The Best 3D Printer Gift for Beginners in 2024
Looking for the perfect gift for your tech-savvy kid or partner this year? You’re in the right place.
Choosing a 3D printer can feel overwhelming, especially if you don’t know the first thing about 3D printing. With so many options out there, how do you make a safe, informed choice? And choose one that’s beginner-friendly, reliable, and sure to impress without spoiling the surprise?
In this guide, we’ll cut through the confusion and recommend one tried-and-tested 3D printer that’s perfect for both kids, partners, beginners and existing masters of 3D Printing. Plus, we’ll share optional accessories you can include to make their 3D printing experience even better. Whether you’re sticking to a budget or going all-in, this guide will help you give a thoughtful, exciting gift they’ll never forget.
The go-to 3D Printing brand in 2024 - Bambu Lab
Unless they have been living under a rock for the last few years, almost everyone will recommend you to look at Bambu Lab 3D Printers when shopping for a new 3D printer. They have completely taken over the market with their extremely competent printers packed with features and simplicity at a suprisingly low price.
They’ve made fast 3D Printing available to the masses, and shifted 3D Printers from being something you had to “Learn to master” to something much more “A tool you can use”. They also made multi-color 3D printing (using multiple materials at once) easy enough so that anyone can use it.
Bambu Lab A1 Mini 3D Printer 3D printing a multi-color castle.
Bambu Lab A1 Mini - The Perfect gift
The A1 Mini is the best 3D Printer to gift someone this year. It may be quite small (150cm x 150cm x 150cm build volume) but has features like active noise cancellation, Wifi and video-monitoring and an app that you can use to effectivly 3D Print without access to a computer.
Oh, and it can use 4 colors (materials) in one print if you buy the AMS (Automatic Material Station) combo for the 3D Printer.
The Bambu Lab A1 Mini is actually so good, that it’s a perfect gift for anyone that is already heavliy into 3D Printing. The addition of this little reliable buddy will make anyone happy, even if they already have several 3D Printers themselves.
The A1 Mini price is almost too good to be true
Bambu Lab A1 Mini (without AMS) is currently discounted to incredible $179 using this webshop-link and discount code: 3DPA1MNY
It usually costs $299, which even for a brand new 3D printer is still really affordable.
The Bambu Lab A1 Mini AMS-combo does kick up the price to $349 or $385 with 4 materials included (which is a steal!). The $20 discount code works on those orders as well (code: 3DPA1MNY)
What specifications might not say when comparing 3D Printers
What may be difficult to see as a beginner in 3D Printing is that most specs are almost completely irrelevant. The one thing you should consider is what the build volume is.
Specs like printing speed or temperature on nozzle are often misleading, and has nothing to do with normal printing. Competitors like to make new cheap 3D printers and hope you’ll read the printing speed is higher, and go with that one.
But today, the value of Bambu Lab 3D Printers (and The A1 Mini) is in everything from how simple they are to use, while being fast. How their slicer (the software that takes 3D-models and let’s you set up the printing) is packed with actually 1-click profiles that will work. Or how the AMS will sense what material is loaded (if it’s a bambu Lab material) and just help you set things up.
None of the competition have these amount features. The Bambu Lab A1 Mini really is Plug-N-Play!
Don’t buy a used 3D Printer to gift during the holidays!
What’s weird in the 2024 3D printing market is that the A1 Mini is cheaper than many used, older 3D Printers. This is due to users trying to sell their $200-600 investments and wanting get some money back, hoping novice parents or partners will pick one up, thinking it’s a bargin.
The problem is that almost any used 3D Printer is of an “older generation” with lacking features, more noise, slower printing speeds and much higher difficulty to operate. An exception would be Prusa 3D Printers, specially the Prusa MINI, but you should really only get one if they are $150 or less.
Accessories and valuable gifts for anyone with a 3D Printer
If a 3D Printer is a bit on the expensive side or you’re confident they shouldn’t have “another” 3D printer there are still great alternatives like filament and tools that will be a benefit for almost anyone using a 3D Printer.
Filament - The wire that the 3D Printer eats
Almost all modern 3D Printers in the hobby/prosumer category uses 1.75mm standard filament (as opposed to 2.85mm) and that together with material type is the two major things you need to be careful with while shopping filament to gift.
A tip is to buy a type of PLA filament, the most common and easy to use material type. Typically a safe choice to gift. Here, there are many interesting types of filament that are “uncommon” and can add some extra finess. Her’s a few suggestions
Marble PLA - a material that mimics the beautiful look of marble. It won’t contain any “veins”, but gives a small variation in color that is often considered pretty and helps hide the 3D printed lines.
Temperature-shifting PLA - A material that changes color based on temperature, for example if you hold it in your hand.
2-in-one color filament - A single filament with multible colors, shifting along the filament. This can create really cool 3D Prints shifting from green to blue gradients for example.
Tools and Accessories
Most 3D Printers come with the basic tools for servicing and using that particular machine. So if you want to gift tool or accessories, it should be something quite generic but helpful.
Nozzle cleaner - A thin needle that helps remove clogs and clean the tiny nozzle, where plastic extruders. Super cheap and often includes extra tools.
Deburring tool - For easily cleaning up edges or removing support structures. Also very cheap!
Filament dryer - A container that heats and dry more complex filament. Great for those who are experienced 3D Printing users and want to get into printing more difficult materials. A dryer usually costs 40-80 bucks and there are multiple versions on the market.
Let me help you!
If you’re picking a 3D Printer or other related products for yourself or a partner, you can use my free service to reach out and get personal recommendations. It’s designed for companies, but during the holidays feel free to reach out and I’ll do my best to respond quickly!
