Photos: 3D printers, a tour of the top models

MakerBot Replicator

The original MakerBot Replicator is now on its fifth generation and costs $2,899. It is app and cloud enabled, uses USB or Ethernet to connect, and has an on-board camera. The Replicator is 11 percent larger than the Replicator 2.

Image: MakerBot

MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop

The MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop, at $2,199, is designed to work best with biodegradable PLA filament. It's bigger than the original, has the ability to multitask, and makes more complex assemblies in fewer runs.

Image: MakerBot

MakerBot Replicator 2X Experimental 3D Printer

The MakerBot Replicator 2X Experimental 3D Printer, released at the beginning of 2013 for $2,799, was designed for enthusiasts. It's the big brother to the Replicator 2. It uses ABS filament and features experimental dual extrusion, and reduces skipping, jamming, and force-feeding of filament.

Image: MakerBot

MakerBot Replicator Z18

Shipping in Spring 2014 is the MakerBot Replicator Z18. It's MakerBot's biggest model yet and will cost $6,499. It's designed to create extra large industrial projects and will connect via wifi, USB, or Ethernet. 

Image: MakerBot

Cube 3D Printer

The second generation Cube personal 3D printer is the first certified by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) for home use and has a smart cartridge system that recognizes when you change materials so settings don't have to be adjusted each time. It costs $1,299.

Image: 3D Systems

Cube 3D printer

The third generation Cube 3, which is not yet available for purchase, offers dual color printing, touch screen controls, 23 varieties of colored filament, and is designed for home use at 6x6x6 inches. 3D Systems says it will be under $1,000. It sends the designs wirelessly from a computer and is safe for children over eight years of age.

Image: 3D Systems

CubeX 3D Printer

The CubeX, which runs at about $2,499, boasts multicolored prints and can print in PLA or ABS filament.

Image: 3D Systems

Printrbot Simple

This minimalistic assembled Printrbot Simple costs $449 and ships in a few weeks. 

For more on 3D printing, see:

-10 facts on 3D printing: Understanding tech's next big game-changer

Image: Printrbot

Printrbot Simple Kit

Printrbot also offers a kit of all their models, which is about $100 less than the assembled versions.

Image: Printrbot

Printrbot Plus

At $999, the Printrbot Plus is the largest model yet, with a 9x8x8 build volume. It has an LCD panel and an aluminum heated bed upgrade.

Image: Printrbot

Kevvox SP4300

Kevvox printers use Direct Light Processing technology and can print in wax-like, heat resistant, and durable materials. They are stand-alone machines that use the company's software and are meant to be used by medical and architecture industries and artists.

Image: Kevvox

Formlabs Form 1

Formlabs makes their own resin to print models out of their Form 1 3D printer. It weighs 18 pounds and comes with a finishing kit to clean the machine and perfect the models it produces. This printer came out of a Kickstarter campaign that raised $3 million.

Image: Formlabs

Tinkerine Litto

Vancouver-based Tinkerine makes the Ditto+ and Litto 3D FDM printers. The Ditto+ is $1,249 unassembled and the Litto is $999, unassembled. Both can be shipped assembled, but it's $300 more. The models are C-shaped and build from birch plywood.

Image: Tinkerine

CEL Robox

The creators of Robox raised nearly triple their goal on Kickstarter with this desktop 3D printer. All the user has to do is plug the machine into a computer and connect it to the wifi network. 

Image: Robox

RepRap 3D printer

Print your own 3D printer. No, really. RepRap, which created one of the first open source desktop 3D printers, emphasizes its ability to print plastic objects, specifically the parts to self-replicate another RepRap printer. All the materials to make the Mendel cost just over $500. 

For more on 3D printing, see:

-10 facts on 3D printing: Understanding tech's next big game-changer

Image: RepRap

Solidoodle

Image: Solidoodle

3D Systems ProJet 5500X

The professional ProJet 5500X, made by 3D Systems, uses the latest Multijet Printing technology to print and fuse together rigid and flexible materials. It has an industrial-grade print head that can produce prototypes rapidly.

Image: 3D Systems

ProJet 660Pro

The ProJet 660Pro professional 3D printer is made for stop motion animation, professional model shops, consumer product development, and digital and fine art manufacturing.

Image: 3D Systems

Stratasys Objet 100

The Stratasys Objet 100 is a multi-material, large printer for rapidly creating prototypes and models. The Objet series has several different models of 3D printers: large, small, compact, and portable. They are all made for rapid prototyping.

Image: Stratasys

Stratasys uPrint SE

The Stratasys uPrint SE is a desktop FDM printer. It comes with a startup supply of materials and bases and software for transforming CAD design.

Image: Stratasys

Stratasys professional 3D printers

Stratasys has many different types of industrial 3D printer models made for rapid prototyping. 

Image: Stratasys

EOS M 400, for Direct Laser Metal Sintering

E-manufacturing Solutions (EOS) makes giant 3D printers that produce high-quality, complex metal parts. The operation is simply through a touch screen on the machine. 

Image: EOS