{"id":3565,"date":"2024-12-13T21:01:41","date_gmt":"2024-12-13T20:01:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/?p=204"},"modified":"2025-08-28T21:04:51","modified_gmt":"2025-08-28T19:04:51","slug":"self-assembled-3d-printers240320174-2-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/self-assembled-3d-printers240320174-2-2\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best DIY 3D Printer Kits"},"content":{"rendered":"

Most FDM<\/a> 3D printers<\/a> are now sold as Plug & Play<\/a> models. However, this wasn’t always the case. The origins of these 3D printers trace back to the RepRap project, started by Adrian Bowyer in 2005. This movement still continues today through some 3D printer kits and DIY 3D printer enthusiasts, most notably the Prusa kits. We have already listed the best cheap 3D printers<\/a>, but now we have searched for the best DIY 3D printer kits out there. We’ve ranked them from most to least expensive for your convenience!<\/p>\n

Sintratec Kit, an Affordable SLS DIY 3D Printer Kit<\/h2>\n

Based in Switzerland, the Sintratec startup has developed one of the first low-cost 3D printers, Sintratec Kit based on laser sintering technology.<\/a> It first appeared following a fundraiser campaign on Indiegogo in 2014, the firm today markets its machine as a kit. This is the only 3D printer on this list that uses SLS, as it is a more expensive technology. It is available for \u20ac4,999 ($5,610) – SLS printers are usually around \u20ac200,000 –\u00a0 the Sintratec Kit is capable of producing PA12 nylon parts and presents a maximum build volume of 110 x 110 x 110 mm. The startup explains that it takes about 4 days to assemble this 3D printer, however you can see it as the price to pay to access laser sintering so cheaply!<\/p>\n

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This Sintratec S1 DIY 3D printer kit is the only SLS 3D printer on our list<\/p><\/div>\n

Moai, an SLA 3D Printer Kit<\/h2>\n

In 2016, Chinese manufacturer Peopoly launched its Kickstarter campaign to finance its new SLA kit machine called Moai. After great success, it was quickly delivered worldwide thanks to a very attractive price for a photopolymerization<\/a> machine – it costs approximately $1,295. Moai offers a printing volume of 130 x 130 x 180 mm as well as a laser beam of 70 microns and a layer thickness between 10 and 200 microns. It is compatible with any resin on the market. Allow about 4 hours to assemble the machine – for your information a pre-assembled version is also available.<\/span><\/p>

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Vertex Kit, a Transparent 3D Printer Kit<\/h2>\n

The Vertex 3D printer is produced in the workshops of the Velleman manufacturer, a reputable company in the electronics sector founded in the 1970s. It is one of the few printers to offer a transparent chassis, and includes a glass tray and double extruder option. With a build volume of up to 180 x 200 x 190 mm for a layer thickness of between 50 and 200 microns, it’s a solid option. The single-extruder version is available from \u20ac599 ($672).<\/p>\n

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Prusa i3 MK3S, the Well-Established DIY 3D Printer Kit<\/h2>\n

The Original Prusa i3 MK3S is the successor of the award-winning Original Prusa i3 MK2 3D printer. With the rebuilt extruder, a plethora of sensors and the new magnetic MK52 heatbed with replaceable PEI spring steel print sheet, it is their best version as of yet. With a printing speed of 200 mm per second, this 3D desktop printer has a 250 x 210 x 210 x 210mm printing tray. It can print on almost all thermoplastics, including nylon and polycarbonates. On its official website, you can find the assembly instructions, validated by the whole community. It is available in kit form from $749 (\u20ac769.00 including VAT). For a cheaper price, there is also the Original Prusa MINI+ kit, starting at $349.00 (\u20ac379.00<\/span> including VAT), which as the name suggests is a more compact printer. With a build volume of 180 x 189 x 189 mm or 7 x 7 x 7 in<\/strong>, it is not significantly smaller than its older sibling and still boasts a number of the same features.<\/p>\n

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Micro Delta Rework<\/h2>\n

The\u00a0MicroDelta Rework is the new version of the Micro Delta 3D printer designed by the Toulouse-based eMotion Tech. Equipped with a rigid structure with two steel blocks, the 3D printer kit can be assembled in 3 hours according to the manufacturer, with around 200 pieces to assemble. Available with or without a heating plate, MicroDelta Rework offers a print volume of 150 mm in diameter and 200 mm in height. If one looks at its performance, it has layer thickness of 100 to 350 microns and can reach a print speed of 200 mm\/s. It is available from \u20ac400 with the possibility of adding features.<\/p>\n

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FLSUN QQ-S Pro<\/span><\/h2>\n

