Resin 3D Printers: 9 Best Options

 

Resin printing machine. Image credit: Flickr 

In recent years, 3D printing technology has come a long way, and resin 3D printers are becoming increasingly popular among small and mid-market businesses. Moreover, they don’t include many movable parts, and the components, such as liquid crystal display (LCD) screens, find uses in daily life. 

Resin 3D printers are machines that hold a large tank of photosensitive liquid resin. The resin is then exposed to UV LED beams layer-by-layer to harden it into a plastic 3D figure. Some common types of resin 3D printers include stereolithography (SLA), LCD, masked stereolithography (MSLA), and digital light processing.

These printers use a UV-cured resin material to create highly detailed and accurate 3D objects, making them ideal for producing prototypes, small-scale production, and custom parts. In this article, we will review the best resin 3D printers available on the market for small and mid-market businesses as well as the best 3D printing software that you can use with your resin 3D printer.

Best Resin 3D Printers In 2023

1. Formlabs Form 3 

This high-quality resin 3D printer offers a large build volume, advanced print settings, and a user-friendly interface, making it a top choice for small and mid-market businesses. It also has a robust support network and a range of materials available for various applications.

One of the highlights of the Formlabs Form 3 is its custom-designed Light Processing Unit (LPU) that uses a combination of lenses and mirrors to repeatedly create accurate and detailed resin prints. It boasts 250mW laser power and a layer thickness between 25-300 μm.

Features

• Low Force Stereolithography (LFS) helps balance printing speed and detailing.
• One-Click Print automatically orients and creates a layout of your models to help print faster.
• The presence of integrated sensors helps in monitoring and maintaining conditions to ensure high-quality printing.
• Enables users to track individual printing usage and adjust the print queue as per requirements.

Pricing

The Formlabs Form 3 starts from $3750. Users can also request a free sample part from its website.

Pros

• Helps automatically adjust and create a layout for prints
• Higher printing speeds

Cons

• Only compatible with other Formlab 3D printers
• More expensive compared to similar resin 3D printers

2. Monoprice Mini Deluxe SLA

The Monoprice Mini Deluxe SLA is a budget-friendly resin 3D printer that offers high-resolution prints and a simple setup process. It also has a small footprint and a wide range of compatible materials, making it a great option for businesses with limited space and resources.

Its printing process is quite simple. All you need is good WiFi connectivity for your Monoprice Mini Deluxe SLA, and you are ready to print. 

Features

• The LCD helps cure several layers of UV-photosensitive resin as small as 35 microns.
• A parallel LED array helps distribute the curing UV light evenly, resulting in finer-quality prints.
• A magnetic built plate allows holding the printing plate to be steady, enabling the auto leveling system to be balanced and precise.
• With the Monoprice Mini Deluxe SLA printer, you can create multiple user profiles, which can be used for changing the curing time, lift height, and other parameters.

Pricing

The Monoprice Mini Deluxe SLA resin 3D printer is priced at $159.99.

Pros

• Compact and easy to use
• The printer has high precision

Cons

• Narrow print bed
• Software needs improvement

3. Elegoo Mars Pro

The Elegoo Mars Pro resin 3D printer is one of the best high-resolution models with a huge build volume printing ability, making it a top choice for businesses requiring extremely precise prints. It also has a user-friendly interface and a wide range of compatible materials, making it versatile and easy to use.

For those looking to buy a resin printer that can print large models or in bulk, the Elegoo Mars Pro is an ideal choice.

Features

• A 6.6-inch 4K monochrome LCD screen helps in better light transmission at a resolution of 4098X2560, enabling screen protection.
• An in-built active carbon filter helps automatically absorb and filter the resin odor and fumes.
• The free-form surface COB lens comprised of 36 highly integrated UV LED lights delivers an even beam of 405 nm wavelength with 92% uniformity for a smooth surface finish and fine details resin prints.
• The presence of copper heat tubes and cooling fan enables quick heat transfer and improved cooling efficiency.

Pricing

The Elegoo Mars Pro costs $299.99.

Pros

• The carbon filter helps reduce heat and pungent resin fumes
• Easy to setup and operate

Cons

• The UV LED light never switches off, leading to more power consumption
• At times, the printer stops working all of a sudden

4. Anycubic Photon S

The Anycubic Photos S is a popular resin printer due to its high-quality parts. It offers a massive build volume, fine details prints, and a user-friendly interface. It also has a wide range of compatible materials, allowing various applications. If you are searching for a good hobbyist resin 3D printer, then the Anycubic Photon S is the best option. It has a printing speed of 20mm/h.

