As 3D printing continues to grow to be cheaper and extra accessible, resin 3D printers have grow to be a well-liked selection for anybody concerned with 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 straightforward mechanical system means these machines can frequently be discovered for lower than $300. With so many fashions available on the market, we’ve made this checklist that will help you discover the very best resin 3D printer for you.
The very best resin 3D printers are able to making high-resolution fashions by curing a liquid resin utilizing a UV mild supply. This MSLA course of makes use of a masking LCD to selectively block the UV mild 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 advocate rookies or anybody with younger youngsters contemplate one of many FDM (fusion deposit modeling) printers on our total finest 3D printers web page. Moreover, we’ve our greatest funds 3D printers checklist if you’re searching for extra reasonably priced choices. To see our velocity testing benchmark outcomes and rankings of the highest FDM fashions obtainable, take a look at our 3D Printer Velocity Hierarchy web page.
Fast Record
Finest Resin 3D Printer General
That is a formidable high-speed SLA printer that produces glorious 4K+ print high quality. It is simple to make use of, compact, and may simply be saved away when not in use. It sports activities a wider construct plate in comparison with different mid-range resin printers, which permits for printing greater tabletop fashions.
Learn extra beneath
2. Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K S
Finest Resin for Print Farms
Nice for anybody seeking 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 customary FDM 3D printers.
Learn extra beneath
3. Anycubic Photon Mono M5s
Finest Excessive-Decision 3D Printer
At $389, this 12K resin machine prints with a exceptional stage of element and beneficiant construct quantity. Paired with a particular high-speed customized resin, it’s able to reaching a mean print velocity of 105 mm/hour, saving you a lot time when printing a number of tasks.
Learn extra beneath
4. Anycubic Photon Mono 2
Finest Resin 3D Printer for Learners
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 area. 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 maintaining the printer clear tremendous simple. On sale for $226 at Amazon.
Learn extra beneath
5. Phrozen Sonic Mighty 8K
Finest Splurge Resin 3D Printer
This resin printer is so useless easy to make use of {that a} newbie could 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.
Learn extra beneath
Finest Tremendous-Giant Format Resin 3D Printer
In case you are searching for a sturdy massive format resin printer that’s priced way more fairly than a lot of its opponents with comparable construct volumes, such because the Peopoly Phenom which matches for round $2,000, then that is the printer for you. Options embrace automated resin feeder and built-in flood lighting.
Learn extra beneath
7. Anycubic Photon M3 Premium
Finest 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 preferrred for anybody searching for massive construct quantity, excessive decision, or simply failure-free resin printing.
Learn extra beneath
Finest Resin 3D Printers in 2024
Why you may belief Tom’s {Hardware}
Our skilled reviewers spend hours testing and evaluating services and products so you may select the very best for you. Discover out extra about how we take a look at.
Finest Resin 3D Printer General
The Anycubic Photon M3 is the very best throughout resin 3D printer we’ve reviewed. It produces crisp particulars with 4K+ high quality that rivals costlier machines and has a large construct plate permitting it to make bigger fashions than opponents in its class.
A pattern print of a unicorn was extraordinarily detailed, with the ridges on its horn and its mane showing actually sharp and free from layer strains. It was additionally a full 180mm tall and printed in 10 hours.
The etched construct plate works very well at holding fashions tight throughout printing, but in addition permits for simple removing after they’re performed. The steel vat has a handy pour spout, and Anycubic features a display screen protector for the LED mild supply to forestall unintended drips from ruining your printer.
Retailing for lower than $250 at press time, the Anycubic Photon M3 is an affordable buy for a newbie or a sophisticated maker wanting so as to add to their fleet.
Extra: Anycubic Photon M3 Assessment
Finest Resin for Print Farms
The Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K S is a large resin 3D printer with a 15-inch mild supply and a construct quantity that rivals these of conventional FDM printers. It’s simple 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 a dear machine that would make good enterprise sense for print farms that produce huge fashions or tons of smaller figures.
8K decision might 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 flexibility 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 a lot of non-compulsory equipment to make the Sonic Mega 8Ks exceptionally simple 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
Finest Excessive-Decision 3D Printer
With its mind-blowing 12K decision, the Anycubic Photon Mono M5s is finest for printing tabletop fashions and miniatures that require consideration to probably the most minute particulars. So, if you’re seeking to make high-quality prints in your pastime or enterprise, then this printer is value your consideration.
The Photon Mono M5s is the primary resin printer that we have examined that doesn’t require guide calibration. Anycubic has packed the Mono M5s with sensible options like auto-leveling and monitoring capabilities to tell you of resin ranges; print fails, and so on. These facilities do come at a price however present a much-needed comfort that we recognize.
We examined the Wekster’s Rocket bust utilizing Anycubic’s customized high-speed resin versus different resins with varied settings and got here up with fascinating outcomes.
| Resin | Settings (layer top, and so on) | Time to completion | High quality (your subjective view of the output) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anycubic Excessive Velocity Resin | .1 mm layer, quick mode | 50 min, 21 sec | Common high quality, little element, tender wanting, seems to be like a 2K print |
| Anycubic Excessive Velocity Resin | .05 mm layer, quick mode | 1 hour, 31 min, 27 sec | Good high quality, some element, seems to be like a 4K print |
| Anycubic HD Resin | .05 mm layer, quick profile | 2 hours, 35 minutes, 37 sec | Wonderful high quality, Effective element |
| Anycubic HD Resin | .05 mm layer, regular mode | 4 hours, 59 min, 45 sec | Wonderful high quality, additional nice element |
| Inland Blue Customary Resin | .05 mm layer, regular mode | 4 hours, 59 min, 45 sec | Good high quality, simply over cured, particulars misplaced resulting from low distinction colour |
| Anycubic Water Washable Resin | .05 mm layer, regular mode | 4 hours, 59 min, 45 sec | Wonderful high quality, Effective element, not as crisp as HD resin |
The Anycubic HD resin produced a greater high quality output in comparison with its customized high-speed resin. However there’s undoubtedly extra room for experimentation, relying on the dimensions of your mannequin or undertaking (if you’re doing a number of prints) and value restrictions.
