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Best resin 3D printers in 2023
As an alternative to filament 3D printers, resin printers generally print smaller, more detailed objects
As an alternative to filament 3D printers, resin printers generally print smaller objects but at much higher detail levels. Resin printers that use photo-sensitive liquid plastics are a relatively new phenomenon but one that has rapidly become the norm for those in the modeling and tabletop gaming space. The first commercial resin printers were created for dental and jewelry use, but today, more resin is bought to create undead armies and elaborate sculptures.
Best filament 3D printer in 2024
3D printing can have a steep learning curve for beginners, but these products pave the way for good results from the outset
FDM, or Fused Deposition Modeling, was one of the first 3D printing technologies, and with cheap and cheerful products in recent years, it's where most owners start. We've also covered resin models in our overall guide to the best 3D printers, but here we're looking exclusively at those machines that accept plastic in filament form and extrude it to form shapes.
Best 3D printers in 2024
3D printers come in many sizes and styles - here's a selection of the best using both filament and resin
In the past few years, 3D printers have transitioned from mostly home-built contraptions that produce prints of dubious quality to much more sophisticated devices.
Depending on who you are, going to school can be the best part of your life, or a complete drag. That's not just down to what you're studying though: not having the tools necessary can make school feel almost impossible.
'Hey Google, piss off the neighbors'
A mad genius built a 'TallyWhacker' that noisily activates via Google Assistant command
Do you recall when you were a kid, and there was nothing quite so fascinating as an old-fashioned spring doorstop? You know, the kind that goes "sproi-oi-oi-oing" with any errant tap? A Reddit apartment dweller, having presumably endured one late-night Riverdance rehearsal too many, decided to weaponize this experience.
Statistically speaking, if you're using a pair of earbuds, they probably suck. And not just because you've been using the same dingy pair that you got with your iPod Nano back in 2006: even premium earbuds come with the same circular silicone pads (or maybe three or four sets if the manufacturer is feeling generous), none of which are likely to fit you perfectly. There are custom-made options, but most of them require you to visit an audiologist to make impressions, which drives up the cost of hardware that's already expensive.
We're coming to a point in human evolution where a 3D printer may actually be easier to set up and use than traditional inkjet printers, which have long offered an experience akin to dealing with splinters that break whenever you try to pull them out. Zim is a consumer-oriented 3D printer on Kickstarter that developer Zeepro promises will be fully plug & play and controllable from any number of devices, including Android smartphones and tablets. Now that the project has reached its funding goal of $300,000, we can look forward to seeing the device when it starts shipping next Spring.