The advancement of fast 3D printers has revolutionized the production of 3D prints, eliminating the need for long waiting periods. These printers offer exceptional speed and precision, ensuring high-quality outputs. The printing speed can vary depending on factors such as the size of the model and the type of printer being used. However, fast 3D printers guarantee impressive speeds without compromising accuracy.
Does Speed Matter in 3D Printing?
The speed at which a 3D printer operates plays a significant role in the final quality of the printed model. Generally, slower printing speeds result in smoother surfaces and more intricate details, as the filament has more time to melt and solidify. However, it's important to note that this principle may not apply universally to all 3D printers.
Different printing materials have their optimal printing speeds. For instance, PLA may require a speed of around 60 mm/s, while Nylon may perform best at 50 mm/s. Going too fast during printing can lead to issues, just as printing too slowly can result in print deformities. Therefore, selecting a high-quality fast 3D printer is crucial to achieve the desired level of quality in the prints.
1 Creality K1 Speedy 3D Printer
Overview
Creality is a renowned company in the 3D printing industry, recognized for its wide range of 3D printers, scanners, and laser engravers. One of its latest additions, the K1 Speedy 3D Printer, stands out for its high-speed and high-quality printing capabilities.
Released in April 2023, the K1 Speedy 3D Printer offers reliable print quality and hands-free leveling at an affordable price of $539.10. It introduces AI-assisted printing, making it the first of its kind to incorporate artificial intelligence into the printing process.
The K1 Speedy 3D Printer comes fully assembled and calibrated, ensuring a hassle-free experience for users. It includes a quick boot-up guide, allowing enthusiasts to start printing with just a single tap, making it one of the fastest 3D printers available.
Features
600mm/s Print Speed
With a maximum print speed of 600mm/s, the K1 is twelve times faster than the average 3D printer in the market. It employs a Core XY structure that enables high-speed printing with precise movements. The upgraded Z-axis allows for intricate details in 3D models with delicate textures.
Additionally, the printer can reach a maximum acceleration of 20,000 mm/s, making it suitable for fast production without compromising quality.
Fully Enclosed with Dual Fans
The K1 Speedy 3D Printer is fully enclosed and equipped with dual fans. This feature efficiently blocks drafts and maintains a stable temperature, preventing issues related to overheating.
The fans are strategically placed on the printhead and in the build chamber, ensuring proper cooling as the filament leaves the nozzle. The stable ambient temperature allows for the printing of materials like ABS and PC at high temperatures, resulting in minimal stringing or warping.
G-Sensor
The printer is equipped with a G-sensor, which assists in creating high-quality 3D-printed objects by mitigating issues like ringing or ghosting. The sensor adjusts the motion system to match the resonance frequency of the K1, preventing defects during high-speed printing. The sturdy frame and precise Z-axis contribute to achieving a smooth finish for the 3D model.
Flexible Build Plate
The K1 Speedy 3D Printer features a flexible build plate that is both adhesive and heat-resistant. Its bendable nature allows for quick and easy print removal. The frosted surface of the build plate enhances compatibility with a wide range of filaments, resulting in fine and smooth bottom surfaces of the printed models.
Hands-free Auto Leveling
The K1 Speedy 3D Printer incorporates an array of strain sensors embedded in the heatbed. These sensors detect the size of the 3D model and generate an accurate level mesh, eliminating the need for manual adjustments during the printing process.
Printhead with 32mm3/s Max flow
To maintain a high flow rate for filament extrusion without delay, the K1 is equipped with a printhead that has a flow rate of 32mm3/s. The ceramic heater surrounding the hot end enables it to heat up to 200°C in just 40 seconds, ensuring the filament is instantly melted for continuous printing.
The K1 Speedy 3D Printer allows for direct printing via a USB drive or WiFi connectivity. With the Creality Cloud App/WEB, users can monitor the printing process remotely, offering flexibility in movement while ensuring reliable and high-quality printing.
The printer's die-cast aluminum alloy design, full enclosures, dual fan cooling system, and auto-leveling feature provide users with a stable printing experience even at high speeds.
2 Original Prusa 13 MK3S+
Overview
Priced at $899, The Original Prusa i3 MK3S+ is the final version of the award-winning MK3 3D printer line of Prusa Research. Founded in 2012, the company began as a one-person startup until its Prusa i3 design was well-received by the market and became one of the most popular FDM 3D printers to exist.
The MK3S+ is equipped with all the proven features of the previous models of the Prusa i3, yet now it comes with a brand new SuperPINDA probe and high-quality bearings for easier assembly and maintenance.
Features
The MK3S+ is equipped with a SuperPinda Probe, which ensures the first layer of the 3D model is smooth and stable. It examines the bed to create a virtual height map of the print area before printing begins. It is built with a high-quality sensor to automate the mesh bed leveling process to match the size of the 3D model.
This 3D printer also comes with a new set of metal clips for high-quality bearings on the Y-axis of the MK3S+. With its milled dural frame, the new components ensure easier assembly and stable printing. Moreover, spring steel sheets make it more convenient to maintain and remove the 3D-printed project from the surface. Users don't have to worry about it sticking due to the removable print sheets.
