Right around this time of year is when all of the Black Friday and holiday shopping deals start dropping. You can usually make an educated guess on prices, which promise to be lower than ever. But the problem is it’s a mad rush and I often find myself wishing I had a heads up for what was coming. No, I don’t necessarily think the solution is to create an entire month of shopping deals, or three months leading up to Christmas, for that matter. However, it is nice to see deals so you can shop a little early for the big stuff, or at least plan ahead. That’s what’s happening with Elegoo and its excellent selection of 3D printers. From earlier this month on, you can save big on some of its best models. I’ll dig into why you might want a 3D printer in your home, or why you might want to gift one, but first, those deals.

• Centauri Carbon — $280, was $413
• Neptune 4 Plus — $280, was $425
• Saturn 4 Ultra 16K — $420, was $624

While it’s not yet live, at least not completely, you can expect to save up to 53% off Elegoo’s 3D printer models for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. If you’ve been wanting a reliable printer, with some great features at an accessible price, now’s a good time as any to take a look.

Why would you want a 3D printer and why do they make great gifts?

Provided you have the filament or materials you can make virtually anything with a 3D printer. Imagine creating custom phone cases, useful knick-knacks like phone stands or holders, replacing broken or failing parts in existing gear, or even creating objects to sell on places like Etsy.

They do take a few hours to print. Print time depends on which 3D printer model you have, the complexity of the designs and the materials you select. For the most part, you can have something made within a few hours to a day or two. It’s also pretty easy to set up. You can use 3D printing blueprints, essentially image files, with options downloadable from a few places like Printables, Thingiverse, and more. Some are premium designs, available for a fee, while others are free to download and use.

3D printers are a fantastic piece of equipment to have handy. They’re ready to fire up when you need to make something or you’re feeling the creative itch. They also make wonderful presents for friends and family. Yes, they can be expensive for high-end machines, but most of Elegoo’s lineup is accessible and reasonably priced. Not to mention, Elegoo’s machines have been given many awards. The Centauri Carbon, currently on sale, is one of the most awarded FDM 3D printers out there, for example. Don’t forget to stock up on filaments or resins, or else you won’t be able to use that shiny machine for much.