Home 3D printers have become easy and affordable, and we love seeing more people print. Here's an honest way to decide.
Buy a printer if…
- you'd print something most weeks and enjoy tinkering;
- you want to iterate quickly on your own designs;
- you have a spot with ventilation where noise doesn't bother anyone;
- you're happy to learn slicing, maintenance and the occasional failed print.
An entry-level machine costs a few hundred dollars, plus filament, spare parts and your time.
Use a service if…
- you need one item, or a handful a year;
- you need a material your printer can't handle, such as ASA, which needs an enclosure;
- you need modelling from a photo or broken part;
- there's a deadline, like a gift that must arrive before Christmas;
- it's a batch for a business, an event or a market stall.
A middle path
Plenty of our customers own a printer and still send us big, multi-colour or engineering-material jobs. If you're thinking of buying one, print a few things through a service first so you learn what you'd actually use it for.
Common questions
Can you help me choose a printer?
We're happy to share what we use and what we'd suggest for your needs, with no obligation.
Do you print for people who already own printers?
Yes. Large parts, ASA, many-colour prints and batches are common requests.