How Long Does a 3D Printer Last?

We know how much you love your 3D printer. And who wouldn't? It's been an ever-present companion on your maker journey. It's given you tools, toys, and even time.

With all you've been through, though, you may be wondering how long your old pal will last. Are there ways to maximize the lifespan of your printer? And can a well-maintained printer last forever?

Those are the questions we'll be answering today, as we tackle the often misunderstood topic of 3D printer longevity.

How Long Do 3D Printers Last?

If you're just trying to figure out the average lifespan of a 3D printer, the short answer is: 3-10 years. Blog post over, right?

Well, not so fast. There are numerous variables that contribute to the longevity of your 3D printer, some of which aren't obvious. The good news is that if you understand them and how they affect your machine, you can stretch the life of your 3D printer toward the upper limit of that 10-year scope.

In some cases, your printer may even go beyond that-though, you may not want it to. We'll talk more about that a littler later in this post, so make sure you read until the end, but first we need to discuss a few of the aforementioned variables.

Things that Affect Your 3D Printer's Longevity

Your Skill Level

That's right, your skill level can play a role in how long your printer will last. Veterans of 3D printing with vast knowledge under their belt will likely get more mileage out of a consumer-grade printer than beginners.

That's because experienced users are already familiar with printer maintenance, and they can often recognize the early stages of potentially catastrophic issues. This allows them to take action before a problem becomes severe.

Printer Manufacturer

It's difficult to argue that some 3D printer manufacturers build better products than their competitors. The differences in these instances range from material quality to printer design to overall workmanship.

As with everything, a quality machine from a reputable manufacturer will likely outlast a cheaply built printer with less than stellar components.

Usage Patterns and Printing Frequency

The workload you're putting your printer through has a direct effect on how long it will last. Makers using their printers every day experience shorter equipment lifespans than those who only use their printer occasionally. Even if you're not printing every day, however, you'll still need to monitor components that age over time such as belts.

Material Usage

The materials you choose to employ will also have an effect on your overall printer longevity. If you're someone who strictly prints PLA, then your machine will wear differently than someone who primarily prints abrasives. Abrasive filaments can wreck nozzles and even damage extruders in some cases.

While these components are usually replaceable, doing so still requires you to reinvest money into a printer that may be a few years old. Moreover, if a manufacturer discontinues integral parts due to a printer "aging out," then your only option is to find a new machine.

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Environmental Conditions

A 3D printer exposed to the salt water of a New England beach home might get more wear and tear, and thus have a shorter life, than a printer that is housed in a spare bedroom on a Wisconsin farm. The same is true for printers sweating it out in smoldering garages during the summer or subjected to freezing temps in the winter.

Delicate electronics can also fail quickly when exposed to moist conditions. If you want your printer to last a long time, you should consider where it's going to be used and then try to control the atmospheric environment to the best of your ability.

Maintenance Practices

Many of us have fallen into the trap of not knowing, or not performing proper maintenance on our printers. However, regular maintenance can significantly improve your printer's lifespan as well as your prints.

You should be lubricating axes and moving parts where needed, checking belt tension and adjusting it, removing dust and debris from the bed and toolhead paths, replacing worn components, and calibrating your machine regularly. Likewise, nozzles require replacement every 1000-1500 hours or so. Possibly more frequently if you're using abrasives.

Get More Mileage From Your 3D Printer

When we ask: "how long will a 3D printer last?" what we're really asking is "how long can we expect to get quality printing results from our machine before we're forced to scrap it and buy another one?"

If you've spent several hundred dollars on your printer-which is the case for most people-then the idea of getting just a few short years out of it seems unfair. Even if you've got extra stacks of cash just lying around. That said, you can squeeze several years of life out of most 3D printers under the right conditions.

Until next time, happy printing!