How to find the fastest 3D printer within a budget of $500. Advances in technology are rapidly changing what is possible in 3D printing, which will undoubtedly excite 3D printing enthusiasts. 3D printing is no longer an unreachable technology, and the price of 3D printers is becoming very affordable compared to previous years. Can the fastest 3D printer under $500 achieve the perfect balance between speed, quality and affordability? Read on as we focus on affordable FDM 3D printer options that offer superior speed and performance.
The Need for Speed in 3D Printing
Fused Deposition Molding (FDM) is a popular 3D printing technology that builds layers by melting and extruding filaments. It is preferred by many consumers for its ease of use, reliability and affordability. Slower FDM 3D printers, which can take hours or even days to complete a single print, no longer meet users’ demand. In the consumer 3D printing market, fast desktop FDM printers are becoming popular.
The speed of an FDM 3D printer is usually influenced by a variety of factors. For example, layer height, which refers to the thickness of each individual layer during the printing process. If a 3D print of the same specification is printed with a smaller layer height, more layers are needed to build the object, thus slowing down the printing process. Conversely, choosing a thicker layer height will speed up the completion of the print, but will reduce surface quality and detail. Changing the layer height, filling density, and adjusting the size of the nozzle can all affect the printing speed, but it will also significantly affect the quality and accuracy of the 3D prints. This is only suitable for some situations. For users who pursue printing efficiency and do not want to sacrifice printing effects, a fast printer is the key choice. Fast 3D printers are designed for rapid prototyping and production purposes, up to 500mm/s.
Fastest 3D Printer Under $500: Anycubic Kobra 2 Plus
Anycubic Kobra 2 Plus can satisfy users who require both speed and performance. It is the one of the fastest 3D printer under $500. Powered by a Cortex-A7 1.2GHz processor, it enables faster calculations, command execution and motor control. The standard printing speed of Kobra 2 Plus is 300 mm/s, and the maximum speed can reach 500 mm/s. The #3DBenchy model can be printed in 17 minutes and 11 seconds. Surpassing the 108mins 3DBenchy printing time of entry printers (50mm/s) and the 45mins printing time of regular fast printers (200mm/s).
Fast 3D printers cannot do without structural support. In addition to speed, Anycubic Kobra 2 Plus offers a spacious build volume and an optimized machine structure to ensure print quality and meet user needs for large-format printing. Kobra 2 Plus has a print size of 41 liters and a build size of 320x320x400mm, providing ample space for creating larger 3D prints. Equipped with a direct extruder and dual-motor dual-Z-axis motion structure to achieve precision and stability. It also optimizes the extrusion and cooling system to transport filament accurately and achieve cooling quickly, ensuring reliable and consistent printing even at high speeds. Other support:
- Anycubic APP support. (Launched in Q4 of 2023)
- Build-in 8G capacity
- LeviQ 2.0 automatic leveling, smart Z-offset
- Vibration compensation and flow control
- 4.3-inch touch screen
- Spring steel magnetic platform
- Standard filament detection
In Conclusion: Choose the Fastest 3D Printer Under $500
Anycubic Kobra 2 Plus, with its combination of speed, quality, build volume and user-friendly features, is excellent for both beginners and experienced users. Affordable for users who need high speed and large size prints, Kobra 2 Plus is one of the fastest 3D printers under $500. Officially priced at $449. For more discounts, please click Anycubic Kobra 2 Plus.