Make sure that a 3D printer's build area is large enough for the kind of objects that you intend to print with it. The build area is the size, in t...

As for the materials you'll use to print with, most affordable 3D printers use the abovementioned FFF technique, in which plastic filament—availabl...

A 3D printer extrudes successive thin layers of molten plastic in accordance with instructions coded in the file for the object being printed. For...

A few 3D printers with multiple extruders can print objects in two or more colors. Most are dual-extruder models, with each extruder being fed a di...

We've mentioned its size, but other aspects of the build platform (the surface on which you are printing) can prove critical in practice. A good pl...

Closed-frame 3D printers have an enclosed structure with a door, walls, and lid or hood. Open-frame models provide easy visibility of print jobs in...

With most 3D printers, you initiate printing from a computer via a USB connection. Some printers have their own internal memory, which is an advant...

Today's 3D printers come with a suite of software—almost always Windows-compatible, and often for macOS and Linux as well—on a disk or as a downloa...

Also summarized at the start of this guide by usage case, below are the best 3D printers that we've reviewed recently broken out by their specs. Th...

No, they’re really not. Once you have a 3D printer set up and calibrated, it can be easy to churn out all sorts of cool hardware. What can be a bit...

Absolutely, and in fact, many 3D printers (including some featured here) were designed with young makers intended to be the primary users. That sai...

Most consumer-grade 3D printers use spools of filament which are made of several different plastic polymers. PLA (polylactic acid). a recyclable ma...

Yes and no. It's safe to leave the room while your 3D printer is running, which is good, as some prints can take hours to complete. Is it safe to l...