Features

• Its in-built operating system supports offline printing and improves printing stability.
• An air filtration system consisting of dual ventilation fans and activated carbon filters helps reduce odor due to printing.
• The Z-axis dual linear rail ensures that your prints are of excellent quality and have a smooth finish.
• Matrix UV lighting and a 2k high-resolution screen help with improving prototype precision and uniform distribution of energy.

Pricing

The Anycubic Photos S printer has a price of $379.

Pros

• Easy to use and setup
• Can print great quality mini figures

Cons

• Limited features in the software 
• Slow customer service 

5. Phrozen Sonic Mini

Phrozen Sonic Mini is a compact resin 3D printer that prints detailed objects with speed and ease. After all, this mini 3D printer takes only 1 second to print one layer and only five minutes to set up. It also has a wide range of compatible materials, including Phrozen’s Aqua-Gray 4K and other 3rd party resins.

Further, the Phrozen Sonic Mini boasts a 2.8-inch screen, offline printing, and an LCD screen, making it suitable for home printing.

Features

• The presence of a monochrome LCD screen makes its print speed up to 4 times faster, at an average of 2 seconds per layer.
• Guarantees up to 2000 working hours and up to 3 months of free warranty.
• The printing data can easily be transferred to the printer using a USB flash drive.
• Owing to its small size and lightweight, the Phrozen Sonic Mini can be used both for personal and professional purposes.

Pricing

The Phrozen Sonic Mini resin 3D printer starts at $239. However, you can purchase add-ons such as a 3D printer resin, LCD frame tape, and printing film along with the printer.

Pros

• Best for those new to 3D printing
• Affordably priced

Cons

• Short lifespan
• At times, the printer does not recognize the USB flash drive 

6. Creality LD-002R

A business with a tight budget can choose to buy the Creality LD-002R resin 3D printer. It is well-known for its robust build quality and the components of its motion system – underpinned by a ball screw and single linear rail for the Z-axis. What’s more,  it uses an LCD screen to mask an image of a layer over UV rays.

Features

• The presence of anti-aliasing helps smoothen the rough edges around the 3D designs.
• The air filter contains a small amount of activated carbon that helps absorb resin fumes while printing.
• Quick leveling enables the automatic lowering of the print plate and aligning it to the level of the screen.
• A perforated print plate ensures that the prints stay intact and do not move from their position. 

Pricing

The Creality LD-002R is affordably priced at $109.

Pros

• Generates reliable and detailed objects
• Has a high print speed

Cons

• The printer is not not compatible with iOS systems
• Slow and unresponsive customer service 

7. FlashForge Hunter DLP

The FlashForge Hunter DLP resin printer is best suited for the jewelry and dental industry. This high-quality resin 3D printer has an ​​aluminum resin vat and FEP film, thus requiring less maintenance. Besides, it has a sturdy build platform – good for your print speed and post-process treatment. 

Features

• A unique LED light intensity mode creates a stably intensive light that produces 3D models with high accuracy and precision.
• A dual-core 800mHZ ARM processor ensures high performance and a better user experience.
• An industrial Z-axis LM guide actuator module of Hunter DLP enables the motion distance to travel till the micrometer level. This results in high surface quality.
• A strong DLP platform increases printing speed and ensures the surface is stable.

Pricing

The price of the FlashForge Hunter DLP ranges from $3999 to $4786.

Pros

• Simple and intuitive user interface 
• The printer can either be connected using WiFi, a USB cable, or a USB flash drive

Cons

• Its pricing may not be suited for small and medium-scale businesses
• Consumes a lot of energy 

8. XYZprinting Nobel 1.0A 

Based in Taiwan, XYZprinting Nobel 1.0A is a resin 3D printing company that uses SLA printing technology. It is also known for manufacturing the Da Vinci Color, a full-color 3D printer. Its high-end laser scanning system can reproduce the finest of details from your digital designs. 

Features

• With a resolution of 25 microns, no post-processing is required.
• The printer automatically detects the amount of ink in your resin tank and refills it. 
• Compatible with USB flash drive and USB 2.0 cable.
• Powerful algorithms help calculate the supports required for overhanging areas and add them to the 3D model.

Pricing

The XYZprinting Nobel 1.0A starts at $1099.

Pros

• Boasts higher laser strength and higher resolution compared to similar models
• Provides greater 3D printing accuracy

Cons

• Slicing software needs improvement
• At times, mini figures are not printed accurately

9. FLASHFORGE Dreamer

FLASHFORGE Dreamer is one of the finest filament printers that offers a large build volume, high-resolution prints, and a user-friendly interface. It has a built-in heat-controlling sensor that activates fans automatically and stabilizes the printing temperature crucial for ABS filament printing. 

Features

• A smart temperature controller feature helps automatically regulate the heating levels of the printer, producing high-quality prints.
• The dual extruding system makes the printer compatible with various filament printing.
• The build plate boasts a 6.5mm thick Aerospace-grade aluminum, increasing stability and sturdiness.
• A heatable build plate allows the printable model to stick firmly while printing, reducing the chances of model corner warping.

Pricing

The FLASHFORGE Dreamer has a price range between $449 and $610.

Pros

• Highly responsive customer service
• Since the printer is enclosed, it keeps the dust away and ensures consistent print quality

Cons

• The printer is costly compared to its size
• Users have encountered issues with connecting to the WiFi several times

What to Consider While Buying a Resin 3D Printer?

A man operating a resin 3D printer. Image source: Fickr

Before buying a resin 3D printer, here are some things to remember. 

i) Intended Use

While purchasing a resin printer, you need first to determine the purpose it will be used for. If you need to print decorative pieces or finished end-user products that are highly detailed, a resin 3D printer is the best course of action for you. 

In case you are looking to purchase a resin 3D printer solely for pursuing hobbies, the Anycubic Photon S is an excellent choice. On the other hand, if your project is business-related, particularly related to dentistry or jewelry design, or anything that requires a high degree of precision, the Flash Forge Hunter DLP is a suitable option.

ii) Build Volume

Another key aspect to remember while buying a resin 3D printer is its build volume. The larger your printer, the bigger will be your 3D models. At the same time, big resin 3D printers are costly, occupy a large amount of space, and require more 3D resin at a time.

Small resin 3D printers, on the other hand, boast high-resolution screens, have a higher pixel density, and are more detailed models. If you want a resin 3D printer that is compact yet delivers great-quality prints, the Monoprice Mini Deluxe SLA is a good buy.

iii) SLA Vs. MSLA

SLA stands for stereolithography, while MSLA stands for masked stereolithography. They are two of the most well-known resin 3D printing techniques. While SLA resin 3D printers use a laser beam as their UV light source, MSLA resin 3D printers apply an array of UV LEDs while printing. 

MSLA resin 3D printers are easier to use and less expensive than SLA 3D printer models. As a result, MSLA printers are commonly used in the consumer market, while SLA printers are used by those seeking finer and more detailed objects.

iv) Resolution

Most resin 3D printers have LCD resolutions of 4K, 6K, and 8K. The greater the resolution, the more the density of the pixels will be; therefore, the print resolution will be higher. Although the resolutions do not significantly differ from each other, models that are printed at a higher resolution are usually sharper and more accurate.

v) Mono Vs. RGB LCD

The LCD screens used in MSLA resin 3D printers either have a monochrome LCD with a single color filter or an RGB LCD with three color filters. Typically, a monochrome LCD is better than an RGB LCD printer since the former can transmit up to 6% UV light, leading to quicker resin curing times and a proactive design coating.

vi) Post-Processing Requirements

Once you have printed your 3D model, the post-processing stage occurs, where the excess resin is washed away to provide a clean printing surface. 

Although expensive, resin 3D printers with a post-processing tool are better than those that don’t have one, as it can get difficult and messy to clean a 3D printer on your own, resulting in poor-quality print models.

Best Software for Creating 3D Models for Resin 3D Printing

There are a lot of software available that you can use with your resin 3D printers, and each has its advantages and disadvantages. For beginners who have never tried 3D designing software before, we recommend using SelfCAD as it is easy to use, and you don’t need to have previous experience in 3D modeling to use the software. It comes with interesting tools like freehand sketching and drawing, image to 3D feature, and many other modification tools like bevel, bend, fillet, and round object tools, as well as extrusion that allows you to add more details to your designs.

SelfCAD also has an online 3D slicer that you can use to slice your models to make them printable. You can also use it to convert STL to gcode with just a few clicks. It is also compatible with most resin and FDM 3D printers. So if you are looking for 3D printing software for your small or mid-market businesses, you should consider using SelfCAD. 

Conclusion

Overall, there are many great options for resin 3D printers for your small or mid-market business. Whether you are looking for a high-resolution printer with a large build volume or a more affordable option, a resin printer on this list will meet your needs. 

FAQs

1. What are 3D resin printers?

A resin 3D printer is an appliance that holds a tub of photosensitive resin in liquid form and exposes it to UV LED light beams to harden the resin into a plastic 3D model.

 

2. What factors need to be kept in mind while selecting a resin 3D printer?

There are various things you should know before buying a resin 3D printer. These include its intended use, budget, SLA vs. MSLA technology, resolution, build volume, mono vs. RGB LCD, and post-processing requirements.

3. Why are resin 3D printers so popular?

Resin 3D printers are in demand owing to their affordable pricing, ease of use, and few moving parts. You can also find parts used in resin printers in daily life, such as LCD screens.

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