The 10 best professional 3D printers in 2020
What is the best professional desktop 3D printer?
There are so many different 3D printers on the market today that it can be a real challenge to choose one. When every penny of your quarterly budget counts, you want to make sure your 3D printer is adapted to your needs. Material, build size, ease of use, and many more elements come into play.
To help you cut through the clutter, we’ve selected 10 of some of the best professional 3D printers available this year. These desktop FFF (fused filament fabrication) 3D printers for professionals offer a great combination of features, performance, and reliability, and come from well-established brands.
Towards the end of this article, we also provide a brief buying guide where you can learn more about different 3D printer specifications such as printing temperatures, layer thickness, dual extrusion, and more.
The 10 best 3D printers for professionals in 2020
| 3D printer | Build volume (in mm) | Build volume (in L) | Extruder* | Nozzle temperature | Country | Price** | Quote |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flashforge Creator 3 | 300 x 250 x 200 mm | 15 L | Dual (IDEX) | 300°C | China | $3,499 | Quote |
| Raise3D E2 | 330 x 240 x 240 mm | 19.0 L | Dual (IDEX) | 300°C | China | $3,499 | Quote |
| Fusion3 F410 | 355 x 355 x 315 mm | 40 L | Single | 300°C | United States | $4,599 | Quote |
| BCN3D Epsilon W50 | 420 x 300 x 400 mm | 50 L | Dual (IDEX) | 300°C | Spain | $4,995 | Quote |
| Ultimaker S5 | 330 x 240 x 300 mm | 24 L | Dual | 280°C | Netherlands | $5,995 | Quote |
| Raise3D Pro2 Plus | 305 x 305 x 605 mm | 56 L | Dual | 300°C | China | $5,999 | Quote |
| MarkForged Onyx Pro | 320 x 132 x 154 mm | 7 L | Dual | - | United States | $6,999 | Quote |
| 3ntr A4 v4 | 295 x 295 x 200 mm | 17 L | Triple | 450°C | Italy | €10,000 | Quote |
| Stratasys F120 | 254 x 254 x 254 mm | 16 L | Dual | - | United States | $12,000 | Quote |
| Omni3D Omni 500 LITE | 460 x 460 x 600 mm | 127 L | Dual | 360°C (500°C option) | Poland | €14,999 | Quote |
*Extruder: Amount of print heads able to 3D print simultaneously. IDEX stands for Independent Dual Extruder; find out more below in the 3D printer buying guide section.
**Price: Prices may vary over time and/or from one country to another (shipping fees, taxes, etc.).
Overview of the best professional 3D printers in 2020
Flashforge Creator 3
- Extruders: Dual (IDEX)
- Build volume: 300 x 250 x 200 mm
- Country: China
- Price: $3,499
The Creator 3 is compatible with a wide range of materials, from PLA to Nylon and Polycarbonate. Users can control it via numerous connectivity options (Ethernet, Wi-Fi, USB). This desktop 3D printer for professionals also features independent dual extrusion, 300°C-nozzles, automatic calibration, a built-in camera, and more.
More information: Flashforge Creator 3
Raise3D E2
- Extruders: Dual (IDEX), 300°C
- Build volume: 330 x 240 x 240 mm
- Country: China
- Price: $3,499
The build area can be accessed from the front or from the top, and the doors are both equipped with sensors that pause prints if they detect an opening.
More information: Raise3D E2
Fusion3 F410
- Extruders: Single, 300°C
- Build volume: 355 x 355 x 315 mm
- Country: United States
- Price: $4,599
In terms of speed, the Fusion3 F410 can print up to 250 mm/sec and achieve a layer thickness down to 0.02mmm. Fusion3 3D printers come with a two-year warranty that even covers printhead jams.
More information: Fusion3 F410
BCN3D Epsilon
- Extruders: Dual (IDEX), 300°C
- Build volume: 420 x 300 x 400 mm
- Country: Spain
- Price: $4,995
It offers a big build volume and boasts BCN3D’s IDEX technology. This means that there are two separate print heads that can both move independently to either print two identical objects at the same time or print in mirror mode.
