3D printers allow printing not only miniatures and petite figures. With a large 3D printer at home, you greatly expand your possibilities. It is easy to recreate massive objects with a vast 400×400 mm or 300x300x400 mm device. Or you can go big and get a large format 3D printer 600x600x600 mm to work on life-size statues, home furniture, real dog houses, and even 3D printed cars and boats.
Look at the fun project for Halloween display by Gambody enthusiast Jeremy Harrison. He chose to 3D print a huge AT-ST Walker with his Artillery Sidewinder X1 and CR-10S Pro. Their build volumes are 300x300x400 mm (11.8×11.8×15.75 inches) each.
And now imagine how more straightforward could be the printing process of the 3D printing AT-ST Walker model on a huge machine? Explore the world’s best large 3D printers that can help you recreate just anything, in any size and for any purpose in 2022.
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Large 3D Printer
When you think of large 3D printing models, you start to imagine all those big 3D printers behind them. Woking on small-sized objects is fun, but doing life-size 3D prints, fantastic statues, houses, 3D printed toy cars, and other giant things is even more exciting. What stops many hobbyists from fulfilling their big dreams is the high price of a large format 3D printer.
Giant 3D printers are mainly priced way above $1,000. Still, it is possible to find some home versions under this cost. Look at the selection of the 15 best large 3D printers we prepared for you. Maybe, your next machine is one of them!
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1. Large Scale 3D Printer: KamerMaker
KamerMaker is known as the world’s first portable large-scale 3D printer. This open-source machine is like a scaled-up version of a home-use Ultimaker. But its size will not fit it in a regular house because KamerMaker is 20 feet (6 meters) tall.
The extra-large 3D printer can reach a printing speed of 240 mm/s, which sounds astonishing. Its giant bed size is 6.6×6.6×11 feet (2x2x3.5 meters). Only imagine the volume! It is 480 cubic feet (13.6 cubic meters).
It helped build Amsterdam’s 3D printed canal house and construct rooms and homes. Sadly for many hobbyists, the giant printer called KamerMaker is not for sale. But even if it were, its price would most likely be unbearable for an ordinary user.
2. Large Format 3D Printer: Modix Big-60
Unlike the unreachable, giant 3D printer KamerMaker, Modix Big-60 is available for purchase. This large 3D printer cost starts at $3,900. And every customer can add many add-ons for their self-assembly kit, including a second print head, enclosure, Hiwin rails, etc.
The print volume of the Modix Big-60 3D printer is 600x600x660 mm (23.6×23.6×26 inches) XYZ. The machine is over 1.35 meters (4.43 feet) tall, so every hobbyist should think about the place where such a giant can stand.
The large 3D printing device boasts automatic bed levelling, PEI print surface, E3D V6 hotend, active air filter and other stunning features. Of course, many upgrades are additional options you have to buy.
For example, it costs $250 to improve speeds by upgrading E3D with a SuperVolcano kit. Customers planning to print at temperatures above 270°C and up to 500°C (518°F-932°F) need to install the PT-100 Sensor priced at $120. If you choose all available extras, your price will go above $9,000 plus shipping.
3. Big 3D Printer: Tronxy X5SA-500 Pro
Those looking for large 3D printers for home use can look at Tronxy X5SA-500 Pro. This impressive 3D printer 500x500x600 mm (19.6 x 19.6 x 23.6 inches), and this fantastic volume is available for under $820 when on sale. Its retail price is $999.
The weight of Tronxy X5SA-500 Pro is under 30 kg (63 lbs), which is excellent for advanced hobbyists who love to experiment and need large volume machines. This big 3D printer has an automatic level sensor, guide rails, Titan extruder, adjustable X- and Y-axis belts, touch screen, aluminium frame and other specs.
You can use this large 3D printer kit as a start, assemble it and upgrade it to your taste. You can build your own large-format 3D printer based on the X5SA-500 Pro.
4. Biggest 3D Printer
The University of Maine (USA) has built the world’s biggest 3D printer. Even though this machine is not available for ordinary hobbyists, its sizes impress. The device can recreate giant objects up to 100 feet (30.48 meters) long by 22 feet (5.7 meters) wide by 10 feet (3 meters) high. Can you imagine this volume?
Ingersoll Machine Tools in Rockford manufactured the extra-large 3D printer priced at $2.5 million. It takes only a couple of days to 3D print a full-size boat which, by the way, holds the Guinness World Records as the most significant 3D printed boat on the planet.
