2024 Black Friday deals make it the perfect time to grab a 3D printer—options for all budgets and needs, from size to speed, await beginners and upgraders alike.
As Black Friday approaches, enthusiasts and hobbyists in the 3D printing community are eagerly searching for the best deals on printers and accessories. This year, several brands are offering significant discounts, making it an excellent time to invest in new equipment. Here’s a comprehensive overview of the best Black Friday deals for 3D printers available in 2024.
Overview of Key Brands and Models: This article focuses on three major brands in the 3D printing industry: Bambu, Creality, and Elegoo. Each brand has unique offerings that cater to different needs and budgets.
Black Friday Deals on the Best 3D Printers of 2024
Budget-Friendly Options
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For those just starting or looking for affordable options, consider these printers:
Elegoo Neptune 3 Pro
- Price: Approximately $159.99
- Build Volume: 225 x 225 x 280 mm
Elevate your 3D printing experience with advanced Elegoo Neptune 3 Pro printer, featuring a print volume of 225 x 225 x 280 mm³. This printer is equipped with auto bed leveling and a PEI magnetic platform, ensuring optimal adhesion and easy print removal.
Pros
- Quiet Printing: Designed to operate quietly, making it ideal for any workspace.
- Powerful Dual-Gear Extruder: Provides reliable material flow for high-quality prints with various filament types.
- Removable 4.3” Touch Screen: Offers a user-friendly interface for easy navigation and control.
Cons
- Limited build volume may restrict larger projects.
- May require some adjustments for optimal performance.
Creality Ender 3 V3 SE
- Price: Approximately $169
- Build Volume: 220 x 220 x 250 mm
Experience high-speed 3D printing with advanced Creality Ender 3 V3 SE printer, boasting a print volume of 250mm/s max speed and 2500mm/s² acceleration. Equipped with CR Touch and strain sensors, it ensures precise auto leveling and Z offset adjustments for successful prints every time.
Pros
- “Sprite” Direct Extruder: Compatible with PLA, PETG, and flexible TPU, providing versatility in material use.
- Stable Dual Z-Axis: Reduces Z wobbling for improved print quality.
- Y-Axis Dual Linear Shafts: Ensure lasting, steady motion for reliable performance.
- Auto Filament Loading & Unloading: The “Extrude” and “Retract” functions simplify filament management.
Cons
- Material Limitations: The printer struggles with higher temperature filaments like PETG and ASA, even after upgrades, primarily due to uneven bed heating.
- Leveling Difficulties: Users reported challenges with the auto leveling feature, often requiring manual adjustments to achieve a proper level.
- Frequent Failures: Many users experienced failed prints, particularly with larger items, leading to frustration and wasted materials.
- Customer Service Issues: Customers faced delays and inadequate support when seeking assistance for defective parts or warranty claims, with some receiving unhelpful responses.
- Quality Control Problems: Instances of printers arriving with defects, such as broken components or improper assembly, were noted, necessitating further repairs.
- Hot End Problems: Users reported clogs and issues with the hot end, leading to significant downtime and the need for replacement parts.
Mid-Range Choices
If you have a bit more to spend, these mid-range options offer great features:
Elegoo Neptune 3 Plus
- Price: Approximately $229
- Build Volume: 320 x 320 x 400 mm
Experience exceptional 3D printing with advanced Elegoo Neptune 3 Plus, featuring a generous print volume of 320 x 320 x 400 mm³. Designed for ease of use, it comes with auto bed leveling and a PEI magnetic platform for optimal adhesion and effortless print removal.
Pros
- Powerful Dual-Gear Extruder: Ensures reliable and consistent material flow for high-quality prints.
- Quiet Operation: Designed to minimize noise during printing, making it suitable for any environment.
- Removable 4.3” Touch Screen: Offers a user-friendly interface for easy navigation and control.
Cons
- Filament Gear Issues: Users reported that the gear responsible for pulling filament failed after only a couple of weeks of use, indicating potential durability concerns.
