What should I be aware of with resin printing?

When printing with resin on your 3D printer, there are several things you need to be aware of:

1. Environment: Resin is toxic and can harm your health, so it’s important to have good ventilation and wear protective gear when working with it.
2. UV light: Resin cures with UV light, so it’s important to protect your printer and your model from direct sunlight and UV light from lamps or other sources.
3. Accuracy: Resin printers are usually more precise than FDM printers but require more attention to detail. It’s important to adjust your printer correctly and be mindful of support structures that are necessary to achieve an accurate print.
4. Post-processing: Resin printers require more post-processing than FDM printers. After printing, you need to remove the model from the build plate and clean it in isopropyl alcohol. Subsequently, you also need to cure the model in UV light before you can use it.
5. Costs: Resin is more expensive than FDM filament, so you need to be aware of the costs and budget accordingly.

Always remember to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and take the necessary precautions to protect yourself and your printer when working with resin.

Getting started with 3D printing with resin can be a bit more challenging than 3D printing with FDM filament, as there are more factors you need to be aware of. Here are some things to consider when you want to start 3D printing with resin:

1. Choice of printer: There are different types of resin printers, and it’s important to choose a printer that suits your needs and budget. You should also consider the size of the print area and the resolution of the printer’s display.
2. Printer adjustment: Resin printers require more adjustment than FDM printers. You need to adjust the build plate correctly so that it is level with the printer’s display, and you also need to adjust the exposure time and other settings according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
3. Choice of resin: There are different types of resin with different properties, so it’s important to choose the right type of resin for your project. You should also consider colour, strength, and other factors.
4. Post-processing: Resin printers require more post-processing than FDM printers. After printing, you need to remove the model from the build plate and clean it in isopropyl alcohol. Subsequently, you also need to cure the model in UV light before you can use it.
5. Safety: Resin is toxic and can harm your health, so it’s important to have good ventilation and wear protective gear when working with it.

Overall, it may take some time to learn to 3D print with resin, but with patience and practice, you can achieve good results. It’s important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and take the necessary precautions to protect yourself and your printer when working with resin.

Resin printers have some advantages and disadvantages that you should be aware of when considering using them. Here are some of the main advantages and disadvantages of 3D printing with resin:

Advantages of Resin Printing

• High detail: Resin printers are known for providing a high level of detail on the model and a smooth surface, which can be difficult to achieve with FDM printers.
• Precision: Resin printers are usually more precise than FDM printers, making them suitable for printing small and detailed items.
• Higher resolution: Resin printers typically have a higher resolution than FDM printers, meaning they can produce more complex models with smoother surfaces.
• Material type: Resin can have different properties, such as being flexible, strong, transparent, or coloured. This means you can print a wide variety of different models with different characteristics.

Disadvantages of Resin Printing

• Expensive: Resin is usually more expensive than FDM filament, so it can be a costlier solution in the long run.
• Toxic: Resin is toxic and can harm your health, so it’s important to have good ventilation and wear protective gear when working with it.
• More Complicated Post-Processing: Resin printers require more post-processing than FDM printers. After printing, you need to remove the model from the build plate and clean it in isopropyl alcohol. You then also need to cure the model in UV light before you can use it.
• Smaller Print Area: Resin printers typically have a smaller print area than FDM printers, which can be a challenge if you need to print larger models.
• Overall, resin printers are suitable for printing detailed and complex models, but they require more attention to detail and more post-processing than FDM printers. It’s important to consider both the advantages and disadvantages before deciding to use a resin printer.

What tasks are resin 3D prints best suited for?

Resin 3D printing is best suited for tasks where high detail and precision are required. Here are some examples of tasks where resin 3D printing can be particularly useful:

1. Jewellery: Resin printers can produce jewellery with high detail and complexity. This makes them ideal for creating jewellery that requires a high degree of precision and detail.
2. Dental Applications: Resin printers can be used for manufacturing dental prostheses, aligners, and other dental applications that require high precision.
3. Figurines and Statues: Resin printers can produce figurines and statues with high detail and smooth surfaces, making them suitable for the production of collectables and artworks.
4. Prototypes: Resin printers are suitable for making prototypes and models, as they can produce small details and complex geometric shapes with great precision.
5. Medical Applications: Resin printers can be used to manufacture medical products such as surgical instruments and implants that require high precision and accuracy.