According to Mainebiz, this machine will be used to support defence, civilian projects and produce bio-based materials.
5. Large Bed 3D Printer: gMax 2
Companies that wish to make life-size statues and other other giant 3D prints can look at the gMax 2. This large bed 3D printer is a desktop machine with an excellent build volume of 457x457x609 mm (18x18x24 inches; 7,776 in³).
The large FDM 3D printer can control the add-on heated bed, get numerous upgrades and offer outstanding quality. It is designed and manufactured in New York, and it can be your best kit for making large objects.
You will love its stunning performance and 1.75 mm filament support if you are willing to pay about $3,500 for large 3D printers. gMax 2 comes with a filament runout sensor, colour touch screen, wireless printing, auto-levelling sensor, Hiwin linear guides, all-metal hotends and other features. Also, there are many add-ons you can get to improve your best large FDM printer.
6. Best Large 3D Printer by Creality: CR-10 Max
Fans of the Creality brand looking for large format 3D printers bigger than the resin Halot-One 3D printer might enjoy the CR-10 Max. This device has a build volume of 450x450x470 mm (17.71×17.71×18.5 inches).
Creality allows you to build your huge 3D printer with a large bed. The CR-10 Max is priced at $1,100, and it can bring your home projects to another level. The large print area allows making massive models without splitting them into smaller pieces.
The big 3D printer by Creality is made of a sturdy aluminium chassis and enhanced frame. However, the quality is not the premium one. What you get for the price is a large build volume, heated bed, auto-levelling system and support for standard filaments, such as ABS, PLA, PETG and TPU. Still, it could be the best large format 3D printer for home use!
7. Large Volume 3D Printer: Raise3D Pro2 Plus
When searching for the biggest 3D printer, you should pay attention to the Raise3D Pro2 Plus. You can use this huge machine for 3D printing large objects because its build volume is 305x305x605 mm (12x12x23.8 inches). The price is also high, starting at $5,999.
Raise3D Pro2 Plus could become your best large 3D printer. It can help you create enormous projects because the machine with its dual extruders prints well. It also comes with a HEPA air filtration system, 7-inch touch screen, resume-print feature and other great options.
If you aim at stunning 3D printing goals and are willing to spend thousands of dollars on your purchase, choose the best large format 3D printer available on the market today. Raise3D Pro2 Plus promises many opportunities to companies that wish to make life-size models and big parts.
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8. Fully Enclosed Large 3D Printer: Vivedino Troodon CoreXY
You must be protected from an unexpected power loss if you want to get the best 3D printer for large objects. The Vivedino Troodon CoreXY big 3D printer comes with a power loss resume, linear guide rails, gate belts, core XY motion system, 32-bit controller with TMC2660 driver, dual extruder, quiet stepper motor, auto levelling, filament runout sensor and other excellent specs.
This fully enclosed large volume 3D printer boasts a big bed of 400x400x500 mm (15.7×15.7×19.68 inches), a 4.3-inch touch screen, HEPA air filtration, remote control over Wi-Fi, magnetic flexible PEI sheet. And all these features are available at a price under $2,000 (when on sale).
Those looking for the best large 3D printer for making giant objects but with a budget of around $2,000 might be happy with the Troodon CoreXY machine.
9. Large 3D Printers: BigRep Studio G2
This machine is probably the best big 3D printer available to small businesses and big companies that wish to boost their productivity. When KamerMaker and the world’s biggest 3D printer in the University of Maine are not available to the public, BigRep Studio G2 can be indeed purchased.
The large build volume of 1000x500x500 mm (39.37×19.68×19.68 inches) sounds fantastic. Still, the price above $50,000 looks fantastic as well to ordinary hobbyists.
BigRep Studio G2 is engineered in Germany. This giant 3D printer is compatible with different materials, including PLA, ABS, Hi-Temp, TPU, ASA, PETG.
Reliability matters a lot if a company is working with abrasive and engineering-grade materials. Thus, the fully-enclosed device has BOFA air filtration, a special filament chamber with temperature control, dual extruder, tool-steel nozzles. It offers safety, advanced features and great opportunities for industrial production in the medical, aerospace, automotive sectors.
Read also: Over 100 Fun 3D Printer Projects
10. Large Resin 3D Printer: Peopoly Phenom
Our list of big 3D printers 2022 mainly includes large FDM printer brands. But fans of resin 3D printing can also enjoy working on large objects with the Peopoly Phenom. This big size 3D printer has an exceptional build volume of 276x155x400 mm (10.86×6.1×15.75 inches).
