The Best 3D Printers for Small Business in 2024

3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is an innovative technology that allows you to create three-dimensional objects from digital files. It has applications in a variety of industries, including healthcare, aerospace, architecture, and more recently, small businesses.

In a rapidly changing and competitive world, small businesses and entrepreneurs must constantly evolve to stay afloat. With 3D printing, you can now bring your boldest ideas to life in a cost-effective and efficient way.

This Top 3D Shopand today we want to tell you in detail about the benefits of 3D printing for small businesses. We have prepared a list of the best models and will tell you what to pay attention to when choosing the most suitable one for you.

Benefits of 3D Printing for Small Businesses

Unlike traditional manufacturing methods, 3D printing is an innovative technology that allows you to create products with complex designs that were previously considered unachievable. This opens up new opportunities for you and significantly contributes to the development of your business.

Saving money

One of the main advantages of 3D printing is cost savings. Traditional manufacturing methods often require expensive molds and prototypes. In industrial production, large volumes of production offset high investment costs, while small businesses find it difficult to compete with large companies due to significant costs.

However, 3D printing can quickly and cost-effectively produce parts directly from digital models without sacrificing quality. This makes 3D printing ideal for those working with small batches of products in a variety of styles.

Personalization

What makes 3D printing unique is that it allows you to create products that perfectly match the customer’s preferences. This advantage is especially valuable for small businesses that can offer customers unique and highly personalized products.

Moreover, the 3D printing process does not require expensive equipment or complex skills. Modern 3D modeling programs are becoming increasingly intuitive and accessible. This means that even small companies can take advantage of 3D printing to ensure a high level of customization of their products and adapt to rapidly changing market demands.

Rapid prototyping

Traditional manufacturing methods require significant investment in tooling and molds, making the design process slow and expensive.

With 3D printing, you can quickly turn an idea into a physical prototype, speeding up product development. Additionally, any necessary adjustments can be made quickly, making the testing process more convenient.

This speed to market can give small businesses a competitive advantage, allowing them to respond flexibly to changes and save time. As a result, budgets can also be optimized.

What to Look for When Buying a 3D Printer for Small Business

Choosing a 3D printer for your small business is a big decision. There are several factors to consider before making a purchase: budget, ease of use, print quality, speed, and availability of after-sales support.

Application

First of all, imagine what your business goals and needs are. This will help you choose the most suitable 3D equipment.

If you are planning to manufacture consumer goods and are looking to reduce production time and increase process flexibility, consider FDM machines for their high production speed and ease of use.

However, if you need printers to create complex designs with fine details, smooth surfaces and complex structures, then you should consider SLA or SLS printers. They provide higher print quality and accuracy.

Don't forget to consider other factors when choosing a printer, too. For example, check whether the external dimensions, controls, safety, noise level, and ease of use of the selected device meet your requirements. Regardless of whether you use the printer in a commercial or home environment, it is important that you work comfortably and productively with it.

Software and workflow

The software that controls your printer plays a key role in your workflow. It affects overall efficiency, speed, ease of use, and more.

Small business solutions offer a wide range of features. They allow you to print with one click, have an intuitive interface, support automatic cutting of materials, provide Wi-Fi connectivity, allow data processing in the cloud, provide the ability to remotely monitor and manage several devices simultaneously. All this will certainly help you increase the productivity of your business.

Materials

Knowing what you're trying to achieve will help you choose a printer that supports the consumables you need. This is especially important if you're working with flexible, heat-sensitive, engineering, or abrasive materials.

Professional 3D printers typically offer a wider range of compatible materials than hobbyist equipment. These can range from standard plastics and resins to specialized powders, metals, clays, ceramics, and more.

Specialized machines allow you to achieve better results, so it is important to choose them carefully.

Permission

Printer resolution, also known as layer height, is measured in millimeters or microns. This parameter determines the thickness of each printed layer and, therefore, affects the level of detail and surface texture of the finished product. The lower the resolution, the better.

