This is the Honorable Mentions list for Generic Hobbyist FDM Printers. These printers were considered for the primary list, but due to some drawbacks or lack of my own research/knowledge, they were not included. Since I don't pay as much attention to the printers on this list, there may be more inaccuracies than the main list.
If you do not have any of the options available on the main list, or are willing to take more risks, printers here may still be worth taking a look at.
This post will follow the same criteria as in the main list.
Current Entries:
- Ender 3 V3 SE
- Sovol SV07
- Ender 3 V3 KE
- Ender 3 V3
- Prusa Mini+
- Qidi Q1 Pro
- Creality K1C
- Formbot Troodon 2.0 Pro/Mini
Build Volume: Medium (220 x 220 x 250 mm)
Subjective Price/Performance Ratio: 2.5/5
The most recent budget option for the hardened Ender 3 series from Creality. The Ender 3 V3 SE comes with the now contemporary bedslinger printer features and decently high-speed printing, all while keeping a low and affordable price.
This printer did not make it to the primary list because the company Creality had quite some issues (see my infamous rant) . Nevertheless the on-paper specs of the Ender 3 V3 SE are decent, and it can be a good budget pick especially if other low cost options are not available.
GOOD FOR: Low-cost general use, beginner printer, moderately high speed printing, tinkering
Pros:
- Standard contemporary printer features (Direct feed extruder, auto-levelling sensor, removable build surface), but NO all-metal hotend.
- Decently fast printing speed while maintaining quality.
- Auto-levelling does not require manual setting of nozzle Z-height offset.
Cons:
- Uses V-rollers on the X and Z axis. This kind of motion system is less robust than a linear rod/rail setup.
- Lacks an all-metal hotend out of the box. A disadvantage considering how many other printers these days come with one. This means that the printer cannot safely print above ~230 C.
- Build plate uses a BuildTak-style print surface. While this works, adhesion can be excessively high making prints difficult to remove, and it is much less durable compared to the common PEI print sheets on other printers.
- Lack of filament runout sensor. It cannot detect if you run out of filament mid-print and pause the print for you to refill it. A disadvantage considering many printers have filament sensors these days.
- Creality is especially prone to quality control issues. Random issues may appear on different machines.
Build Volume: Medium (220 x 220 x 250 mm)
Subjective Price/Performance Ratio: 3/5
Sovol's own take on the high-speed i3 budget bedslinger. This printer uses the same extruder and hotend system as the SV06 Plus (so high flow hotend), some extra features like an auxiliary fan, but most importantly it runs on Klipper firmware out of the box. To roughly summarize, Klipper firmware allows faster printing speeds and makes it easier to configure printer settings.
This printer did not make it to the primary list because of some of the tradeoffs/downgrades it received compared to the SV06 (using v-rollers instead of linear rods). It may be more worth it to Klipperize an SV06 than to get an SV07 as long as you can tinker. Nevertheless, this is the cheapest Klipper i3 bedslinger.
Additionally, consider the SV07 Plus. It is pretty much this thing but upscaled to large format, for $370.
GOOD FOR: Low-cost general use, beginner printer, high speed printing, tinkering
Pros:
- Standard contemporary printer features (Direct feed extruder, all-metal hotend, auto-levelling sensor, removable build surface).
- Fast printing speed while maintaining quality thanks to Klipper firmware.
- Can be connected wirelessly out of the box on local network via Klipper
- Comes with additional auxiliary cooling fans to improve print cooling.
Cons:
- Uses V-rollers on all axes. This kind of motion system is less robust and less rigid than a linear rod/rail setup.
- Loud operation once auxiliary fan is activated.
- Bed is held in place by springs instead of being fixed by default, but comes with optional spacers to make it rigidly mounted.
Build Volume: Medium (220 x 220 x 240 mm)
Subjective Price/Performance Ratio: 3/5
Creality's high-speed i3 bedslinger. This printer shares similarities with the V3 SE, but runs Creality OS (their version of Klipper) and is capable of even faster printing speeds. It has a few other advantages over the V3 SE like using a linear rail for the X axis.
This printer did not make it to the primary list because the company Creality had quite some issues (see my infamous rant) . This is tied with the Neptune 4 Pro when it comes to price, and the Neptune 4 Pro is a better pick most of the time. Again, only consider buying this if other options like the Neptune 4 Pro are not available for similar price.