Most resin 3D printers cannot boast a large build volume. So, when you wish to work on giant objects and avoid cutting them into smaller parts, you can try Peopoly Phenom. This machine combines the LCD screen with LED lights (MSLA technology) and is priced at $2,000.
The combination of MSLA technology and an excellent cooling system helps 3D print faster and improve resin 3D printed results. But to achieve the highest success, the manufacturer suggests using its Deft resin explicitly created for large 3D printers.
Best 3D Printer for Large Objects: What to Consider
If you are a big fan of movie and video game figurines found on Gambody marketplace, you can never mind the large 3D printers. Choose any affordable machine and recreate your favourite characters on a regular print bed.
But if you are looking for 3D printing huge objects and wish to work with life-size models or industrial projects, it is best to consider some essential starting points for large-format devices.
Do I really need large-format 3D printers?
Even when you love to bring giant models and life-size statues to life, you should think twice if a large volume machine is for you. Often, it is better to use a regular desktop device and cut the projects into parts that suit your bed size.
Best large 3D printers cost a lot of money. The higher the quality, the better the parts, the more you have to pay. And prices on each best big 3D printer reaches tens of thousands of dollars.
Companies planning to earn profit can invest such money in their product. However, hobbyists who like to bring 3D models from screen to life should understand that large objects require vast amounts of filament, a lot of time and nerves, investments into the machine and room for it. And all these efforts might not even pay because a 3D print could fail before being finished.
Sometimes, when you badly wish to make a giant 3D printed statue, you could find a 3D printing service nearby that operates the best large 3D printer and can do the job for you.
How much is a giant 3D printer I can afford?
When you are 100% sure that you need a big 3D printer to build furniture, car replacement parts, huge cosplay parts or something else significant for sale, you need to consider your budget. Think of how much you are willing to spend and search for the biggest 3D printers within that price range.
If your budget is limited to $5,000, it is probably best to outsource your opportunities and 3D print your 3D models elsewhere. But when you can easily invest $50,000 into your business equipment, take the chance!
One large 3D printer kit or multiple 3D printers less than 600x600x600 mm?
Some users want to build their own large-scale 3D printer to make multiple small parts simultaneously. How efficient is such a solution?
Of course, you can place numerous smaller parts on the big 3D printer’s bed to work on them all at once. But often, you will spend 10-20 times longer doing such projects than if printing them separately on 10-20 affordable machines with a bed smaller than 600x600x600 mm.
Thus, hobbyists who are working with small 3D printing pieces can consider cheap home-use machines.
Is large 3D printing slower or faster?
Hobbyists working on life-size 3D printed statues on a regular home machine know how long it takes to complete a giant and extremely tall project. However, it does not mean that your best large 3D printer will work slow. If you invest much money in good equipment and hardware (hotend, nozzle, etc.), your machine can surprise you with fast printing speeds.
The largest 3D printer requires a wide nozzle (0.8-1.2mm) and a high-quality hotend that can quickly melt all the filament going through the extruder. Also, the extruder has to be wide and tall enough to affect the printing time positively.
Solid, reliable and sturdy large-scale 3D printer with high-quality parts prints faster than regular machines and gives you full advantage of its wider, thicker and taller layers. As a result, you might be able to 3D print a life-size car in a matter of days! In comparison, it took Gambody enthusiast Carlos Diaz nine months to complete a 1/8 scale DeLorean model on two standard 3D printers, Artillery X1 and Anycubic i3 Mega.
A static bed or Y-axis traveller?
Big 3D printers have different structures. Some machines come with a static bed, and others have a print bed travelling along Y-axis. Which one is better?
Hobbyists are used to “bed travellers” because many desktop machines have this simple solution. However, for large-format 3D printers, it could be a challenge. When vast amounts of filament travel on the bed, the machine must deal with tremendous inertia. It could shake and cause various issues, such as ghosting or poor model adhesion. Even good rails and belts might not eliminate all the risks.
A static bed is often better, along with a fully enclosed body. A giant 3D printer with such a bed has less risk of failed prints than a moving bed. At the same time, the motion system used in such a machine could be way more complex and cost more.
As you can see, there is so much to consider when buying the best large 3D printer. So, choose smartly and think twice about whether you need a big machine or if a regular-size device would work better for you. Create life-size 3D prints and share your new masterpieces with Gambody 3D Printing Community on Facebook.