Diamond Member Pelican Press 0 Posted March 31 Diamond Member Share Posted March 31 Best Resin 3D Printers 2024 As 3D printing continues to become cheaper and more accessible, resin 3D printers have become a popular choice for anyone interested in making highly-detailed models that wouldn’t be feasible using a filament-fed, FDM 3D printer. These MSLA (Masked Stereolithography) resin 3D printers typically have a single axis of motion, and this simple mechanical system means these machines can regularly be found for less than $300. With so many models on the market, we’ve made this list to help you find the best resin 3D printer for you. The best resin 3D printers are capable of making high-resolution models by curing a liquid resin using a UV light source. This MSLA process uses a masking LCD to selectively block the UV light on a pixel-by-pixel basis, allowing these printers to create models that have a resolution of down to .035mm on the XY axes. This high resolution comes at a price, as parts made on a resin 3D printer require post-processing after printing, and UV resin requires caution when handling. Because resin requires gloves and a mask to handle, we recommend beginners or anyone with young kids consider one of the FDM (fusion ******** modeling) printers on our overall Best 3D Printers page. Additionally, we have our Best Budget 3D Printers list if you are looking for more affordable options. To see our speed testing benchmark results and rankings of the top FDM models available, check out our 3D Printer Speed Hierarchy page. Quick List Best Overall Best Resin 3D Printer Overall This is an impressive high-speed SLA printer that produces excellent 4K+ print quality. It’s easy to use, compact, and can easily be stored away when not in use. It sports a wider build plate compared to other mid-range resin printers, which allows for printing ******* tabletop models. Read more below For Print Farms 2. Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K S Best Resin for Print Farms Great for anyone looking to upsize their resin experience or produce resin prints at a commercial scale. This machine excels as a “large” format printer, with a build volume that rivals standard FDM 3D printers. Read more below Best High-Res 3. Anycubic Photon Mono M5s Best High-Resolution 3D Printer At This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up , this 12K resin machine prints with a remarkable level of detail and generous build volume. Paired with a special high-speed custom resin, it is capable of reaching an average print speed of 105 mm/hour, saving you so much time when printing multiple projects. Read more below For Beginners 4. Anycubic Photon Mono 2 Best Resin 3D Printer for Beginners This printer was made specifically with first-time resin users in mind. It delivers quality 4K prints with a smaller sized vat and a petite footprint that requires minimal space. It comes with an extra large screen protector for the LED glass, which covers the glass and the slight gap around it. This makes keeping the printer clean super easy. On ***** for This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up at This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up . Read more below Best Splurge 5. Phrozen Sonic Mighty 8K Best Splurge Resin 3D Printer This resin printer is so ***** simple to use that a beginner will have no trouble with it. It’s midsize for a resin printer without being awkward to operate and has a build volume closer to what we see in FDM printers. Best of all, it delivers on its promise of high-res quality. Read more below Super-Large Format Best Super-Large Format Resin 3D Printer If you are looking for a sturdy large format resin printer that is priced much more reasonably than many of its competitors with similar build volumes, such as the Peopoly Phenom which goes for around $2,000, then this is the printer for you. Features include automatic resin feeder and built-in flood lighting. Read more below Large Format 7. Anycubic Photon M3 Premium Best Large Format Resin 3D Printer This workhorse resin MSLA 3D printer is designed to offer uncompromising performance for serious hobbyists and small-volume part production. It is ideal for anyone looking for large build volume, high resolution, or just ********-free resin printing. Read more below Best Resin 3D Printers in 2024 Why you can trust Tom’s Hardware Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test. Best Resin 3D Printer Overall (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Best Resin 3D Printer Overall Specifications Technology: Resin Build Volume: 163 x 102 x 180mm LCD Resolution: 4098 x 2560 LCD Size: 7.6-inch XY Axis Resolution: .04mm Connectivity: USB Reasons to buy + Detailed 4K+ prints + Fast 2 second per layer exposure time + Effortless print removal + Roomy build volume for a small printer Reasons to avoid – 4-bolt leveling platform