With the evolution of additive manufacturing technologies, concerning their material processing techniques, range of material choices and deposition speed, 3D printers are extensively employed in academia and industry for a number of purposes. It is no longer uncommon to have a portable, desktop 3D printer and build specific designs in a matter of minutes or hours. The functionality, costs, materials and applications of desktop 3D printers differ. Among the several desktop 3D printers with a variety of characteristics, it might be challenging to choose which one is optimal for the intended applications and uses. In this study, a variety of commercially available thermoplastic and photopolymer resin desktop 3D printers are presented and compared for user selection. This article intends to provide end-users of desktop 3D printers with fundamental information and guidelines via a comparison of desktop 3D-printing technologies and their technical characteristics, enabling them to assess and select appropriate desktop 3D printers for a variety of applications.
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