The Best 3D Printers for Kids in 2020
So you’ve decided you want to get a 3D printer that your kids can use or that you can use with them. Luckily for you, I’ve identified a selection of 3D printers that make it fun and easy for kids to get started with 3D printing!
By kids, we’re probably talking about the 12 and under age range. Any kid older than that should probably be using beginner-level 3D printers.
In this article, we’re looking at 3D printers that were specially made to be as fun and practical as possible for kids.
This 3D printer for kids makes the top of my list because it was made solely to be fun and engaging for children, but even adults can have fun with it!
The ToyBox 3D’s main appeal is that everything is done from an app that is super easy to use and create designs with. The app also includes a large library of 3D printing ideas, like toys, so kids can play around with it and come up with their own designs around the clock!
The 3D printer works right out of the box, so all you need to do is install the app and you’re ready to go.
The ToyBox 3D won’t be the right option for hardcore Makers, however. Doing everything from an app does limit what you can do, and the tiny build area of this 3D printer also limits the size of things you can 3D print.
Summary
The ToyBox 3D is my favorite 3D printer for kids because it was made specifically with children in mind. The app makes the 3D printer easy to use for everyone and although it can’t do as much as others can for the price, you can’t ask for a better 3D printer for kids who just want to have some fun.
The Weedo 3D printer is a great competitor to the Toybox 3D. It works in a similar way and is around the same size, but is a lower cost.
Weedo focused on making this 3D printer safe and easy for kids to use. The small and light 3D printer comes fully assembled and only takes a few minutes to set up.
This 3D printer also comes with an app that has a library of things to make, including toys that your kids will no doubt enjoy.
Just like the toybox, however, the size and app limit how much you can really do.
Summary
While this 3D printer is limited by design, it’s still a great option for amateurs and kids who want to start 3D printing and have fun with it.
QIDI TECHNOLOGY X-one2
While it doesn’t explicitly say that it’s for kids anywhere, the product page illustrates that they definitely had them in mind when making this 3D printer. So what makes this 3D printer so much better for kids than others?
For starters, it’s a fair price (for beginners, a flashy and expensive 3D printer is not necessary, sorry kids!). The benefits are also pretty decent for what you pay for.
It’s quick to set up and easy to use, so you can get to the fun part with your kids soon after it arrives. It also comes with a test model and videos to help you get started.
Lastly, it’s also enclosed, making it safer to use with your children in case they want to stick their hands somewhere they shouldn’t!
Summary
Overall, this 3D printer is very easy to use. Everything that you need is included and the quality is great. For the economical price, you can’t really go wrong with this 3D printer.
IUSE Desktop 3D Printer
The IUSE 3D printer was designed with kids in mind, but it’s not as easy to set up as the other options. Once you figure it out though, it works quite decently for its very affordable price.
Although it doesn’t have an app like the first two on this list, it comes with an SD card that has 100 files that can be 3D printed. That should be more than enough to get started with (and keep your kids busy for a while!).
The software isn’t great, and it doesn’t come with instructions on how to get started, but the 3D printer makes up for this with its reliability and print quality.
Moreover, the IUSE 3D printer is only able to print PLA filament. They claim that this is good because PLA is safe for kids and although I agree, I would prefer to at least try other materials.
Summary
It may take some tinkering and practice, but once it’s set up properly, it works like a charm! Thanks to the affordable price, it’s also not a big and risky investment.
If you’re okay with looking things up and tinkering, I recommend buying this 3D printer!
XYZ Printing da Vinci miniMaker 3D
It looks like something right out of playschool, but with the power to synthesize whatever you wish (sort of). The miniMaker is the most reviewed 3D printer for kids, and for good reason.
It’s very affordable and does a decent job in terms of print quality and speed. However, it comes with some caveats… of course.
The biggest problem with this 3D printer is that you have no choice but to use their own XYZ brand 3D printer filament, which costs a lot more than other, higher-quality options. So, while the price is appealing at first, it’s going to cost you a bit more in the long run.
It’s also got other manageable but annoying issues such as the model sticking to the nozzle because there’s no heating bed and it requires a bit of calibration so it’s not exactly “plug & play”.
Summary
If you can handle the premium cost for average filament and minor software/hardware issues here and there, the da Vinci miniMaker provides an easy to start and affordable experience for adults and children.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, I would recommend the Toybox 3D or the Weedo 3D printers for young kids and first-time users. If you want more versatility, then the other three are great options too. While kids don’t need a 3D printer specifically made for their age, it does help to enhance safety, ease of use, and kid-friendly fun. Let us know which 3D printer you think is the most kid-friendly in the comments below!