Products at a Glance
How We Picked the Best 3D Printer for Small Business
There are a range of businesses benefitting from using 3D printers, to make everything from cases to cookie cutters. As such, it’s harder to find a one-size-fits-all 3D printer for small businesses. We’ve tried to choose the best multi-purpose units, namely ones that are versatile and compatible with a wide range of filaments. In addition, we looked for quality-of-life features such as automated leveling and quick heating in order to maximize productivity in your business.
We settled on four products, each with their own respective strengths, but each suitable for small businesses. These 3D printers are across a range of price points, so as to not alienate any traders looking for a low-cost experiment in 3D printing!
Product Reviews
- Large build volume
- High print resolution
- Remote control via smartphone and camera
- High price point
- PLA filament only
Our top pick for the best 3D printer for small business has to be the MakerBot Replicator+, a high-end professional 3D printer capable of impressive build space and exceptional print quality. Easy to use and well-built, this unit is ideal for business looking to upscale their 3D print productions.
With a build volume of 252mm x 199mm x 150mm, the Replicator+ boasts great versatility for prints of all shapes and sizes. The print bed is perfectly adhesive, keeping your design secure but making it easy to remove, and errors are few and far between if they even occur at all. Our favorite feature, however, is the internal camera that pairs with your smartphone, enabling you to monitor your work-in-progress from afar. You won’t be waiting long, though, as the Replicator+ has fantastically fast print speeds.
However, this 3D printer for business is boasting a business-level price tag. What’s more, the unit currently only supports PLA filament, which heavily limits the potential designs you can create. This still allows for some exciting possibilities though, and we still highly recommend it as a commercial 3D printer.
- Reliable and safe operation
- High-quality prints with good resolution
- Automated leveling
- Involved assembly
We made mention of the Prusa i3 MK3S+ in our guide on the best auto-leveling 3D printers, and this 3D printer makes the cut today for all the same reasons. A reliable and easy to use unit, the MK3S+ is ideal for business purposes.
Employing the proprietary SuperPINDA probe, the MK3S+ keeps your design level at the start: the most crucial period where an error can ruin the design. Throughout the rest of the print, expect great speeds and quality detailing, with phenomenal end results. With a build volume of 250mm x 210mm x 210 mm, this 3D printer is ideal for ambitious commercial 3D prints.
However, this may not be the ideal first 3D printer to invest in for your business: the assembly process of this 3D printer is quite involved, and many will struggle to assemble it. Once you do, however, you’ll find that the MK3S+ is a sterling addition to your company!
- Affordable
- Easy to assemble and use
- Open-frame design
- Requires some calibration
The Anycubic Kobra 2 is a great 3D printer for users who need a fast and affordable 3D printer. Boasting impressive features for a budget model, the Kobra 2 is a great pick for the smallest of small businesses!
The Kobra 2 is quick to assemble and almost as quick to print, with a maximum acceleration of 500mm/s. It runs quietly and smoothly with automated leveling and vibration compensation to avoid disturbing both the print and your business workflow. What’s more, the open-frame design allows for greater freedom in both placement and printing.
However, this budget 3D printer for small businesses is another model than involves some involvement. The Kobra 2 generally needs some calibration post-assembly for optimum results, and newcomers may have poor results initially. If you manage to get the settings right, though, the Kobra 2 is a sterling addition to any small business at a cost under $500!
While it may not offer the same level of print quality compared to certain other 3D printers available, it compensates with an array of innovative features and capabilities. This makes it a valuable investment for those seeking a dependable and fast 3D printing solution.
The Anycubic Kobra 2 is ideal for beginners and experienced users who need a fast and affordable 3D printer.
- Great build quality
- Closed-frame reduces noise
- Filament compatibility
- Limited build volume
Today’s final pick, the Dremel DigiLab 3D45, is a reliable and intuitive desktop 3D printer: ideal for small-scale but high-quality projects. A closed-frame printer, this unassuming unit packs some stellar features.
Compatible with a range of filament such as PLA or ABS, the DigiLab widens the possibilities of your potential 3D prints. With automated leveling and a built-in camera for monitoring progress, this unit combines some of our favorite features with a closed frame to reduce noise. Top that off with automated filament run-out detection – which automatically pauses your print should you need to resupply on filament – and this unit is a versatile and helpful option for offices not needing an involved printing process.
However, the closed-frame design does have its downsides, the primary one being the limit placed on print size. So long as your designs are no larger than 170mm x 254mm x 152mm in size, the DigiLab remains a stellar print solution for small business!
- Fully enclosed workspace for safety and noise reduction
- Automatic filament recognition and clog-resistant extruder for easy and reliable printing
- Onboard HD camera for remote monitoring
- Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity for easy file transfer and management
- Comes with an extensive range of innovative features, such as a touchscreen interface and an integrated carbon air filter
- Carries a higher price tag compared to certain other 3D printers available in the market
The Dremel DigiLab 3D45-01 3D Printer is a reliable and easy-to-use desktop 3D printer that is ideal for engineers, product designers, educators, and schools. The Dremel DigiLab 3D45-01 is a fully enclosed desktop 3D printer with a range of innovative features, such as automatic filament recognition, a clog-resistant extruder, and an onboard HD camera for remote monitoring.
The Dremel DigiLab 3D45-01 is ideal for engineers, product designers, educators, and schools who need a reliable and easy-to-use 3D printer for rapid prototyping and educational purposes.
Features and Considerations
Build Volume
Large 3D printer build volumes can swell to ludicrous sizes measured in meters rather than millimeters, which are overkill for most applications. For most, a more modest but large build volume compared to that of typical 3D printers is a more cost-effective option and still offers plenty of versatility. Consider the maximum size of the prints you are aiming for, and buy accordingly.
Open vs Closed Frame
The design of a 3D printer fundamentally affects how large the build volume can be. With enclosed 3D printers, the entire print space is kept within the model. Most – if not all – of the best large 3D printers will be open-frame, to minimize restrictions on build volume. These models tend to be heavier and bulkier, however.
Filament
Another factor to consider when shopping for a large 3D printer is material compatibility. In a sense, this is a simple step to overlook, but one that can hamper your printing plans if you find out a printer doesn’t support your filament of choice before hitting the buy button. Most will handle PLA and ABS out of the box, while pricier options may extend compatibility to less popular materials such as Nylon. Some large 3D printers can handle more abrasive materials like carbon fiber but may require upgrading the nozzle to a hardened steel variant – a relatively cheap and easy way to improve the printer.
Print Speeds
A few factors determine the print speed of a 3D printer: the number of extruders, their acceleration, even a slowly-heating bed can have drastic effects on print speeds. A quick tradeoff between quality and speed can be achieved by replacing the nozzle with a wider-diameter model, but that is never ideal. If you know you’ll need quick turnover rates, it is best to invest in a high-speed 3D printer from the outset.
What is PLA in 3D Printing?
PLA stands for polylactic acid and is one of the filament types employed in 3D printing. It’s favored for its universality, affordability and durability – though there are many other 3D printer filaments that offer better for a price.
Is a 3D printer a good business investment?
Yes: If you can learn to effectively use it, a 3D printer offers new, more affordable methods of creating a wide range of items for a wide range of applications. Though the learning curve can be steep for a layman, it is a worthwhile investment!
Our Verdict
Our top spot for the best 3D printer for small business goes to the MakerBot Replicator+. Though it may be beyond the budget of some, the results speak for themselves with stellar build quality and ease of use – even if it’s exclusively with PLA!