3d PRINTER FOR AUTOMOTIVE PARTS
Choosing the right 3D printer for printing automotive car parts can feel overwhelming—which is why we created the 3D Printer Selector Tool v1
The 3d printer selector tool will help you find the perfect 3d printer for automotive parts in under 30 seconds.
3D PRINTER FOR CAR PARTS SELECTOR TOOL
Having the best 3d printer for automotive parts is half the battle. The other… finding pre-made car part models you can 3d print.
After spending months trying to navigate the complexity of CAD, I finally found a process that worked.
So when you’re ready to start designing your very own car parts you can print, check out this workshop we built just for automotive enthusiasts.
It has everything you need to turn your ideas into fully functional car parts.
💸 WHAT’S YOUR BUDGET?
Your budget will dictate the type of 3d printer you start 3d printing car parts with.
Its possible to stay under $300, but you’ll be limited on what type of parts you can print depending on the printer you pick.
For instance, with an non-enclosed 3d printer, expect to only be able to print prototype parts.
💡 PRO TIP: Stick with 3d printers with an enclosure to make it easier to 3d print high temp and UV resistant filament like ASA.
Your budget is important because it will dictate the type of car parts you can 3d print.
Under $300 (Low Budget) – Ideal for entry-level small automotive accessories or prototype car parts for non-enclosed 3d printers.
$300–$1150 (Mid Budget) – A sweet spot for power users who want advanced 3d printer features that allow for glass and fiber infused filament prints.
$1500+ (High Budget) – Perfect for pros, larger car parts, or a serious side hustle. A higher budget will give you the most flexibly when it comes to 3d printing a variety of different sized automotive parts.
🎥 For details on how to avoid mistakes when printing your first car parts, watch more on our YouTube channel:
🧵 2nd CATEGORY—MATERIAL
Certain car parts require to be 3d printed in different material which require different 3d printer capabilities.
Here’s a breakdown of the different types of material you can 3d print car parts with.
PLA / PETG / TPU (Flexible & Beginner-Friendly): Great for fast prototyping and automotive themed indoor accessories (keychains and/or display art).
ABS / ASA / Nylon / PC (Engineering-Grade): Requires a 3d printer with an enclosure and higher temps which allow for printing car parts that can handle higher heat.
Carbon or Glass Fiber (Composite): Requires hardened 3d printer hot-end and extruder.
For details on which 3d printing material to use for car parts check out our [car parts filament selector tool here]:
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📦 3rd CATEGORY—BUILD SIZE
Whether you're printing functional car parts or tiny custom clips, size will eventually become an issue.
For instance, if you want to 3d print a full automotive digital dash display, then you’re going to need a 3d printer capable of printing much larger parts.
Here’s the typical sizes you’ll find 3d printers come in:
Small – Up to 7" x 7" x 7" – Great for accessories, gadgets, or small automotive parts.
Medium – Up to 10" x 10" x 10" – Perfect for most functional plastic car parts.
Large – Up to 12.5" x 12.5" x 12.5" – Required for larger car parts such as digital cluster gauges or custom air intakes.
🔍 WHICH 3D PRINTER IS BEST FOR CAR PARTS?
🟢 Bambu Lab A1 Mini (Prototying)
Best For: Budget builders printing prototypes and/or small indoor accessories with PLA or PETG
Price: Usually under $300
Why it’s great: It’s compact, super easy to use, and perfect for testing prototype car part fitment
🟢 Elegoo Centauri Carbon
Best For: Versatile mid size printing on a low budget supporting a variety of filaments from PLA, ABS, ASA, PC, and even Carbon/glass fiber car parts.
Price: Avg. $300
Why it’s great: Lowest cost 3d printer with an enclosed design supporting tons of different filaments.
🟢 Bambu Lab P1S
Best For: Mid-range price for mid sized printing PLA/ABS/ASA Printing.
Price: Avg. $600
Why it’s great: Fast, reliable, with extruder, and hot end upgrades for 3d printing carbon/glass fiber car parts. Built in filament profiles or filament settings reduce the number of tweaks you’ll have to make.
🟢 Creality Ender 5 Max
Best For: Massive car part builds up to 15.7” x 15.7” x 15.7”
Price: Avg. $800-950
Why it’s great: Has a super large print area. Make sure to upgrade with an enclosure for printing higher temp filaments like ASA or ABS
🟢 Creality K1 Max
Best For: Slightly large 3d car prints up to 11.8” x 11.8” x11.8” ready to 3d print PLA/ASA/ABS/Carbon and glass infused fiber car parts.
Price: Avg. $800-900
Why it’s great: Prints advanced materials right out of the box with a slightly larger build plate.
🟢 Bambu Lab X1-Carbon
Best For: High quality 3d prints at mid size 3d car part prints up to 10” x 10” x 10” supporting.
Price: Avg. $1200 with AMS Unit
Why it’s great: High quality with multi-material printing support.
🟢 Bambu Lab H2S
Best For: Super large, high-performance, and high quality 3d car part prints up to 13.39 x 12.60 x 13.39 inches.
Price: Avg. $1500 with AMS 2 Pro Unit
Why it’s great: Huge build plate, multi-color 3d printing capabilities, auto z-offset, and heated chamber minimizes ABS and ASA warpage during printing.
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