One of the major gripes with 3D printing is many consider it to be slow. However, over time both the speeds of FDM and resin printers have crept up — and there are now some super-fast options for both technologies.
For industrial printing, there are printers now reaching speeds competitive with traditional manufacturing, aiming to displace injection molding.
But what are the other fastest 3D printers in the world?
We have listed the world’s fastest 3D printers in every price range below, for both FDM and resin printers – but first, let’s explain the factors that affect the speed of 3D printing.
Do Bigger 3D Printers Print Faster?
A bigger resin 3D printer does indeed print faster, but this is more in the sense of being more productive. A resin printer cures an entire layer on the XY axes, regardless of size, in one go. This means that the larger the printer, the more productive the printer is.
However, this isn’t the case for FDM printers, which need to deposit filament across the entire layer before moving on to the next.
Flsun Super Racer
200mm/s makes it one of the fastest FDM printers around
Comes 95% pre-assembled
Anycubic Photon M3 Plus
Super-fast 100mm/h speed
Larger resin build area for scalable minis prints or larger resin models
Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K
Extremely high-res 8K LCD screen
Enormous build area and 70mm/h speed
How Fast is a 3D Printer?
As for the technologies and 3D printers we have now, simply stating the fastest possible 3D printing speeds is difficult.
That’s because – and I know it’s frustrating to read this – it depends on several factors:
Resolution of the 3D printed part: before you start printing, you need to slice your model into layers on a 3D slicer. The more layers, and the thinner each layer, the longer the part will take to print at the same speed. A part printed with 50-micron layers will have twice as many layers as the same part printed with 100-micron layers, and take twice as long at the same speed.
- We also have a guide to high resolution 3D printers.
Quality of print: theoretically you could run a budget 3D printer at an extremely high speed, and it would still print. But the results wouldn’t be anything like how it looked on your slicer. It would be a mess of filament hairs and blobs, because the speed settings were set too fast. Some 3D printers can handle high-speed 3D printing, some cannot.
3D printing technology: how fast a 3D printer prints depends on the technology. Resin 3D printers are significantly faster than FDM 3D printers as they can cure entire layers at once, rather than depositing filament over each part of the layer. The fastest 3D printing technologies include Multi Jet Fusion and resin 3D printing technologies like MSLA.
Material: some materials are easier to print than others, putting less demand on the printer and leading to a slightly faster print.
Complexity of the model: You will be able to print a cube block far quicker than an intricate 3D printed jewelry piece. This is because you can print larger layers and at a faster print speed without a notable loss of quality, since the cube is a very simple shape with no details.
Size of print: fairly obvious, but a larger print will take far longer than a small one. A full-size vase will take around 12 hours to print in normal detail on most FDM 3D printers, but a small statue may take under an hour.
Nozzle size: for FDM 3D printing, smaller nozzles mean more intricate details can be printed more accurately, but larger nozzles can potentially print faster.
Will 3D printers get faster?
Almost certainly. We’ve already seen a number of major innovations that make 3D printers faster in the last decade. In 2012, the first delta 3D printers started to appear, which print significantly faster than previous Cartesian 3D printers.
Then, new resin 3D printer innovations such as Carbon 3D’s CLIP, and Uniz’s UDP technologies made SLA and DLP faster. Other significant speed innovations include HP’s Multi Jet Fusion technology, and also the huge advances being made in many metal 3D printers such as those by Desktop Metal and Markforged.
The Fastest 3D printers 2022 in Every Price Range
| Name and brand | Build volume (mm) | Max speed | Price | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flsun Super Racer | 260 x 260 x 330 | 200mm/s | $499 | Amazon here |
| Anycubic Photon M3 Plus | 197 x 122 x 245 | 100mm/h | $699 | Anycubic here |
| Anycubic Photon M3 Max | 298 x 164 x 300 | 60mm/h | $1099 | Anycubic here |
| Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K | 330 x 185 x 400 | 70mm/h | $2199 | Phrozen here |
| Uniz Slash UDP | 293 x 122 x 200 | 600mm/h | $1,999 | Matterhackers here |
| WASP 2040 Pro Turbo | 200 x 200 x 400 | 500mm/s | $3,400 | Amazon here |
| HP Jet Fusion 5200 | 380 x 284 x 380 | 4115cm3/h | Quote |
3DSourced is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more
Flsun Super Racer – Fastest FDM 3D Printer Under $500
- Price — Check latest price at Amazon here
- Technology: FDM Delta
- Max Print Speed: 200 mm/h
- Build Volume: 260 x 260 x 330 mm
Pros
Print speeds of up to 200 mm/h, four times faster than most standard FDM printers.
Quick and easy assembly process.
Decently-sized build volume.
Cons
Lack of accuracy and consistent print quality.
Bowden extruder setup can lead to jamming and clogging issues with flexible filaments.
True to its speedy name, the Flsun Super Racer is a Delta FDM printer that absolutely gallops with a top print speed of 200 mm/h. It’s an upgraded version of Flsun’s QQ-S, which after some one-on-one time we found to be a competent, worthwhile printer for large projects.
