Products at a Glance
How We Picked the Best Auto Leveling 3D Printer
Since most beginners and journeymen who look for 3D printers with automatic leveling beds are seeking convenience, we shortlisted 3D printers with the best ease-of-use. We considered how difficult the printer is to assemble and remove products, along with how easy it is to clean or maintain. Of course, above all else, we assessed the reliability of the auto leveling function.
Product Reviews
- Great automatic leveling
- Good build volume
- Plenty of filament options
- Can be tricky to assemble
The Prusa i3 MK3S+ is a top-grade 3D printer that will take your 3D printing to the next (automatic) level. With phenomenal auto leveling capabilities and a great all-round printing functionality, we’re big fans of this 3D printer!
The i3 features the innovative SuperPINDA probe that ensures excellent first-layer evenness and keeps it up all throughout the printing process. Measuring 250 x 210 x 210 mm, the i3’s build volume is big enough to accommodate all of your 3D printing needs. What’s more, it has the always-helpful resume printing functionality that lets you continue printing from where you left off in case of a filament shortage or power outage.
That said, the i3 is only a great auto leveling 3D printer once it’s set up. Even journeyman printers may struggle to assemble this model, but this is very much a short-term issue. And although it errs on the expensive side, we think the i3 is worth the effort, and are happy to crown it the best auto leveling 3D printer!
- Affordable
- Dual-gear extruder
- Great automatic leveling
- Noisy
- No wireless functionality
The Elegoo Neptune 3 Pro is an affordable auto leveling 3D printer with a large build volume and quiet operation. What we love about this printer as opposed to our top pick is that it comes almost fully assembled: all major parts will be delivered to you as one piece, along with a quick installation kit for a few smaller parts.
Once that’s done, you’ll have plenty of printing options on your hands: the Neptune 3 Pro features a 225mm x 225mm x 280mm work area, which lets you get creative with little restriction. There’s also a strain-gauge-based bed probe that keeps your model’s first layers precise and even. Thanks to the dual-gear extruder, the printer’s filament feeding is seamless and stable, resulting in accurate prints that don’t require any smoothing.
There are some downsides, however. Whilst the Neptune 3 Pro comes with USB and Micro-SD slots, there is no wireless printing functionality. It’s an annoyance more than an issue, but means that you have to manually transfer your designs to be printed. You’ll also want to keep this 3D printer in its own room, as the power supply motor is constantly running. This is an issue, as it is not only noisy but can affect the device’s lifespan. Still, for a hassle-free budget 3D printer with automatic leveling, it’s hard to beat the Neptune 3 Pro – if you can stand the noise!
- High-speed printing
- Rapid cooling & rapid heating in one package
- Large print volume
- Initial manual bed adjustment
- Unreliable slicer
A comfortable middle-ground option for auto leveling 3D printers is the original K1 from Creality. This brand consistently manufactures great models, with us mentioning several Creality products on our list of the best multi-color 3D printers. For fast print solutions without a premium price tag, the K1 is a versatile and worthwhile 3D printer!
Featuring print speeds of up to 600mm/s, the K1 is a productivity powerhouse. The work area measures 220mm x 220mm x 250mm, which is enough for small-to-medium-sized printing jobs. Additionally, the printer incorporates rapid cooling with fan-equipped nozzles and an auxiliary fan in the cavity, ensuring final prints with little to no imperfections. Along with Assisted Bed Leveling, the K1 also comes with a self-test and accurate Z-axis positioning tester, ensuring the most accurate print possible with little alteration.
Similar to other models, however, there is a manual element to the initial setup. The K1 requires you to initially align the bed before you print, which can be especially frustrating for beginners as the instructions aren’t entirely intuitive in how this is done. Other than that, the K1 is a highly-capable 3D printer with automated leveling that’s a great entry point into a whole new dimension of printing!