For small businesses, print resolutions typically range from 20 to 100 microns, which is sufficient for most applications. However, resin 3D printers provide the most accurate results when printing small, detailed objects.

Print size and volume

An equally important parameter is the print volume or available print area. It determines the maximum size of a single product or batch that can be printed.

Professional 3D printers typically have a large print volume to meet the needs of small-scale production. It is possible to produce several parts of a product separately and then assemble them, but this may affect the quality of the finished product.

It's also worth considering the physical size and footprint of the printer, especially in offices, labs, or workshops with limited space.

Best 3D Printers for Small Business

Finding the right equipment for your business can be a daunting task, given the wide range of options available. We’ve rounded up some of the best 3D printers that are ideal for small businesses.

3D printers for prototyping

3D printer Zongheng3D Super Maker SLA 1000

Zongheng3D Super Maker SLA 1000 — is a 3D printer that uses SLA (stereolithography) technology to create models. The printing resolution is only 25 microns, which allows for very smooth and detailed surfaces. Such surfaces cannot be achieved using other 3D printing technologies, such as FDM (fused deposition modeling).

The Super Maker SLA 1000 is ideal for creating concept models, complex geometric shapes, figurines, and other prototypes. The printer allows you to print organic structures that are similar to traditional injection molded parts.

One of the advantages of SLA 3D printers is their high printing accuracy. This is achieved by using UV lasers for data calibration.

Features of Super Maker SLA 1000:

Compact size and large enough printing area.
Constant temperature and humidity, which provides stable conditions for printing.
Affordable price, high reliability and the possibility of organizing mass production.
Easy to use, removable mesh plate and resin container.
A modular integrated circuit that is easy to debug.
Continuous control of the entire printing process.
Protection against power outages and intelligent surge protection.
10-inch HD display.
In-house developed software with customized features.

3D printer Zongheng3D Super Maker DM400

Zongheng3D Super Maker DM400 — is a high-quality industrial 3D printer designed to create large objects with high precision and detail. Thanks to its characteristics, it is ideal for use in various industries, including mechanical engineering, architecture and prototyping. Despite the high cost, its functionality and reliability provide a significant advantage in production processes.

Peculiarities:

High precision and detail: DLP technology ensures sharp, high-resolution printing.
Large print area: Allows you to create large print sizes up to 384 x 216 x 380 mm.
Ease of use: The software is intuitive and makes it easy to manage the printing process.
Strength and Durability: Reliable design ensures stable operation.

3D printers for the production of final products

Ankermake M5 3D Printer

Ankermake M5 — is a modern 3D printer designed for users who value high speed and precision printing. Thanks to its innovative solutions, it is ideal for creating prototypes, design models and other high-quality products.

Detailed AnkerMake M5C and AnkerMake M5 3D Printer Review

Peculiarities:

High print speed: The printer is equipped with PowerBoost™ 2.0, which allows you to print several times faster than previous models without losing quality.
Ultra Direct Extruder: The new extruder reduces possible printing inaccuracies and makes the process more controllable.
Fast Warm-up: The enlarged heating block heats up the filament 1.5 times faster, which speeds up the printing process.
Efficient Cooling: Dual fan system improves cooling, maintaining correct temperature conditions during fast printing.
Easy to operate: Intuitive software and control via the AnkerMake mobile app or Amazon Alexa.

Anycubic Kobra 3 Combo 3D Printer

Anycubic Kobra 3 Combo — is a high-performance and multifunctional 3D printer, ideal for creating complex and detailed models. Thanks to its characteristics and capabilities, it is an excellent choice for professionals and enthusiasts.
Read also Anycubic Kobra 3 Combo 3D Printer Review: New from Anycubic

Peculiarities:

Multi-color printing: The ACE Pro unit holds up to 4 reels, provides drying and maintains optimal plastic moisture.
High Print Speed: Maximum print speed of 600 mm/s and acceleration of 20,000 mm/s².
Spacious printing space: Print area up to 250 x 250 x 260 mm.
Efficient control: Touch screen with adjustable angle and easy setup.

