9+ Best 3D Printers Under $300 | Unrivaled Guide & Products Overview

Toy soldiers, flowers, buildings, and so on and so forth!  There are no limits with 3d printers except your own imagination.

This very particular type of printer is the evolution of traditional printers. Through three-dimensional modeling programs, they are able to reproduce any object using various materials.

The materials used for three-dimensional printing are numerous, ceramics can be used but also sugar and chocolate

Unconventional materials for a printer, don’t you think? 

The pastry sector, in fact, was among the first to use this new technology.

We have collected a selection of the best 3d printers  under 300 dollars on the market, we have highlighted all the specific features but … before starting, as usual, I leave you to the purchase guide, to shed some light on these innovative systems of Press.

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Best 3D Printers Under 300 USD

3D printers allow access to impressive technology so that you can produce almost any component yourself. There are already millions of free 3D printing models on the internet. In addition, good to very good quality 3D printers are becoming more and more affordable and have already come in the price range of up to 300 dollars.

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Best 3D Printers Under $ 300 | Comparison 2023

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Best 3D Printers Under $ 300 | 2023 Products Overview

Product Overview:

The ANYCUBIC Mega S is a 3D printer that is designed to be easy to set up and use. It comes with 8 screws and 3 cables that can be assembled in minutes, making it suitable for both expert users and beginners. The printer has a large printing volume of 8.27 x 8.27 x 8.07 inches, allowing you to create large and detailed models.

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

The ANYCUBIC Mega S also comes with a range of advanced features that make it even more convenient to use. The printer can resume printing after power outages or other unexpected stoppages, and it comes with a sensor that pauses prints and sets off an alarm when you run out of filament, saving you time and money.

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Product Overview:

The XYZPrinting Da Vinci Mini Wireless 3D Printer is a fully open-source 3D printer with a printing size of 6"x6"x 6" that can be upgraded to print metallic and carbon PLA. It offers a fast printing speed while maintaining a consistent 200-micron printing resolution, making it perfect for those who want to print high-quality objects in a short amount of time. The printer only takes about 1 minute to heat up the nozzle and the suggested setting for using PLA, Tough PLA, and PETG filament is 245 degrees.

With a printing dimension of 5.9' x 5.9' x 5.9', the XYZPrinting Da Vinci Mini Wireless 3D Printer can print a wide array of objects at a great size. The printer is designed for ease of use, with a plug-and-play setup and the newest user interface, making it easy to start your first 3D printing project. It comes fully assembled and ready to use, and the company recommends using XYZPrinting 600G NFC filament only.

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Product Overview:

The Voxelab Aquila C2 3D printer is a DIY printer that features an all-metal frame and a removable build surface plate. The printer also includes a 32-bit silent motherboard and has a print size of 220x220x250mm. One of the key features of the Aquila C2 is its integrated structure design, which makes it easy to assemble and maintain. All of the lines are concealed within the machine, providing a more convenient and safer user experience.

Another notable feature of the Aquila C2 is its resume printing function. In the event of a power outage, the printer will automatically resume printing from where it left off, rather than starting the print from the beginning. This can save time and prevent wasted materials. The Aquila C2 comes in the form of a semi-assembled kit, which allows users to learn about the basic construction of 3D printers as they put it together.

The Aquila C2 features a removable build surface plate made of carborundum glass. This platform is able to heat up in just 5 minutes and allows for improved adhesion of the printed material without warping. Additionally, the platform provides an ultra-smooth surface even on the first layer. Voxelab offers lifetime technical assistance and a one-year warranty for the Aquila C2. If you have any questions regarding product operation or software, you can contact Voxelab for support.

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Product Overview:

The Creality Ender 3 3D Printer is a fully open source device that is designed for DIY enthusiasts. One of its key features is the ability to resume printing even after a power outage or lapse occurs, making it a reliable and efficient option for those who want to create their own designs. Assembly is easy and quick, with only about 2 hours needed to assemble the 20 nuts.

The advanced extruder technology of the Ender 3 greatly reduces the risk of plugging and bad extrustion, making it a more reliable device for printing. The V-shape with POM wheels also make it move noiselessly, smoothly and durable. In addition, it has a safety protected power supply that only needs 5 minutes for the hot bed to reach 110 degrees.

The Ender 3 3D printer is also subject to strict testing for key components before delivery and comes with life-time technical support. This ensures that users can trust in the quality of the product and feel confident that they can rely on it for their 3D printing needs. With its advanced features and reliable performance, the Ender 3 is an excellent choice for anyone looking to get into DIY 3D printing.