GOOD FOR: Medium-cost general use, beginner printer, high speed printing, tinkering
Pros:
- Standard contemporary printer features (Direct feed extruder, all-metal hotend, auto-levelling sensor, removable build surface).
- Very fast printing speed while maintaining quality.
- Can be controlled remotely/wirelessly out of the box.
- Auto-levelling does not require manual setting of nozzle Z-height offset.
Cons:
- Uses V-rollers on the Z axis. This kind of motion system is less robust than a linear rod/rail setup.
- Creality is especially prone to quality control issues. Random issues may appear on different machines.
Build Volume: Medium (220 x 220 x 250 mm)
Subjective Price/Performance Ratio: 3.5/5
The current highest end Ender 3 available from Creality. Despite sharing the Ender 3 V3 designation with the SE and KE, this printer is very different from the former two. The Ender 3 V3 shares many components from their K1 series, such as the toolhead and screen.
Most interestingly, it is a coreXZ printer (take a coreXY motion system and rotate it essentially). This means that the Z axis is controlled via belts, mostly negating the issue of Z-wobble. Like the K1, the Ender 3 V3 is equipped with Creality OS (klipper-based) and is capable of very fast speeds.
This printer did not make it to the primary list because the company Creality had quite some issues (see my infamous rant) . Otherwise it is a fairly decent-looking printer.
GOOD FOR: Medium-cost general use, high speed printing, composite filaments
Pros:
- Standard contemporary printer features (Direct feed extruder, all-metal hotend, auto-levelling sensor, removable build surface).
- CoreXZ motion system. While still a bedslinger, this motion system does present some advantages over the usual setup.
- Very fast printing speed while maintaining quality.
- Hardened steel nozzle by default, can print composite materials.
- Auto-levelling does not require manual setting of nozzle Z-height offset.
- Nozzles can be easily swapped at room temperature by hand.
- Can be controlled remotely/wirelessly out of the box.
Cons:
- Creality is especially prone to quality control issues. Random issues may appear on different machines.
Build Volume: Small (180 x 180 x 180 mm)
Subjective Price/Performance Ratio: 2/5
The Mini+ is Prusa's cheaper printer option (in comparison to the MK3S+ and MK4). Using a completely different design, the Mini+ has some design compromises such as a bowden extruder, cantilever design and is overall not as potent as its bigger brothers.
Despite this, it is just as easy to use and prints just as well as other Prusa printers. The Mini+ also received input shaping firmware which allows it to print at much faster speeds than before, near the same level as the MK4.
This printer did not make it to the primary list because it has been somewhat neglected by Prusa, with input shaping and WiFi connectivity being the only recent additions. This printer could really use something like a Mini-Nextruder. In addition, it is very expensive for its size.
GOOD FOR: Medium-cost general use, high speed printing, ease of use, silent printing, hassle-free experience, tinkering
Pros:
- Standard contemporary printer features (All-metal hotend, auto-levelling sensor, removable build surface), but NO direct feed extruder.
- Fast printing speed while maintaining quality.
- Can be controlled remotely/wirelessly with $7 WiFi module.
- Very user-friendly, easy to control and work with.
- Especially silent printing.
- The general Prusa experience: great support and official documentation, high reliability
Cons:
- Small build volume.
- Uses a bowden extruder instead of direct feed. This means that printing flexible filaments will be more difficult. Printers have advanced these days that the advantages of bowdens can no longer be justified over their disadvantages.
- High cost for size.
- Uses PETG printed parts. They will be completely fine for regular use and most enclosures, but can present a problem for especially spicy ones.
- Printing speeds somewhat bottlenecked by standard-flow hotend.
- Takes up a larger footprint than it looks, due to a separate spoolholder and PSU unit (can be negated with printed upgrades).
Build Volume: Medium (245 x 245 x 245 mm)
Subjective Price/Performance Ratio: 5/5
Qidi is a company known for making enclosed printers, and their new Q1 pro is their latest model made to compete with recent enclosed coreXY printers. On top of offering the standard features expected of an enclosed coreXY, the Q1 Pro noticeably comes with an active chamber heater which makes it excellent for printing materials that require a warm ambient air temperature.
This printer did not make it to the primary list due to some initial concerns about certain features of the machine, such as the electrocution risk, flimsy outer construction and complicated filament unloading procedure. Nevertheless, it is fairly close to being put onto the primary list.
GOOD FOR: Medium cost general use, high speed printing, high temp (300 C), enclosed printing
Pros:
- Standard contemporary printer features (Direct feed extruder, all-metal hotend, auto-levelling sensor, removable build surface).
