Best Resin 3D Printers 2024
As 3D printing continues to change into cheaper and extra accessible, resin 3D printers have change into a well-liked selection for anybody interested by making highly-detailed fashions that wouldn’t be possible utilizing a filament-fed, FDM 3D printer. These MSLA (Masked Stereolithography) resin 3D printers sometimes have a single axis of movement, and this easy mechanical system means these machines can recurrently be discovered for lower than $300. With so many fashions in the marketplace, we’ve made this record that will help you discover one of the best resin 3D printer for you.
The perfect resin 3D printers are able to making high-resolution fashions by curing a liquid resin utilizing a UV gentle supply. This MSLA course of makes use of a masking LCD to selectively block the UV gentle on a pixel-by-pixel foundation, permitting these printers to create fashions which have a decision of all the way down to .035mm on the XY axes.
This excessive decision comes at a value, as elements made on a resin 3D printer require post-processing after printing, and UV resin requires warning when dealing with. As a result of resin requires gloves and a masks to deal with, we suggest newbies or anybody with younger youngsters take into account one of many FDM (fusion deposit modeling) printers on our general Greatest 3D Printers web page. Moreover, we’ve got our Greatest Funds 3D Printers record in case you are searching for extra reasonably priced choices. To see our velocity testing benchmark outcomes and rankings of the highest FDM fashions obtainable, try our 3D Printer Pace Hierarchy web page.
Keep tuned for our in-depth opinions of the not too long ago launched Mars 5 Extremely from Elegoo and the Kind 4 from FormLabs — each demoed on the Speedy + TCT 2024 occasion which we attended. Take a look at some highlights from the present.
Fast Record
Greatest Resin 3D Printer General
The Elegoo Saturn 4 Extremely is a superb high-resolution printer that is quick, straightforward to make use of, and no specialty resin wanted – that is further financial savings for you. It delivers outstanding 12K prints and contains cool vat and hood tilting options that makes this machine even simpler to make use of. It is obtainable on pre-order at Elegoo’s website for $399.
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2. Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K S
Greatest Resin for Print Farms
Nice for anybody trying to upsize their resin expertise or produce resin prints at a industrial scale. This machine excels as a “massive” format printer, with a construct quantity that rivals normal FDM 3D printers. It is not too long ago been OOS at Amazon, however you possibly can nonetheless get at MatterHackers and immediately at Phrozen.
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3. Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Professional
Greatest Excessive-Decision 3D Printer
This 14K resin machine outperforms the Mono M5s in each velocity and backbone. With a decision of 16.8 x 24.8 microns, you are assured to get tremendous crisp element good for miniature tasks. It is able to printing at 130 mm/hour with normal resin and 170 mm/hour with high-speed resin.
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4. Anycubic Photon Mono 2
Greatest Resin 3D Printer for Rookies
This printer was made particularly with first-time resin customers in thoughts. It delivers high quality 4K prints with a smaller sized vat and a petite footprint that requires minimal house. It comes with an additional massive display screen protector for the LED glass, which covers the glass and the slight hole round it. This makes preserving the printer clear tremendous straightforward.
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5. Phrozen Sonic Mighty 8K
Greatest Splurge Resin 3D Printer
This resin printer is so lifeless easy to make use of {that a} newbie may have no hassle with it. It is midsize for a resin printer with out being awkward to function and has a construct quantity nearer to what we see in FDM printers. Better of all, it delivers on its promise of high-res high quality.
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Greatest Tremendous-Giant Format Resin 3D Printer
In case you’re searching for a sturdy large-format resin printer, the Jupiter is extra moderately priced than a lot of its rivals. Different 3D printers with related construct volumes, such because the Peopoly Phenom goes for round $2,000. Options embrace an automated resin feeder and built-in flood lighting. Accessible at Elegoo for $750.
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7. Anycubic Photon M3 Premium
Greatest Giant Format Resin 3D Printer
This workhorse resin MSLA 3D printer is designed to supply uncompromising efficiency for critical hobbyists and small-volume half manufacturing. It’s perfect for anybody searching for massive construct quantity, excessive decision, or simply failure-free resin printing.
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8. Anycubic Photon Mono X2
Greatest Medium Format Resin 3D Printer
This high-res MSLA 3D printer most accurately fits newbies or consultants who’re prepared to maneuver as much as larger fashions of as much as 8 inches tall or for a batch of sport miniatures with 48 microns decision. It’s fast to arrange, contains an easy-to-navigate LCD display screen, and is on sale for $320.
