Access to a 3D printer is now expected in the design studio. Product development teams want to be able to prototype or even create end-use parts without outsourcing to a dedicated facility or bureau.
With hundreds of different options out there, it’s hard to know where to start. Deciding between technologies, factoring in hidden fees, set-up times and material choice, not to mention the cost of the ‘professional’ market, which can be anything from £2k to £100, even starting the process of getting AM into the design studio can be overwhelming.
Remember to consider service plans and peripheral post-processing equipment, and keep material costs in mind. Many of these 3D printers are now capable of building incredible parts using composite filaments or specialist resins. However, if you’re producing lots of simple volume models and the occasional fixture, FDM materials like PLA or fast draft resins are far more economical.
Whether you’re buying your first 3D printer for the design studio or looking to upgrade to some new tech, this list of 12 diverse printers and price points represents some of the best options out there.
Bambu Lab H2D Pro
Bambu Lab’s shift from consumer to professional-grade products has seen this dual-nozzle printer built for high-performance, high-temperature applications. With a 350°C tungsten carbide nozzle, 65°C actively heated chamber, and adaptive air circulation system, the H2D Pro can handle materials like PPA-CF, PPS and PPS-CF for stronger, more reliable and dimensionally accurate parts. AMS 2 Pro and AMS HT automatic material systems and active filament drying units are included for versatile multi-material workflows. The ability to connect your devices through the Ethernet port means a stable connection even in the busiest of studios.
» Technology: FDM
» Build Volume: Single Nozzle Printing: 325mm x 320mm x 325mm
Dual Nozzle Printing: 300mm x 320mm x 320mm
Total Volume for Two Nozzles: 350mm x 320mm x 320mm
» Price ££
bambulab.com
Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra 16k
Building on the success of the original Saturn 4 Ultra resin printer, the Ultra 16k offers better precision and a more user-friendly experience. Equipped with a 10-inch 16K Mono LCD screen and offering a 14 x 19 μm XY resolution and 0.02 mm Z-axis accuracy, this printer is a great choice for those who need exceptional accuracy. The smart tank with an integrated heating system keeps resin at 30°C for better fluidity and consistent print quality. The Saturn 4 Ultra 16K incorporates Elegoo’s Tilt Release Technology. By tilting the resin tank, the model is peeled off the release film rapidly. Compatible with SatelLite slicing software, which provides free pro features like model repair and Boolean operations without ads or paywalls.
» Technology: MSLA
» Build Volume: 211.68 x 118.37 x 220 mm
» Price: £
uk.elegoo.com
Fibreseeker 3
As the first ‘consumer-grade’ continuous fibre 3D printer and raising more than $4 million, the Fibreseeker 3 promises a more entry level alternative for stronger composite-enhanced FDM parts. Capable of creating parts with up to 900MPa tensile strength, strong enough to hold up a car. Equipped with auto levelling and calibration, multi-plastic support and a dual-nozzle, this printer is ideal for design studios in the aerospace and automotive sectors.
» Technology: FDM
» Build Volume: 300 × 300 × 245 mm
» Price: ££
fibreseek3d.com
Formlabs Form 4
Formlabs’ flagship resin 3D printer, the Form 4 prints two- to five-times faster than its predecessor, enabling same-hour iteration or batch production. The LFD print engine means the Form 4 features an ultra-high-power backlight (16 mw/cm2), proprietary release texture, Light Processing Unit 4 (LPU 4), and dual-layer, flexible film resin tank. The model has excellent print quality with 50-micron pixels, highly collimated light, advanced pixel smoothing, and light touch supports. The Formlabs materials library offers a large range of material choices for those wanting to try different filaments.
» Technology: SLA
» Build Volume: 300 × 300 × 245 mm
» Price: ££
formlabs.com
Formlabs Fuse 1+ 30W
Built off the back of the Fuse 1 SLS 3D printer, the Fuse 1+ 30W has a more powerful 30W laser to enable the use of new high-performance materials and deliver superior throughput to produce parts up to two times faster. An upgraded galvanometer system offers a rapid scanning speed of up to 12.5 meters per second. Low-waste printing due to high packing density and powder recyclability enables low cost per part.
