If you’re in a hurry and just want to know the Best 3D printer desk is, then we recommend the Seville Classics Ultra HD Lighted Workbench as the best one.
Do You Really Need a 3D Printer Workstation?
Having a 3D printer is a wonderful tool that can make work and hobbyist activities easier. While selecting the best 3D printer for your needs can be a daunting experience, once you’ve made your decision, there’s another one to be made. Where are you going to put it?
Deciding What To Look For In A Printer Table
You absolutely can use your dining room table to host your 3D printer, but is that really the best option? From cleaning out clogged extruders and exotic filaments to handling ultraviolet accessories to assist the post-curing process, your dining room table is liable to be damaged. Ideally, you’d be in an office or workshop setting where there’s a designated workspace. However, if you need to set one up, there are a few factors to consider when buying a 3D printer workstation.
In this article we will be reviewing the best 3D printer desks:
What Makes A Good 3D Printer Desk Important
Stability
Calibrating the print bed is difficult enough if your 3D printer doesn’t have automatic leveling settings. The slightest rocking could force your print to fail. You want to choose a desk that can handle the subtle motion of the build process without moving around itself. If you happen to live in an area subject to tremors, whether by an earthquake or freight train, you’ll want to ensure the desk you select is able to withstand movements within the environment it’s set up in.
Material
The material a desk is made out of can vary, but one of the main things to keep in mind is that 3D printing is a thermal process. With temperatures rising well above 100 degrees Celsius, you’ll want a printer table made from a sturdy material that doesn’t melt or burn easily. There are plenty of safeguards that come standard on most 3D printers these days, but why take the chance? Double up on safety by ensuring the proper heat sensors work on your printers and that the material of your work desk can handle a machine that outputs high-temperature builds.
Adjustability
Having an adjustable table isn’t only beneficial to the person using it. The printing process can be assisted by a table that can adjust to different heights. Perhaps you’d like to hang your filament on the wall or place it on a shelf to ease feeding it into the extruder. Having a table that can adjust per build allows your creativity to run free without the hinderance of thinking about the table height. There’s also the flexibility of standing or sitting while you work o removing supports during the post-curing process. Simply having the ability to do so releases limitations on how you work.
Mobility
Another factor to consider is mobility. If you’re in need of a 3D printer table that’s easily moved around the room or in and out of a specific place, wheels help a great deal. The wheels need to have some sort of lock mechanism or else you’ll be forced to fashion your own wheel stops to prevent it from moving around during the build process. If The table is jostled or vibrates in excess to the printer operating there’s an inherent risk of it rolling out of position and shifting the calibrations of your build.
Size
A 3D printer table with a wide surface area tends to work best with the average printer. Having room for builds to finish curing gives you space to keep working either on those builds or on a different project entirely while saving area to keep utensils and other tools within arm’s reach. You should also look for a workstation with enough room for storage. The larger sized desks will hold drawers and shelves allowing you to keep everything you need to use for your printer inside the workbench.
What Are Some Great Printer Tables To Consider?
1. Gladiator Full-Door Modular Gearbox Steel Cabinet
This craftsman’s cabinet is able to hold up to 300 pounds per cabinet. The individual shelves inside can hold up to 50 pounds each. It also comes equipped with locking doors. There’s an adjustable shelf inside along with a stationary one. The workspace is on the smaller side at 28 inches x 18 inches. There’s a 10-year limited warranty offered by the manufacturer. If you order the premium model it will come assembled. Many users opt to order the less expensive model and assemble the cabinet on their own.
Pros:
- A sturdy cabinet that can hold up to 300 pounds
- Its small design lets it blend into other cabinetry around your workspace
- Leveling legs allow for adjustments to be made no matter the environment to assemble it in
- The Gladiator brand allows it to connect to other Gladiator components
Cons:
- Shelf mounting system in the self-assembled model is flimsier than the premium model
- You’ll need extra tools to assemble the cabinet other than the ones included in the box
- The screw-heads protrude preventing the cabinet from being installed flush to another one
- Users have reported a flaw in the bottom shelf where it has to be installed upside-down to ensure the screw holes are lined up properly
2. John Boos Maple Top Work Table
This massive table measures 60 inches long, 30 inches wide and stands 36 inches high. It’s food safe and needs to be assembled. It’s galvanized steel frame is sturdy and the included shelf gives you room for storage of filament and other accessories. Heavy-duty casters with a five-inch diameter should be used if you want wheels installed on this table. It’s ideal for both home and commercial settings.
