Best 3D Printers Under $400
1st Place: Anycubic Vyper
Our test winner, the Anycubic Vyper, is very well thought out. The unit comes with fundamental improvements introduced by Anycubic.
AVAILABLE ON ANYCUBIC | AMAZON
Anycubic Vyper
- Cartesian 3D printer
- Installation space: 245 x 245 x 260 mm
- Bowden extruder
- Dual-gear extruder (TPU can be printed ex works)
- Auto-leveling
- PEI-Flex printing plate
Anycubic has set new standards with this printer through the features incorporated. Examples include a functioning auto-leveling system, better cooling component of the print head, user-friendly belt tensioners, dual-gear extruder, and a PEI-coated spring steel sheet for the printing platform.
Thanks to the dual-gear extruder, the printer can handle flexible TPU. Even materials that tend to warp strongly adhere to the PEI-coated flex printing plate.
The auto-leveling eliminates the hassle of adjusting the distance between nozzle and bed. The four screws under the print bed that every experienced 3D printer has spent hours of their life with are no longer there. To put it simply, this is a new generation of FDM 3D printers.
2nd Place: Creality Ender 5 Pro
The Creality Ender 5 Pro is a bit more expensive due to the core XY design. However, it is clearly better.
Creality Ender 5 Pro
- Core XY 3D printer
- Installation space 220 x 220 x 300 mm
- Bowden extruder with high-quality Capricorn hose
- Single Z-spindle guide
This cheap Core-XY 3D printer is one of the best 3D printers for Lithophanes. For high filigree components, a core XY structure is simply the better choice. The print head performs most of the movements. This means that there are fewer vibrations and offsets at the start of a new layer.
As with the Ender 3 V2, maintenance work on the Bowden hose is also done quickly.
3rd Place: Two Trees Sapphire Pro
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The Sapphire Pro from Two Trees is relatively new to the inexpensive 3D printer market. The 3D printer kit has an installation space of 235 x 235 x 235 mm, a size similar to an Ender 3. But the Sapphire Pro comes in cube shape and asserts itself with a CoreXY setup .
The Sapphire Pro is aimed at medium hobbyists and beginners and is able to print quickly, precisely and reliably, with some high-tech functions in its luggage. The Sapphire Pro is aimed at medium hobbyists and beginners.
This includes linear rails in the X and Y axes as well as a two-speed BMG Bowden extruder and a filament monitor for more reliability.
With that in mind, the Sapphire Pro seems like quite a bargain, with features typically only found in printers that are at least twice as expensive.
4th Place: Creality CR-10s
With a few adjustments, the Creality CR-10s has what it takes to become a reliable workhorse. This is a good and inexpensive printer that can do more with fine tuning.
Creality CR-10s
- Cartesian 3D printer
- Build space 300 x 300 x 400 cm
- Bowden extruder
This unit has a large installation space and produces great prints. There is also a large community of Creality 3D printer users, and as a result, you can find many upgrades of the unit. We also love that there are cheap replacement parts and bespoke third-party upgrades.
The fourth version of this large-capacity printer, the CR-10 V3, is also a great printer.
5th Place: Artillery Genius
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The newcomer Artillery has already made quite an impression with the first 3D printer, the Sidewinder X1.
After extensive research in the laboratory, Artillery released a new and smaller model, the Artillery Genius. The smaller version only refers to the size of the print bed. The data and components are similar or even identical.
Without driving up the price, Artillery equipped the Genius with several useful functions, such as a touch screen, an improved Z-axis lead screw system, a fast-heating print bed and quiet stepper motor drivers. In addition, Artillery leaves room for DIY improvements such as upgrading with an automatic sensor for aligning the print bed.
