With the 3D printing market set to explode, companies have been racing to create printers that combine reasonable price, compact size and user-friendly operation.
CBR looks at five of the best 3D printers that you could realistically get your hands on.
1. Spark
Photo source: Autodesk
3D design and software firm, Autodesk, introduced its own 3D printer along with an open-software platform for 3D printing called Spark this week.
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The Spark software is expected to make the printing of 3D models more reliable, simpler and easier to control, while the printer will serve as a reference implementation for Spark.
Carl Bass, Autodesk president and CEO, said: "Together, these will provide the building blocks that product designers, hardware manufacturers, software developers and materials scientists can use to continue to explore the limits of 3D printing technology."
Bass also told the BBC: "We’re making a printer that, rather than just being able to load in proprietary materials, you can load in any material you want. You can formulate your own polymers and experiment with those.
Research fim Gartner has asserted that the Spark software platform will help improve the interoperability of software, hardware and material suppliers.
"Autodesk has drawn an analogy between its software platform Spark and Google’s Android offering: Both are designed as a foundation on which different providers can build tools that will meet their markets’ and users’ requirements," Gartner said.
Autodesk said it will launch the 3D printing software and 3D printer before the end of 2014.
2. Mink
Former Harvard Business School student Grace Choi has developed this 3D printer for makeup that is expected to be released next year for $200.
To print out the makeup, users choose a shade of colour they like online, transmit it to Photoshop, clicking ‘print’ to create any eye-shadow, powder and blusher among other cosmetics.
"It can take any image and instantly transform it into a wearable color cosmetic, turning any camera, phone or laptop into an endless beauty aisle," the Mink website said.
Choi added that her printer uses the same basic ingredients that are found both in high- and low-end makeup products.
3. ChefJet
American firm 3D Systems showed off a range of 3D food printers at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas earlier this year.
ChefJet and ChefJet Pro allow users to print any shape they like in chocolate or flavoured sugars including vanilla, mint, sour apple and cherry.
The ChefJet is only capable of printing in black and white, while the more expensive ChefJet Pro can churn out treats in full colour by adding an inkjet head filled with food colouring.
The South Carolina-based company, which already produces printers for plastics, metals and ceramics, said the software builds up the sweets by printing one layer at a time.
Both printers are expected to go on sale this summer with the ChefJet priced at $5,000 and the ChefJet Pro at $10,000.
4. Micro
M3D, a startup in MaryLand, has developed a low-cost 3D printer called The Micro that has so far raised $3.3m from more than 10,000 backers on Kickstarter
The printer, which is advertised as "the first truly consumer 3D printer", is priced at less than $300 and claims to be one of the quietest 3D printers on the market.
Weighing 1kg and measuring 18.5cm per side, The Micro can print objects up to 4.6-inches tall and 4.2-inches by 4.4-inches in width.
The printer, which is expected to ship in February 2015, also comes with 3D printing software for Mac, Windows or Linux computers, connecting to them via a USB port.
Though M3D will produce their own range of spools for use with the printer, it will be compatible with standard 1.75mm filament spools.
5. Solidoodle 4
Solidoodle released the fourth generation of its eponymous 3D printer it claims is easier to operate and quieter than previous versions.
The printer has an 8-inch cube build area and can create objects up to eight inches high, while the controller is sealed in a plastic box to ensure it doesn’t overheat.
The Brooklyn based company said the system prints ABS out of the box and PLA with modified software.
To print, you have to connect to a computer that uses a Windows, Mac or Linux operating system.
Other Solidoodle printers include the Solidoodle 2 and Solidoodle 3, which have printer layer heights between 0.1mm and 0.4mm depending on the print mode and quality you select.
The printer costs $999 and is available to order today through the company’s website.