The Anycubic Photon M3 is the best all around resin 3D printer we’ve reviewed. It produces crisp details with 4K+ quality that rivals more expensive machines and has a wide build plate allowing it to make larger models than competitors in its class. A sample print of a unicorn was extremely detailed, with the ridges on its ***** and its mane appearing really sharp and free from layer lines. It was also a full 180mm tall and printed in 10 hours. The etched build plate works really well at holding models tight during printing, but also allows for easy removal when they’re done. The metal vat has a convenient pour spout, and Anycubic includes a screen protector for the LED light source to prevent accidental drips from ruining your printer. Retailing for $299 at press time, the Anycubic Photon M3 is a reasonable purchase for a beginner or an advanced maker wanting to add to their fleet. You may find it hard to find the M3 on ***** in other major retailers, but it is still available at This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up — that’s $100 savings. More: Anycubic Photon M3 Review Best Resin for Print Farms (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Best Resin for Print Farms Specifications Technology: MSLA Build Volume: 330 x 185 x 300 mm LCD Resolution: 8K LCD Size: 15 inches XY Resolution: 43 microns Interface: 3.5-inch Touch Panel Connectivity: USB Reasons to buy + Tilt Lid + Factory Leveled + Factory installed screen protector + Easy menu navigation Reasons to avoid – Expensive – Mammoth sized footprint The Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K S is a huge resin 3D printer with a 15-inch light source and a build volume that rivals those of traditional FDM printers. It’s easy enough that a beginner can operate it, with a simple-to-navigate menu and a perfect build plate that releases models with ease. Retailing at $1,579, the Sonic Mega 8K S is a pricey machine that could make good business sense for print farms that produce massive models or tons of smaller figures. You can find it on ***** at This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up and at This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up for $80 less than MSRP. Also available at This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up with an even ******* discount of $180 when you use the 15% coupon (at This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up ). 8K resolution may no longer sound impressive, but those 43-micron pixels are the size of a human hair. When prints made with a 12K machine are put side-by-side, it’s not far off, and the difference is barely detectable by the human eye. The Sonic Mega 8K S is an overhaul of the previous Mega 8K. The most notable improvements are the hinged, tilt-back lid and the ability to hang the build plate at an angle for drainage, both things I’d love to see on a regular-sized resin printer. Phrozen has a number of optional accessories to make the Sonic Mega 8Ks exceptionally easy to use: a 24 liter (6 gallons) wash unit, a curing station the size of a microwave, and a pump to keep your vat perpetually full. More: Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K S Review Best High-Resolution 3D Printer (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Best High-Resolution 3D Printer Specifications Technology: Resin Build Volume: 218 x 123 x 200 mm LCD Resolution: 12K LCD Size: 10.1-inch Monochrome XY Resolution: 19×24 microns Interface: 4.3-inch Touch Panel Connectivity: USB Type A 2.0 Reasons to buy + Eye-popping 12K prints + Auto leveling + High speed printing + Smart sensors Reasons to avoid – Release film has short life span – Specialty resin is pricey With its mind-blowing 12K resolution, the Anycubic Photon Mono M5s is best for printing tabletop models and miniatures that require attention to the most minute details. So, if you are looking to make high-quality prints for your hobby or business, then this printer is worth your consideration. The Photon Mono M5s is the first resin printer that we’ve tested that does not require manual calibration. Anycubic has packed the Mono M5s with smart features like auto-leveling and monitoring capabilities to inform you of resin levels; print fails, etc. These amenities do come at a cost but provide a much-needed convenience that we appreciate. We tested the This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up using Anycubic’s custom high-speed resin versus other resins with various settings and came up with interesting results. Resin Settings (layer height, etc) Time to completion Quality (your subjective view of the output) Anycubic High Speed Resin .1 mm layer, fast mode 50 min, 21 sec Average quality, little detail, soft looking, looks like a 2K print Anycubic High Speed Resin .05 mm layer, fast mode 1 hour, 31 min, 27 sec Good quality, some detail, looks like a 4K print Anycubic