Metal 3D printer prices by type
The table below covers every metal 3D printer we offer, from benchtop machines to production cells.
| Type | Example | Build volume | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benchtop LPBF | AO Metal A30, 200 W laser (300 W option), 120 V | Ø30 × 60 mm | $59,000 |
| Metal and ceramic extrusion + CNC | 3DCeram M.A.T., no laser and no loose powder | — | From $63,100 |
| Floor-standing LPBF | AO Metal A50, 300–1000 W, blue laser option, 250 °C plate | Ø50 × 100 mm | From $89,000 |
| Floor-standing LPBF | AO Metal A100, 300–1000 W, blue laser option, 250 °C plate | Ø100 × 100 mm | From $99,000 |
| High-temperature LPBF | AO Metal A50-HT and A100-HT, 900 °C induction-heated plate, 208 V three-phase | Ø50 × 100 mm and Ø100 × 100 mm | Quoted on request |
| Industrial multi-laser LPBF | Farsoon, from compact FS121M to FS1521M with 16–32 lasers | 120 × 120 × 100 mm to 1530 × 1530 × 1650 mm | Quoted on request |
| Directed energy deposition (DED) | InssTek MX-Lab, MX-Med, MX-Fab | 150 × 150 × 150 mm to 800 × 1000 × 700 mm | Quoted on request |
| Wire-arc (WAAM) robotic cell | Caracol Vipra AM, 9-axis turnkey cell | Cell 2.5 × 2.0 × 2.0 m | Quoted on request |
What is the cheapest metal 3D printer?
The most affordable metal 3D printer at Additive Plus is the AO Metal A30 at $59,000. It is a benchtop LPBF printer with a Ø30 × 60 mm build, a 200 W fiber laser (300 W option) and a 120 V single-phase supply (up to 2.5 kW). A powder change takes about an hour, and a test build uses about 71 g of 316L, which makes it practical for alloy research and teaching. If your lab cannot handle loose metal powder, the 3DCeram M.A.T. (from $63,100) prints metal and technical ceramics by extrusion, with no laser and no loose powder.
What decides the price of a metal 3D printer
- Build volume. The A100 has four times the build area of the A50, and the price difference between them is $10,000.
- Laser power and number of lasers. More power and more lasers build faster and handle more demanding alloys. A blue laser, an option on the A50 and A100, is used for reflective metals such as copper, gold and silver.
- Heated build plate. The A50 and A100 plate runs at 250 °C. Crack-prone and refractory alloys, such as H13 tool steel and tungsten, print best on a 900 °C plate: the A50-HT and A100-HT are built around one, with a water chiller and a 208 V three-phase supply.
- Open or closed materials. AO Metal printers are open: every process parameter is yours, there are no cartridges, and the software licence is perpetual with no yearly fee. You can run any metal powder you qualify.
See the price of your own configuration
In the AO Metal configurator you choose the printer, laser and build plate, add the alloys you plan to run and the equipment around the printer, and see the listed price as you go; items priced per project are marked as quoted. The lab planner then takes your room size and places everything you have chosen against its walls, keeping clear the space each unit needs, in a 2D plan and a 3D view. Send the configuration with its plan, and we reply with a formal quotation: configuration, price, payment terms and lead time.
Configure your printer and plan your lab →
Running costs: what to budget for beyond the printer
- Metal powder. LPBF powder is sold in 10 kg containers; current prices for 316L, Inconel 718, AlSi10Mg and other alloys are in our metal powder catalog. Small machines use little powder: a test build on the A30 takes about 71 g of 316L.
- Argon. LPBF printers build in a protective atmosphere. The A50 and A100 use argon at under 2 L/min, so plan the gas supply together with the room.
- Power. The A30 and the 300 W versions of the A50 and A100 run from a 120 V single-phase supply. The A50-HT and A100-HT need 208 V three-phase on a 60 A circuit.
- Powder handling and safety. Metal powder needs powder-safe vacuums, sieving and suitable personal protective equipment.
- Post-processing. Most LPBF parts need support removal, stress relief heat treatment and surface finishing; see our post-processing equipment.
- Powder quality control. Labs that qualify their own powders measure particle size and shape, for example with Microtrac particle analysers.
- Installation and training. For AO Metal printers, installation and commissioning in the USA cover facility and gas planning, start-up and operator training by our US service team.
Buy a metal 3D printer or order printed parts?
If you need a few metal parts, ordering them is the faster start: metal 3D printing starts at $50 per order, most orders ship in about 5–8 business days, and you see the price instantly when you upload a part. See also what LPBF parts actually cost. A printer of your own pays off when you print every week, develop your own alloys and process parameters, or teach LPBF in a lab. To learn how the process works, read LPBF explained and our LPBF alloy selector.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a metal 3D printer cost?
At Additive Plus, metal 3D printers start at $59,000 for the benchtop AO Metal A30. The floor-standing AO Metal A50 and A100 start at $89,000 and $99,000, and industrial multi-laser, DED and wire-arc systems are quoted individually.
What is the cheapest metal 3D printer?
The most affordable metal 3D printer we offer is the AO Metal A30, a benchtop LPBF printer at $59,000 that runs on a 120 V single-phase supply.
Can you 3D print metal in a lab or small workshop?
Yes. The AO Metal A30 is a benchtop LPBF printer that runs from a 120 V single-phase supply. You still need argon, safe powder handling and personal protective equipment. The 3DCeram M.A.T. prints metal by extrusion, with no laser and no loose powder.
What are the running costs of a metal 3D printer?
The main running costs are metal powder, argon, powder handling, post-processing and maintenance. Powder is sold in 10 kg containers, a small build can use less than 100 g, and the A50 and A100 use argon at under 2 L/min.
Is there a yearly software fee?
Not for AO Metal printers: the AO Build Studio and AO Build Slicer licence is perpetual, with no yearly fee, and every process parameter is open.
Can I see the price of a metal 3D printer configuration online?
Yes. The AO Metal configurator shows the listed price as you choose the printer, laser, build plate, alloys and equipment, marks items priced per project as quoted, and plans the equipment in your room in 2D and 3D. We then reply with a formal quotation.
How long does it take to get a metal 3D printer?
The lead time for AO Metal printers is 8–14 weeks from order, and installation, start-up and operator training in the USA are provided by our US service team.
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