- CoreXY motion system. Usually faster and more space-efficient, this is a more desirable setup in most cases.
- Very fast printing speed while maintaining quality.
- Fully-enclosed, allowing printing of certain filaments like ABS/ASA.
- Large auxiliary fan allows for additional cooling of prints.
- Comes with an active chamber heater, great for more demanding filaments like nylon.
- Auto-levelling does not require manual setting of nozzle Z-height offset.
- Can be controlled remotely/wirelessly out of the box.
- Comes with a camera for remote monitoring.
Cons:
- Somewhat complicated filament unloading procedure that directs you to manually cut the filament.
- Rather flimsy construction, mostly the spoolholder, belt tensioner, and nozzle wiper.
- Chamber heater presents an electrocution hazard when in use. Extra common sense must be practiced to not touch it.
Build Volume: Medium (220 x 220 x 250 mm)
Subjective Price/Performance Ratio: 4/5
Creality's flagship K series of printers are essentially their own versions of the popular Bambulab X1. The K1C in particular is an improved version of the earlier K1 that brings some changes, most notably a hardened steel nozzle. Running Creality OS like some of the earlier entries, the K1C is a fast, fully-enclosed coreXY 3D printer with most of the bells and whistles you would expect from a recent release.
This printer did not make it to the primary list because the company Creality had quite some issues (see my infamous rant) . The previous K1 iteration in particular had multiple issues leading to many design revisions, but these have mostly been ironed out in the K1C, making it a more suitable pick. Do note that Creality is about to release the newer K2 series which may render this printer obsolete later on. Nevertheless, it is expected to become backwards compatible with their upcoming multi-color system.
GOOD FOR: Medium-high cost general use, high speed printing, ease of use, tinkering, composite filaments, high temp (300 C), enclosed printing
Pros:
- Standard contemporary printer features (Direct feed extruder, all-metal hotend, auto-levelling sensor, removable build surface).
- CoreXY motion system. Usually faster and more space-efficient, this is a more desirable setup in most cases.
- Very fast printing speed while maintaining quality.
- Fully-enclosed, allowing printing of certain filaments like ABS/ASA.
- Large auxiliary fan allows for additional cooling of prints.
- Hardened steel nozzle by default, can print composite materials.
- Auto-levelling does not require manual setting of nozzle Z-height offset.
- Nozzles can be easily swapped at room temperature by hand.
- Can be controlled remotely/wirelessly out of the box.
- Comes with a camera for remote monitoring.
Cons:
- Creality is especially prone to quality control issues. Random issues may appear on different machines.
Build Volume (Troodon 2.0 Pro): Large (350 x 350 x 320 mm)
Build Volume (Troodon 2.0 Pro Mini): Medium (250 x 250 x 230 mm)
Subjective Price/Performance Ratio: 4/5
The Troodon 2.0 Pro from Formbot is a printer that is based on the open-source Voron 2.4, using a similar flying gantry design and the Stealthburner toolhead (but also sporting some different parts). A well-built Voron 2.4 is normally a formidable machine capable of high quality and speed, but perhaps the biggest hurdle is that they must be completely assembled, set up, and calibrated by the user.
This printer solves that issue by coming with many components preassembled. Installed with Klipper firmware like the Voron 2.4, the Troodon is a fast and capable printer that offers a lot of room for tinkering thanks to its similar design to the Voron 2.4.
The Troodon 2.0 Pro Mini appears to be the same thing but scaled smaller.
This printer did not make it to the primary list mostly because of my ignorance (me not knowing a lot about this machine, how reliable it is, etc).
GOOD FOR: High cost general use, large-scale printing (for 2.0 Pro), high speed printing, high temp (300 C), enclosed printing, tinkering
Pros:
- Standard contemporary printer features (Direct feed extruder, all-metal hotend, auto-levelling sensor, removable build surface).
- CoreXY motion system. Usually faster and more space-efficient, this is a more desirable setup in most cases.
- Fast printing speed while maintaining quality.
- Fully-enclosed, allowing printing of certain filaments like ABS/ASA.
- Auto-levelling does not require manual setting of nozzle Z-height offset.
- Can be controlled remotely/wirelessly out of the box.
- Compatible with some Voron 2.4 modifications, good for tinkering.
Cons:
- High upfront cost.
- Printing speeds bottlenecked by the standard-flow hotend.
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