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Greatest Resin 3D Printers in 2024
Why you possibly can belief Tom’s {Hardware}
Our skilled reviewers spend hours testing and evaluating services so you possibly can select one of the best for you. Discover out extra about how we take a look at.
Greatest Resin 3D Printer General
The Saturn 4 Extremely delivers the whole lot it guarantees: it’s straightforward to make use of, has crispy 12K decision, and it is about as automated as a resin printer can get. It doesn’t want particular resin or costly movies within the vat, which additionally makes it cost-effective. Many of the enhancements are throughout the machine itself – a tilt again hood, auto leveling, a print monitoring digital camera that may additionally shoot time lapses, and a vat that lightly peels every printed layer off the movie by tilting.
The tilting vat is one thing I’ve by no means seen earlier than. Usually, prints are pressured off the vat’s delicate movie coated backside by being pulled straight up, preventing suction and inflicting stress that results in eventual failure. The Saturn 4 Extremely gently peels the layers off with a rocking movement. This offers the Saturn 4 Extremely a bit extra velocity whereas additionally utilizing the identical reasonably priced movie Elegoo has been utilizing for years.
Our solely complaints have been minor – the digital camera presently solely works with Chitubox, and the lid doesn’t have a deal with.
Extra: Elegoo Saturn 4 Extremely Assessment
Greatest Resin for Print Farms
The Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K S is a big resin 3D printer with a 15-inch gentle supply and a construct quantity that rivals these of conventional FDM printers. It’s straightforward sufficient {that a} newbie can function it, with a simple-to-navigate menu and an ideal construct plate that releases fashions with ease. Retailing at $1,579, the Sonic Mega 8K S is an expensive machine that might make good enterprise sense for print farms that produce huge fashions or tons of smaller figures. Yow will discover it on sale at MatterHackers and at Phrozen’s retailer for $80 lower than MSRP. Additionally obtainable at Amazon with a good larger low cost of $180 once you use the 15% coupon (at $1,401).
8K decision could not sound spectacular, however these 43-micron pixels are the dimensions of a human hair. When prints made with a 12K machine are put side-by-side, it’s not far off, and the distinction is barely detectable by the human eye.
The Sonic Mega 8K S is an overhaul of the earlier Mega 8K. Probably the most notable enhancements are the hinged, tilt-back lid and the power to hold the construct plate at an angle for drainage, each issues I’d like to see on a regular-sized resin printer.
Phrozen has various non-compulsory equipment to make the Sonic Mega 8Ks exceptionally straightforward to make use of: a 24 liter (6 gallons) wash unit, a curing station the dimensions of a microwave, and a pump to maintain your vat perpetually full.
Extra: Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K S Assessment
Greatest Excessive-Decision 3D Printer
With its wonderful velocity and 14K decision, the Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Professional will produce prime quality prints in only a fraction of the time utilized by different machines. Gaming miniatures end up with improbable element no matter the kind of resin is used, even when the M7 Professional is working at max velocity.
The Photon Mono M7 Professional is manufacturing facility leveled, which saves on arrange time and frustration. It’s additionally full of good options to watch resin ranges and be careful for print fails. It comes with a resin pump to maintain the vat filled with resin, although on our take a look at unit this function didn’t work. It additionally has a heater pump constructed into the vat which slowly circulates heat resin all through the construct plate to enhance velocity and high quality.
Not like the earlier M5s, the M7 Professional makes use of a inexpensive, extra sturdy movie that might yield over 100 batches of miniatures earlier than needing alternative.
The Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Professional launched with a $669 MSRP, however is presently obtainable for $549 at Amazon and the Anycubic retailer.
Extra: Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Professional Assessment
Greatest Resin 3D Printer for Rookies
Because the successor to Anycubic’s Photon Mono 4K, the Mono 2 doesn’t disappoint. It is quick, and makes 4K resin printing look straightforward. Our take a look at prints of the Fotis Mint’s Boba Fett Bust, MZ4250’s Fighters, and Succubus turned out clear outcomes with clear, well-defined particulars, even for the smaller fashions.
It is compact and light-weight, so it will not take up quite a lot of house and may simply be saved away. It is shipped principally assembled, which makes setup a snap as nicely. Though it’s equivalent to the Mono 4K in dimension, it has a 20% bigger construct quantity permitting you extra flexibility for larger print tasks.
