When looking for an accurate 3D print, you can’t go wrong with a delta printer. Using trigonometric functions between three different arms to guarantee a precise finished print, they’re the best option for those looking for compact but detailed printers. 3D printers can be confusing, however, and as they see more domestic use, more and more people are being introduced to them.
If you’re one of these people and are unsure how to grab the best delta 3D printer, then we’ve got good news for you. We’ve gathered five of our favorite delta 3D printer models and written about them below, where you’ll find their pros and cons listed so you can easily see their specs and other good features they have.
If you want to know more about both our ranking process and how you can judge these printers for yourself, we’ve also included a buyers’ guide below that breaks these printers down into their individual parts, explaining what to look for and what to avoid.
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Best Delta 3D Printer - Comparison Table
Rank | Product Image | Product Name | Buy on Amazon |
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2 | [amazon fields=”B076H3Z21L” value=”thumb”] | | |
3 | [amazon fields=”B07GJQHZ3P” value=”thumb”] | | |
4 | [amazon fields=”B07QKY6HBX” value=”thumb”] | | |
5 | [amazon fields=”B076FT5RQK” value=”thumb”] | |
Best Delta 3D Printer - Reviews
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The first delta 3D printer we have to show you is one that’s compact, affordable, and from a well-known brand in the industry. We’re talking about the Monoprice Mini Delta 3D Printer, a solid option for those who need a desktop 3D printer arranged in a simpler setup than most other 3D printers are. It’s even fully assembled right out of the box, cutting setup time right down.
The simplicity of this printer isn’t reflected in its design, however, as it’s made to quality with a rigid metal frame, something you don’t always find with 3D printers this size. It comes in a sleek all-black finish, so it should visually fit into any room you want to put it in, whilst also being lightweight at just four pounds so you can move it at your leisure.
Let’s get into the details of this product. One of the first things that seasoned 3D printers might notice is unique about this printer is that its spool holder is side-mounted. Most delta 3D printers have it on the top instead but, with the Monoprice Mini Delta, that space is taken by a convenient handle that allows you to carry the printer with ease, especially since there’s no external control box either.
Once you have placed it where you want it and begun the easy setup process, you’ll notice that this printer has an automatic bed leveling calibration system. We can’t stress enough how uncommon this is for a 3D printer at this price. This system worked as intended for many, though some had to put some manual labor in too, so its effectiveness seems to be hit or miss. At any rate, we can appreciate the effort and ambition of having one of these convenience features on such a small and affordable rig.
Coming from one of the larger brands, you can bet that Monoprice has established great connectivity for their products including this one. The Mini Delta is capable of wireless Wi-Fi printing, tethered USB printing, and printing via SD card, so you’re spoilt for choice in how to operate this printer model. As for the printing action, it’s decent for what you’re paying for, and the printer is compatible with third-party filaments, so you have a wide variety of alternative printing methods available to you.
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The linked product in particular is an upgraded version of the Delta Linear Plus, which has a new and improved linear rail system that the company engineered. Speaking of engineering, the printer itself arrives in a semi-assembled form. The complicated parts, like the print head and the build platform, are already assembled and you just need to add the rest, to the tune of two to six hours depending on your proficiency. This of course can make it daunting for beginners, but its SD card comes with a manual on it to walk you through the process.
If the construction time didn’t tip you off, this is a much larger model than the Mini Delta, more than doubling its max print size at 9.1 x 11.8 inches. This makes it the best option if the smaller stature of the Mini Delta wasn’t what you’re looking for. It’s made to a good quality too, featuring an easy to use LCD interface and a side-mounted spool holder affixed to its rigid frame.
This model also features an auto-leveling calibration system, but we can’t give it as much leniency as we did the Mini Delta. It’s not very reliable, instead we’d recommend leveling it manually. The silver lining is that once lined, it stays in place for quite a long time.
Printing at a layer resolution of 100 microns, it provides smooth 3D models and does it faster than other Cartesian printers. This is due to the innovative carbon rod that this model uses, a light but very strong instrument that ensures fast but accurate printing. The stock print bed is compatible for printing with different materials, and it supports printing with both ABS and PLA too. It’s a versatile product that can be used with many materials and filaments.
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At our third spot is another affordable and easy to operate printing model, the FLSUN QQ-S Pre-Assembled Delta 3D Printer. It arrives 90% assembled, and that last 10% will only take you about twenty minutes, which is more than generous for 3D printer construction.