- Rounded Screw Heads: Some customers experienced rounded screw heads, making it difficult to access the hot end for maintenance or repairs.
- Difficult Leveling: The auto bed leveling feature was criticized for not functioning effectively, with users noting that leveling one side often resulted in the other side being uneven.
- Print Shifting: A few reviewers mentioned instances of the print shifting mid-process, which can compromise print quality.
- Limited Print Duration: Some users found that the printer only performed well for a short period before encountering issues, raising concerns about long-term reliability.
Creality Ender 3 V3 Plus
- Price: Approximately $359
- Build Volume: 300 x 300 x 330 mm
Elevate your 3D printing experience with high-performance Creality Ender 3 V3 Plus printer, featuring a build volume of 300 x 300 x 330 mm. Designed for heavy-duty use, it incorporates dual motors and support rods on the Y-axis for enhanced stability. The CoreXZ system allows for spectacular speeds of up to 600mm/s, enabling you to complete projects quickly.
Pros
- Full-auto Calibration: Eliminates manual tuning for effortless setup.
- Reliable Clog-free Extruder Kit: Ensures consistent performance without interruptions.
- 1-Clip Quick Swap Nozzle: Facilitates easy maintenance and nozzle changes.
- Instant Part Cooling: Two powerful cooling fans ensure optimal print quality.
Cons
- Material Limitations: While the printer excels with PLA, users noted difficulties when printing with ABS, PETG, or TPU without an enclosure, limiting material versatility.
- Speed Constraints: Although capable of high speeds, users reported failures at speeds over 500mm/s with certain filaments, indicating that speed is dependent on filament quality.
- Spool Management Issues: The spool can unwind during printing, potentially causing jams unless a spool mount is used, which some users found inconvenient.
- Quality Assurance Problems: Several customers received printers with defects, such as broken components or wiring issues, leading to a need for replacements or repairs.
- Customer Support Challenges: Users experienced delays and inadequate responses from customer service when addressing issues like defective parts or error codes.
- Calibration Challenges: Some users faced difficulties with bed leveling and calibration, impacting initial print quality.
High-End Recommendations
For those who prioritize speed and advanced features, consider these high-end models:
Bambu A1
- Price: Approximately $299
- Build Volume: 256 x 256 x 256 mm
Experience cutting-edge 3D printing with advanced Bambu A1 printer, featuring full-auto calibration for effortless setup and multi-color printing capabilities in the combo version. The 256 x 256 x 256 mm³ build volume allows you to create larger prints, such as helmets, in one piece.
Pros
- Active Flow Rate Compensation: Ensures smooth surfaces and sharp edges for high-quality prints.
- 1-Clip Quick Swap Nozzle: Simplifies nozzle changes for enhanced efficiency.
- Active Motor Noise Cancelling: Reduces operational noise for a quieter printing experience.
- Upgraded Heatbed Cable: Features Kevlar reinforcement and optimized design for improved durability.
Cons
- Limited build volume compared to larger printers.
- May not be as robust as more expensive models.
Bambu P1S
- Price: Approximately $549
- Build Volume: 256 x 256 x 256 mm
Experience seamless 3D printing with advanced Bambu P1S printer, designed for quick setup and high performance. It works right out of the box, taking only 15 minutes to assemble. The enclosed body allows for high-temperature filament printing, while the up to 16-color printing capability with AMS enables vibrant, multi-color creations.
Pros
- High Speed CoreXY: Achieves impressive 20000 mm/s² acceleration, allowing you to print a benchy in just 18 minutes.
- Built-in Camera: Monitor your prints remotely and create timelapse videos effortlessly.
- Well-Polished Hardware and Software: Ensures a smooth user experience and reliable performance.
Cons
- Smaller build volume may limit larger projects.
- Price may be high for casual users.
