Resin 3D Printer – The Complete Beginner’s Guide

Average read time: 12 mins 20 secs

Everything you need to know to get started with resin 3D printing in Australia, and start printing things like this: 

Above: Both of these are models I’ve resin-printed, primed and then painted. Personally I use them for tabeltop games. 

P.S. This guide covers resin 3D printers – which are going to be the preferred choice for most beginners because of their relative ease of use, and the fact that they are best for detailed miniatures such as figurines, paintable and display models, proxies for tabletop games, and can also handle some terrain and vehicle prints. For the FDM printer guide (the printer best for household knick-knacks, terrain, vehicles, Cosplay or other props), head over here:

Or to learn the differences between FDM and resin 3D printers more in depth, see the FDM versus resin printer guide.

So…what is a resin 3D printer?

Resin 3D printers utilise flashes of UV light to solidify resin, one layer at a time, until they form a complete 3D model. It’s made possible by the fact that uncured resin hardens when exposed to UV light, and all resin 3D printers utilise a series of flashes of UV light in a pattern to manipulate how the resin cures, layer by layer, ultimately forming a whole model.

The process allows for incredibly finely detailed models, even at rather small scales. To give you an idea, while the average FDM printer can achieve average layer heights of 0.05mm-0.1mm, resin 3D printers can print heights as low as 0.01mm-0.25mm. This generally makes it the ideal choice for printing miniatures such as for tabletop games like D&D or Warhammer, as well as painting projects such as large collectibles or busts – the fine layer lines generally mean printing layer lines are all but non-existent to the naked eye.

Resin 3D Printer Types

There are several different types of resin 3D printers. The only one you really need to worry about is the LCD, also known as MSLA, as it’s what the latest iterations of resin printers are using.

But for completionist sake, the primary types are: Stereolithography (SLA), Digital Light Processing (DLP), and Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) (also known as Masked Stereolithography, or MSLA).

The table below contains a brief overview of each, but you don’t need to know the difference to get into printing. I’m only including it for your information. SLA, DLP and LCD resin 3D printers are all very similar – they cure resin and they do so one layer at a time.  It’s also worth noting that SLA has slower print times. Skip the table if you don’t care for the technical side.

The Resin Printing Process

There are a few more steps to printing in resin than there are to printing plastics. For both, you’ll naturally first want to source an STL or other 3D printing file. The process for how to use a resin 3D printer is as follows:

1. You will need to “slice” the file on free software such as Lychee or Chitubox (the software is different for FDMs, but the process is similar). The 3D printing file is loaded into the software, where you can support the file if it doesn’t come pre-supported – don’t worry, there is the option to auto-generate supports! Then simply hit the “slice” button and save the new .ctb file onto a USB.

2. Take the file to your resin 3D printer and hit print – come back in a few hours.

3. The print will then require washing in 99% or higher alcohol. Dab it dry with paper towels and if need be let it air dry.

4. If there are supports, the model will need wrangling free from them, followed by curing in UV light for an additional while before it’s safe and non-toxic to handle.

For alcohol, you’ll want to use as close to 100% as you can get, such as Isopropyl.

For UV light, your options are sunlight (around 8 hours) or artificial UV lights (approximately 5 minutes either side of the model).

If text is not your thing, see the infographic below.

Weighing up Resin vs Filament 3D Printers

This needs its own article, but briefly, resin 3D printers are the clear-cut choice for miniatures, such as models of people or creatures. Their ability to achieve minimal layer heights enable them to print minute details, and the closely fused layers also mean painting or priming models is a dream.

Resin printers also have fewer moving parts than an FDM printer, which can reduce the amount of maintenance required.

Last but not least, a typical resin 3D printer will be quieter than the average FDM printer.

FDM printers tend to be the better choice for printing terrain, vehicles, household parts or other large surface areas. These prints are typically less finely detailed, but more robust. Unlike resin, the standard printing materials also aren’t toxic, so they don’t require the same safety gear, and they don’t require as stringent storage conditions because they are largely unaffected by light or environment (although the filament does need to be kept dry).

There is no clear cut winner, because it all depends on what you’re hoping to print. Personally, I own both kinds of printer to cover all my bases and you might find yourself doing the same later down the track.

Above are examples of the same batch of models printed in plastic (using an FDM) versus resin (using a resin LCD printer).

But tiny figures aren’t really FDM’s strength. It does fine on larger models, but it’s best suited to more robust, angular prints like terrain, props or vehicles.

Below are some items made to FDM’s strengths.

Examples of Resin 3D Prints

See for yourself in the pictures below. Average household resin 3D printers produce incredibly detailed prints. They are leagues above brands such as D&D WizKids miniatures, or Reaper Miniatures, from both a details and paint-ability perspective.

