There are a certain set of fundamentals you should look for in a 3D printer for your school (which I cover in depth here).
Ultimately, the first question to ask shouldn’t be how to find something at a specific price point. I understand educational budgets can be restrictive. However, it’s more important to ask the following questions first:
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- How many students will use my 3D printer?
- How frequently will I use my 3D printer?
- What quality of parts do I expect to produce regularly?
Once you have the answers to these questions, take a look at what you can afford and if you can afford a 3D printer that will fit your needs (i.e. the answers you just provided).
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To be perfectly honest, if your budget is $1,000 or less, a 3D printer may not be the right investment for you at this time.
So, can you buy a 3D printer for your school for under $1,000?
The short answer – and this may not be what you want to hear – is no. Here’s why.
Don’t Believe the < $1,000 3D Printers You See
Just because there are 3D printers available for less than $1,000 doesn’t mean you’ll end up satisfied if you buy one.
There is a lot of noise in 3D printer industry. Quite a few companies have entered the market at the lower end. Just because they sell printers at a lower price point does not automatically mean that these printers are the right option for you.
Some companies with fancy marketing videos are plugging their newest 3D printer but they haven’t even shipped out a product yet. You’d essentially be investing without any idea what your return would be. Buying from a company that does not actually have a product ready for market is not a good start.
The other side of the spectrum includes companies churning out low budget systems but because of the low cost, these companies are unable to support their systems when parts break, prints fail, etc.
Especially if your budget is small, you want to protect your investment as much as possible. That means investing in a printer from a company that has been around long enough that market analysts know it produces reliable systems, and is a company that will give you the support you’ll need when challenges arise.
System reliability and manufacturer reliability are key.
Options for Schools with Smaller Budgets
So you can’t get a reliable 3D printer for under $1,000 – what exactly are your options?
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The MakerBot Mini (including MakerCare and a starter pack of material) comes in around $2,000 while larger MakerBot packages run from $3,500-$5,000. With the Mini, you’re essentially able to show the basics of what 3D printing looks like. MakerBots in general are great options for basic introductory 3D printing where you’re not expecting high end parts as a result.
The higher up you go in price, the closer you get to systems designed for producing large quantities of reliable parts each time, every time. That’s where you’ll get into Stratasys systems like the Mojo, the uPrint, and so on.
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As you look at these different systems, you want to consider the material type, usability, costs over time, and other considerations for different 3D printers.