Once assembled, you should notice a few of the positive qualities it has. Firstly, it has quite a large printing area but still prints quite fast at 300mm/s. It has a heavy metal frame that keeps the entire model stable when printing and built into that frame is a 3.2-inch TFT LCD touchscreen display from which you can easily command it.Its glass lattice platform bed is quite distinct and keeps temperatures stable when the printer is in action. This in turn reduces any warping, maintaining the structural integrity of whatever it is that you’re printing. It also makes it easier than ever to remove your print from the printer without having to worry about burns. What’s more, it prints at under 50dB, making it on the quieter side of 3D printing tech.
When printing, you can use almost any material. It can print ABS, PLA, PVA, and even wood filaments, too. This is because it can max out at 270-degrees Celsius, hot enough to work with all of the most common filaments as well as some support ones like HIPS and the aforementioned PVA.
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As for its specs, you can expect a print resolution of up to 100 microns at a max speed of 150mm/s. That doesn’t make it the fastest out there, but it is an impressive layer resolution for as quaint a model as this, and it sells itself more on its convenience rather than its print speed. When printing, it’ll rarely breach 50dB, so like the QQ-S it’s one of the quieter models out there.
Its convenience doesn’t end with its compact design, however, as it also features a handy one-button auto-leveling system that takes a lot of the hassle out of keeping the bed level. It can also remotely print since it has connectivity features with Wi-Fi, and it can also be used with USB sticks or SD cards. Between all of these, it’s compatible with most iOS and Android devices, though Macs aren’t supported.
Whilst not part of the model itself, it’s worth noting it also comes with a one-year warranty of USA-based support that will help you if you have any issues with your FX-800 and insures you against any structural problems that are out of your control and responsibility.
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Finishing out with a higher-end model, the HE3D K280 Delta DIY 3D Printer Kit is one of the largest printing volumes on this list at 280x600mm, so if you’re looking for just printing capacity then this may be the model for you.
Such a large printer requires a larger power supply to keep it running efficiently. The K280 has this covered with its two 24V power supplies. They work to heat this model to 110 degrees Fahrenheit pretty fast, where you can then begin printing your project.
There is a problem with the heating of this model, or rather the cooling, because it doesn’t have any. There’s no active cooling system, so you need to be vigilant of how much heat your printer is generating.
When it is printing, you’ll have the expanded list of material possibilities at your disposal. Whether it’s ABS, PLA, nylon, or even metal and wood, this printer has full compatibility with most of the filaments you could want to use. It also features an auto-leveling system, so time-costly calibration isn’t an issue.
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Best Delta 3D Printer - Buyers Guide
How to Buy the Best Delta 3D Printer
Delta 3D printers could be considered non-standard in the 3D printing industry when compared to their more popular counterparts, Cartesian printers. In this buyers’ guide, we’ll talk about some of the features that these printers have, and what we’d recommend you look out for in relation to each one.
Layer Resolution
Expressed in microns, we wouldn’t blame you if you hadn’t come across layer resolution before since it’s pretty specific to 3D printing. A micron is one-millionth of a meter, which gives you an idea of how precise these machines are. The lower the micron count, the higher the resolution you receive, but you’ll want higher micron counts the smaller your project is.
Build Volume
Speaking of project size, that will be determined by the overall size and build volume of your printer. You don’t need to use all of the space, and the importance of space in your purchasing decision will vary depending on your intentions. We’ve featured a variety of sizes above, erring on the side of more accessible, compact models.
Smaller models tend to be more customizable whereas larger models sacrifice detail for size. Not a universal rule, of course, but is almost a certainty when buying affordable printers that aren’t considered high-end.
Filament Types
The filament types just dictate which materials you may want to be printing with, the most common being PLA and ABS since they’re the standard workable materials. Printers that can support these are serviceable but, if you have more ambitious projects in mind, then you may want some of the more advanced filament materials.
What passes for advanced? Printers that can support nylon, wood, and even metal filament options are what we’d consider the best in terms of material compatibility. If material compatibility is what you’re looking for, then we’d suggest looking for support of those filaments.
Connectivity
One of the many conveniences features that printers can have, connectivity to Wi-Fi or accompanying apps are only becoming more common as these machines edge their way into the mainstream. It’s not necessary by any means, but if you are buying for connectivity then you should be looking at customer reviews to identify any discrepancy in the advertising versus someone’s real-life experience with the product.
Compatibility with SD cards and USB cables or sticks is also handy, since it allows you to save plans onto them and transport them to different places, where they can then get executed by your machine. USB cables in particular are handy for handheld device connectivity.