The Epsilon W50 also features a Carbon and HEPA filter, and an optional “Hotend X” is available for those that need to print fiber-filled materials like carbon-fiber-enforced Nylon or glass-fiber-filled PP.
More information: BCN3D Epsilon W50
Ultimaker S5
- Extruders: Dual, 280°C
- Build volume: 330 x 240 x 300 mm
- Country: Netherlands
- Price: $5,995
Today, the Ultimaker S5 is often referred to as the best professional 3D printer, especially when equipped with the Pro Bundle. The Pro Bundle includes a “material station” where up to 6 spools of filament can be loaded and automatically managed (auto-switch, humidity control, etc.), and an “air manager” that closes up the build area and filters particles.
More information: Ultimaker S5
Raise3D Pro2 Plus
- Extruders: Dual, 300°C
- Build volume: 305 x 305 x 605 mm
- Country: China
- Price: $5,999
The Raise3D Pro2 Plus features a dual extruder with retracting nozzle heads, a large 7″ touchscreen, an onboard camera for remote monitoring, and a range of user-friendly characteristics. It is able to print layers as thin as 0.01mm, an impressive minimum layer thickness for a desktop FFF 3D printer in this price range.
More information: Raise3D Pro2 Plus
MarkForged Onyx Pro
- Extruders: Dual
- Build volume: 320 x 132 x 154 mm
- Country: United States
- Price: $6,999
The Markforged Onyx Pro comes with Eiger 3D printing software, which offers real-time print farm management and cloud collaboration possibilities.
More information: Markforged Onyx Pro
3ntr A4 v4
- Extruders: Triple, 450°C
- Build volume: 295 x 295 x 200 mm
- Country: Italy
- Price: €10,000
Other interesting features that can be found on the 3ntr A4 v4 include removable print trays, automatic calibration, and an impressive print speed of up to 300 mm/s.
More information: 3ntr A4 v4
Stratasys F120
- Extruders: Dual
- Build volume: 254 x 254 x 254 mm
- Country: United States
- Price: $12,000
The F120 is one of the most affordable FDM printers from Stratasys and is destined to be a desktop workhorse for professionals. Stratasys emphasizes on the printer’s ease of use, durability, and industrial quality.
More information: Stratasys F120
Omni3D Omni 500 LITE
- Extruders: Dual, 360°C (500°C option)
- Build volume: 460 x 460 x 600 mm
- Country: Poland
- Price: €14,999
This professional desktop 3D printer also features a heated build chamber, which heats up to 50°C, enabling the printer to easily 3D print ABS and other engineering materials.
More information: Omni3D Omni 500 LITE
Professional 3D printer buying guide
There are several features and specifications to take into account when choosing the best professional 3D printer for your needs.
Technology
For this professional desktop 3D printer selection, we focused on FFF (fused filament fabrication) 3D printers. They are ideal for creating both prototypes and end-use parts.
For professionals in dental or jewelry industries where high precision and detail is required, resin 3D printers are more adapted, with SLA, DLP, or LCD-based technologies. See our list of the best resin 3D printers for more information.
There are also desktop SLS 3D printers (powder 3D printers), PEEK 3D printers, continuous fiber 3D printers, and more for advanced applications. Explore these topics with all of our other 3D printer guides.
Build plate or print bed
A heated print bed is mandatory for users that need to 3D print with ABS and other more demanding materials. The heat helps prevent warping and offers better first-layer adhesion.
While today’s 3D printers almost always feature heated build plates, they don’t all reach the same temperatures. It is best to know which thermoplastics you will be printing and to choose your desktop 3D printer accordingly.
Some professional 3D printers have interchangeable build trays to help speed up workflows, enabling users to quickly launch new prints while the previous build plate cools down. On higher-end 3D printers, there can even be vacuum systems for instant part release from the print bed.
