How to choose your first 3D printer
The right first printer is not the cheapest or the fastest: it is the one that gives you good parts with the fewest adjustments.
Start from what you want to print
For PLA and PETG an open printer is enough. For ASA, ABS and nylon the Prusa material guide recommends an enclosure [1]. If you want technical or outdoor parts, think about an enclosed printer from the start (see outdoor filament).
What matters most for beginners
- Automatic bed levelling: removes the most frustrating step.
- Flexible PEI plate: parts come off easily.
- Direct drive extruder: needed if you want to print TPU.
- Ready-made slicer profiles (Bambu Studio, OrcaSlicer, PrusaSlicer, Cura): fewer trial runs.
- Filament runout sensor and power-loss recovery: avoid waste.
- Noise and size: matter if it lives at home.
- Spare parts and support available in your country.
What it really costs
- The printer.
- Filament: 1 kg spools of PLA and PETG to start.
- Spares: nozzles, a second plate.
- Storage and drying (see why dry your filament).
- A hardened nozzle if you will use carbon-fibre or glass-fibre materials (abrasive).
- Space, ventilation and your time.
Common mistakes
- Choosing only on advertised speed.
- Ignoring warranty and support in the EU: consumers have at least a 2-year legal guarantee.
- Buying a kit you have to assemble without wanting one.
- Going straight to a multicolour system before learning to print well in one colour.
- Having no ventilated space for ABS and ASA.
Checklist before you buy
- Which materials will you use in the first six months?
- What is the total budget (not just the machine)?
- Where will it live and how much noise can you accept?
- Are support and spares available in the EU?
- Does your slicer have an official profile?
- Have you read recent reviews and the recurring problems on official forums?
How FIPCO.ro helps
In the settings generator you pick your model and filament and get the values for your slicer. In the filament table you can filter by open or enclosed printer. For more targeted advice read which printer is best for you.
This page is an editorial summary by FIPCO.ro, not the result of laboratory tests. Sources last checked: November 2026. Values are indicative: always check your spool manufacturer’s data sheet.