As a fast 3D printer, the MK3S+ has a max travel speed of 200+ mm/s. It also supports a wide range of filaments from PETG, ASA, Polycarbonate, and Polypropylene. With the ability to recover from power loss, the MK3S+ is one of the best 3D printers in the market.
3 Anycubic Kobra 2
Overview
Anycubic Kobra 2 is the latest addition to the line of FDM printers manufactured by Anycubic. Founded in 2015, the company has become a well-known 3D printer brand in the market.
Despite the founders' lack of confidence in their inventions, their clients' patronage proved they could innovate 3D printers that are both accessible and affordable to all. Priced at $269, it is 5x faster than the average printer with an upgraded extrusion and cooling system.
Features
As a fast 3D printer, it has a maximum print speed of 250mm/s and 2500mm/s2 accelerated speed. Research from the Anycubic Lab proves it is 5x faster than the standard printing speed of 50mm/s.
With the power of its upgraded extrusion system, reaching up to 60 watts, the Kobra 2 can quickly melt filament in high flow. It can also accurately control the material delivery due to its dual-gear structure of the extrusion.
The Kobra 2 also has an upgraded cooling system. The fan can reach up to 7000rpm, optimal for maintaining the temperature and cooling down the 3D model. Similar to other fast 3D printers, the Kobra 2 is built with an auto-leveling system with its LeviQ 2.0.
This 3D printer also has improved wear resistance with its double metal spindles and SG15 bearing, ensuring smooth and stable printing. Its double-threaded rod structure further supports the stability, which flattens the building platform to reduce the printing layers, allowing the model to take shape securely even at a fast speed.
With its simple yet stable design and fast printing capacity, Kobra 2 is the ideal 3D printer for beginners. It is easy to set and use but, most of all, sold at an affordable price.
4 AnkerMake M5
Overview
AnkerMake M5 offers ease of use, speed, and precision in its design and features. It is easy to assemble and use, with a maximum print speed of 500mm/s. This fast 3D printer is the invention of engineers and hobbyists who are passionate about 3D printing and understand the frustrations that come with it, like stringing droopy curves and the long wait time operations.
Features
With PowerBoost 2.0, the AnkerMake M5 cuts printing time by 80%. The motor can release more power than its predecessor by 30%, supporting the print speed and acceleration of the 3D printer without compromising the printing quality. With the stability of its ultra-direct and aluminum alloy structure design, this fast 3D printer can also achieve precision at 0.1mm details even at 5x speed.
The AnkerMake M5 also contains a built-in AI camera to monitor the 3D model, ensuring it matches the input design. Hence, the smart camera can also detect errors in the print and send alerts to the user for human intervention. Users can also remotely monitor the printing process through the AnkerMake app, AnkerMake Slicer, or Alexa.
Both the AnkerMake app and Slicer offer complete control and guidance through their programs, even for users new to the technicalities of slicing and parameter changes. At $799, anyone can professionally design and print 3D objects with AnkerMake M5.
5 Bambu Lab P1P
Overview
Priced at 599, Bambu Lab P1P offers high-speed and multi-color printing. It eliminates the complicated process of assembly. With just a press of a button, the fast 3D printer is set in under 15 minutes. This product is the creation of Bambu Lab, a consumer tech company aiming to bridge the gap between the digital and physical world through its innovations.
The company consists of 3D enthusiasts who are likewise expert engineers in robotics, AI, material sciences, and internet industries. With its industry expertise, Bambu Lab is committed to a sustainable future by creating eco-friendly 3D printers.
Features
As a fast 3D printer, it offers high-speed printing with up to 20000 mm/s2 acceleration and a top speed of 500 mm/s, made possible with its Core XY structure. The Bambu Lab P1P is equipped with multi-color capacity. Users can enjoy up to 16-color printing through the Bambu Lab Automatic Material System. Not only can it print ultra-fast, but it also prints in exceptional quality.
This 3D printer also contains an active vibration compensation algorithm which ensures extra smoothness to the models along with the aid of the pressure advance. With its motor directly connected to the extruder, users are assured of stable and fast printing due to better control of the extrusion and retraction of the filaments.
Similarly, the P1P also offers automatic bed leveling with its sensor, which calibrates and adjusts the bed properly to ensure quality right at the initial layer of the model. Moreover, it also has a sensor for detecting empty filaments and for the speed of the fans to ensure its power does not overcome the printing speed of the P1P.
With power loss recovery and multi-color capacity, the P1P is recommended for users looking for a customizable 3D printer that's equally capable of printing at high speed and supports various filaments (excluding carbon, glass fiber, and reinforced polymer).
Conclusion
Overall, these top 5 best fast 3D printers assure optimal speed and quality, as evidenced in their features, capable of printing 5 to 12x faster than the average 3D printer. Low-speed printing does not always guarantee favorable results and high quality is possible even with high-speed printing as long as the hardware can deliver.
Each of these 3D printers has its unique selling points. While some are more affordable than others, it is clear that other products are more capable of printing at a fast speed. Choose one of them as they are currently the best fast 3D printers in the market.
