Over the last few years, we have established ourselves as the top provider of 3D printers to consumers in the UK. Here at box, we stock a wide range of 3D printer models, and you can get your hands on a metal 3D printer, resin 3D printer and even extras such as 3D printer filament.
Personal and Hobbyist 3D Printers
Automatic bed levelling is probably the main feature that personal users are now seeking out on their new 3D printers, taking the hassle away from manually levelling the bed before each print. The Creality CR10S Pro V2 comes equipped with an auto bed-levelling feature in the form of the very popular BL touch. If you are looking to spend a little less then you can always still opt for the Creality Ender-3 Pro but remember that you will have to level that bed manually.
Professional 3D Printers
Professional and Prosumer 3D printers are becoming ever more popular as many hobbyists start their own 3D printer businesses after buying a personal 3D printer and spotting a gap in the market.
One of our most popular professional 3D printers is the consistent and reliable Flashforge Guider II; it is an absolute beast of a 3D printer featuring a large build area and assisted bed levelling. Another 3D printer popular with our professionals is the plug-and-play Dremel 3D45, allowing you to be up and printing within minutes.
Educational 3D Printers
3D printers are now prominent in a large percentage of schools across the UK. One of the most popular 3D printers within education in 2020 is the Snapmaker 3-in-1. This machine combines 3D printing, CNC carving and laser engraving, giving users multiple options for their various projects and creations.
What do people use 3D printers for? This is a question that we hear all the time and it is very hard to give a short answer because the answer is that they are used for a multitude of different things across many different industries, from rapid prototyping to cosplay and 3D models. Hobbyists tend to like Creality while businesses and professionals prefer Dremel, Flashforge and Snapmaker 3D printers.
Product Design & Prototypes
3D printers have made it so much easier for designers to try out their designs and get prototypes made, quickly and easily. If inventors or designers have an idea they can now cheaply and quickly make a prototype or have a prototype made using a machine - such as a Craftbot 3D Printer - rather than the huge expense of getting a mould made and paying a company to make their prototype.
Creating Models, Toys & Musical Instruments
Many hobbyists use their 3D printers purely to create models and toys. Websites like Thingiverse allow users to simply search for a model, toy or any design they like, download it and print it. All of the designs are open source and there are hundreds of thousands of designs to choose from which are all uploaded by the community for free. 3D printed musical instruments are also becoming a big thing, with some musicians now creating their own instruments and designs using 3D printing software.
For printing models and toys, many of our customers find the right 3D printer for them in our 3D printers under £500 range, also perfect if you're looking for a cheap 3D printer to get started with!
Creating Art & Jewellery
Many artists and designers now create art and funky designs using 3D printers, or jewellery pieces like necklaces, rings and earrings. Many artists, designers and jewellery makers sell their 3D printed creations on websites like Etsy and they can prove to be very popular with buyers. For jewellery, Resin 3D printers are the best choice.
Medical
3D Printing is revolutionising the medical industry with big gains being made in the area of prosthetics. For example, projects like the Open Hand Project aim to make prosthetics affordable to the people that need them. Prosthetics can cost anything up to £100,000 but 3D printing can slash this price to a fraction of the cost and some organisations allow their designs to be open source so that anyone can download, modify and print their designs.
When buying a 3D printer one of the main things people look for is build volume because this determines how large you can make your prints. It is important to buy a high precision printer so that you can create those high precision 3D prints and, here at Box, we have just what you need. Find the perfect professional 3D printer for you now.
3D Printer FAQ
How much does a 3D printer cost?
3D printers can cost from around £150 for a basic DIY build entry-level kit up to hundreds of thousands of pounds for specialist industrial 3D printers. The 3D printers that we sell at Box are mainly purchased by home users and businesses and range from £150-£5000.
How much does it cost to print in 3D?
It depends what you want to print. A spool of 1kg PLA 3D Printer filament that is the most common 3D printing material starts at around £20. There are multiple materials that can be used in 3D printing for different purposes and the prices of these materials can vary significantly.
How much is a 3D printer for home?
You can probably pick up an entry level Creality 3D printer for under £200. Many people will start with an entry-level 3D printer to learn about 3D printers and how to use them and they will then upgrade to a more professional setup later. We recommend doing lots of research and watching review videos before purchasing a 3D printer so that your expectations are set correctly.
What 3D printer should I buy 2021?
This question depends on why you want to buy a 3D Printer. If you are just interested in picking up 3D printing as a hobby then we would recommend that you look for an entry level 3d printer for under £500. If it is for a business or a specific use then you should do more research to find the 3D printer that best meets your needs.
What is the best 3D printer for home use?
The best 3D printer for home use is the one that best suits the space you have and the one that is suitable for the tasks you wish to perform with it. If you want to print cosplay fancy dress then research which 3D printers people generally use to do this and if you want to print your own original art pieces find out which 3D printer will be best for this. It is all down to individual needs, there is no one size fits all jobs 3D printer.
What can you make with a 3D printer?
The possibilities are endless, you can print a replacement steering column for the one that has broken in your child’s toy car or you can print your own original design prototype for an invention you are working on. 3D printers are truly flexible they can help us solve many problems and we love to see them being used to produce parts to solve specific problems.
What 3D printer is best for beginners?
If you are just looking to start 3D printing as a hobby then the answer is probably ‘a cheap one’ after all it may end up in the attic after 2 months with your bread maker and your fidget spinner. If you know what you want to achieve with your 3D printer try to do some more research to see which machines may be most suitable for what you wish to achieve.
What do you need to run a 3D printer?
You are going to need a computer to run the slicing software, material to print with (3D printer filament) and an electricity point so that you can power the 3D printer. Access to the internet is desirable and if you want to design your own 3D prints you may want a CAD design programme. After that, you are good to go. There is a plethora of information online about 3D printer and 3D printing and we recommend that you read as much as you can before purchasing a 3D printer. If you have any questions you can always ask our in house 3D printer experts.