What is the best resin 3d printer for printing miniatures?

Question

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!

hillen · Answer

Just a quick tip &ndash; 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!

erick · Answer

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.

oggy · Answer

Hey buddy, whatever you choose, just be prepared for a new addiction. Printing miniatures is like a gateway drug. Soon, you&rsquo;ll have shelves full of tiny warriors and wizards. But hey, at least it&rsquo;s a productive hobby, right?

pit120 · Answer

Hey WalterMug, one more thing to consider is the type of resin you use. There&rsquo;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&rsquo;s a bit technical, but it&rsquo;s good info to have.

Olaf1 · Answer

Once you start printing, you'll never want to go back. The detail you can get with resin printers is just incredible. Keep us updated on what you choose and share some pics of your prints!

Fed29 · Answer

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.

sunshine · Answer

And if all else fails, you can always use those failed prints as modern art pieces. "This abstract blob represents the chaos of battle in Warhammer 40K." :)

BondTati · Answer

big thanks for the help picking the right 3d printer!

x-y · Answer

Started my resin journey last week... lost 3 prints, ruined a shirt, and scared my cat with the curing station. but hey, that one perfect mini tho 👌

2612 · Answer

yo make sure u got proper ventilation fr fr. these fumes be hitting harder than my ex's perfume ngl

Maxx · Answer

Don't forget to factor in all the hidden costs... like $50 worth of paper towels per week no cap

nnnnn · Answer

just snagged the Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K and deadass this thing prints details i cant even see without a magnifying glass. worth every penny of my ramen budget🔥

zim9 · Answer

Your first successful print hits different but watch out - one day you printing space marines, next thing you know your whole room is a mini factory 😭

joker2 · Answer

anyone else's workspace look like a hazmat scene or just me? them youtube tutorials really be catfishing us with their clean setups fr

mirbo · Answer

Teaching chemistry probably makes me extra paranoid but PLEASE take the safety warnings seriously folks. Uncured resin is genuinely hazardous - skin sensitization is real and can develop suddenly even after months of "safe" exposure. Nitrile gloves, ventilation, safety glasses. Every. Single. Time. Your future self will thank you

hokk · Answer

3 months in and my wife's threatening divorce over the smell despite exhaust fan + air purifier combo. Also our cat is fascinated by the printer and I live in constant fear she'll knock over resin tank. This hobby tests relationships in ways I didn't anticipate. Amazing results tho so... worth it??

dddd · Answer

Switched from FDM to resin printing last year. The detail improvement is obvious but what surprised me is how much MORE finicky resin is. Room temperature affects everything. Humidity matters. Resin brand consistency varies. It's basically chemistry experiment each print. FDM was more forgiving for casual hobbyist tbh

Dimetrio · Answer

Mono LCDs wear out. Rated for around 2000 hours, brightness drops gradually&nbsp;- you won't notice at first, you'll just get intermittent adhesion failures and spend weeks chasing the wrong cause. Replacement screens run $30-50 and both elegoo and anycubic stock them. It's a wear item, budget for it

21yru · Answer

Everyone researches the printer for weeks then spends the first month discovering it isn't the variable. Supports are&nbsp;- orientation, contact tip size, density around thin parts. Two people with identical machines will have completely different results based on this alone. Lychee slicer has a free tier and decent auto-support, start there before touching exposure settings

7277772 · Answer

Pinned best answer recommends the Mars 3 Pro. That printer is two generations old and the same money now buys 9K. Genuinely useful recommendation, june 2024 specifically