Product Overview:

The Creality Ender 3 3D printer is fully open source and features a resume printing function. The advanced control board offers "Resume Print" technology, which allows the printer to resume from the last recorded extruder position in case of unexpected power outages. The MK-8 extruder design greatly reduces the risk of clogging and uneven extrusion. The printer also features high precision ball bearing wheels made from Delrin/POM engineering thermoplastic, delivering high stiffness, low friction and excellent dimensional stability.

The Ender 3 comes as a partially-assembled kit, making it an excellent project for middle school and high school-aged students. The kit includes all tools necessary for assembly and is a great gift for those interested in science and engineering. The updated USB port makes it more convenient to use.

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Product Overview:

The LGT Longer LK1 3D Printer is a high-performance machine with a large build size of 300x300x400mm, which allows it to print models that other printers cannot. This makes it an ideal choice for those who need to print large or complex models. Additionally, the LK1 features a metal frame for added durability and a resume printing function that allows it to continue printing after a power outage or lapse, saving both time and material.

The LK1 is also designed to be easy to assemble and operate, with a touch color screen for quick and intuitive controls. It comes with several partially assembled kits, which make it easy to learn about the basic construction of 3D printers. The printer also features a built-in filament sensor that stops printing when the filament runs out, and resumes once more filament is added.

The LK1 also has several safety and efficiency features, such as a tempered glass plate on the heated bed which makes it easy to remove models, and a power management and thermal cooling system that keep the printing process safe.

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Product Overview:

The Anet ET5X is a DIY 3D printer that features automatic leveling and a resume printing function. It also has a 3.5-inch LCD color touchscreen and an upgraded over-current protection mainboard. With a large build volume of 11.8x11.8x15.7 inches, this printer is suitable for a variety of projects.

Anet Technology is a company that was established in November 2015 and focuses on R&D of 3D printers and peripheral products. The company has over 200 employees and a R&D team of more than 20 specialists. They have been certified as a national new high-tech enterprise by the Chinese government and have acquired more than 20 patents for 3D printer R&D. Anet has also established worldwide warehouse networks and a professional after-sales team to serve customers from all over the world.

The Anet ET5X is manufactured in a controlled production area and assembly line that ensures that each product is of high quality. The production area is capable of handling a large number of orders and has enough inventory to meet customer demand. Anet also organizes various exhibitions at home and abroad to showcase their products and collect customer feedback to continue improving their product line.

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Product Overview:

The FDM 3D Printer Kit Pyramid A1.1 is a high-quality 3D printer that is suitable for both creative artists and DIY designers. One of the standout features of this printer is its silent printing capability thanks to the new mainboard chipset. This allows you to keep your focus while the printer is in operation. Additionally, the large printing area of 300x300x400mm (12" x 12" x 16") allows you to print big models efficiently all at once. This makes it a great option for those looking to combine quality and budget.

This printer is also highly customizable, as it is open source and can be modified. It is compatible with a variety of materials, including PLA, PETG, TPU, ABS, and Carbon Fiber. The printing speed is also adjustable, with a maximum speed of 180mm/s, but a normal range of 30-60mm/s. The nozzle diameter is standard at 0.4mm and the hotbed temperature can reach up to 110℃. The printing temperature can range from 190-250℃ and it can be operated online or offline via the SD slot.

Product Overview:

The Monoprice MP10 3D Printer is a black device with a magnetic heated build plate measuring 300 x 300 mm. It has a resume printing function and an assisted leveling feature, as well as a touch screen for ease of use. One of its standout features is the easily accessible magnetic extruder, which allows for quick and convenient changes to the extruder system.

The MP10 also has a 2 screw hotend removal system, making it easy to access and change the hotend. This allows for quick adjustments to the tool head, such as switching from a 0.4mm to a 0.6mm nozzle without the need to change the nozzle itself. The print bed is also heated, removable, and flexible, capable of reaching temperatures of up to 100 degrees Celsius for easy removal of prints.

Additionally, the MP10 has an assisted bed level sensor that detects differences in the bed, allowing for the accurate setting of the Z offset for easy first layer creation. It has a filament diameter of 1.75mm and a dual Y gantry for added stability, which minimizes wobble and results in cleaner prints.

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Unrivaled Guide on Best 3D Printers Under $ 300

How does a 3D printer work?

But the important question you need to ask yourself is: how does a 3D printer work? If on the one hand, the great diffusion on the territory took place thanks to the ease of use, it is even more true that it is necessary to understand well how it works to obtain the best possible result. Before approaching the 3D printer, the design of the object you intend to build is fundamental; through a computer and dedicated software, you will have to shape your creation in the smallest details, from length to depth, without neglecting the materials with which you want to realize your idea.