HD Resin .05 mm layer, fast profile 2 hours, 35 minutes, 37 sec Excellent quality, Fine detail Anycubic HD Resin .05 mm layer, normal mode 4 hours, 59 min, 45 sec Excellent quality, extra fine detail Inland Blue Standard Resin .05 mm layer, normal mode 4 hours, 59 min, 45 sec Good quality, easily over cured, details lost due to low contrast ****** Anycubic Water Washable Resin .05 mm layer, normal mode 4 hours, 59 min, 45 sec Excellent quality, Fine detail, not as crisp as HD resin The Anycubic HD resin produced a better quality output compared to its custom high-speed resin. But there is definitely more room for experimentation, depending on the size of your model or project (if you are doing multiple prints) and cost restrictions. The Anycubic Photon Mono M5s launched with a $539 MSRP, but is currently available for This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up at Walmart and at the Anycubic store. You can also get it at This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up at an even better deal of This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up . More: Anycubic Photon Mono M5s Review Best Resin 3D Printer for Beginners (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Best Resin 3D Printer for Beginners Specifications Technology: Resin Build Volume: 165 x 89 x 143 mm LCD Resolution: 4096 x 2560 LCD Size: 6.6-inch Monochrome XY Axis Resolution: 34 microns Connectivity: USB Type A 2.0 Reasons to buy + Detailed 4K prints + Fast setup + Effortless print removal + Easy to navigate menus + Generous anti-scratch film to protect the glass Reasons to avoid – Slippery feet on the base – Lightweight and cheap feel As the successor to Anycubic’s Photon Mono 4K, the Mono 2 does not disappoint. It’s fast, and makes 4K resin printing look easy. Our test prints of the Fotis Mint’s Boba Fett Bust, MZ4250’s Fighters, and Succubus turned out clean results with clear, well-defined details, even for the smaller models. It’s compact and lightweight, so it won’t take up a lot of space and can easily be stored away. It’s shipped mostly assembled, which makes setup a snap as well. Although it is identical to the Mono 4K in size, it has a 20% larger build volume allowing you more flexibility for ******* print projects. If you’ve ever wanted to try doing SLA printing, the Photon Mono 2 is a great entry-level machine for you to start. It launched at $230 and is on ***** directly from the Anycubic store for This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up . Currently available at an even more affordable price of This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up at This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up and Walmart. You can’t get any better deal than that. More: Anycubic Photon Mono 2 Review Best High-End Resin 3D Printer (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Best Splurge Resin 3D Printer Specifications Technology: MSLA Build Volume: 218 x 123 x 235 mm LCD Screen: 10-inch Monochrome LCD Resolution: 7680 X 4320 XY Axis Resolution: 0.028 mm Connectivity: USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi Reasons to buy + Large build volume + Effortless print removal + Wi-Fi Reasons to avoid – Ships with a non-functional camera – Expensive If you’re ready to throw some serious cash down for a decent-sized resin 3D printer with quality that will knock your socks off, the Phrozen Sonic Mighty 8K is here for you. Its roomy 218 x 123 mm build plate can accommodate an army of gaming miniatures or a gift-worthy superhero statue. Priced at around $899 at press time, this printer isn’t cheap. But in return for the premium, you get crispy details, prints that practically slide off the build plate, a built-in webcam and a machine that’s WiFi ready. We enjoyed navigating through the Mighty 8K’s menus, thanks to its large and easy-to-use touch screen display. There’s little need to consult the manual – the printer walks you through an onboard tutorial to handle leveling and your first test print. Want to rerun a test file at a different exposure? No problem – the Sonic Mighty 8k will let you change exposure settings and more right inside the printer. I found this extremely helpful while dialing in a new resin. The Phrozen Sonic Mighty 8K size is closer to what we see in FDM printers, without being so large that it dominates your workshop. The quality and extra wiggle room would be a worthwhile investment for someone running an Esty shop or an artist wanting to showcase their work. We were able to print 12 very-detailed gaming figures at once and the process only took 4 hours and 2 minutes. Our only issue with this machine was the camera, which was released for review before it was functional. There’s no set date on when the camera firmware will be ready, but it promises the ability to monitor prints as well as create time lapses. The Sonic Mighty 8K is on ***** at