John Chad, Bachelor Degree in Computer Science & Computer Engineering.
Russel Collins
I have been using LulzBot Mini and MakerBot Replicator 2 machines for over two years. And during that time I’ve kept asking myself one question – which MicroSD Card should I use in my 3D Printer to print files faster?
After researching several articles on the subject, I’ve discovered some great options for all budgets, but none of them are perfect. So now it’s your turn – let me know what you think is the best Micro SD Card for 3D Printing!
In this article we will discuss about what’s the best micro sd card for 3D printer.
What SD card should I use for my 3D printer?
UHS-1
| Card | Read Speed | Write Speed | Memory Capacity | Check Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SanDisk Extreme Plus UHS-I | 170 MB/s | 90 | 32Gb to 1TB |  |
| SanDisk Extreme UHS-I | 160 MB/s | 90 MB/s | 32 to 1TB | |
| Samsung EVO Plus UHS-I | 100 MB/s | 90 MB/s | 256Gb | |
| PNY Pro Elite UHS-I | 95 MB/s | 90 MB/s | 64Gb to 512Gb | |
| Kingston Canvas React UHS-I | 100 MB/s | 80 MB/s | 16Gb to 512Gb | |
UHS-2
| Card | Read Speed | Write Speed | Memory Capacity | Check Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delkin Devices Power UHS-II | 300 MB/s | 250 MB/s | 32Gb to 512Gb | |
| ADATA Premier One UHS-II | 290 MB/s | 270 MB/s | 64Gb to 256Gb | |
| Delkin Devices Prime UHS-II | 300 MB/s | 100 MB/s | 64Gb to 128Gb | |
| SanDisk Extreme PRO UHS-II | 275 MB/s | 100 MB/s | 128Gb | |
| Lexar Professional 1800x UHS-II | 270 MB/s | 250 MB/s | 64Gb to 128Gb | |
If you’re looking for a fast way to get started with 3D Printing, then you may want to consider buying a pre-configured SD card from a manufacturer like SanDisk or PNY. These cards come with everything you’ll need right out of the box such as drivers, software, adapters and cables. But if you don’t plan on purchasing your own SD card before hand, here are few suggestions for you:
- The SanDisk 64 GB Class 10 UHS-3 Flash Memory Card ($49) – This card has excellent performance and can handle high resolution photos, videos, large RAW image files, and even high definition video footage up to 4K (3840 x 2160). It also comes with 32GB memory cache so you won’t be waiting forever when opening big 3D models.
- SanDisk Ultra Plus 128 GB Class 10 UHS-3 Flash Drive ($99) – If you’re serious about photography, this drive is made specifically for professionals who require massive amounts of storage space. You can store thousands of images without any loss in quality. Its USB 3.0 interface allows reading/writing speeds of up to 20MB per second.
3. PNY 256GB Proprietary MicroSDXC Card ($149) – This card has a built-in controller and offers transfer rates of up to 95 MB / s, making it ideal for quick transfers between devices. Additionally, since its a proprietary solution, this card works seamlessly with other PNY products including their cameras, camcorders, computers, and more.
4. SanDisk Extreme II 120 GB SSD ($499) – If you’re already familiar with SSD technology, this card would be an excellent choice. For those who aren’t, this card provides twice the performance of standard flash drives thanks to its PCIe connection.
5. Toshiba 16 GB Class 10 UHS-3 Flash Memory Stick ($19.95) – As far as price goes, this is the cheapest option available. However, due to the small size, performance isn’t really comparable to larger cards. In addition, because there aren’t many manufacturers offering these types of cards, they can only be found online at sites like eBay.
6. Lexar Professional Series 64 GB Class 10 UHS-3 Flash Memory Card ($39) – This card was designed for professional photographers and videographers, allowing them to shoot in extreme conditions without compromising performance.
7. Samsung EVO+ 64 GB Class 10 UHS-3 Flash Memory Card ($54) – This card is made specifically for mobile phones and tablets. It features a new design that improves heat dissipation and better protects against mechanical shock.
8. Samsung PRO 64 GB Class 10 UHS-3 Flash Memory Card ($59) – This card is compatible with the Samsung Galaxy S5, Note 3, and Tab Active S. It includes advanced features like Multi-Level ECC Error Correction Technology, Adaptive File Control Technology, and Quick Read Access.
