There are many kinds of FDM 3D printers, with the Cartesian style being the most recognized. These move the printhead along the X-, Y-, and Z-axes, and offer the widest variety in the consumer market. However, there are other ways to control a printer’s extruder movement, which is the case for delta 3D printers.
Delta printers are so named because they move using a triangular system of coordinates. With three arms separated at equal angles from each other, a delta printer’s extruder head is suspended in mid-air. These arms move up and down, extending and retracting, to control the extruder’s position: All arms work together to achieve a single movement. This means delta printers need different programming to translate XYZ coordinates into their triangular movement to extrude each layer.
The main attraction of delta printers is that they’re faster than Cartesian-style machines because smaller movements are needed to print the same object. However, they aren’t the best options for beginners because the movement system is more complex and they can need a lot of tinkering and experience to troubleshoot.
As is the case with most FDM printers, delta printers can be used at home by hobbyists and independent professionals, but there’s also a range of delta 3D printers that are geared toward industrial and professional applications. These printers can be used both for prototyping and finished products, and they manage higher size ranges and work with different or specialized materials. For example, professional delta printers are suitable to print with PEEK and PEI, which aren’t common materials for hobbyists, but which offer high thermal resistance and are ideal for high-wear parts like gears.
In this article, we’ll be going over a few consumer and prosumer options if you want to get your hands on a delta printer. But first, let’s look at how we made our selections for the list.
Considerations
For our list of the best delta printers, we looked at hobbyist and prosumer options only. Within that market segment, here are the other aspects we took into account:
- User opinion: As no one knows better how a machine works than someone experienced with it, we looked at users’ opinions. For this, we scoured various threads in forums and printing communities, where people gave their reviews or presented troubleshooting questions.
- Properties: This refers to technical characteristics, such as the materials it works with, which ideally would be all the standard filaments (PLA, ABS, and PETG). We also included a range of sizes and features, so there’s enough variety to accommodate different projects’ needs.
- Company and community support: When reviewing the many printer options, most that didn’t make it presented (according to user’s opinions) little to no documentation and unreliable company support. As such, all printers featured in this list have, according to users’ experiences, decent support and enough resources to get you printing.
- Price range: Even though it’s expected that printers of a higher quality will come at a higher price, we searched for a good balance of affordable and good quality printers so that our list includes options for amateurs and professionals alike.
So, now that we know what to expect, let’s see what’s out there!
Flsun Q5
The Flsun Q5 is an affordable delta printer with an all-metal frame. According to reviews, it comes pre-assembled so you do need to adjust a few things, but it doesn’t require that much work. Happily, it doesn’t need any upgrades to produce good quality prints.
Like most quality delta printers, it has automatic bed leveling and a touch screen. This printer is essentially an affordable version of the QQ-S, which is coming up next, but with a smaller build size.
- Price: ~$250
- Compatible materials: PLA, ABS, PVA, HIPS
- Printing size: 200 mm ø x 200 mm h
- Manufacturer: Flsun
Flsun QQ-S Pro
The FLSUN QQ-S Pro is essentially the premium version of the previous selection, the Q5. Its printing volume is bigger, at a diameter of Ø255 mm. One of the main improvements mentioned by the company is speed. They mention the printer can print from 60mm/s to 100mm/s and still obtain high-quality prints, and many users agree. Even more so, the FLSUN QQ-S Pro has a 32-bit motherboard that allows it to have extra functionalities, including auto-bed leveling.
While remaining affordable, its users praise it for three main points: easy setup, speed, and high-quality prints. The company mentions it’s especially well-suited for hard filaments such as PLA.
- Price: ~$340
- Compatible materials: PLA, ABS, PETG, wood-filled
- Printing size: 255 mm ø x 365 mm h
- Manufacturer: Flsun
Monoprice Mini Delta V2
The Mini Delta V2 by Monoprice is the second version of the Mini Delta. It was developed taking into account customer feedback and as a result, it has improved qualities in matters such as bed leveling and Wi-Fi connection. According to the company, it’s recommended for new or experienced users and the Wi-Fi print option is nice and simple to set up.
Customer reviews say they can really feel the improvement right away, as it’s good to go straight out of the box, set up is much more simple, and it’s easy for beginners. The main downside people comment on is the small build volume, as the print diameter is only Ø110 mm.
- Price: ~$200
- Compatible materials: PLA, PLA+, ABS
- Printing size: 110 mm ø x 120 mm h
- Manufacturer: Monoprice
Flsun Super Racer (SR)
As the name suggests, the main attraction of this printer is speed. Where the Flsun QQ-S Pro was fast at 100mm/s, the Super Racer is even faster. Its default speed is 150mm/s and it can go up to 200mm/s and still deliver good quality results.
Even more so, some small tweaks have been added to this printer, which overall really improve the printing experience. It uses TMC 2209 drivers to control the motors. These are silent drivers, which means you won’t constantly be hearing the beeping of the machine. Additionally, the 2209 reference doesn’t use end-stops, meaning the printer can do sensorless homing.
- Price: ~$460
- Compatible materials: PLA, ABS, PETG, flexible filaments
- Printing size: 260 mm ø x 330 mm h
- Manufacturer: Flsun
SeeMeCNC BossDelta 300
The SeeMeCNC BossDelta 300 3D printer is a work of dedication, and this can be seen reflected in the price. Every little detail has an ocean of thought put behind it. The build plate is made of borosilicate glass and can heat up to 110 °C. The printer uses a linear motion system created, developed, and patented by SeeMeCNC, called eSlide, to ensure precise and smooth movement. Additionally, the bed has auto-bed leveling and can be controlled via Wi-Fi, Ethernet cable, or SD card.
The printer comes out of the box fully assembled and it uses 0.9-degree stepper motors, which means a higher precision than regular motors that usually have 1.8 degrees. It’s important to note that, if you’re buying from the official SeeMeCNC site, the printer only ships within the US, but there might be third-party options in your country.
- Price: ~$1,900
- Compatible materials: PLA, CF-PETG, ABS, PETG, HIPS, semi-flexible TPUs
- Printing size: 290 mm ø x 495 mm h
- Manufacturer: SeeMeCNC
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