Like any technology, 3D printers have evolved past the mystique and the cumbersome price tag to become a realistic at-home gadget.
With the lowest 3D printer prices now rivaling those of everyday printers, more people are tinkering with the idea of getting one. But how to choose?
It comes down to your comfort level with tech, your budget and what you want to print.
A 3D printer works by printing out layers at a time using filament, liquid resin, or powder. They also use different types of heat and light sources. Printer speed and stability are two more key factors.
The most common type of at-home 3D printer uses molten plastic to build layers. The filament comes in spools and is melted and released through a nozzle.
Here are things the experts recommend you consider before purchase:
* What do you want to print? This can be nearly anything you dream up, whether toys and knick-knacks to product prototypes or other widgets. Hobbyists and artists might want more colors and filaments, says PC Magazine, while schools and consumers want ease of use and low maintenance. Designers and other manufacturers need higher quality for complex projects.
* How big are the items you're printing? This determines your printer's "build area."
* What kind of resolution do you need? In the 3D printer world, this translates into how thin the layers are. Most at-home printers can now print at fairly high quality. The tradeoff here also comes down to print time.
* Additional considerations: Whether you want to print in multiple colors; what type of build platform you desire (the base upon which an object is printed, and how easy it is to remove it from there); a closed frame or open frame model (consider children and pets, noise and odor); and the software.