3D Printers for Jewelry

3D printer Apex Maker X1

Apex Maker X1 — is a high-tech 3D printer that is ideal for professional use. Thanks to its high print resolution and intelligent resin management, it allows you to create complex and detailed models.

Peculiarities:

High Print Resolution: 8K resolution provides superior detail.
Intelligent resin control: Automatic resin feeding and temperature control.
Pre-calibrated platform: Ensures quality models the first time.
Remote control: Built-in HD camera to monitor the printing process via mobile app.

Anycubic Photon Mono M5s Pro 3D Printer

Anycubic Photon Mono M5s Pro — is a logical continuation of the Photon M5 line. It differs from the basic model by an increased resolution of the backlight screen, which allows you to create larger 3D models. In addition, the Pro version comes with additional functions and equipment.

The 10.1-inch monochrome LCD display with a resolution of 13312*5120 pixels and an XY resolution of 16.8*24.8 μm ensures the highest printing accuracy comparable to the thickness of a single hair. The level of light uniformity is increased to 85%, which allows you to create the smallest details and sharp edges.

Peculiarities:

The printer comes with an air heater and a purifier, which are independently controlled and easy to install. The cover is made of engineering grade fire-resistant material tested at 0°C.

The heater maintains the air temperature up to 40°C and the resin temperature above 20°C before 3D printing to achieve success even in low temperature conditions. The cleaner supports a special cleaning mode with a built-in high-quality activated carbon component.

The Photon Mono M5s Pro delivers high-speed resin 3D printing with an average 3D printing speed of up to 105 mm/h (at 0.1 mm layer thickness and 2 mm wall thickness). It uses the third-generation high-speed ACF film with reduced peel force. The printer uses a completely new leveling-free solution that uses floating platform technology and internal sensors to make adjustments to ensure uniformity and fall within the acceptable range for the best result.

A new resin residue detection function has been added, which can avoid the sieve breakage during the decanting process and intelligently calculate and adjust the separation height in real time according to the model shape.

3D printers for medicine

Anycubic Photon M3 Max 3D Printer

Anycubic Photon M3 Max — is the newest and largest device for creating three-dimensional objects. It will help to realize the most daring ideas and create large-scale models with incredible detail.

The printer uses a matrix UV source, which provides uniform illumination of the model from all sides and high-quality polymerization. The printer control is simple and intuitive.

The dimensions of the device are 596x400x408 mm.

The main feature of the Anycubic Photon M3 Max 3D printer is a large and convenient working chamber measuring 298×164×300 mm. It has a resolution of 7K, which ensures high-precision 3D printing, and an increased matrix lifespan of up to 2000 hours.

Anycubic Photon Mono M5s 3D Printer

Anycubic Photon Mono M5s Pro — is a 3D printer that will allow you to improve the quality of printing. With its help, you will be able to create more detailed 3D models, working out all the elements with high precision.

Features of 3D printer

The Anycubic Photon Mono M5s 3D printer is fast and powerful. The use of high-speed film during operation provides a higher frequency of machine movements and lifting speed.

Built-in automatic testing makes it easy to detect any problems and send a signal that will stop the printer from working.

The developers have added an additional feature that helps determine whether there is enough resin to work with. This reduces the likelihood of failures during printing in case of a shortage of resin.

The device is equipped with an intelligent mode that allows this model to match exposure parameters to the size and details of the model.

The Anycubic Photon Mono M5s 3D printer is a unique device that allows you to create various models at a professional level. The support algorithm ensures stable printing and fast operation.

Conclusion

3D printing has the potential to revolutionize manufacturing by offering a fast, consistent, and cost-effective way to produce a wide range of products.

Incorporating 3D printers into your small business can provide many benefits, including cost savings, the ability to create unique products, and rapid prototyping.

Modern 3D printers offer a wide range of constantly evolving methods, improved quality, and a user-centric approach. They allow you to quickly and reliably create high-quality products that meet your needs.

When choosing 3D equipment, consider your specific needs and make an informed choice to take full advantage of this innovative technology.

The Best 3D Printers for Small Business in 2024