The Most Common Motion Systems in 3D Printers

Cartesian
Found in printers like the Ender 3 or the Kobra series.
In this system, each axis moves independently from the others.
Typically, the bed moves on the Y-axis, while the hotend moves on the Z-axis.

Delta
Seen in printers like Anycubic Delta models.
It uses three arms connected to the hotend, with motion transmitted through belts and wires.
Its main advantage is reaching very high speeds while maintaining good quality.
The bed is fixed and does not move, making it ideal for printing tall parts.

CoreXY
This system is a bit more complex, as it links the X and Y axes together—hence the name.
The bed moves on the Z-axis (up and down), while the hotend remains fixed on the same plane.

There are more motion systems out there—if you’d like us to cover them, let us know in the comments!