Bambu X1 Carbon
- Price: Under $999
- Build Volume: 256 x 256 x 256 mm
Unlock the potential of 3D printing with state-of-the-art Bambu X1 Carbon printer, designed for multi-color and multi-material capabilities. Trusted by professionals, it delivers high-quality prints with an impressive 7 μm Lidar resolution and features a high-speed CoreXY system with 20000 mm/s² acceleration for rapid production.
Pros
- Dual Auto Bed Leveling: Ensures optimal print quality with minimal effort.
- Spaghetti Failure Detection: Automatically identifies and addresses printing issues.
- AI Inspected First Layer: Guarantees a perfect start to every print.
- Versatile Material Compatibility: Works with a wide range of filaments, including PA, PC, PET, and TPU, excelling in carbon fiber and glass fiber reinforced polymers.
Cons
- Higher price point may not be justifiable for casual users.
- Complexity may overwhelm beginners.
Large Format Printers
If your projects require larger print volumes, consider these options:
Elegoo Neptune 3 Max
- Price: Approximately $329.00
- Build Volume: 420 x 420 x 500 mm
Experience exceptional 3D printing with Elegoo Neptune 3 Max printer, featuring a generous print volume of 420 x 420 x 500 mm³. The 63-point auto bed leveling system utilizes a non-contact sensor for effortless calibration, eliminating tedious manual adjustments. Enjoy quiet operation and enhanced performance thanks to the powerful dual-gear extruder, which offers three times the extrusion torque for stable and precise printing.
Pros
- PEI Magnetic Platform: Ensures strong adhesion and easy print removal by simply bending the steel sheet.
- Removable 4.3” Touch Screen: Facilitates one-click auto leveling for user-friendly operation.
- Smart Resume Printing: Automatically resumes after power loss and pauses when filament runs out.
- Enhanced Reliability: Dual lead screws and motors for improved synchronization and stability.
Cons
- Quality Assurance Issues: Many users reported missing or poorly threaded nuts and screws, indicating lapses in quality control during assembly.
- Fan Failures: Some customers experienced fan malfunctions shortly after setup, leading to concerns about long-term reliability.
- Defective Parts: Instances of printers arriving with broken components, such as hot ends and build plates, were noted, necessitating contact with customer support for replacements.
- Inadequate Customer Support: Users expressed frustration with slow response times and unresolved issues after reaching out to customer service for assistance.
- Calibration Problems: A few reviewers mentioned difficulties with bed leveling and calibration, impacting print quality and requiring manual adjustments.
Creality K1 Max
- Price: Approximately $679
- Build Volume: 300 x 300 x 300 mm
Elevate your 3D printing with advanced Creality K1 Max, featuring 600mm/s speed and a 300x300x300mm build volume. Enjoy AI-assisted technology for effortless printing, including AI LIDAR and camera support.
Pros
- Automatic bed leveling and calibration
- Upgraded Z-axis for precise positioning
- One-button error detection for instant issue reporting
Cons
- Defective Components: Many users reported receiving printers with issues such as broken hot ends, damaged motherboards, and nicks on build plates upon delivery.
- Customer Support Challenges: There are frequent mentions of slow or inadequate responses from Creality’s customer service regarding repairs and troubleshooting.
- Software Glitches: Users experienced software problems, including error codes, crashes during self-checks, and ineffective AI features like the camera and LIDAR.
- Setup Difficulties: Some reviewers found the setup instructions lacking, leading to initial operational challenges.
- Quality Control Issues: Inconsistent print quality and proble
- There are frequent mentions of slow or inadequate responses from Creality’s customer service regarding repairs and troubleshooting.
- Software Glitches: Users experienced software problems, including error codes, crashes during self-checks, and ineffective AI features like the camera and LIDAR.
Conclusion
With numerous Black Friday deals available in 2024, now is an excellent time to invest in a new 3D printer. Whether you’re just starting or looking to upgrade your existing setup, there are options across all price ranges that cater to various needs. Be sure to consider your specific requirements—such as print size, speed, and reliability—when making your purchase. Happy printing!