Pros:
- The frame is sturdy and reliable
- Enormous workspace area that allows for larger printers and materials to be stored on the tabletop
- Users love the beautiful wood finish and that it doesn’t absorb stains easily making it a great surface to hold 3d printing materials
- The shelf is adjustable and provides further stability to the overall printer table.
Cons:
- Users have reported flimsy packaging of the product which leads to the wood surface chipping and cracking along with some denting in the steel frame
- You must have a socket wrench to finish assembling this desk
- Quality control needs to be improved as many have reported the misalignment of screw holes
- Users report this more as a kitchen-friendly item than a workspace for 3D printing
- The desk is heavy and very difficult to assemble by one’s self
3. Seville Classics Commercial Grade Stainless Steel
This commercial-grade workstation is made out of 100% galvanized steel. It measures 49 inches long, 24 inches wide and 35.5 inches high. There are padded leveling feet for extra stability and security on smooth surfaces. It’s safe for food equipment, home, commercial, and work environments. You can add an additional shelf and wheels.
Pros:
- An additional steel wire shelf can be added even though one’s included with the table
- Wheels can be purchased and swapped in for the padded leveling feet for added mobility
- The leveling feet make this table adjustable over different surfaces and floor types
- It’s easy to clean and easy to assemble
Cons:
- The slip sleeves for the shelf aren’t always compatible according to some users
- The wheel modifications suggested by the manufacturer have left some users disappointed in surface damage to their hardwood floors
- The wheels are difficult to lock which can cause issues during the print process
4. Seville Classics Ultra HD Lighted Workbench
Another sturdy piece of craftsmanship from Seville brings a lighted workbench to the list. The workspace is big enough at 48 inches long and 24 inches wide. It stands from floor to slim top shelf at 65.5 inches tall. The desk area tops out at 37.5 inches from the bottom. There’s an estimated assembly time of five hours, but when it’s done you’ll have a sturdy workbench ready to put through its paces. It’s fingerprint resistant and the powder-coated finish helps fight against corrosion.
The built-in fluorescent light illuminates the work area and the vast pegboard that comes with 23 hooks. You’ll also find two small drawers that are lined and optimal for additional tools and craft materials.
Pros:
- The workbench is lighted with a large surface area
- The pegboard comes with 23 hooks for you to hang up a decent amount of your 3D printing accessories
- The small drawers give you extra storage options
- The leveling feet make it sturdy and optimal for any floor type
- It’s easy to assemble but will take some time to do so
- It’s easily modified to work for whatever your workspace calls for
Cons:
- Users report some quality control issues with bent parts and screw holes not being aligned properly for assembly
- Assembly time is long with the manufacturer estimating five hours
5. Ultra HD Height Heavy-Duty Wood Top Workbench
This workbench has a surface area of 48 inches in length and a width of 24 inches. The adjustable height feature allows the table to shift from 28.5 inches to a staggering 42 inches. It can support up to 1000 pounds and comes with a one-year limited warranty.
Pros:
- The table is easy to assemble and simplistic in its features
- The adjustable height allows for users to work comfortably at various levels
- The leveling feet are an asset to this bench
- There’s a decently sized working surface area
Cons:
- Users report that the frame is easily dented
- The colors of natural wood vary so some users report it looks different than the advertised pictures
- Some have also reported that adjusting the height can be difficult with some having to turn the table upside-down to do so
Which 3D Printer Desk Should You Pick?
All of these desks can get the job done, but it comes down to the amount of space you need to work and the amount of space you have to install the desk. Overall, the Seville Classics seem to offer the best 3D printer desks for the price. Personal preference suggests the Seville Classics Ultra HD Lighted Workbench with its lined drawers, top shelf, and vast pegboard is the best workstation on this list. Being able to make modifications without diminishing the stability makes this an ideal choice for 3D printing as the craft demands easily modified products and software. The light is a nice touch too along with the 23 hooks that come to hang your accessories on the bench.
Last update on 2024-05-01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