How Much Does a Resin 3D Printer Cost?

A good but small entry-level resin 3D printer in Australia will set you back about AUD $300 – $350. While there are certainly more expensive printers with upgrades such as bigger build plates or added features, ultimately and with a bit of research, this price point will net you 90% of the available efficacy for home printers. Stunningly detailed prints, impressive speeds and ease-of-use.

Other Essentials

There are a few additional expenses to resin printing beyond the 3D printer itself. These can be divided into the following three categories.

1. Safety Gear:

2. Consumables:

3. Curing Station:

Beginner’s ‘Bare Minimum’ Shopping Cart Overview:

1. Resin

This is the material the printer uses. Elegoo linked via Amazon below, eBay however stocks the Anycubic plant-based resin I prefer because it’s less toxic and I haven’t noticed much difference to print-quality. (P.S. you don’t need to match resin printer brands to the brands of resin).

Standard Elegoo resin:

Plant-based Anycubic resin:

2. IsoPropyl Alcohol (IPA)

You need this to clean your resin prints once they’re finished printing. I use Sydney Solvents, they ship in large quantities Australia-wide. Shipping is expensive due to its nature, so in future try order it in bulk.

3. Nitrile Gloves

Don’t use just any gloves – the type you want is called nitrile gloves as they are resistant to resin. Do not touch resin or recent prints directly. If any gets on your skin, wipe it off. Small slips you wipe away are just fine, but willful negligence can burn your skin.

4. Mask

You shouldn’t breathe in resin. I must be honest, I don’t always use mine, but you really should. Masks left over from the Covid era can work too. The mask I’ve linked is one I own and is among the safest kinds you can use, especially if you are weak in the respiratory area.

5. Goggles

Resin in your eyes is a no-go. Be careful when touching resin that you don’t then touch your eyes. Again, this is a piece of equipment I have to include for beginners, even though I myself am guilty of only using them on occasion. 

Optional add-ons: Quality of life improvements

Optional: Curing Station

You’ll need UV light to cure your resin prints. You can use sunlight to spare money in the beginning, but that takes much longer and is more work. I highly recommend you add a curing station to your cart, and if not, at least to your wish list.

Entry-level printers:

Elegoo Mars 3 Pro:

Roughly AUD $350

My first resin printer was its predecessor, the Mars 2. The Mars 3 offers a few improvements, and you can’t go wrong. However if you think you’ll want to print bigger models, lots of models at once, or things like terrain,  rather save up and get a larger printer like the Elegoo Saturn from the start. See below.

Elegoo Mars 4:

Roughly AUD $500 – $605

The Mars 4 sits between the Mars 3 Pro and Saturn range in build plate size (which dictates how much you can fit on each print session). Personally – I would just go in for the Saturn once you reach this price point. But here are the links, that call is subjective.

Mars 4:

Mars 4 Ultra:

Elegoo Saturn 2:

Roughly AUD $620

You can save a bit of money on the Saturn 2 now that the 3 is out. It’s still 10-inches. Even the original Saturn holds up to the test of time, but I’m not sure they still sell those.

Elegoo Saturn 3:

Roughly AUD $840 – $970

If you have money burning a hole in your pocket, the Saturn 3 and Saturn 3 Ultra also exist. Is it worth the money? The Saturn 3 boasts better resolution than the Saturn 2, but many argue it is barely perceptible to the naked eye. The Ultra is at least a lot faster and lets you transfer your print files via Wi-Fi instead of USB. Minor quality bumps, but don’t feel like you’re missing out if you don’t splurge for it.

Saturn 3:

Saturn 3 Ultra:

Free Software Needed For Resin Printers

You will need slicing software to print your 3D files. Thankfully, these are freely available. The top contenders are ChituBox or Lychee. Either is a good choice. Lychee is probably more user-friendly overall, but makes you wait 20 seconds between prints to play advertisements unless you switch to a paid version.

Both are equally as capable of getting the job done, and both can automatically support models for you.

3D Printing Files for Resin Printers

The most common file type is called an STL. These generally get loaded onto a USB or other transferable device, then plugged directly into the 3D printer. In some cases, you may be able to plug in your laptop directly or transfer wirelessly, but these are generally regarded to have drawbacks.

Worth noting, you can print the same 3D print files on both resin and FDM printers. However, the supports for each will be entirely different.

Finding 3D Printing Files

Several file hosting sites exist, including Thingiverse, Cults 3D and MyMiniFactory. Yeggi is a site that pulls 3D print files from across the web. Patreon and MyMiniFactory’s Tribes also host plenty of 3D artists, most of whom rotate a monthly pack of 3D printing files for a nominal fee ranging between AUD $10 to $20 per month on average.