Delta printers are known for offering higher speeds than their Cartesian brothers, but Flsun is pushing the boat out to new extremes with the Super Racer. Most standard FDM printers perform best at a comfortable 50-60 mm/h, while the Super Racer delivers solid quality prints at four times that.
With a decently-sized 260 x 260 x 330 mm build volume, the Super Racer is also big on vertical print capacity, ideal for those towering prints that exceed the dimensions of budget FDM printers. Throw in a thoughtful design, quality components, automatic bed leveling, breezy 20-minute assembly, a responsive, easy-to-navigate detachable touch screen, and the Super Racer comes awfully close to a speed freak’s dream 3D printer.
Now, all this speed does come with a trade-off. Delta printers, the Flsun Super Racer included, lack the accuracy and consistent print quality offered by Cartesian 3D printers. The difference is relatively negligible, but it’s a point to consider before buying for makers that favor quality over speed.
On the filament front, the Flsun Super Racer’s Bowden extruder setup works great for PLA but coughs up the usual Bowden-related jamming and clogging issues with flexibles. For example, if you’re working with TPU, you’re better off sticking to a classic Cartesian printer – ideally with a direct drive extruder.
Anycubic Photon M3 Plus/Max – Fastest Resin 3D Printers Under $1,000
- Price: $699 / $1,099 — M3 Plus Available here / M3 Max Available here
- Technology: MSLA Resin
- Max Print Speed: 100 mm/h / 60 mm/h
- Build Volume: 197 x 122 x 245 mm / 298 x 164 x 300 mm
Pros
Large build volume.
Textured build plate offering superb print adhesion.
Fast and highly productive.
Cons
Fans are very noisy.
More than simply an update to the long-running Photon series, the Anycubic Photon M3 machines are turning more than a few heads as the fastest resin 3D printer range around.
In particular, the Anycubic Photon M3 Plus proposes a top print speed of 100 mm/h. The beauty of resin printers is that they cure in layers, regardless of how much space on the build plate that layer takes. Those 100 mm/h apply whether you’re printing a single small miniature or a batch of twelve, which makes the Anycubic Photon M3 Plus exponentially more productive.
The Anycubic Photon M3 Max is no slouch either, offering a respectable 60 mm/h, but does this across a massive 298 x 164 x 300 mm. That’s the largest of any Anycubic resin printer and among the highest capacities found on consumer-grade printers, rubbing shoulders with the hulking Elegoo Jupiter and Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K.
Elsewhere, the Photon M3 duo stands out for offering excellent detail with 34 microns XY resolution on the Plus and 46 microns on the Max. The Max has a 7K LCD, one of the highest pixel counts on the market, while the Plus pushes a 6K LCD – higher than the standard 4K found on comparable printers. Both machines also ship with Anycubic excellent textured checkerboard build plate, which offers superb print adhesion.
Read the full comparison: Anycubic Photon M3 vs M3 Plus vs M3 Max
Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K – Fastest High-Quality Resin 3D Printer
- Price: $2,199 — Available at Phrozen official here
- Technology: MSLA Resin
- Max Print Speed: 70 mm/h
- Build Volume: 330 x 185 x 400 mm
Pros
Large build volume for the price.
High speed for its size.
High resolution, producing prints with fine details and intricates.
Cons
Might be too expensive for some amateur makers
With the Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K, size and speed combine into arguably one of the most impressive mid-range professional resin printers on the market.
The 330 x 185 x 400 mm build volume is the largest available in this price range, and the Sonic Mega 8K darts across this printing expanse at a nippy 70 mm/h. No other printers manage to weave in such a large build volume with such high speeds; it’s always been one or the other.
The Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K allows makers to hone in on all the fine features and intricacies of even the most detailed models and minis thanks to a 43-micron resolution, propped up by a pixel-rich 15’’ 8K LCD. It’s a level of quality that simply isn’t currently available on any other printer in the same printer segment.
The build plate comes pre-calibrated, allowing you to print without delay once the Mega 8K lands on your doorstep. A clever dual linear rail design ensures the printer behaves and delivers those sharp details even high up into the upper reaches of the build area.
If you need a mammoth-format printer at a reasonable price to power a small business where time is of the essence, there’s little else out there that comes close to the Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K. If the build volume exceeds what you’ll conceivably ever need, a lower-cost resin printer such as the Anycubic Photon M3 Plus or even the standard M3 is likely a better use of your money. The Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K is a jumbo printer and will be far too much for most amateur makers.
Uniz Slash Plus UDP — Fastest desktop 3D printer
- Max print volume: 293 x 122 x 200 mm
- Price: $1,999 — Available on Matterhackers here
- Fastest 3D printer speed: 600mm/hour in UDP mode
Pros
Super-fast print speeds.
Self-Calibration, saving time and effort.
Accurate printing.
Cons
Limited compatibility: Not all parts can be printed using UDP mode.
Uniz have made a big impact since their original Kickstarter campaign that raised over $500,000 to produce super-fast resin 3D printers at consumer prices. This quick 3D printer uses Uniz’s Uni-Directional Peel (UDP) technology to print far faster than its competitors, at up to 600mm/hour when in UDP mode.
