So, you’re thinking about getting your first 3D printer. Let me start with a quick confession: my first 3D printer was an Ender 3 Pro, and it worked… for about a month. After that? It slowly morphed into what I lovingly called Frankenprinter — a patchwork of upgrades, mods, and late-night troubleshooting sessions. Some people make the Ender series sing like a well-tuned violin. Me? I just ended up frustrated.
Eventually, I gave up and bought a Prusa MK3S+ — and that’s when everything clicked. It was reliable, consistent, and part of an ecosystem that kept growing and improving. That move probably saved me from quitting 3D printing altogether.
Heads up: This post contains affiliate links. That means if you buy something through one of the links, I may earn a small commission — at no extra cost to you. I only recommend printers I actually use and trust.
I’ve since upgraded that same printer to a Prusa MK4S (and now to the Prusa CoreOne platform), but those early lessons stick with me. If you’re researching 3D printers right now, I want to help you avoid the same headaches I had — and set yourself up for success.
What to Look for in Your First 3D Printer
There’s no one “best” 3D printer, but there are features and qualities that matter more than others when you’re starting out:
Ease of use vs. tinkering. Be honest with yourself: do you want to tinker endlessly, or do you want to press “print” and walk away? Both approaches are valid, but they lead to different choices.
Reliability matters more than speed. A slower printer that finishes a job every time is better than a fast one that fails half the time.
Community support saves you. When something breaks (and it will), you want a large, active group of people who’ve solved the same problem.
Upgradability = longevity. Some printers age like milk, others age like fine whiskey. A platform that can be upgraded (like the Prusa line or even a Voron build) keeps your investment relevant
My Journey: Ender 3 → Prusa MK3S+ → MK4 → CoreOne
The Ender 3 Pro was my first love-hate relationship with 3D printing. Affordable, yes. Capable, absolutely. But it demanded constant tuning, replacing, and upgrading. I eventually had to admit it wasn’t the right machine for me.
The Prusa MK3S+ was the total opposite. Out of the box, it just worked. The prints were consistent, the support community was massive, and Prusa kept improving the ecosystem instead of abandoning it.
Then came the Prusa MK4S — a real leap forward. One of my favorite features is the new bed probing system. Instead of the older PINDA probe (which hovered above the plate), the MK4 actually measures the height of the print surface itself. Even better, it only probes the printing area, not the entire bed, which makes the startup process faster and more accurate. Small change, big difference. It’s one of those details that makes the MK4 such a strong first printer option.
The Prusa MK4S also comes in both a kit and fully assembled version. If you’re new and want to jump right in, the assembled option is the way to go. But if you don’t mind some evening tinkering, the kit is a little cheaper and teaches you a ton about how the printer actually works.
Now I’m upgrading again to the Prusa CoreOne, because I want the speed and rigidity of a coreXY printer without diving fully into a DIY Voron build. (Though if you’re the kind of person who loves research, building, and tuning, a Voron might be exactly what you want as your “first printer.” It’s definitely the deep end of the pool, but some beginners thrive on that challenge.)
If you actually enjoy the tinkering side of 3D printing, the Voron printer kits from LDO Motors might be right up your alley. I built a Voron 2.4, and honestly, I loved the process — it felt like assembling a high-performance machine from scratch. That said, I’m still ironing out some kinks with the print tuning, but that’s part of the fun. A Voron isn’t for everyone, but if you’re the type who learns best by building and wants a printer that can really push performance, it’s a rewarding path.
Kit vs. Assembled Printers
When you buy a Prusa, you’ll notice there are two options: kit and assembled.
- Kit Version – Slightly cheaper, and you build the printer yourself. This might take a few evenings, but you’ll learn every inch of your machine. That knowledge makes troubleshooting way less scary later.
- Assembled Version – Costs a bit more, but it’s basically “plug in and go.” Great if you just want to start printing without spending hours with an Allen wrench.
Both versions perform the same once they’re running — it really comes down to whether you want the hands-on experience of building your first 3D printer or the convenience of a ready-to-go machine.
Check out the Prusa MK4S Kit or the Prusa MK4S Assembled.
Slicers: Where the Magic Happens
If the printer is the hardware, the slicer is the brain. This is the software that takes your 3D model and translates it into the instructions your printer understands.
- My favorite (and yes, I’m biased) is PrusaSlicer. It’s reliable, user-friendly, and packed with features.
- A close second is OrcaSlicer, which has been making waves lately for being sleek and easy to use.
The good news? Slicers are more beginner-friendly than ever. You don’t need to spend hours tweaking arcane settings to get a decent print.
Filament: PLA, ASA, and Beyond
Your printer is only as good as the material you feed it.
- PLA is the go-to starter filament. It’s easy to print, forgiving, and comes in every color under the sun.
- ASA/ABS are tougher and more heat-resistant, but trickier to print.
Since most of my projects need to survive the outdoors or handle higher temperatures, I lean heavily on ASA from Polymaker. It’s strong, consistent, and reliable. I also love Prusament, but the shipping from Prague can make it harder to get quickly where I live.
Where to Find Printable Models
Once you’ve got a printer, you’ll need things to print. These are some of the best places to find free (and paid) 3D models:
- Printables.com – Created by Prusa, this platform is clean, well-organized, and growing fast. It has a great community and even lets you earn rewards by sharing prints.
- Thingiverse.com – One of the oldest libraries of 3D models. The site’s clunky, but the content is still gold.
- Thangs.com – A newer platform with model search, AI-based recommendations, and version control for creators.
You’ll find everything from tool holders to articulated dragons to replacement knobs for your kitchen appliances.
Learn From the Best
There are tons of resources out there, but a few creators stand out for their practical, project-driven content:
- Alan Mandic – Known for functional prints and clever designs.
- Canuck Creator – Lots of hands-on projects that show real-world use cases.
- Steve Builds – A great mix of tips, tutorials, and inspiring builds.
If you’re just getting started, following these channels will give you a steady stream of ideas and encouragement.
The Benefits of Assembling a Printer from a Kit
There’s something really satisfying about building a printer yourself. But beyond the pride of saying “I built this,” there are some practical benefits too:
- You learn how it all works. If something breaks, you already know how it goes together — and how to fix it.
- Maintenance becomes easier. A clogged nozzle or a stuck Z-axis doesn’t feel scary once you’ve built that axis yourself.
- Upgrades are less intimidating. Want to add linear rails, a better hotend, or stealthy fans? You’ll know where to start.
This is part of why I love the Voron community. When I built my Voron 2.4 using an LDO Motors kit, I gained a whole new level of confidence. LDO kits are beautifully organized and well-documented — a solid choice if you’re ready to go deeper.
Even my semi self-sourced Voron V0 (which I’m using for rapid prototyping) taught me a ton — but sourcing the parts manually definitely takes more effort.
Final Thoughts: Picking the Right First 3D Printer
Here’s the thing: your first 3D printer doesn’t have to be perfect. It just needs to match you.
- If you want a machine that “just works,” I recommend the Prusa MK4S Assembled.
- If you’d rather save a bit of money and learn by building, the Prusa MK4S Kit is a fantastic option.
- If you’re a tinkerer and love building, a Voron kit could be a dream project — just know what you’re signing up for.
- If you’re on a budget, entry-level printers can get you started, but be prepared for more trial-and-error.
No matter what you choose, don’t get discouraged if the first prints don’t come out right. Everyone goes through that learning curve. The key is to find a printer that keeps you excited to try again.