The Anycubic Photon Mono M5s launched with a $539 MSRP, however is at present obtainable for $419 at Walmart.
Extra: Anycubic Photon Mono M5s Assessment
Finest Resin 3D Printer for Learners
Because the successor to Anycubic’s Photon Mono 4K, the Mono 2 doesn’t disappoint. It is quick, and makes 4K resin printing look simple. 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 numerous area and may simply be saved away. It is shipped largely assembled, which makes setup a snap as effectively. Though it’s similar to the Mono 4K in measurement, it has a 20% bigger construct quantity permitting you extra flexibility for greater print tasks.
Should you’ve ever wished to strive doing SLA printing, the Photon Mono 2 is a superb entry-level machine so that you can begin. It launched at an reasonably priced $230 value level and now’s on sale for $179 at Amazon. You’ll be able to’t get any higher deal than that.
Extra: Anycubic Photon Mono 2 Assessment
Finest Excessive-Finish Resin 3D Printer
Should you’re able to throw some critical money down for a decent-sized resin 3D printer with high quality that can 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 $600 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 way of the Mighty 8K’s menus, because of its massive and easy-to-use contact display screen show. There’s little have to 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 measurement 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 can be a worthwhile funding for somebody operating an Esty store or an artist eager to showcase their work. We have been capable of print 12 very-detailed gaming figures directly and the method solely took 4 hours and a pair of minutes.
Our solely challenge with this machine was the digicam, which was launched for evaluation earlier than it was practical. There’s no set date on when the digicam firmware can be prepared, however it guarantees the flexibility to watch prints in addition to create time lapses.
For a extra reasonably priced 8K resin possibility, contemplate the Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K S which nonetheless provides wonderful print element and now suitable with all the favored third social gathering slicers however is barely $349.99. That is almost half the price of the Mighty 8K.
Extra: Phrozen Sonic Mighty 8K Assessment
Finest Tremendous-Giant Format Resin 3D Printer
It’s solely obtainable for pre-order proper now, however when it’s obtainable, Elegoo’s Jupiter printer will supply a mixture of nice high quality and an enormous construct quantity. And, regardless of its $1,300 value, the Jupiter is definitely an excellent deal for its measurement, on condition that opponents value nearer to $1,000.
The place the $499 Saturn gives a 192mm x 120mm x 200mm quantity, the Jupiter gives 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 simple to navigate and the leveling course of comparatively painless.
Extra: Elegoo Jupiter Assessment
Finest Giant Format Resin 3D Printer
The Anycubic Photon M3 Premium set a formidable customary. Providing each excessive decision and huge 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 gives 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 provide 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 may throw at it.
With a particular introductory retail value of $619 and a deliberate retail value of $639, the Photon M3 Premium strikes a superb steadiness between excessive decision and huge construct quantity whereas remaining cheaper than the competitors. The included Anycubic Photon Workshop software program was sluggish and buggy throughout our testing, and is the first weak level of this machine.
Extra: Anycubic Photon M3 Premium Resin 3D Printer Assessment
Finest 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 wonderful discount for rookies who don’t wish to begin small or skilled makers who want a bit elbow room. It’s simple to make use of with a laser etched construct floor that helps prints stick in place with out being too exhausting to take away.
The X2 has a 9.1-inch monochrome LCD with an improved mild 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 excellent.
Extra: Anycubic Photon Mono X2 Assessment
Finest Resin 3D Printer for Miniatures
Should you’re seeking to create small fashions for table-top gaming, or simply show, the Elegoo Mars 3 Professional is a superb selection, because of 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.
After we printed mz4250’s Pink Dragon mannequin, nice 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 top have been crystal clear. Its LCD display screen gives a 4098 x 2560 decision for prints, which is greater than the 4K resolutions of opponents just like the Phrozen Sonic Mini 4K and AnyCubic Photon Mono 4K.
In contrast to the Phrozen Sonic Mini 4K, which could be very aggressive on this space, the Mars 3 Professional doesn’t endure from any construct high quality points.It’s simple to stage and even has a built-in air air purifier that, in our assessments, mitigated however didn’t fully take away the resin odor that every one MSLA printers emit. With a value within the $300 – $350 vary, this isn’t the most cost effective resin printer available on the market, however it provides nice high quality output and robust usability for the cash.
Learn: Elegoo Mars 3 Professional Assessment
In the present day’s Finest Resin Offers
Purchasing Suggestions for Finest Resin 3D Printers
What you Must 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 make sure to contemplate these questions earlier than making a selection.
🤔 Mono or RGB LCD? The kind of masking LCD in your resin 3D printer can have the only largest influence in your total 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 permit UV mild to cross by way 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 you could end up restricted by this comparatively small construct quantity. In case you are concerned with printing massive elements, you’ll wish 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 top of .05mm. For context, this implies even a comparatively low-resolution resin 3D printer continues to be able to making extraordinarily nice particulars that merely wouldn’t be attainable on an FDM printer. Should you want much more decision, a 4K display screen is able to making finer options, however is often costlier.
🤔 Submit Processing Tools? Resin 3D printers create elements that require post-processing earlier than they’re fully completed. Sometimes, this workflow entails 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 mild to completely polymerize the half. This course of might be performed manually by submerging the half in a solvent and utilizing an affordable UV mild for curing, however some producers have created post-processing gear just like the Elegoo Mercury X that automate the method and scale back the mess.