- Superb 3-in-1 printer
- Wireless printing functionality
- Intelligent automatic systems
- Bulky
The Snapmaker A350T meets all your design needs – and we do mean all of them. Combining the functions of laser engraving, cutting, CNC carving, and 3D printing into one machine; this model is a godsend of a print solution for designers or sculptors anywhere!
With the A350T, the automatically leveling bed is barely a footnote of all the innovative design decisions in this model. With the 3D printing module attached, you can use PLA filament to create precise 3D modules in the vast 320 x 350 x 330mm build area. There’s a filament runout sensor that notifies you when you run out of filament, ensuring that you always get a finished print, and the A350T’s advanced algorithm coordinates the action of the linear modules with the 3D printing module’s extruder, for computer-accurate printing. The interface of this machine is one of the most advanced we’ve ever seen. Using the large 5” touchscreen display, you can process multiple objects at the same time and create customized profiles. It also supports power loss recovery, ensuring that you can resume printing in case of a power issue.
There are two main tradeoffs with this premium 3D printer: the first is the size, and the second is the price. Bulky, heavy, and expensive, this may not be the best auto leveling 3D printer for everyone. But for a premium 3D print solution that packs a bundle of features into the build, the A350T is the very best on the market!
- Lightweight and portable
- Intelligent auto leveling
- Small build volume
- Slow print speeds
On the far end of the spectrum, for an ultra-compact auto leveling printer, the Tina 2 Mini from Entina is a dark-horse candidate. Weighing a little under seven pounds and with an intelligent leveling system, this 3D printer is an interesting and affordable choice for those who need the space.
With dual Z-axis rails, the Tina 2 Mini always ensures that your model is level. The build volume measures 100mm x 120mm x 100mm, which is fine for small prints, miniatures, and kids’ toys. The magnetic build plate is easily removed, enabling you to detach your models without damaging them. It comes fully assembled and calibrated right out of the box, so there are no bolts or complex tools to mess around with.
We don’t have any major problems with the Tina 2 Mini: it’s a little slow, but that’s to be expected from such a budget model; and it doesn’t have the best build volume, likewise limited by the practicalities of the printer. For an auto leveling 3D printer with a tiny footprint, the Tina 2 Mini lives up to its name.
Features and Considerations
For a pit-stop guide on what to look for in the best auto leveling 3D printers, here are some key topics to consider:
Print Materials
There are a wide variety of available materials for 3D printers, all with unique benefits and drawbacks. If you are looking to print with a certain filament type, such as ABS for its high durability, make sure that your auto leveling 3D printer is capable of using it.
Print Volume
Depending on the available space, your budget, and the type of model you intend to print; choose a 3D printer with the build volume that suits your needs. Compact – and often budget – printers tend to have smaller build volumes that are suitable for models like miniatures, small parts, and kids’ toys. More premium printers can accommodate larger-sized models like machine parts.
Printer Size
Before choosing a 3D printer, you need to consider the available space in your work area. Some 3D printers, especially commercial ones with large build volumes, can be huge, which means that you may not be able to use any of them in your home. If you have limited space for your 3D printer, pick a compact model that can also be easily moved around when needed.
On a side note, keep in mind that you need to place your 3D printer in a well-ventilated area for safety and quality purposes.
Can you upgrade a 3D printer to employ auto leveling?
Some manual-leveling 3D printing can be upgraded to include an auto-leveling function with an after-market Auto Bed Leveling (ABL) sensor. However, you need to make sure that the sensor is compatible with your specific 3D printer model.
Do you need an auto leveling 3D printer?
While manual bed leveling is fine for some experienced users, automatic bed leveling can save you much-needed time and effort. Not to mention, it reduces waste as you’ll be able to realize your prints exactly as you wanted them instead of having to reprint them due to a bed leveling problem.
Our Verdict
For the all-round best auto leveling 3D printer, the i3 MK3S+ from Prusa is our pick! Whilst getting it out of the box can be a struggle, the i3 performs fantastically after that. With a huge array of filament options and superb automatic leveling, you’ll be hard-pressed to find better value-for-money in a 3D printer!