When not in UDP mode the maximum 3D printer speed is 200mm/hour, but this is still super fast. This is because not all parts are compatible, for example, any parts with cross sections, or fully enclosed parts cannot be printed in UDP mode; and no parts with solid infill can be printed either. You are also restricted as very tall prints cannot be printed in UDP mode, but if your part qualifies then you can print extremely quickly!
Not only is it an extremely fast 3D printer, but it’s also accurate. This SLA 3D printer has an XY resolution of 75 microns, and a minimum layer of thickness of just 10 microns. As a result, parts have very good surface finish and look almost like they have no layers at all. The printer can also calibrate itself, can be operated via your phone or table on the mobile app, and weighs just 12kg. It’s certainly one of the best speedy 3D printers for the price.
WASP 2040 PRO Turbo — Fastest 3D printer in the world
- Price: $3,400 — Available on Amazon here
- Max print volume: 200 x 200 x 400 mm
- Fastest 3D printer speed: 500mm/s recommend (some say it can print even faster!)
Pros
Fast and reliable.
Highly accurate printing resolution.
Cons
The enclosed print chamber makes the post-processing of parts difficult.
Delta 3D printers are known for their speed, and are the fastest FDM 3D printers in the world. The WASP 2040 PRO Turbo is a delta printer that is not only incredibly fast – at up to a recommend 500mm/s – but is also extremely accurate for an FDM printer. The resolution of up to 50 microns means very accurate and low cost prototypes and parts can be produced, and in record time. WASP claim they make the fastest 3D printers in the world for FDM.
WASP 3D printers are known for their reliability, with the Italian company ensuring the printers operate with workhorse-like consistency. It can print 3D printer filaments including ABS, PLA, PETG and Nylon, so if you want to print stronger parts from one of the tougher plastics you still can, and you can use third party filaments if you prefer – the WASP allows for these. and you can choose to buy the WASP 2040 as either a single or dual extruder 3D printer.
Unlike most RepRap 3D printer deltas, the WASP 2040 Turbo comes fully assembled, so those who aren’t masters of DIY do not need to worry. You can also choose to order it either as a single or dual extruder 3D printer based on your printing needs.
It’s the world’s fastest 3D printer for FDM, and also accurate and reliable – what more could you want for under $5,000!
- It also has a variation designed specifically as a clay 3D printer.
HP 3D Jet Fusion 5200 — Fastest Industrial 3D printer
- Price: Requires a quote
- Max print volume: 380 x 284 x 380 mm
- Fastest 3D printer speed: 4115cm3/hour
Pros
High-quality and accurate prints.
Can print multiple parts at once, without a drop in productivity.
One of the fastest 3D printers in the world.
Cons
HP is still relatively new to the 3D printing industry.
HP have only been actively involved in the 3D printing industry for the last few years, but have brought such technological advantages in that short space of time. The Jet Fusion 5200 epitomizes this, marking uncharted territory for 3D printing where it is now considered viable for mid-range production.
Multi Jet Fusion has always been known for its fast 3D printing speed, but the Jet Fusion is even faster than its predecessors. With speeds up to 4115cm3/hour, it’s faster than the Jet Fusion 4200 (4000cm3) and the 3200 (2800cm3) – and these were already some of the fastest 3D printers in the world. The high-quality 1200dpi print head resolution allows for extremely accurate parts with smooth surface finishes and crisp, sharp edges.
The Jet Fusion 5200 combines this astonishing speed with low part cost and scalability. Whole layers can be printed at once, rather than tracing each layer as with Selective Laser Sintering, meaning multiple parts can be printed at once without a drop off in productivity. Multi Jet Fusion isn’t known for its versatility of materials, but PA12, PA11 Nylons and TPU are strong materials with good properties for a variety of industries. It’s extremely fast, extraordinarily accurate, and a rare example of 3D printers being competitive in mid-volume part production – very exciting.
Do you really need a fast 3D printer?
Speed is always useful; nobody chooses to wait in a queue longer than they need to. However, with the quickest 3D printers, there are some cases where you can’t take advantage of this speed.
For FDM 3D printers, some materials become volatile and print with imperfections if you don’t slow right down, like PEEK, PC, and others. Printing at 150mm/s+ would just ruin your prints, so the speed is useless here.
Also, if you are printing a very simple object like a cube, speed becomes less useful as you can just use very large layer heights and print quickly anyway.
However, if your business depends on quick production, then absolutely go for a printer that can either print objects very quickly, or multiple objects simultaneously. The ability to rapidly prototype new designs and innovate quicker is invaluable, and other industries like 3D printed jewelry production or hearing aids need to be able to print custom designs at the highest speeds possible.
So, it depends. For hobbyists, speed is great for quality of life and printing all the cool things and useful 3D prints you can. For industry it can be more necessary, and businesses often opt for an industrial 3D printer than can meet their production speed requirements.
How Fast Can PLA Be 3D Printed?
The fastest FDM printers, such as the Flsun Super Racer, can print PLA up to 200 mm/h. However, the most common 3D printers, such as the Ender 3, can print PLA at around 50 to 80 mm/h without sacrificing print quality.
Related articles:
