A while back this was requested by a user on the Terraria Forums. Figured I might as well post my response here too since it's a handy resource for a first playthrough as Artificer.

This 'guide' will list all 10 armor sets added, how to get them, and - if applicable - anything of note about the armor as a whole (I.e. set bonus effects):

1: Ornate - Early-game set, but tedious to craft; made from Silver/Tungsten, Gold/Platinum, and gems (Emerald, Ruby, Diamond).

2: Starplate - Mid Pre-Hardmode set that is post EoW/BoC; crafted from Sunplate Blocks and Meteorite. Set bonus cycles between small offense and mobility boosts at day, and small defense and survival boosts at night.

3: Tech - Late Pre-Hardmode set bought from the Goblin Tinkerer while the Mechanic is present (This makes it Post-Skeletron). Set bonus grants extra ability cooldown reductions.

4a: Radiant - Early Hardmode set made from Pearlstone, Crystal Shards, and Peralwood Armor. It leans towards offense, with a set bonus that can boost a selected damage type for you and allies.

4b: Tarnished - Another early Hardmode set made from Souls of Night, Purification Powder, and 'Possessed Armor'; a new vanity set dropped by enemies of the same name. It leans towards defense, as its set bonus will provide you with an occasional revive effect that can save you from death.

5: Mechanical - Post-Mechs set made from Hallowed Bars and the Mechs' souls (Might/Fright/Sight). Set bonus grants extra ability cooldown reductions & allows attacks to sometimes shock enemies, slightly weakening them against players with the Mechanical set.

6: Champion's - Post-Plantera set sold by the Princess. Set bonus will grant extra damage or suitability based on your HP (Offense above 50%, defense below 50%)

7a: Lihzahrd - Post-Golem set made from Lihzahrd Brick, Solar Tablet Fragments, and a Lihzahrd Power Cell. It leans towards offense, with a set bonus that causes a retaliatory attack upon taking damage.

7b: Xeno - Another Post-Golem set made from Martian Conduit Plating and 'Martian Scrap', a new material dropped by Martian Saucers. It leans towards defense, as its set bonus grants a rechargeable energy shield effect that can absorb damage (Basically Halo shields).

8: Nova - End-game set that is the Artificer's counterpart to the Lunar armor sets. Made from Luminite bars and 'Nova Fragments', which are new Lunar Fragments dropped in lesser quantities by all Lunar Pillars (Akin to how the Thorium mod manages its new Fragment drops). Its set bonus grants an extra reduction to ability cooldowns, and also causes you to gain extra damage and DR while on cooldown.