The Ultimate Guide to 3D Print Miniatures for Tabletop Gaming

3D printing has revolutionized tabletop gaming by making it easier than ever for hobbyists to create customized miniatures. With the right 3D printer and design files, you can print miniatures for Dungeons & Dragons, Warhammer 40k, Star Wars: Legion, and any other tabletop game you can imagine. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to start 3D printing miniatures that look great on the tabletop.

Choosing a 3D Printer for Miniatures

The most important decision is choosing the right 3D printer for printing detailed miniatures. You’ll want a printer with a high resolution so it can produce crisp details on small models. Look for a printer with a resolution of 50 microns or lower.

SLA 3D printers that use resin are ideal for miniatures because they can achieve very high detail. Popular SLA printers like the AnyCubic Photon and Elegoo Mars have resolutions around 25-50 microns and work great for miniatures.

FDM printers that use filament can also work well for miniatures if you get one with a small nozzle and layer height. The Prusa i3 MK3S has a 0.25mm nozzle and can print miniatures with good quality. Avoid FDM printers with 0.4mm nozzles as they will lack fine details.

If you’re willing to invest more, there are excellent SLA printers specifically designed for miniatures like the Peopoly Moai 130 and AnyCubic Photon Ultra. But more affordable options can still produce great quality if tuned properly.

Choosing the Right 3D Model Files

To 3D print miniatures, you need digital 3D model files. You can find a wealth of options online to print anything from characters to terrain and props. Here are some good sources of STL files for printing miniatures:

• Thingiverse – Popular site with both free and paid 3D models. Search for your favorite game to find models.
• MyMiniFactory – Specializes in tabletop gaming files. Has lots of highly detailed paid models.
• Hero Forge – Customize and download STL files for unique RPG characters.
• Gambody – Offers premium STL models for characters and terrain.

When downloading model files, look for ones designed specifically for 3D printing. Models with lots of fine details will generally print better than models intended for rendering graphics. And beware of very tiny details that may not print well on your specific printer.

Slicing Settings for Optimal 3D Print Miniatures

To go from 3D model to successfully printed miniature, you need to use a slicing software like Cura or Chitubox. This converts the model into instructions for your printer called g-code.

Dialing in the right settings in your slicer software is crucial to getting great results when printing miniatures:

• Layer Height: For maximum detail go with 0.025-0.05mm layers. You can go up to 0.1mm for faster prints.
• Infill: A lower infill around 10-20% is best to reduce printing time. Miniatures don’t need dense infill.
• Supports: Use dense supports on miniatures with overhangs. Play with support settings to minimize scarring.
• Orientation: Tilt miniatures at an angle to reduce the cross-sectional area needing supports.
• Speed: Print miniatures slower than usual designs. 30-50mm/s is a good starting point.

Take the time to dial in supports, orientation, layer height, and print speeds for your specific 3D printer. This will allow you to produce detailed miniatures consistently.

Post-Processing Methods for Smooth Miniatures Freshly 3D printed miniatures will have layer lines, supports marks, and a grainy surface finish. Some post-processing is required to achieve a smooth, high-quality finish. Here are some methods to smooth 3D printed miniatures:

• Sanding – Go through progressively finer grits of sandpaper to gradually smooth the model. Try wet sanding for best results.
• Filler Primer – Applying a filler primer coat will fill in layer lines and create a uniform surface for painting.
• Vapor Smoothing – Exposure to vapors from solvents like acetone will melt the surface for a smooth, glossy finish. Requires ABS plastic.
• Epoxy Coating – Brushing on a thin layer of epoxy resin and curing it can create a glassy smooth surface.
• XTC-3D – Specialty coating designed for 3D prints. Can be brushed on and sanded for an ultra smooth finish.

Take care when post-processing to preserve fine details on miniatures. Proper cleaning and curing of the model prior to sanding or coating is also a must.

Painting Your 3D Printed Miniatures

To truly bring your 3D printed miniatures to life, you need to apply colorful paints. Miniature painting involves techniques designed specifically for painting small models with acrylic paints. Here are some tips:

• Prime in grey or white to create an ideal surface for painting layers.
• Thin your paints with a bit of water so they flow smoothly off the brush.
• Use washes like black, brown, or sepia in crevices to create instant shading.
• Drybrushing with light colors over a dark basecoat picks out details nicely.
• Mixing paint colors on the model creates natural highlights and shadows.
• Apply a matte varnish to protect your painted mini and dull shiny areas.

Focus first on getting basic colors blocked in. Then go back to add highlights and shadows. Watch miniature painting tutorials to pick up useful techniques for blending, layering, and perfecting the tiny details.

Printing Larger Models in Pieces Very large models can be difficult to 3D print as a single piece without errors. Luckily it’s easy to split up a model and print it in multiple sections. Here are some tips for printing large miniatures in parts:

• Use modeling software like Meshmixer to cut models into logical sections.
• Align joints so they are easy to glue together after printing.
• Add pins, clips, magnets, or other connectors to align and strengthen joints.
• Print a few iterations to improve how the parts fit together when glued.
• Use epoxy or superglue to securely adhere the sections after cleanup.
• Fill gaps between parts with putty and sand smooth.

Sectioning models allows very large pieces to be printed by reducing overhangs and disconnecting supported spans. Just double check alignment fits prior to gluing.

Conclusion

From acquiring models to dialing in prints to painting, 3D printing miniatures for tabletop gaming requires some trial and error. But the payoff is having completely customized miniatures that bring your games to life. By following this guide, anyone can start exploring this fun hobby that combines 3D printing and artistry. Just take your time, experiment with settings, and keep iterating. Soon you’ll have professional-looking minis ready for the tabletop.

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