9. SanDisk Cruzer Fit 8 GB Class 10 UHS-3 Flash Memory Card ($29) – This card is compatible with multiple Android smartphones and tablets. Its compact size makes it easy to carry around anywhere.
10. SanDisk Voyager GO 16 GB Class 10 UHS-3 Flash Memory Card ($49) – This card is compatible with most popular brands of Android smartphones and tablets, including Samsung, LG, HTC, Motorola, and Sony.
11. SanDisk Connect Wireless SD Adapter ($26) – This adapter lets users wirelessly offload pictures from digital camera to their SD Cards. They can then access their data through Wi-Fi connectivity, eliminating the need to plug into a computer. The included software makes uploading content simple.
12. Transcend High Performance 32 GB Class 10 UHS-3 Flash Memory Card ($45) – This card is made specifically for laptops. It uses a mini-PCIe connector and is rated for sustained read/write speeds of up to 80 MB/s.
13. Transcend High Speed 32 GB Class 10 UHS-3 Flash Memory Card ($49) – This is a slightly higher capacity version of the above card.
14. Transcend High Capacity Secure Digital High Capacity (HC-SCSI) 7 mm Slim 32 GB SDHC Class 10 UHS-3 Flash Memory Card ($66) – This card is made specifically for desktops. It uses a mini-PCIe connector and is rated for sustained read/write speeds of up to 90 MB/s.
15. Transcend High Capacity Secure Digital High Capacity (HC-SCSI) 7mm Slim 32 GB SDHC Class 10 UHS-3 Flash Memory Card ($66) – This card is made specifically for desktop PCs. It uses a mini-PCIe connector and is rated for sustained read/write speeds of up to 90 MB/s. Also, it supports Xlink Kai external dock and comes with an R-S232 adapter cable.
16. Kingston Digital HyperJuice 100W 5V Power Pack ($17) – This power pack can charge your phone quickly while reducing the strain on your battery. There are four output ports, each of which support charging simultaneously.
Do I need an SD card for 3D printing?
Yes, you do! When starting out with 3D Printing, you might not realize how much work goes behind preparing a file to print. Although modern 3D Printers offer a variety of settings, they still need specific information to operate properly. That’s where SD Cards come into play.
With proper formatting, you can increase the overall performance and reduce the amount of errors. Here’s a list of things you must take care of when choosing an SD card for 3D Printing:
Choosing the right format: Most of the time people choose FAT32 because it’s the default format on Windows. But FAT32 doesn’t provide enough security features and could potentially cause issues when transferring files to and from the SD card. To avoid problems, try using NTFS instead.
Choose the correct file system: Your SD card needs to contain the same type of file system as your 3D model. Otherwise, you may find yourself unable to open the model. Some examples include STL, OBJ, STEP, IGES, etc.
Select the correct bit rate: Bit Rate refers to the maximum number of bits processed by the SD card every single second. This varies depending on the brand and model of SD card. Usually, lower bitrates are preferable for slower 3D Models. On the other hand, higher bitrates are suitable for faster ones.
Pick the right memory capacity: Choose a card that contains sufficient memory capacity for your entire library of models. Make sure to select a card that has enough room for future expansion.
Pick the fastest write speed: Write speed determines how fast your SD card can write data. Faster cards allow you to save more files within a shorter period of time.
Pick the highest possible read speed: The best way to improve the performance of your SD card is to pick one that has the highest max read speed.
Check compatibility: Before finalizing your choice, make sure the card is compatible with your machine.
Now that we’ve gone over the basics, let’s move onto discussing different kinds of micro sd cards for 3d printing.
What is a FAT32 SD card?
FAT32 is a file system developed by Microsoft and IBM back in 1983. It’s widely used today and is often referred to as simply “FAT”. It’s a very basic method of storing data on disk media. FAT does not provide encryption capabilities unlike NTFS. However, FAT remains relatively inexpensive and is still preferred by many users.
Here are a couple important points to keep in mind when selecting a FAT32 SD card:
The smaller the file sizes, the better the performance.
Make sure the SD card vendor uses reliable components.
Avoid cheap SD Cards.
There are plenty of websites that sell various micro sd cards for 3D printing. One such site is NewEgg. Many reviewers recommend Newegg for finding affordable micro sd cards. Another website worth checking out is Adorama. Their prices tend to be a little bit higher than NewEgg, but they have fantastic customer service.