comparison Table 2023

Prices and images pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:

Best 3d Printer Under $ 500 | 2023 Products Overview

Product Overview:

The ANYCUBIC Chiron 3D Printer is a large FDM printer that features a unique high-precision nozzle of 0.4mm hot end with a straight-through design. This design reduces the weight on the X-axis and delivers better performance even on very tall prints. The build volume of this printer is 15.75 x 15.75 x 17.72 inches, which allows for the printing of models that other printers cannot handle.

This printer also comes equipped with a semi-auto leveling module that automatically detects 25 points and supports real-time adjustment compensation of nozzle height. Additionally, it can resume printing after power outages or other unexpected stoppages and has a sensor that pauses prints and sets off an alarm when filament runs out, saving both time and material. The printer is also easy to assemble and use, with a full metal body and modular design that takes only 5-10 minutes to put together.

The Chiron 3D Printer is equipped with Y Axis Dual Sideway and Z axis dual screw rod design, which improves print precision by recalibrating the height on both sides of the Z axis before each printing.

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Product Overview:

The Ender 3 V2 is a 3D printer with a number of upgrades from the previous version. One of the main upgrades is the self-developed silent motherboard, which is designed to have stronger anti-interference, faster and more stable motion performance, and low decibel operation. This means that the printer is less likely to be affected by interference and can operate quietly while still maintaining high performance.

Another upgrade is the UL-certified MeanWell power supply, which is designed to meet all the needs of fast heating and long-time printing. This power supply is also concealed within the machine, making it much safer to use. Additionally, the Ender 3 V2 features an effortless filament feed-in system, with a rotary knob on the extruder that makes loading and feeding filament much easier.

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Product Overview:

The NOVA3D BENE4 Mono MSLA 3D Printer is a UV photocuring fast printing resin 3D printer with a print size of 130x80x150mm and a 4.3-inch touchscreen. It is equipped with a 2560*1620 6.08-inch monochrome screen, which has improved UV light transmittance of 3.9% compared to the original Bene4. This leads to a lower LCD temperature and an extended service life of about 2.5 times that of a color screen, with a normal use time of 2000 hours. Additionally, the printing speed is increased by 2 times compared to all the color screen resin printers and the printing time is 50% decreased.

The NOVA3D BENE4 Mono MSLA 3D Printer also supports multiple slicing software, such as Lychee Slices and CHITUBOX official plug-in. Users can also use NOVAMaker to transfer files to the printer via Wi-Fi and observe the printing condition in real-time. The printer also features a leveling-free design, which eliminates the trouble of leveling and is easy to use for even beginners. The printer also has a full-metal body to improve machine quality and enhance printing stability.

The NOVA3D BENE4 Mono MSLA 3D Printer has a user-friendly design, with a hood open flip design that is stable and space-saving. It also has feet on the vat to avoid scratches between the FEP and the table, an LCD screen quick release design for easy maintenance, and an integrated FEP film that can be replaced by tightening 12 screws. The printer also has multiple connection options, such as offline printing, wireless transmission printing, and Wi-Fi printing, so users can print anytime, anywhere.

Also Read: Best Black and White Laser Printer 

Product Overview:

The 3D Printer Kit Pyramid A1.1 is a top-of-the-line option for creative artists, DIY designers, and schools. It features a silent mainboard chipset, allowing for focused printing without the noise of traditional 3D printers. Additionally, the large printing area of 300x300x400mm (12" x 12" x 16") allows for efficient printing of large models.

This printer is a great option for those looking to combine quality and budget. It is open source and can be modified to suit the user's needs. The kit is also easy to assemble and comes with a 1 year warranty and lifetime technical support. The printer can use a variety of materials such as PLA, PETG, TPU, ABS, and Carbon Fiber. It also has a standard nozzle diameter of 0.4mm and a maximum hotbed temperature of 110℃.

Also Read: Best Printer For Cricut

Product Overview:

The Voxelab Aquila 3D Printer is a high-performance machine with a full alloy frame and a removable build surface plate. It has a build volume of 8.66x8.66x9.84 inches and is fully open source, allowing for flexible upgrades and various modifications. Additionally, it features a resume printing function, which allows the printer to automatically resume printing when power is restored, saving time and avoiding waste.

The Aquila 3D printer is equipped with a carbon crystal silicon glass plate and has been designed for super quiet printing, with noise levels below 50 decibels. This ensures that the printing model will not easily become warped and that the printing process is relatively quiet. Additionally, the printer comes with a semi-assembled kit, which allows users to learn about the basic construction of 3D printers as they finish putting it together.

Product Overview:

The Creality Ender 3 3D Printer is a fully open-source product that is constantly being improved by its community of users and contributors. This printer features next-generation technology, including an upgraded control board that offers "Resume Print" technology. This allows the printer to resume from the last recorded extruder position in case of unexpected power outages, eliminating failed prints. The advanced MK-8 extruder also reduces the risk of clogging and uneven extrusion.