Resin 3D printing is also suitable for applications where different material properties such as flexibility, strength, and colour variations are needed. Resin printers can produce a wide range of different models with various properties, making them versatile and flexible.

Which is better – FDM or Resin 3D Printing?

It’s difficult to say whether FDM or Resin 3D printing is better, as both technologies have their advantages and disadvantages, and it depends on the specific application you have in mind. Here are some differences between FDM and Resin 3D printing that can help you decide which technology is best for you:

FDM 3D Printing:

• FDM printers are more common and accessible than resin printers and are generally less expensive.
• FDM printers are suitable for producing larger models.
• FDM printers can use a wide range of different materials, including PLA, ABS, and PETG.
• FDM printers typically have a lower resolution and level of detail than resin printers.

Resin 3D Printing:

• Resin printers are known for providing a high level of detail on the model and a smooth surface, which can be difficult to achieve with FDM printers.
• Resin printers are usually more precise than FDM printers and are suitable for printing small and detailed items.
• Resin printers typically have a higher resolution than FDM printers and can produce more complex models with smoother surfaces.
• Resin printers require more attention to detail and more post-processing than FDM printers, and resin is also toxic and can harm your health, so it’s important to take the necessary precautions when working with it.

In general, FDM printers are best suited for tasks where high detail or precision is not required, while resin printers are best suited for tasks where high detail and precision are needed. It’s important to consider the advantages and disadvantages of both technologies and evaluate which technology fits your specific needs best.

Which Resin Printer is the Best?

It’s difficult to determine the best resin printer as there are many different factors to consider, such as budget, print quality, and print size. Here are some of the top resin printers on the market known for their high quality and popularity among users:

• Formlabs Form 3: The Form 3 is a high-quality resin printer known for its precision and detail. It has a large print size of 145 x 145 x 185 mm and uses Formlabs’ proprietary resin, specially designed for the Form 3 printer.
• Anycubic Photon Mono X: The Photon Mono X is a popular resin printer known for its high print quality and large print size of 192 x 120 x 250 mm. It also has a fast print time of only 1.5 seconds per layer.
• Elegoo Mars 2 Pro: The Mars 2 Pro is a budget-friendly resin printer that still delivers high quality and an impressive print size of 129 x 80 x 160 mm. It also has a fast print time and is easy to use.
• Phrozen Sonic Mini 4K: The Sonic Mini 4K is a resin printer with a high resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels and a large print size of 132 x 74 x 160 mm. It is also fast, with a print time of only 2 seconds per layer.
• Peopoly Phenom: The Phenom is a large-format resin printer with an impressive print size of 345 x 194 x 400 mm. It also has high precision and a fast print time of 1.5 seconds per layer.

It’s important to research and compare different models before choosing a resin printer that fits your specific needs and budget. It’s also important to remember that resin printers require more attention to detail and more post-processing than FDM printers, so consider this when deciding to purchase a resin printer.

Which Resin is the Best?

The choice of the best resin depends on the specific application, from standard resin to dental, industrial, or medical. Here are some of the most common types of resin and their properties:

1. Standard resin: Standard resin is the most common type of resin, known for its versatility and affordable price. It’s suitable for many different applications and can have various properties such as flexibility, strength, colour variations, and transparency.
2. Dental resin: Dental resin is specially designed for use in dental applications such as dentures, aligners, and other dental uses. It’s known for its high precision and durability.
3. Industrial resin: Industrial resin is specially designed for use in industrial production and is known for its strength and durability. It can have properties such as high heat resistance and chemical resistance.
4. Medical resin: Medical resin is specially designed for use in medical applications such as surgical instruments and implants. It’s known for its high precision and biocompatibility.

Before choosing the resin that best fits your specific needs and requirements for print quality, it’s important to research and compare different types of resin. It’s also important not to forget that resin is toxic and can harm your health, so take the necessary precautions when working with it.

If you’re unsure about the choice of material, you’re always welcome to contact us before starting your project. You can also delve into our extensive filament guide if you have other projects in mind.

Can I Try Resin Printing Before I Buy One?

Yes, you can order a resin model from 3D Actions. Feel free to choose one from Thingiverse or the other 3D model sites, and ask us for a quote on your 3D print project, or upload your 3D model directly into our online 3D price calculator and get the price immediately!