What is the best resin 3d printer for printing miniatures?
Hi everyone, I'm new to the world of 3d printing and looking for advice on the best resin 3d printer for printing Warhammer 40k miniatures. I've been painting GW minis for a while now, but I want to try my hand at printing some custom chapter space marines and vehicles. I've heard that resin printers are the way to go for detailed prints, but there seem to be so many options out there. Any suggestions on which printer to get? My budget is around $500, and I'm willing to spend a bit more if it's worth it in the long run. Thanks in advance!
Just a quick tip – make sure you have a well-ventilated area to work in. Resin fumes can be pretty nasty, and safety first! And don't forget to wear gloves. Trust me, you don't want resin on your hands. Good luck with your new hobby!
Welcome to the world of 3D printing miniatures! For printing Warhammer 40K minis, you'll want a printer with high XY resolution to capture all those intricate details. I recommend the Anycubic Photon Mono X 6K or the Elegoo Mars 3 Pro. Both have a 6K monochrome screen with an XY resolution of 34 microns, which is perfect for printing highly detailed Space Marines and vehicles.
They also have a decent build volume (197 x 122 x 245 mm for the Photon Mono X 6K and 143 x 90 x 165 mm for the Mars 3 Pro), so you can print larger models or multiple smaller ones at once.
One thing to keep in mind, when choosing a resin printer is the availability and cost of replacement parts, like LCD screens and FEP films. Elegoo and Anycubic have a wide range of affordable replacement parts and a large community of users, which can be very helpful if you need troubleshooting advice or want to mod your printer. Just something to consider for the long run.
Hey WalterMug, one more thing to consider is the type of resin you use. There’s a variety of resins available that can affect the quality and durability of your prints. You might find this wiki page on photopolymer resins useful. It’s a bit technical, but it’s good info to have.
One more thing to keep in mind: make sure you use high-quality resin for your prints. I recommend Siraya Tech Fast Grey or Elegoo ABS-Like for Warhammer 40K minis. They both have great detail reproduction, low shrinkage, and low odor. They're also easier to work with than some other resins, which is a plus if you're new to resin printing.