This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up for This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up . For a more affordable 8K resin option, consider the Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K S which still offers amazing print detail and now compatible with all the popular 3rd party slicers but is only This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up . That’s nearly half the cost of the Mighty 8K. More: Phrozen Sonic Mighty 8K Review Best Super-Large Format Resin 3D Printer (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Best Super-Large Format Resin 3D Printer Specifications Technology: MSLA Build Volume: 277.8 x 156.3 x 300 mm LCD Resolution: 5448 x 3064 LCD Size: 12.8-inch XY Axis Resolution: .05mm Connectivity: USB Reasons to buy + Huge build volume + Easy leveling + Automatic resin feeder + Great build quality Reasons to avoid – Competitors have higher resolution – Not available yet Elegoo’s Jupiter printer offers a combination of great quality and a huge build volume. And, despite its $1,300 price, the Jupiter is actually a great deal for its size, given that competitors cost closer to $1,000. Where the $499 Saturn provides a 192mm x 120mm x 200mm volume, the Jupiter provides a ton more, going all the way to 277.8mm x 156.3mm x 300mm. And the print quality is pretty good as we found when outputting a detailed model of the Notre Dame Cathedral. We also love the Jupiter’s sturdy, all-metal chassis, which makes it feel like a premium product worthy of its premium price. We found the touch screen interface easy to navigate and the leveling process relatively painless. With over $400 off, Jupiter is still available through Elegoo’s store for This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up . Alternatively, you can get the Elegoo Jupiter SE model for just This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up at This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up . More: Elegoo Jupiter Review Best Large Format Resin 3D Printer Models by This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up and This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Best Large Format Resin 3D Printer Specifications Technology: MSLA Build Volume: 219 x 123 x 250 mm LCD Resolution: 7680 x 4320 (8K) LCD Size: 10-inch XY Axis Resolution: .0285mm Connectivity: USB Reasons to buy + Stylish industrial design + 8K LCD resolution and .0285mm XY resolution + Large build volume + Dual integrated air filters + ********-free printing with the NFEP resin vat film Reasons to avoid – Upward-facing bolts on build platform are difficult to clean – Photon Workshop software feels clunky and slow The Anycubic Photon M3 Premium set an impressive standard. Offering both high resolution and large build volume in a single machine, it effectively does the work of two separate printers and still comes in cheaper than buying them individually. The 10-inch 8K masking LCD provides an ultra-high 0.0285mm XY resolution which allows even the finest details to resolve on printed models. We were particularly impressed when we printed a model that had a tiny, open book on a pedestal; the words on the pages were sharp and legible (though one might need a magnifying glass to see them). The 219mm x 123mm x 250mm build volume allows users to print large models with high resolution, or simply pack the oversized build platform with multiple small parts to produce many in parallel. Featuring integrated dual air filters, a laser-etched build platform, and a razor-thin NFEP vat film, the Photon M3 Premium is easily capable of handling anything you can throw at it. With a special introductory retail price of $619 and a planned retail price of $639, the Photon M3 Premium strikes an excellent balance between high resolution and large build volume while remaining less expensive than the competition. The included Anycubic Photon Workshop software was slow and buggy during our testing, and is the primary weak point of this machine. More: Anycubic Photon M3 Premium Resin 3D Printer Review Best Medium Format Resin 3D Printer (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Best Medium Format Resin 3D Printer Specifications Technology: MSLA Build Volume: 200mm x 196mm x 122mm LCD Resolution: 4096 x 2560 LCD Size: 9.1-inch XY Axis Resolution: 48 microns Connectivity: USB Type A 2.0 Reasons to buy + Detailed 4K+ resolution + Fast setup + Easy to navigate menus + Includes screen protector for LCD The Anycubic Photon Mono X2 is a fantastic resin 3D printer that combines affordability and a generous build volume with great 4K resolution. The Mono X2 delivers crisp details at 48 microns per – smaller than a grain of salt. We’ve printed full sized dragons, 8 inch tall sculptures and entire squadrons of miniatures in one go with the Mono X2. Retailing at $339.99, the Mono X2 is an excellent bargain for beginners