Best 3D Printers (2025) – CNET

Testing a 3D printer is a detailed process. Often, printers do not use the same materials or the same process to create models. Test SLA, a 3D printer that prints resin and light, and FDM, a printer that melts plastic into a plate. Each has its own unique methodology. Here are the core qualifiers I’m watching:

• Hardware quality
• Ease of setup
• Bundle Software
• Print appearance and accuracy
• Repairability
• Support for the company and community

Important test printing representing the (current) CNET logo is used to evaluate how printers fill gaps, create accurate shapes, and handle overhangs. There are also few towers that can help you measure how well a 3D printer handles the temperature range.

When testing speed, slice the model using a standard slicer and the machine is shipped in standard settings and compares the actual duration of the print with the slicer’s statement completion time. 3D printers often use different slicers. These slicers can greatly change what you believe in completing times.

Next, I’ll use Prusaslicer Provides a more accurate number of speeds per second (mm/s) that the printer can run to determine how much material the print uses and divide that number by the actual time it took to print. I will.

All build plates are supposed to be heated to a specific temperature, Infly A Thermal Imaging Camera for Android See how well they do. The build plate was set to 60 degrees Celsius (the temperature most used for the build plate), waited for 5 minutes for the temperature to stabilize, then measured in six separate locations. We then took an average temperature to see how close the 3D printer was to the advertised temperature.

Since different standards are required for resin testing, we use Ameralabs standard test: Print a small resin model that looks like a small town. This will help you determine how accurate your printer is, how to handle small parts, and how much UV exposure works at various points in the model.

Many other anecdotal test prints using different 3D models are also performed on each printer to test the lifespan of the parts and how well the machine handles different shapes.

For other criteria, I looked into the company to see how well it handled to support queries from customers, and how easy it is to order replacement parts and install them yourself. A kit (a printer that only comes with semi-assembly) is determined by how long and difficult the assembly process is and how clear the instructions are.