If you’re worrying about finding files to print, don’t be. There is a massive, rapidly growing community of artists for just about everything – tabletop games, miniatures, spare parts, vehicle parts, jewellery, fashion, props and cosplay, board games and more. You just have to know where to find them.

Is Resin Safe?

Generally yes, if you use the correct gear. Resin is toxic, and this poses a few considerations you will most definitely need to keep in mind when deciding whether you can safely operate this type of printer in your home. The primary safety aspects to keep in mind are as follows:

• You should never handle resin directly or let it touch your skin. You will need to wear gloves at all times.
• You shouldn’t breathe resin fumes in – this will mean keeping the resin 3D printer some place that is well-ventilated and away from people or pets. It will also mean wearing a mask while you’re working with your printer.
• Negligent disposal of resin is harmful to the environment. For this reason, you’ll have to learn how to dispose of resin appropriately, or choose less toxic, plant-based alternatives to traditional resin.

If you get resin on your skin and you wipe it off swiftly, generally speaking it’s not an issue. But if you handle resin for extended periods, it can result in a nasty, caustic burn. In large quantities, resin is toxic to people and animals.

If you’re concerned, look out for plant-based resin, which is biodegradable, BPA-free, and ecologically friendly. While you should still aim not to touch or inhale it, the risk is far more negligible.

Storing Resin 3D Printers

Unlike FDM printers, resin 3D printers require certain storage conditions. Due to their use of UV light to solidify models, their environment needs to be dark, with limited to no sunlight. This will ideally be some place without much natural lighting, such as a garage.

That said, resin also creates harmful fumes that should not be breathed in. For this reason, its environment also needs to be ventilated.

This can sometimes make it more difficult to fit resin printers into your living arrangement. There are covers available to help limit exposure to sunlight.

Disposing of Resin

If it’s cured in alcohol and UV light, you can throw standard resin away the normal way. For liquid resin or uncured resin you no longer want, you’ll have to take it to your local waste location to ensure no harm comes to the environment.

Plant-based resins present a good alternative to regular resins as they are less hazardous to the environment overall. I switched to these for multiple reasons, and have seen no difference in the quality of my prints. In fact, more and more plant-based resins are emerging from some of the most popular resin manufacturers due to increasing demand.

The Best Resin 3D Printers in Australia: Know Your Brands

There are several excellent brands of resin 3D printers available for household use these days, each with their own extensive list of pros and cons depending on what you’re hoping to print, but few you can really “go wrong” with. The most popular brands of resin 3D printers in Australia are Elegoo and Anycubic. These names are trusted because, generally speaking, they are reliable and they have an active community online who can assist you with any problems you may encounter along the way. If your printer is under warranty, and sometimes even if it isn’t, these big brand names will happily send you a replacement part free of charge for events outside of user-error.

They are also on the more affordable end of the spectrum without compromising much on quality. I heartily recommend you start your printing journey with an Elegoo printer rather than kicking things off with a more advanced or expensive machine, or enviable brands such as the Bamboo. The advantages of these machines are probably minimal to a beginner, and only once you dip your feet into the hobby will you understand which advanced features even matter to you.

For the purposes of getting high-quality prints, Elegoo and Anycubic offer fantastic grade options. You can’t go wrong with either, but in general, Elegoo comes more recommended for their praised customer support.

Another brand I am personally less experienced with but have heard are reputable includes Voxelab.

The Best Resin 3D Printer for Beginners

I started with Elegoo as my first resin 3D printer, and had an excellent experience. So much so that I bought friends and family their own Elegoo printers when they were looking to get into the hobby. Not only are they popular and reliable, but their customer service team is excellent, reducing the risk you struggle on your way into the hobby and are left on your own. (That said, if you’ve had a positive or negative experience with a 3D printing manufacturer, please leave your feedback here for me. I am assembling the community’s vote to help guide users and keep holding manufacturers to account). 

99% pre-assembled, the Elegoo Mars is the definition of plug-and-play and produces some of the most visually stunning prints even at diminutive scales such as 25mm miniatures. I recommend it to all beginners.

That said, if you think you might want to print larger models whole or several smaller models at once (such as entire armies for a certain tabletop game) then you may want to consider the Mars’ larger iteration – the Elegoo Saturn.

Similar to the Mars, the Elegoo Saturn 2 is a workhorse, and Elegoo has just released the Elegoo Saturn 3. If you’re curious about what the Saturn S refers to, it is essentially a slightly upgraded version of the original Saturn. The order of release goes Saturn – Saturn S – Saturn 2 – Saturn 3 – Saturn 3 Ultra. Honestly, you’re good with any of them.

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