Best 3D printers for ABS, ASA and nylon
Updated 6 September 2026 · Live prices on every page load from Amazon.fr
Engineering materials need an active heated chamber and a hot end that clears 280 °C. Without both, ABS warps off the bed and nylon comes out brittle. These are the printers that can do the job properly.
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Matt's take
A brief reality check before you spend engineering-material money: you also need a filament dryer for nylon, a decent enclosure fan for ABS fumes, and patience for the tuning pass each new spool demands. A printer with 300 °C and an active chamber is necessary but not sufficient. Budget a hundred on top for drying and filtration; it stops being optional the first time a 24-hour nylon print delaminates halfway through. Also: PC draws more heat than anything on this list - if you specifically need polycarbonate, double-check the chamber-temperature rating, not just the hot-end rating.
Frequently asked
Can a cheap printer print ABS if I put it in a box? +
A passive enclosure helps with draughts but does not replace an actively heated chamber. Warping on anything larger than a phone case is almost inevitable without ~55-60 °C chamber temps. If your budget is tight, print ASA instead - it handles draughts and UV far better than ABS for outdoor parts.
What hot-end temperature do I actually need for nylon? +
Plain PA6 / PA12 prints happily at 250-270 °C. Glass-filled and carbon-filled nylon wants 280-300 °C and a hardened nozzle because the fibre content chews brass. If a printer caps at 260 °C, cross nylon-CF off your shopping list.
Do I need a dryer for nylon or can I skip it? +
You cannot skip it. Nylon absorbs enough moisture in a few hours of open air to print as if it is popping popcorn. A sub-£100 filament dryer is not optional kit for nylon or PA-CF - it is part of the printer.
Is polycarbonate possible on these printers? +
PC needs ~70-80 °C chamber temperatures and 290-300 °C hot ends. Most "active chamber" printers listed here target ABS/ASA chamber temperatures (~50-55 °C). Check the spec sheet for rated chamber temperature, not just hot-end temp.
Related reading
Ranking is spec-driven. It favours printers that objectively have the capabilities this shortlist targets. Firmware, support quality and long-term reliability aren't on the spec sheet - read the full printer page and owner reports before committing.
