Choosing and running a 3D printer
What Does a 3D Printer Cost Besides the Printer, and How Much Space Does It Need?
Summary
With an FDM printer, the ongoing costs are filament (Formlabs puts most standard filament at $50–$150 per kg), spare nozzles, and some way to keep filament dry. Resin runs $100–$200 per liter and adds solvent plus washing and curing equipment. For space, measure the clearance around the machine as well as the machine itself. Flashforge asks for at least 20 cm on every side of its Adventurer 5M.
Filament and resin prices
Formlabs gives these ranges in its FDM vs. resin comparison:
| Standard materials | Specialty materials | |
|---|---|---|
| FDM filament | $50–$150/kg | $100–$200/kg for support and engineering filaments |
| Resin | $100–$200/L | $200–$500/L for biocompatible resins |
For the printer itself, Bambu Lab's beginner guide puts a good first machine at $150–$500. On September 23, 2026, the Flashforge Adventurer 5M (220 × 220 × 220 mm, enclosure kit sold separately) was on sale for $249, down from $399. The ELEGOO Centauri Carbon (256 × 256 × 256 mm, fully enclosed) was listed at $438.41, with product data showing it unavailable.
Nozzles and dry storage
Flashforge recommends keeping a separate nozzle for each type of material, especially fiber-filled filament and PETG. The Adventurer 5M takes quick-swap nozzles in 0.25, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 mm.
Filament picks up moisture. Flashforge's manual gives storage conditions of 15–30 °C and 20–70% humidity. Bambu Lab's material table lists drying before use as recommended for PLA and PETG and required for TPU, which also needs desiccant while it prints.
Extra gear for resin
Formlabs lists a washing station and a post-curing station as the extra equipment a resin printer needs. Solvent (isopropyl alcohol or TPM) and gloves become ongoing purchases.
Room around the printer
The Adventurer 5M manual calls for at least 20 cm of clear space at the front, back, left, and right, in a dry, well-ventilated spot.
Sources
- Formlabs — FDM vs. SLA vs. SLS: 3D Printing Technology Comparison
- Formlabs — Best practices for washing prints
- Bambu Lab — Best 3D Printer for Beginners
- Bambu Lab Wiki — Filament Guide (material table)
- Bambu Lab — A1 mini
- Flashforge — Adventurer 5M
- Flashforge — Adventurer 5M user manual
- ELEGOO — Centauri Carbon (price)
- ELEGOO — Centauri Carbon (specifications)
Specs and prices are as published on these pages on the date above and can change; check the manufacturer or retailer before you buy.