The Ender 3 comes as a partially-assembled kit, with the lower base and all wiring completed in the factory. This makes it an excellent project for middle school and high school-aged students to learn about science, engineering, machinery and robotics. As it is shipped directly from the manufacturer, the Ender 3 comes with a 1-year limited warranty and lifetime technical assistance. The official Creality store is committed to providing professional customer service.

The Ender 3 is also equipped with a super quiet printing design, smooth adjustable pulley, and an updated USB port for convenience. In case of power loss during printing, the printer can continue accurate printing after power is switched on. Additionally, the printer features a built-in storage toolbox for storing 3D printer essentials, and pre-installed X and Y-axis belt tension for easier maintenance and better accuracy performance.

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Product Overview:

The ANYCUBIC Mega S Upgrade FDM 3D Printer is a versatile and user-friendly device that can handle a wide range of filaments. It comes with an extruder and a suspended filament rack, and it also includes a free test PLA filament. The printer is easy to set up, with just three steps and eight screws required for assembly. The print volume of the Mega S is 8.27 x 8.27 x 8.07 inches, making it suitable for a variety of projects.

The upgraded extruder design of the Mega S features a Titan extruder that provides precise extrusion and a solid filament drive. The overall mechanical design is compatible with most filaments, greatly reducing the risk of clogging and improving printing accuracy. The printer can work with 1.75mm 3D Printer Filament such as TPU, PLA, ABS, HIPS, WOOD, etc.

Also Read: 3D Printer Under 150 Dollars of 2023

Product Overview:

The FLASHFORGE Adventurer 3 3D Printer is a user-friendly machine that boasts a number of features to make 3D printing as easy and hassle-free as possible. One of its key features is the leveling-free build plate, which is well leveled in the factory, making it much easier to take down models. It is suitable for various 3D printer filaments, including PLA, ABS, and PETG.

The Adventurer 3 also comes with a new quick detachable nozzle, which allows for smoother loading and is more compatible with third-party filaments. The nozzle can be removed from the extruder with just one push and is made of stainless steel. The nozzle can be fast heated to 240°C in just 50 seconds, making it suitable for high-temperature filaments. Additionally, users can purchase additional nozzles of different sizes for different printing needs.

Another great feature of the FLASHFORGE Adventurer 3 is its filament detection function, which automatically suspends printing when filament is broken or used up, and resumes printing after the user replaces the new filament.

Also Read: Best Metal 3d Printer 2023

Product Overview:

The Creality Ender 3 Pro 3D Printer is a high-quality printer designed for DIY home and school printing. It has a build surface of 8.66x8.66x9.84 inches and comes with a removable build surface plate that provides all-round protection to the build plate and ensures consistent temperature throughout the build surface. This feature makes it easy to remove the printing models after cooling.

One of the key features of the Ender 3 Pro is its safe power supply. It comes with a branded power supply that protects the printer from unexpected power surges. This allows the hot bed to heat up to 110℃ in just 5 minutes. Additionally, the printer has a resume print function that allows it to resume printing from the last recorded extruder position after suffering unexpected power outages.

The Ender 3 Pro comes in a semi-assembled kit, which is easy to set up. This allows you to learn about the basic construction of 3D printers as you finish putting it together. It's a fun STEM educational experience in mechanical engineering and electronics. With the purchase of the Ender 3 Pro, you will also receive lifetime technical assistance and 24 hours professional customer service.

Also Read: Best Cheap 3d Printer Under $100

Things to Consider While Choosing Best 3D Printer Under 500 Dollar: Selection Guide 2023

To choose the best 3D printer for your needs there are several factors to consider, which we could summarize in this way.

Type of use

Consumer or professional? The first question could also be trivially reduced to “ What do you need it for ”? From the answer to this first question, a watershed is created at the time of purchase. If you are a professional you must definitely invest in a product with important characteristics. If your goal is purely playful, the best 3D printer is simply the cheapest one.

Dimensions and quality of objects

Big size or quality? This second question concerns the "size vs quality" ratio . In fact, objects made with 3D printers usually have a manufacturing quality directly proportional to the size of the printer. Consequently, if the objects you need to make are small in size, you can choose between different 3D printers in the desktop version. If, on the other hand, you need objects of a certain size, and you don't want to give too much quality, the best 3D printer in this case is the industrial one.

Place of use

The third question, trivial in itself, is based on the choice of printing materials. You need to know, in fact, that common 3D printing materials such as Nylon emit toxic vapors, and in that case, it is not healthy to keep the 3D printer on your desk at home.

FFF, FDM, DLP, SLA, and LCD: what do they indicate and which one to prefer?

The fourth question is the most specific one and concerns the technologies used for the realization of 3D prints.

