Getting started with 3D printing can seem a little intimidating at first due to the variety of options available on the market, but open frame printers make this process more accessible. Without a closed shell, these models generally offer a better price and easier use. They therefore become a perfect choice for anyone who wants to try the basics of the hobby and learn the things you need to know before buying a 3D printer, without investing even more right away.
The problem is that the initial savings may not hold up in the long term. Although they work great for getting started, open frame printers are generally more limited in what they can offer users. So, if you become more interested in this hobby and want to attempt more ambitious projects, you may run into some of these limitations, such as a narrower selection of filament types you can use and other issues.
This happens primarily because companies are cutting costs in a way that also limits what these printers can do, in the name of making them more accessible to the public. Without a closed structure, temperature control and protection against other external factors are excluded, which can affect the quality of your prints. It is for this reason that we have presented the disadvantages that you might encounter if you choose an open frame 3D printer.
Fewer filament choices limit what you can build
Open frame printers work well if you want to print with easy-to-use materials, such as PLA, PETG, and most TPU, so they’re a good place to start if you’re still weighing the differences between resin and filament 3D printers. These materials work well because they don’t require strict temperature control, but if you try technical materials, such as ABS and some nylons, the result may not satisfy you. Indeed, they can shrink by up to 2% when cooling – but this process must occur evenly and heat dissipation cannot be reliably controlled without a closed structure.
This can affect the final quality of your part, because with an open printer, the base remains heated by the bed, typically above 100 degrees Celsius, while the top layers cool to room temperature. This difference creates tension, where the top contracts faster than the bottom, causing the corners of the bed to lift. Drafts make the situation even worse. However, if done correctly, small parts can be printed with these types of materials on an open frame printer. The risk increases depending on the size of what you’re printing, and that’s why many people recommend enclosures when using this type of hardware.
Temperature changes in open printers increase the risk of warping
Temperature is one of the most important aspects of 3D printing, and just like an open-frame printer doesn’t handle certain materials very well, it can also cause warping. This effect occurs when parts of the part cool at different rates, causing edges to lift while printing is in progress, and is one of the most common reasons why your 3D printing project may have failed.
In an open frame 3D printer, the part you are making remains exposed to ambient temperature without anything controlling its heat dissipation. So a draft, an open window or even air conditioning can cause one side of the room to cool down more quickly than the other. Some materials, like ABS and ASA, are more sensitive to these changes, but any material can still face this risk.
Although an enclosure does not completely eliminate distortion, it still helps keep the air around the room more stable. Without this protection, users often have to resort to tricks like applying special adhesives or using reinforcing edges so the part doesn’t come loose halfway.
Toxic fumes and plastic odors spread directly into the room
Open frame printers, because they do not have any type of protection around the hot nozzle, release fumes and a strong odor directly into the room as soon as printing begins, making some rooms the worst places to install a 3D printer. This is especially true for materials such as ABS and ASA, which give off a characteristic smell of burning plastic and can cause a lot of discomfort if you’re the type of user who spends a lot of time near the printer.
It’s important to point out that this doesn’t just apply to open-frame printers. Every model that works with 3D printing, regardless of the type of filament used, emits some sort of fumes when printing, even with materials considered “user friendly” like PLA. The difference is that an enclosure model can trap some of the fumes inside, while in open frame configurations they spread freely throughout the room.
This is not to say that having an enclosure solves all problems, since without a ventilation system it only traps the fumes until you open the door. Either way, if you plan to print ABS or ASA regularly, an open frame printer may not be the best choice due to the discomfort it can cause.
Higher noise levels can be off-putting
3D printers are not silent, as creating parts requires spinning motors, running fans, and a print head that moves from side to side. This noise, depending on room conditions, can exceed 60 dB, which corresponds to the loudness of a conversation. Add to that the fact that printing is not a quick process and can take hours, and this noise can become annoying, especially in a small space.
Printer noise varies greatly between open frame models because they don’t all work the same. Noise levels may vary depending on the speed used and the quality of the motors and fans of your chosen 3D printer. The Ender 3, one of the cheapest 3D printers you can buy, for example, tends to make more noise than newer versions.
Either way, without walls around, sound travels directly into the room where your printer is operating. Having an enclosure on the 3D printer helps with this, as it creates a barrier that can muffle at least some of the noise and vibration during the entire printing process. This is something that open frame models can’t offer, only giving you a few adjustments to try and reduce noise.