In case you’ve ever needed to strive doing SLA printing, the Photon Mono 2 is a good entry-level machine so that you can begin. It launched at $230 and is on sale immediately from the Anycubic retailer for $179. Presently obtainable at an much more reasonably priced value of $159 at Amazon and Walmart. You’ll be able to’t get any higher deal than that.
Extra: Anycubic Photon Mono 2 Assessment
Greatest Excessive-Finish Resin 3D Printer
In case you’re able to throw some critical money down for a decent-sized resin 3D printer with high quality that may knock your socks off, the Phrozen Sonic Mighty 8K is right here for you. Its roomy 218 x 123 mm construct plate can accommodate a military of gaming miniatures or a gift-worthy superhero statue. Priced at round $899 at press time, this printer is not low cost. However in return for the premium, you get crispy particulars, prints that virtually slide off the construct plate, a built-in webcam and a machine that’s WiFi prepared.
We loved navigating by means of the Mighty 8K’s menus, due to its massive and easy-to-use contact display screen show. There’s little must seek the advice of the guide – the printer walks you thru an onboard tutorial to deal with leveling and your first take a look at print. Need to rerun a take a look at file at a distinct publicity? No downside – the Sonic Mighty 8k will allow you to change publicity settings and extra proper contained in the printer. I discovered this extraordinarily useful whereas dialing in a brand new resin.
The Phrozen Sonic Mighty 8K dimension is nearer to what we see in FDM printers, with out being so massive that it dominates your workshop. The standard and additional wiggle room could be a worthwhile funding for somebody working an Esty store or an artist eager to showcase their work. We have been in a position to print 12 very-detailed gaming figures directly and the method solely took 4 hours and a couple of minutes.
Our solely subject with this machine was the digital camera, which was launched for evaluation earlier than it was purposeful. There’s no set date on when the digital camera firmware will likely be prepared, however it guarantees the power to watch prints in addition to create time lapses.
The Sonic Mighty 8K is on sale at Amazon for $584. For a extra reasonably priced 8K resin choice, take into account the Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K S which nonetheless affords wonderful print element and now suitable with all the favored third get together slicers however is barely $349. That is almost half the price of the Mighty 8K.
Extra: Phrozen Sonic Mighty 8K Assessment
Greatest Tremendous-Giant Format Resin 3D Printer
Elegoo’s Jupiter printer affords a mixture of nice high quality and an enormous construct quantity. And, regardless of its $1,300 value, the Jupiter is definitely a fantastic deal for its dimension, on condition that rivals price nearer to $1,000.
The place the $499 Saturn supplies a 192mm x 120mm x 200mm quantity, the Jupiter supplies a ton extra, going all the way in which to 277.8mm x 156.3mm x 300mm. And the print high quality is fairly good as we discovered when outputting an in depth mannequin of the Notre Dame Cathedral.
We additionally love the Jupiter’s sturdy, all-metal chassis, which makes it really feel like a premium product worthy of its premium value. We discovered the contact display screen interface straightforward to navigate and the leveling course of comparatively painless.
With over $400 off, Jupiter remains to be obtainable by means of Elegoo’s retailer for $890. Alternatively, you will get the Elegoo Jupiter SE mannequin for simply $719 at Amazon.
Extra: Elegoo Jupiter Assessment
Greatest Giant Format Resin 3D Printer
The Anycubic Photon M3 Premium set a powerful normal. Providing each excessive decision and enormous construct quantity in a single machine, it successfully does the work of two separate printers and nonetheless is available in cheaper than shopping for them individually.
The ten-inch 8K masking LCD supplies an ultra-high 0.0285mm XY decision which permits even the best particulars to resolve on printed fashions. We have been significantly impressed after we printed a mannequin that had a tiny, open e book on a pedestal; the phrases on the pages have been sharp and legible (although one would possibly want a magnifying glass to see them).
The 219mm x 123mm x 250mm construct quantity permits customers to print massive fashions with excessive decision, or just pack the outsized construct platform with a number of small elements to supply many in parallel. That includes built-in twin air filters, a laser-etched construct platform, and a razor-thin NFEP vat movie, the Photon M3 Premium is definitely able to dealing with something you possibly can throw at it.
With a particular introductory retail value of $619 and a deliberate retail value of $639, the Photon M3 Premium strikes a wonderful stability between excessive decision and enormous construct quantity whereas remaining inexpensive than the competitors. The included Anycubic Photon Workshop software program was gradual and buggy throughout our testing, and is the first weak level of this machine.
