Whether you’re just starting out or want to upgrade, you’ll find an excellent 3D printer deal to fit your budget. And because the tech has gotten so much better, even entry-level printers can produce quality prints.
This story is part of Amazon Prime Day, CNET’s guide to everything you need to know and how to find the best deals.
Finding a decent deal on a solid 3D printer is even more crucial if you’re a first-time buyer or you’re looking to buy one as a gift for a beginner. All the best 3D printers have advanced features that make things easier, so if you can snag one for less than normal, that’s a big plus. These deals are always in flux, so keep checking back here for the latest and greatest.
The Neptune 2 has been one of my favorite budget printers for years now, and the Neptune 3 Pro takes everything good about it, then multiplies it by… a lot. The pro has automatic bed leveling and filament run-out sensors, and it prints with a quality you wouldn’t believe possible for a printer under $300.
If you’re just starting out, the Neptune 3 Pro is a great buy.
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The Creality Ender 5 S1 was one of the first printers to market able to print at 250 millimeters per second and, while it is faster than a standard printer, it can go even faster. Creality 3D printers always require some tinkering to get the most out of them, and with a solid discount like this, it’s worth the time to tweak the 5 S1 to greatness.
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One of the first consumer 3D printers to break the 250 millimeter-per-second speed barrier, the AnkerMake M5 has recently had a software update to push its speed up to 500mm/s on its ultrafast mode. The M5 uses an AI camera to help you detect issues so you can stop a failing print before you waste a lot of material. The AI is particularly bad, but the camera does give you some fantastic time-lapse videos to share on social media.
Read more: AnkerMake M5 Review
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I’ve recently been working with the Finder 3, and I’m impressed with the quality it was able to produce straight from the box. It’s easy to set up and comes with a flexible build plate that you can replace the glass bed with. It makes it far easier to remove builds. This is the perfect printer for a teacher, as the enclosure makes it stable, and the slicer can control multiple printers at once via Wi-Fi.
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This is easily my favorite small resin 3D printer. It’s super fast and prints beautiful models every time. Elegoo is an old hand at resin printing, so every part you’ll ever need to replace is easily acquired at a reasonable price. The details that can be captured with the Mars 3 are stunning, and some of my favorite models have come from this little machine.
Any time you can get the Mars 3 on sale is a good day, so snag one now. Just be sure to use the promo code ELEM310 at checkout to get the full discount.
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Save $175 with ELEM310 coupon
The Elegoo Saturn 2 is my favorite resin printer right now. It prints incredibly detailed models at a speed that is often astonishing. The bed size is much larger than the printers in the smaller category, while its footprint is much easier to deal with than other, larger printers. You can print finely detailed cosplay pieces or multiple tabletop miniatures with equal ease with the Saturn 2, making it perfect for a small business.
Read more: Elegoo Saturn 2 Review
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Materials and accessories
It’s not just the 3D printers themselves that are on sale. It’s often the accessories and materials, too. While the savings aren’t as drastic — around $10 savings, maybe — these add up over time when you have to buy a lot of materials for your projects.
The Mercury X bundle has been my personal go-to for resin washing and curing for a long time now. The separate machines run off one power supply but work independently as needed. They are plenty big enough to fit just about any 3D model from the Saturn 2, or Mars 3, and any time you can find this bundle under $200 you should snap it up.
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When you buy a budget 3D printer it often requires you to manually level the print bed. This can create issues, so Chuck Hellebuyck, one of the pillars of the 3D printing community, created this simple tool to make sure your bed is always level. All you need to do is set your printer to print a special file then adjust the bed until the little tool lights up. Easy!
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