Print head
PLA and ABS can be considered as the most common and basic 3D printing materials in general. Professionals, however, often need to print more complex materials, such as Nylon, Polycarbonate, PETG, ASA, or other engineering-grade polymers.
They don’t all have the same melting or glass transition temperature and therefore have to be 3D printed at different temperatures. For example, PLA can be extruded at around 200°C, PC at around 260°C, and some high-performance materials like PEEK or PEKK need the extruder to reach at least 450°C.
Popular professional filaments also include plastics filled with carbon fiber or glass fiber for increased strength and resistance. These materials are abrasive and require tough nozzles; most professional printers are already compatible with these composites, but it’s important to make sure beforehand.
Automatic calibration
Most professional 3D printer systems are equipped with automatic calibration features to make the process as plug-n-play as possible.
For example, manual bed leveling can prove to be tricky and, if not done correctly, can really throw off print quality. That’s why 3D printers often have sensors on their extruders to set the perfect distance between them and the build surface.
Some 3D printers also have NFC readers to adjust their temperature settings according to the detected material. This mostly only works with the specific 3D printer’s proprietary filament spools (e.g. Stratasys printers and materials).
Dual extrusion and independent dual extrusion
A dual extruder enables users to 3D print with two different colors or materials simultaneously, including soluble support material for complex objects.
If there are two separate print heads, the system is referred to as IDEX (independent dual extruder). BCN3D Technologies was one of the first manufacturers to offer this feature.
In addition to being able to 3D print two materials at a time, independent dual extrusion offers different 3D printing possibilities:
- Duplication mode: 3D prints two identical objects at the same time.
- Mirror mode: to 3D print an object twice as fast as with just one extruder, each nozzle completes one half of the object.
Onboard camera
Some 3D printers are equipped with an onboard camera to monitor prints remotely or save time-lapse videos. This feature can be useful if the printer must be left unattended for long periods of time.
Minimum layer thickness
3D print quality is intricately linked to layer thickness, a.k.a. layer height or Z resolution. It’s the minimum height of each successive layer that forms the 3D printed object. The thinner the layers, the less they are distinguishable and the smoother the object will be (similar to the ratio of pixels in an image).
Thinner layers also means that more layers are required to complete the object, which translates into more 3D print time. Layer thickness can be adjusted depending on if you need a quick print (thicker) or a high resolution print (thinner).
The typical minimum layer thickness for mid-range FFF 3D printers is 100 microns, or 0.1 millimeters, but it can go down to 0.01 mm in some cases.
A simple representation of layer height.
Source: Primantes3D
Build volume
The build volume is the maximum size that your prints can be. If you need a bigger volume than what the 3D printers in this guide provide, you may be interested in these selections:
Closed frame
Many variables can interfere with 3D print quality, such as temperature changes and room drafts. Hence, 3D printers with an enclosed build chamber tend to provide better quality prints, in addition to reducing noise, odors, and– with a HEPA filter– harmful particle emissions.
A closed frame is almost mandatory when 3D printing with basically anything other than PLA. Today it is quite rare to see a professional 3D printer without an enclosure.
3D printing FAQs
Are 3D printers safe?
With basic precaution, 3D printers are relatively safe to use, although there has been some concern over harmful particle emissions from melted filament. It’s best to use closed 3D printers with filters, and to use 3D printers in well-ventilated areas.
Can 3D printers print metal? What 3D printers can print metal?
Yes, some 3D printers are able to 3D print metal using various metal 3D printing technologies (SLS, SLM, and more). See our overview of the metal 3D printer market for more details.
What is the best 3D printer for jewelry?
For jewelry, resin 3D printers are more adapted than FFF 3D printers. They use SLA, DLP, or LCD-based technologies to produce objects with fine details and smooth surfaces. For more information, read our guide to resin 3D printers.
Can 3D printers print in color?
Yes, some 3D printers can print in color. They are called full-color 3D printers.
