Best 3D Printer for FDM in 2024 – large volume and budget picks

The Biqu B1 is a newcomer to the hobbyists-level 3D printer space and confidently rubs shoulders with mainstays such as the Ender and Prusa i3. It is a relatively well-kept secret that’s slowly gaining momentum among makers for its affordable price tag, great print results, and well-chosen feature set.

While a partially assembled printer, the Biqu B1’s setup is straightforward, sufficiently so as not to completely confound beginners. The instructions are particularly clear and concise, aided by labeled screws and parts.

On the specification side of things, the Biqu B1 features a 235 mm x 235 mm x 270 mm build volume, 0.4 mm nozzle, a removable heated magnetic steel print bed, microSD card reader, USB port, power failure print recovery, filament sensor, and support for popular filament like PLA, ABS, PETG, and more. Another interesting feature of the Biqu B1 is the dual operating system. You can swap easily between Biqu’s proprietary touchscreen interface or Marlin. Both work well and are responsive.

The print quality is impressive at this price point, whether that’s pumping out moving parts or textured showpieces. This applies to all compatible filaments, from standard PLA and ABS prints to PETG, TPU, and even nylon. However, we’d recommend swapping out the brass nozzle for a hardened steel alternative if you plan to print with nylon regularly.

The Biqu B1 lends itself well to tinkering and customization, primarily due to the SKR V1.4 32-bit mainboard with open slots there to house any upgrades you may want to integrate, a USB Type-C connector on the print head, BL Touch stand, a double z-axis port, Wi-Fi port, and Smart filament sensor slot. As stock, the Biqu B1 works a treat, but there’s scope for some serious improvements if you are that way inclined.

Ignoring the questionable name, the Artillery Sidewinder X1 V4 kit is a well-rounded large-format 3D printer that excels at churning out thickly layered prints at great speeds. Artillery has carefully chosen and implemented features designed to perform that core function and all at a price point that sees it compete with other top choice large build volume hobbyists 3D printers.

The Artillery Sidewinder X1 V4 features a roomy 300 mm x 300 mm x 400 mm build volume and an equally hefty footprint to match. An E3D Titan Aero Volcano-style hot end and extruder is a rare feature at this price point and allows the Artillery Sidewinder X1 V4 to work with larger nozzle sizes and consistently high flows with filaments like PLA, ABS, TPU, and flexibles. There are quite a few connectivity options, too, with USB, TF card, and USB key.

Speeds are unsurprisingly nippy, and the printer makes easy work of large prints even when pushed to the 150 mm/s maximum. Performance with different filaments falls where you’d expect at this price point with a manageable slice of imperfections here and there. With PLA, the Artillery Sidewinder X1 V4 finds its groove and produces high-quality prints consistently.

The spool holder is one of the few negatives here, as it poses more of a hindrance than acting as a helpful feature with an endless procession of tweaks and adjustments to make it barely serviceable. An easy upgrade, so a minor flaw in our eyes.

A stalwart among makers worldwide, the Creality Ender 3 V2 needs no introduction, and omitting it from our list of the best FDM printers would be an unforgivable slight. Affordable, versatile, and reliable, there’s little this printer can’t do. It’s suitable for beginners eager to learn as they print to level up their skills and even possibly dip their toes into tinkering and DIY upgrades. The Creality Ender 3 V2 is the uncontested king of budget FDM 3D printers.

The consistent quality of the prints is the highlight, and the Creality Ender 3 V2 is nothing short of a workhorse, pumping out near-flawless prints with next to no fuss. Specification-wise, the printer boasts a 220 mm x 220 mm x 250mm build volume, 100-micron resolution, heated bed, carborundum glass platform, near-silent 32-bit mainboard, silent stepper motor drivers, MicroSD card/USB connectivity, and support for 1.75 mm PLA, TPU, and PETG filament.

The utility of the Ender community, notably as a resource for tackling issues and troubleshooting, can’t be understated, and few printers have such a wealth of non-official advice and tips to help you make the most of the Creality Ender 3 V2.

For under $300, there are very few printers that even come close to flirting with the value on offer with the Creality Ender 3 V2. If you’re on a budget, you can’t go wrong here.

Attached to 3D printing is a steep learning curve, which can often be off-putting for beginners, especially with more DIY-oriented machines that require careful assembly, bed leveling, and tinkering to get printing. The Monoprice Voxel takes a lot of the complexity out of 3D printing, all at a very reasonable price point.

The Monoprice Voxel is effortlessly easy to use right out of the box with a fully enclosed, simple design, and intuitive touch screen. Rather than spending hours combing through instructions and struggling to piece semi-assembled parts together, you’ll be diving into your first print in a matter of minutes.

Under the hood, the specifications are entry-level but entirely suitable for some impressive prints: 150 mm x 150 mm x 150 mm build volume, 50 to 400-micron resolution, 0.4 mm nozzle, USB/Wi-Fi/Ethernet connectivity, heated removable bed, assisted leveling, quick-change nozzle mechanism, 2MP HD camera for print monitoring, auto filament feeding, support for 1.54 mm filament and ABS, PLA, TPU, TPE, TPC, and PETG.

Print performance is solid, especially when making more modest prints, perfect for novices trying their hands at their first creations. The lack of tinkering may hamper more experienced builders, and there is a sense that as time passes, you may outgrow the Monoprice Voxel, but this is years down the line for those only just entering the world of 3D printing.