» Technology: SLS
» Build Volume: 165 × 165 × 300 mm
» Price: £££
formlabs.com
HeyGears Reflex 2 Pro
HeyGears Reflex 2 Pro features a large build volume and the powerful light engine in the Reflex 2 Pro incorporates 1032 individually controlled light zones. This facilitates precise light projection for consistent surface quality and curing while minimising resin residue. Equipped with a precision Field-Oriented Control Motor Module that ensures high-precision positioning with 25,600 microsteps per revolution.
» Technology: MSLA
» Build Volume: 230 x 144 x 350 mm
» Price: ££
store.heygeras.com
Markforged Mark Two
Despite being one of the oldest printers on this list, the Markforged Mark Two remains at the top of many engineers’ wish lists, thanks to its bulletproof build, workhorse output and ability to produce parts capable of replacing machined metals. This desktop carbon fibre 3D Printer is built around the Continuous Fibre Reinforcement (CFR) process to reliably produce strong parts.
» Technology: FDM
» Build Volume: 320 x 132 x 154 mm
» Price: £££
markforged.com
Original Prusa MK4S
The Prusa MK4S offers 360° cooling, which allows users to print overhangs of up to 75° without supports, and the high-flow nozzle provides layer adhesion for strong and more durable prints. The MK4S includes an Ethernet port and Wi-Fi with NFC setup, allowing it to be managed from anywhere using the secure Prusa Connect system or mobile app. Available as a plug and print means you can start printing almost immediately and is a great option for those bringing their first 3D printer into the design studio.
» Technology: FDM
» Build Volume: 250 x 210 x 220 mm
» Price: £
prusa3d.com
Photocentric Liquid Crystal Magna
From the inventors of LCD printing, the LC Magna delivers fast, accurate large-scale prints. The versatility of the new daylight LC Magna speeds product design, enabling users to go from prototyping to production volumes in hours. Daylight is better for screen life, lower in energy usage and safer, but may print more reliably, delivering an even cure with high-intensity UV and greater depth of penetration. Connectivity via Wi-Fi, Ethernet or USB.
» Technology: LCD
» Build Volume: 510 x 280 x 350 mm
» Price: £££
photocentricgroup.com
UltiMaker S8
UltiMaker puts productivity at the forefront with the S8; capable of speeds up to 500mm/s and accelerations up to 50,000mm/s2 the S8 can deliver up to 4x the productivity of its predecessor. UltiMaker Cheetah motion planner enhances motion control for precision of 0.15mm ± 0.15% and eliminates issues such as ringing, blobs, and mechanical stress that may occur at high speeds. The S8 supports dual extrusion, allowing users to create complex parts with multiple materials in a single print job, and Ultimaker Marketplace offers over 300 materials to choose from.
» Technology: FDM
» Build Volume: 330 x 240 x 300 mm
» Price: ££
ultimaker.com
Zortrax M300 Dual
The M300 Dual prints using dual-extrusion LPD Plus technology, which deposits melted material layer by layer onto the build platform, allowing for large models with complex geometries. M300 can be run as a single- or dual-extrusion printer using any Zortrax or compatible third-party filaments. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, USB, and Ethernet. The built-in video streaming camera can be used to monitor prints in real-time and record the process for all the future 3D pint-fluencers out there.
» Technology: LDP
» Build Volume: 265 x 265 x 300 mm
» Price: ££
zortrax.com
3D Systems PSLA 270
As a projector-based SLA printer, 3d Systems’ PSLA 270 efficiently delivers mid-size, high-quality parts with stable mechanical properties. Equipped with high-power 7-watt projectors deliver first article success at 90µm pixel resolution, promising exceptional print quality and repeatability. Dual HD projector-based SLA offers up to 5x faster curing layer times compared to laser-based technology. Its compact size and easy setup making it ideal for the design studio.
» Technology: SLA
» Build Volume: 165 x 165 x 300mm
» Price: £££
3dsystems.com
