This 3D printer has been a blessing for making D&D and Warhammer models quickly

In a world where many 3D printers look and act the same way, the FLSUN T1 stands out. It feels like a futuristic replicator or engine gizmo, the kind you'd find powering a spaceship in Star Wars; it's tall in a sharp, angular way, with the inner workings hidden within a glass box. Meanwhile, the extruder seems to come alive when you set off a print. It's attached to spindly arms that throw it back and forth mid-project, bringing to mind one of those squid-bots from the Matrix.

None of this has any bearing on how well it works, of course. But I mention it because I haven't forgotten about the FLSUN T1 in all the months since I started testing it – despite having worked with numerous machines over the past year. Happily, its prints are good enough to justify that staying power. No matter whether you want to print cosplay props, larger collectibles, terrain, or simple dungeon tiles for the best tabletop RPGs, this won't let you down.

FLSUN T1 features & design

• Prides itself on getting prints done fast
• Absurd 1,000mm/s max speed
• Taller, enclosed design

Besides a surprisingly large printing area thanks to a very high Y axis, the FLSUN T1's primary selling points are its speed, temperature regulation, and smart features. For the former, this thing can hit up to a blistering 1,000mm/s. That's phenomenal, and far quicker than you'll find from a lot of other machines at this price range. Anycubic's Kobra 3 V2 can only reach up to 600mm/s, for example.

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Next, it boasts 2.75 times faster filament melting due to a hot end that can reach 300℃, not to mention a toasty chamber temperature of up to 50℃. When you add a 1080p camera for keeping an eye on your projects, not to mention an "optimized input shaping algorithm" to minimize issues caused by vibrations, the FLSUN T1 has plenty of feathers in its cap.

As for design, this is a contained unit in the vein of the Elegoo Centauri series, the Creality K1 range, or the Anycubic Kobra S1. In other words, it's not the untidy sort of 3D printer that looks as though it's missing a shell to expose the guts within. This is capped off with a classy sci-fi art-style that's all black and white dots with mood-setting strip-lighting. I love how it looks.

Just be aware that this thing is tall. If you're pushed for space, you'll struggle to cram it into your workspace. It's by far the tallest 'regular' printer (e.g, not something absurdly massive like the Elegoo Orangestorm Giga) I've used, so keep that in mind if you're considering the T1.

Performance

• Incredibly quick, with good results
• Narrow design allows it to fit into most spaces
• Can be noisy

I'm lucky enough to use a lot of 3D printers when reviewing the best collectibles and tech, so my usual benchmarks include everything from D&D ruins to a prop boltgun from Warhammer 40,000. The FLSUN T1 aced every single challenge I threw at it. The high Y axis means you'll be able to fit more than you might expect on the build plate, too – vertically, at least.

As that would suggest, this machine is incredibly reliable. I never encountered a project it couldn't do.

The results were always excellent, too. I love Warhammer, so enjoy printing bespoke terrain that'll jazz things up on the tabletop, and while I used resin to produce my oil rig-style layout, I thought it'd be interesting to see how the T1 managed with the same prints. To my surprise, it aced the task with surprisingly intricate, crisp detail – to the point I regret using the fragile and finicky resin to begin with. Sure, it's not as high-def as a resin print; you can tell the difference up close. But when everything is painted, that difference becomes negligible.

So, how about that much-vaunted speed? I can confirm that the T1 is incredibly nippy.

The downside? Like the Elegoo Centauri Carbon, this is a noisy old beast. When it gets going, you'll know about it. As such, I'd recommend operating the T1 in your basement or garage if that's an option… or at the very least, not in a home office where you work on the regular.

Still, that reliability and the high Y-axis (which means it excels as a machine for collectibles like prop swords, guns, and the like) are enough to excuse any quibbles over noise. If that's the only negative, I'll take it.

Should you buy the FLSUN T1?

Looking to make larger props, or models at speed? This is a great choice. It's also a very reliable machine for newcomers and 3D printing veterans alike. While you aren't getting the versatility of multi-color options and it won't work if you want to create truly massive projects in one go, the FLSUN T1 will do anything else you throw at it.

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How we tested the FLSUN T1

I tested the FLSUN T1 over a matter of weeks with a variety of different print projects, ranging from the standard Benchy model to more intricate terrain for use in tabletop wargaming. For fairness, I always try to print the same (or very similar) models between machines so I can directly compare the results – and these almost always have a practical use rather than being generic nick-nacks (e.g. dungeon tiles I'll actually use in D&D, or painting handles for Warhammer).

For more on our process, don't miss this guide to how he test hardware at GamesRadar+ or the site's overall review policy.