In particular, we have on the one hand FFF (or FDM), which is the technology based on the modeling of plastic material through heat, and on the other hand DLP, SLA, and LCD which are three different technologies that use UV rays to model resins. polymeric, which hardens when treated with these rays of light. The latter is definitely recommended if you have to produce small and highly finished objects.

FFF is the acronym for Fused Filament Fabrication and takes its name from the “cartridges” made up of real filaments of material, which are dissolved on the surface according to the shape to be created. The FFF or FDM method is very popular due to its versatility and low costs.

We could go into more detail about these technologies, but in reality, what interests users most is what can be done, in how much time, and at what cost. The analysis of the products in this is very explanatory.

Key aspects of a 3D printer

Now you know the differences and we have solved the mystery of the different acronyms, but now we are only halfway in choosing your first (or new) 3D printer, we have not talked about the technical aspects and the different features that you will need to consider in order to make the best choice for your needs - and the wallet:

Resin or filament

As we saw earlier, the two main choices regarding the printing material are resin and thermoplastic filaments.

Both choices are excellent and fit the needs of any hobbyist, even many professionals - indeed.

Let's look at them in more detail:

Filament

Filament printers are the most popular. Here the plastic material is in a reel and is melted by a nozzle which then deposits the layer along the perimeter of the project, layering the different levels and also recreating the details, from the base to the top.

Resin

Resin printers, on the other hand, use liquid resin. Here the base is immersed in a tank with the resin and a light source hardens the liquid creating the different layers. Resin printers are much higher quality than FMDs, with sharper and more precise details.

In addition to having a higher cost, however, there is also the cons of working with resin to be evaluated: it requires more ventilation, it takes a lot of attention in using the material, it risks creating disasters (eg overturning the resin), waste must be disposed of as hazardous waste (including gloves, mask, and paper used to collect residues or clean up parts in post-production) and much longer post-production processes.

Noisiness 

3D printers can work incessantly for many hours, even all day, the noise factor is an aspect that we will have to consider carefully, especially if we keep it at home.

No machine of this type is 100% silent but some models are more silent than others. We always read the opinion left by other buyers on the matter to understand which one to choose and orient ourselves towards a solution that seems to us in line with our needs.

There are also a couple of tricks we can use to reduce noise.

We can install soundproofing panels in the room, we can place the 3D printer on a foam surface such as a yoga mat or on a carpet, surely we will always have to place it on a solid surface.

Print speed

3D printers have variable printing speeds. Usually, resin ones are slower than FMD ones.

Those who use these machines only as a hobby, for pure fun, after all, may not care much about the print speed aspect but for professionals, it can be a determining point.

To print small objects, a fast machine does not usually penalize the quality of the result but for larger objects than fast machines they can create vertical alignment problems and penalize the sharpness of details.

Self-leveling floor

A self-leveling floor (or “bed”) is one of those technical specifications that we would like to find in our perfect printer. Manual leveling can be exhausting, long, and tedious but on the other hand, a plane that is not perfectly aligned results in bad prints.

Fortunately, the self-leveling surfaces have a sensor that tests the different points of the bed to calculate the distance between the surface and the nozzle, then adjusts it so that the final print is flawless.

It is certainly one of the fundamental and indispensable features for beginners.

Connection options

Before printing your first piece you will need to send the print file to the 3D printer and this step you can do in several ways.

The majority of modern machine connects with a USB cable and are equipped with SD card slot or USB port to connect a pen drive.

Overall size and print size

Another aspect that we cannot overlook when choosing our 3D printer is how big it is. Obviously, if we have a dedicated laboratory, we can also go towards large machines but if we know that it will be placed on a table or a corner of the room, we should know in advance how much space is available.

But be careful, because one aspect that is closely related to the size of the machine is the maximum size of the object to be printed.

It should also be mentioned that resin printers tend to be a bit more compact than filament machines. For the average user, however, a small to the medium-sized 3D printer is generally sufficient.

Print quality, accuracy, and precision

An "accurate" machine is not necessarily a "precise" machine.

By “accuracy” we mean the ability to reproduce certain parameters while by printing “precision” we mean the ability to perform perfectly identical repeated movements.

So a 3D printer could be very accurate because it deposits the material in the exact point indicated by the project but not very precise because its movements are not perfectly identical and therefore it will not be able to be constant in the distribution of the layers.

Conclusions

The world of 3D printing is no longer a novelty but continues to evolve every year allowing us to make these products available to more and more people and for more and more uses. With this article, we have tried to guide you by combining the precision in dealing with the topic with the simplicity of scientific disclosure designed for everyone.

In this way, we hope to have guided you in this world of high technological value and to have helped you to choose with more serenity the best 3D printer under 500 USD for the use you intend to make of it. The products are now many and for all budgets so there will surely be a model suitable for you!