From a 3D Printing Service Provider With Hands-On Equipment Leasing Experience
We run a precision manufacturing factory with over a decade of hands-on experience in 3D printing and CNC precision machining. Over the years, we’ve invested in 3D printers from a wide range of brands — most notably SLM metal systems.
High-end metal 3D printers can easily run north of $200,000 apiece, so we’ve always used equipment leasing and financing to acquire them and preserve working capital. Put simply, we know the ins and outs of leasing 3D printers — used units included.
Of course, this doesn’t apply to lower-cost used 3D printers. Entry-level desktop FDM printers, for example, can be picked up used for just a few hundreds of dollars — cheap enough to buy outright with zero financial strain.
But when you step up to higher-cost systems — SLM metal printers, large-format industrial SLA machines, high-performance nylon printers, and the like — even used units with years of runtime can cost anywhere from roughly $14,000 to upwards of $100,000. For investments of that size, leasing is almost always a far better option than buying outright.
Leasing doesn’t just help you control upfront costs — in some structured lease-to-own arrangements, you can gain ownership of the machine with no additional purchase fee once you fulfill the contract terms.
There are two common lease-to-own models for used 3D printers on the market:
1. Material-Linked Lease-to-Own
You lease the machine from a supplier, and commit to purchasing all your printing materials exclusively from them. If you stick with this agreement for three full years, the machine is yours at no extra cost.
Suppliers that offer this model typically guarantee consistent material quality, and their pricing stays competitive with open market rates. For the supplier, giving away the machine is a sound business decision — they’ll earn healthy, recurring margins from the multi-year material supply contract.
2. Fixed-Payment Lease-to-Own
Some equipment providers lease machines directly for a set monthly fee. Once your cumulative payments reach a preagreed threshold, full ownership of the machine transfers to you immediately.
It’s essentially a structured installment plan for a used machine. Total payments almost always cover the full cost of the unit, and since the machine already has substantial operating hours on it, its remaining useful life is limited — making it a mutually beneficial arrangement for the lessor as well.
About Our Guidance
A quick clarifying note:
Our core business is metal 3D printing services. We do not sell 3D printers as a primary line of business — we do occasionally have used machines available for sale, but this is not a core focus of our operations.
We’re happy to provide free guidance to peers and industry professionals looking to purchase used 3D printers. Our only hope? That down the line, when you need metal 3D printing services, you’ll keep us in mind and reach out to partner with us.
Note:
This article is written by our in-house engineering team with practical experience operating SLM metal 3D printing equipment.