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The most common software (you will find several, even free) allows you to save the project created in the Standard Triangulation Language To Layer (STL) format. This has the ability to divide the design into many graphic triangles, making it easier for the 3D printer to read the object. To understand the practical operation of this device it is important to imagine a 2D printer and the traditional printing of office documents and files. In fact, the real difference lies in the main head, the latter is identified with the extruder in a 3D printer, while with the ink in a 2D printer.

The extruder has the function of using the polymers of the materials, which through the filament heated to very high temperatures, allowing the composition and construction on a rigid plate of the project created in the software. As you can deduce, the extruder is the real fulcrum of a 3D printing, this in fact is essential to take care of the three printing phases:

1. transport of polymers from the tank to the heating phase;
2. state of the filaments up to fusion;
3. the filaments come out of the nozzle to compose the object.

The extruder is a mobile component of the 3D printer, consequently, it has degrees of freedom that constrain it both in horizontal and vertical movement. For this reason, it is important that, even for a cheap 3D printer, a product is identified with an excellent extruder.

Materials used in 3D printing

Once you understand how a 3D printer works, it is important to focus on what materials are used for printing. Every year, thanks to scientific and technological evolution, there are always new filaments that can be used for your 3D projects, depending on the needs and the desired final quality.

In all likelihood, however, you will never have heard of materials in powder, pellets, or granules; this is because they are not widely used due to a limited cost and availability. The most used materials for 3D printers are metallic materials and plastic materials.

Metallic materials

In the industrial field, metal prints are used, these use steel as the primary material, which is usually used to create silver-colored chrome plating on jewels. Artists and craftsmen use this 3D printing technique not only with steel but also with titanium, in order to improve the strength of the built objects.

Plastic materials

Metallic materials will have destabilized you a bit, their use is hardly approached to the world of cheap 3D printers but different is instead the discourse for plastic materials, ideal for having fun within the walls of the house. Usually, when you buy a 3D printer, there is a nylon filament spool in the package: here, this is indispensable for the Filament Deposition Manufacturing (FDM) process. With the use of nylon, the extruder has the task of melting the filament of the cartridge and then proceeding towards the construction through a layered composition process of the designed object.

This material is highly appreciated by those who 3D print because it guarantees good flexibility and resistance but above all, given the white color, it can be subsequently colored after printing. Another plastic material used for 3D prints is ABS, this suitable for the production of very resistant and rigid objects; through a heating phase at more than 250 ° C the filament is melted before it can be used.

ABS can be purchased in different colors, considerably speeding up the finishing process of the conceived project. In addition, in addition to the versatility in the choice of color, it also boasts characteristic recyclability: a not negligible element when it comes into contact with plastic materials and their disposal.

What to expect from an affordable 3D printer?

Print quality: although the quality of the new generations of economic 3D printers is always constantly improving, it is undeniable that an economic product must overlook the perfection of details. Some small burrs in the final result can still be improved through the use of small accessories for cleaning excess filaments. The advice is to equip yourself with a small kit for cleaning excess filaments.

Dedicated software: a cheap 3D printer bases much of its longevity and reliability on the software created by the community or by major companies for free. A high-end 3D printer has in 90% of cases a dedicated software on which to import and design your works, while a cheap 3D printer hardly guarantees the presence in the purchase bundle of software optimized for that model. A lighter, less professional approach to printing is to be expected. However, the presence on the market of completely free software capable of guaranteeing excellent results should be emphasized.

Weight: many companies producing 3D printers, in order to put cheap products on the market, invest little in the quality of the component materials of the printer itself. Lightweight structures with a low specific weight are a consequence of practical savings; don't be scared when you pick up the printer and it will feel very light. For some, the lower weight is seen as a strength, capable of guaranteeing portability and manageability, for others, it is synonymous with low quality and little longevity.

How to choose a good 3D printer at a good price

As with all technological devices, 3D printers also have their price ranges. The cheapest range can be limited to a price range that varies from 150 dollars to 400 dollars and differs significantly from one model to another.

 So how to choose your 3D printer for under 300 dollars ? To understand this, the first real question you need to ask yourself is: what should I print?

It will seem obvious but it is instead essential in order to buy the ideal product for your needs. For example, if you just want to experience the world of 3D printing, it is advisable to spend as little as possible, so that you can closely verify the mechanics of operation and begin to familiarize yourself with graphics software.

If, on the other hand, you are a lover of action figures and useful objects for DIY, the advice is to choose a product with a very precise extruder and above all with a not too light structure, so as to guarantee greater longevity over time.