who don’t want to start small or experienced makers who need a little elbow room. It’s easy to use with a laser etched build surface that helps prints stick in place without being too hard to remove. The X2 has a 9.1-inch monochrome LCD with an improved light source that provides smoother prints than ever before. It comes with a screen protector for the LED glass, which covers the glass to protect it from scratches or dreaded resin drips. Our only beef with this printer is the four-point leveling system, which is tedious to perfect. More: Anycubic Photon Mono X2 Review Best Resin 3D Printer for Miniatures (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) Best Resin 3D Printer Miniatures Specifications Technology: MSLA Build Volume: 143mm x 89.6mm x 175mm LCD Resolution: 4098 x 2560 px LCD Size: 6.6-inch XY Axis Resolution: .035mm Connectivity: USB Thumb Drive Reasons to buy + High resolution + Air purification module + Scratch-resistant LCD Reasons to avoid – Purifier doesn’t totally remove odor If you’re looking to create small models for table-top gaming, or just display, the Elegoo Mars 3 Pro is a great choice, thanks to its great build quality and high resolution. The Mars 3 Pro has an XY resolution of 35 microns (0.035mm) which allows you to show intricate details in even small objects. When we printed mz4250’s This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up model, fine ridges on the tail and bones in the wing were sharp, without any visible splotching or errors. Even the spines and beard on the head were crystal clear. Its LCD screen provides a 4098 x 2560 resolution for prints, which is higher than the 4K resolutions of competitors like the Phrozen Sonic Mini 4K and AnyCubic Photon Mono 4K. Unlike the Phrozen Sonic Mini 4K, which is very competitive in this area, the Mars 3 Pro doesn’t suffer from any build quality issues.It’s easy to level and even has a built-in air purifier that, in our tests, mitigated but did not completely remove the resin odor that all MSLA printers emit. With a price in the $300 – $350 range, this isn’t the cheapest resin printer on the market, but it offers great quality output and strong usability for the money. Read: Elegoo Mars 3 Pro Review Today’s Best Resin Deals Shopping Tips for Best Resin 3D Printers What you Need to Know When Buying a Resin 3D Printer There are several factors to consider before buying one of the best resin 3D printers, so be sure to consider these questions before making a choice. This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up ? The type of masking LCD on your resin 3D printer can have the single largest impact on your overall print speed. Because they are commonly used in other electronics, RGB masking LCDs are cheaper, but slower because they don’t allow UV light to pass through efficiently and need more exposure time per layer. For example, the RGB LCD on the Creality LD-002R requires 9 seconds per layer, while the Mono LCD on the Elegoo Mars 2 Pro requires only 2.2 seconds per layer. This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up How much build volume do you need? Most resin 3D printers have smaller build volumes than FDM 3D printers, so you may find yourself limited by this relatively small build volume. If you are interested in printing large parts, you’ll want to look at a large format resin 3D printer such as the Elegoo Saturn or the Anycubic Photon Mono X. This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up 2K, 4K, or Beyond? A resin 3D printer that uses a 6.08-inch 2K screen like the Elegoo Mars 2 Pro is capable of an XY resolution of .05mm as well as a layer height of .05mm. For context, this means even a relatively low-resolution resin 3D printer is still capable of making extremely fine details that simply wouldn’t be possible on an FDM printer. If you need even more resolution, a 4K screen is capable of making finer features, but is typically more expensive. This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up Post Processing Equipment? Resin 3D printers create parts that require post-processing before they are completely finished. Typically, this workflow involves rinsing the parts in a solvent to dissolve any excess resin on the surface of the part, followed by a cure cycle that uses UV light to fully polymerize the part. This process can be done manually by submerging the part in a solvent and using an inexpensive UV light for curing, but some manufacturers have created post-processing equipment like the Elegoo Mercury X that automate the process and reduce the mess. This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up #Resin #Printers This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up Link to comment https://hopzone.eu/forums/topic/9067-best-resin-3d-printers-2024/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
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