The QQ-S Pro is the partially DIY offering from manufacturer flsun. With a retail price of $<\/span>329.00<\/span>, it is certainly not one of the cheapest on the market. However, the printer makes up for that with impressive features, including continuous printing from an interrupted position and automatic levelling. Additionally, the printer was designed for speed, printing 1.5time faster than printers based off of the I3 structure printer. Additionally, it has a \u201c<\/em><\/span>flexible three-axis linkage system, a powerful 32-bit motherboard, a 24V power supply, a lattice hot bed, and an all-metal side shell for better printing quality and a more stable structure.\u201d<\/em> The build volume is 255x255x365mm, making it another relatively large offering among the DIY printer kits. The print accuracy is 0.1mm and a layer thickness of 0.06-0.4mm, allowing for detail and accuracy. An additional benefit, it comes mostly assembled, meaning users should have it up and running in under an hour.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Disco Ultimate<\/h2>\n

Starting at a price of \u20ac399, French manufacturer Dagoma’s Disco Ultimate is one of the most affordable DIY 3D printer kits, marketed as the most accessible bi-color 3D printer on the market. Supplied with an SD card, an inductive probe (for levelling the tray) and several 3D printed components, it requires less than one day of work to assemble. Despite its appearance, the Disco offers a decent build volume of 200 x 200 x 200 mm. In addition it offers 50 micron layer thickness, 50 micron XY positioning and a maximum print speed up to 30% faster than its predecessor the DiscoEasy 200.<\/p>\n

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The Tronxy X5SA DIY 3D Printer Kit<\/h2>\n

The 3D printer Tronxy X5SA was developed by the Chinese manufacturer of the same name and is one of the most popular DIY 3D Printer Kits on the market. Based on FDM<\/a> technology, this desktop machine offers a build volume of <\/span>330\u00d7 330\u00d7400 mm(12.992\u00d712.992\u00d715.75 in). Though originally based on the X3SA, the X5SA quickly overtook its predecessor in popularity thanks to its features such as the TITAN Extruder which is compatible with a variety of filaments including PLA, ABS, PETG, TPU, Wood, among others. It also has an automatic filament detector which will notify you when the machine has run out of filament saving time and trouble for the user. The manufacturer does note that this DIY machine is more suitable for 3D printing enthusiasts with some 3D printing experience, though they say that if you are willing to spend the time to learn how to assemble the machine, it could still be worth it. You can buy the X5SA starting from $258.00.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Tarantula Pro<\/h2>\n

The Tarantula Pro is the latest version of the Tarantula 3D printer kit from the China-based 3D printer manufacturer, TEVO. It is based on the classic RepRap Prusa i3 3D printer, its structure is known for its simplicity and robustness. It presents a build volume of 235 x 235 x 250 mm and can print with a variety of filaments, from ABS, PLA, PVA, WOOD, etc. It is also equipped with a LCD screen for improved user experience. In terms of layer resolution, the manufacturer claims that you can achieve between 0.05mm-0.35mm and the extruder has been upgraded to a volcano extruder. This kit comes with a heated bed also. It retails for $229.<\/p>\n

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Anycubic’s DIY 3D Printer Kits<\/span><\/h2>\n

Founded in 2015, Chinese manufacturer Anycubic has become one of the more popular 3D printer brands on the market, especially when it comes to their DIY machines. With a variety of choices, it can be hard to choose just one. The most talked about in the line is the i3 Mega S. Neither the cheapest nor the biggest out of Mega\u2019s options, its reliability as the mid-range option from the manufacturer has made it extremely popular with users across the globe. Starting at $219.00 and with a build volume of 210x210x205mm, anycubic is notable for its excellent adhesion, high quality accurate printing with a layer resolution of 5 microns as well as the variety of supported print materials (TPU, PLA, ABS, HIPS and Wood). Of course, there are choices for any number of needs among Anycubic\u2019s other offerings. In the rest of the Mega series, the Mega Zero 2.0 has a larger build volume (220x220x250mm) for a cheaper price (starting at $169.00), though it has less features than the i3 Mega S. It is also comptabilie with PETG unlike the i3 S. For those willing to pay more for a more professional printer, the Mega Pro (<\/span>210\u00d7210\u00d7205 mm\u00b3, starting at <\/span>$309.00) and Mega X (<\/span>300 x 300 x 305mm and starting at <\/span>$359.00) could also be good options. Finally, Anycubic also offers the Chiron ($379.00 and <\/span>400x 400x 450 mm) and Predator (370\u00d7370\u00d7455mm, starting at <\/span>$519.00 but only available in the EU), for those looking for a large build size.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n