Extra: Anycubic Photon M3 Premium Resin 3D Printer Assessment
Greatest Medium Format Resin 3D Printer
The Anycubic Photon Mono X2 is a improbable resin 3D printer that mixes affordability and a beneficiant construct quantity with nice 4K decision. The Mono X2 delivers crisp particulars at 48 microns per – smaller than a grain of salt. We’ve printed full sized dragons, 8 inch tall sculptures and full squadrons of miniatures in a single go together with the Mono X2.
Retailing at $339.99, the Mono X2 is a superb cut price for newbies who don’t need to begin small or skilled makers who want a little bit elbow room. It’s straightforward to make use of with a laser etched construct floor that helps prints stick in place with out being too laborious to take away.
The X2 has a 9.1-inch monochrome LCD with an improved gentle supply that gives smoother prints than ever earlier than. It comes with a display screen protector for the LED glass, which covers the glass to guard it from scratches or dreaded resin drips. Our solely beef with this printer is the four-point leveling system, which is tedious to good.
Extra: Anycubic Photon Mono X2 Assessment
Greatest Resin 3D Printer for Miniatures
In case you’re trying to create small fashions for table-top gaming, or simply show, the Elegoo Mars 3 Professional is a good selection, due to its nice construct high quality and excessive decision. The Mars 3 Professional has an XY decision of 35 microns (0.035mm) which lets you present intricate particulars in even small objects.
Once we printed mz4250’s Crimson Dragon mannequin, positive ridges on the tail and bones within the wing have been sharp, with none seen splotching or errors. Even the spines and beard on the pinnacle have been crystal clear. Its LCD display screen supplies a 4098 x 2560 decision for prints, which is larger than the 4K resolutions of rivals just like the Phrozen Sonic Mini 4K and AnyCubic Photon Mono 4K.
Not like the Phrozen Sonic Mini 4K, which may be very aggressive on this space, the Mars 3 Professional doesn’t endure from any construct high quality points.It’s straightforward to stage and even has a built-in air air purifier that, in our exams, mitigated however didn’t utterly take away the resin odor that each one MSLA printers emit. With a value within the $300 – $350 vary, this isn’t the most affordable resin printer in the marketplace, however it affords nice high quality output and robust usability for the cash.
Learn: Elegoo Mars 3 Professional Assessment
At this time’s Greatest Resin Offers
Procuring Ideas for Greatest Resin 3D Printers
What you Have to Know When Shopping for a Resin 3D Printer
There are a number of elements to think about earlier than shopping for probably the greatest resin 3D printers, so you should definitely take into account these questions earlier than making a selection.
🤔 Mono or RGB LCD? The kind of masking LCD in your resin 3D printer can have the one largest impression in your general print velocity. As a result of they’re generally utilized in different electronics, RGB masking LCDs are cheaper, however slower as a result of they don’t enable UV gentle to cross by means of effectively and want extra publicity time per layer. For instance, the RGB LCD on the Creality LD-002R requires 9 seconds per layer, whereas the Mono LCD on the Elegoo Mars 2 Professional requires solely 2.2 seconds per layer.
🤔 How a lot construct quantity do you want? Most resin 3D printers have smaller construct volumes than FDM 3D printers, so chances are you’ll end up restricted by this comparatively small construct quantity. If you’re interested by printing massive elements, you’ll need to take a look at a big format resin 3D printer such because the Elegoo Saturn or the Anycubic Photon Mono X.
🤔 2K, 4K, or Past? A resin 3D printer that makes use of a 6.08-inch 2K display screen just like the Elegoo Mars 2 Professional is able to an XY decision of .05mm in addition to a layer peak of .05mm. For context, this implies even a comparatively low-resolution resin 3D printer remains to be able to making extraordinarily positive particulars that merely wouldn’t be potential on an FDM printer. In case you want much more decision, a 4K display screen is able to making finer options, however is often dearer.
🤔 Publish Processing Tools? Resin 3D printers create elements that require post-processing earlier than they’re utterly completed. Usually, this workflow includes rinsing the elements in a solvent to dissolve any extra resin on the floor of the half, adopted by a treatment cycle that makes use of UV gentle to completely polymerize the half. This course of could be completed manually by submerging the half in a solvent and utilizing a cheap UV gentle for curing, however some producers have created post-processing gear just like the Elegoo Mercury X that automate the method and cut back the mess.
