The 7 Best Resin 3D Printers for All Budgets and Needs in 2023

The 7 Best Resin 3D Printers for All Budgets and Needs in 2023. Resin 3D printers, also known as SLA or DLP 3D printers, are extremely popular for hobbyists and professionals alike due to their ability to create highly detailed prints. Unlike FDM printers that use plastic filament, resin printers use liquid resin which is hardened layer-by-layer using UV light. This allows resin printers to achieve much higher resolutions, making them perfect for printing miniatures, jewelry, dental models, and other objects that require intricate details.

Choosing the right resin 3D printer can be overwhelming given the number of options out there. This definitive guide will walk you through the 10 best resin printers across all budgets and needs so you can find the perfect one for your specific requirements. We evaluate each printer on print quality, build volume, print speed, resolution, price and other key factors.

How to Choose the Best Resin 3D Printer

Here are some key considerations when choosing a resin 3D printer:

Purpose – Are you looking to print miniatures, cosplay props, mechanical parts or jewelry? Your intended application will determine factors like build volume and resolution needed.

Print Quality – Higher resolution printers like 8K can produce sharper details but you may not need ultra-high resolution for things like terrain. Most hobbyists are fine with 4K printers.

Build Volume – Entry level printers have small build volumes around 120-150mm while larger printers exceed 250mm. Larger is better for printing big objects.

Print Speed – Desktop resin printers have average speeds of 30-80mm/hr while industrial printers exceed 100mm/hr. Faster is better for production.

Price – Desktop resin printers start at $200 and go up to $3000+ for industrial printers. Determine how much print quality you need for your budget.

Resin Type – Make sure the printer is compatible with resins you plan to use like ABS-like, elastic, dental, etc.

Printer Type – There are SLA, DLP and MSLA type resin printers. MSLA tend to be more affordable with good quality.

With those factors in mind, let’s look at the top resin 3D printers in 2023 across various price points and categories.

The 7 Best Resin 3D Printers of 2023

1. Anycubic Photon Mono X – Best Resin Printer for Most Uses
   The Anycubic Photon Mono X is arguably the best resin 3D printer for most uses with its excellent combination of print quality, large build volume, speed and price.

It features a 6.23″ monochrome LCD with XY resolution of 0.05mm and a 4K Z-axis to deliver highly detailed prints. The build volume of 192 x 120 x 250mm is great for printing large models. The 60mm/hr printing speed allows you to print quickly with a 1s layer cure time.

The sturdy metal frame ensures stability during printing. Overall it provides tremendous value for money and is easy to setup and use even for beginners.

Key Specs:

Build Volume: 192 x 120 x 250 mm
Resolution: 4K Monochrome LCD (3840 x 2400 px)
Layer Height: 0.01 – 0.15 mm
Print Speed: 60 mm/hour
Price: $480

2. Elegoo Mars 3 – Best Beginner Resin 3D Printer
   The Elegoo Mars 3 is an extremely popular resin printer perfect for beginners due to its ease of use and detailed 4K print quality. It features a compact build volume of 143 x 89 x 175 mm, making it a great desktop printer.

It uses a 6.66″ monochrome 4K LCD combined with a UV LED light source to achieve 0.035mm XY resolution for printing sharp details. The 50mm/hr print speed allows you to print models relatively quickly.

The Mars 3 is regarded as one of the most user-friendly and reliable resin printers. The price is also quite affordable at around $350. It’s an excellent starter printer for getting into resin printing without spending too much.

Key Specs:

Build Volume: 143 x 89 x 175 mm
Resolution: 4K LCD (4098 x 2560 px)
Layer Height: 0.01 – 0.2 mm
Print Speed: 50 mm/hour
Price: $350

3. Anycubic Photon Mono X2 – Best Resin Printer for Large Models
   Need a resin printer capable of printing really large objects? The Anycubic Photon Mono X2 is an excellent choice with its huge build volume of 196 x 122 x 200 mm.

It utilizes a 9.1″ monochrome 4K LCD paired with a linear rail and sturdy metal frame for stable prints. The XY resolution of 0.048mm produces nicely detailed prints. The 60mm/hr print speed allows you to print large pieces relatively quickly.

The Mono X2 gives you the freedom to print big without compromising on print quality. It’s also quite user-friendly for a large-format printer. If you need to create helmets, props or cosplay armor, the Anycubic Mono X2 is a leading option.

Key Specs:

Build Volume: 196 x 122 x 200 mm
Resolution: 4K LCD (4096 x 2560 px)
Layer Height: 0.01 – 0.2 mm
Print Speed: 60 mm/hour
Price: $350

4. Elegoo Saturn – Best Resin Printer for Tall Models
   The Elegoo Saturn is ideal if you need to print tall models thanks to its build volume of 192 x 120 x 200 mm. The Z-axis height is what sets it apart from other similarly priced competitors.

The 8.9″ 4K mono LCD provides excellent XY resolution of 0.05mm for capturing intricate details. The 48-LED UV light source offers high-intensity curing. The durable steel frame ensures stability when printing large pieces.

It’s easy to set up and use for a large resin printer thanks to the user-friendly touch screen interface. While not the most affordable, the Saturn gives you great print quality and enough build volume flexibility to print tall warhammer pieces and busts.

Key Specs:

Build Volume: 192 x 120 x 200 mm
Resolution: 4K LCD (3840 x 2400 px)
Layer Height: 0.01 – 0.2 mm
Print Speed: 30 mm/hour
Price: $500

5. Formlabs Form 3 – Best Professional Resin Printer
   The Formlabs Form 3 is a professional SLA printer prized for its incredible print quality and reliability. It is an excellent production printer for industries like dental, jewelry and engineering.

It utilizes a cutting-edge laser printing technology called Low Force Stereolithography to achieve intricate details down to 25 microns. This allows creates smooth surfaces without any raster lines. The build volume of 145 x 145 x 185 mm can print large pieces.

The Form 3 is very easy use and maintain thanks to automated features like resin cartridge handling and print head cleaning. It’s also extremely fast with a print speed exceeding 20mm/hr. The price is premium but it’s the top choice for professionals needing consistent high-quality prints.

Key Specs:

Build Volume: 145 x 145 x 185 mm
Resolution: 25 microns
Layer Height: 25 – 300 microns
Print Speed: >20 mm/hour
Price: $3,500

6. Anycubic Photon Ultra – Best Budget Resin Printer
   The Anycubic Photon Ultra is an excellent budget resin printer with surprisingly good print quality for the low price of just $189.

It uses DLP technology with a 2K pixel resolution rather than an LCD. This allows it to achieve 51 micron XY resolution and 0.01 – 0.15mm layer heights for detailed prints. The compact build volume of 130 x 73 x 165 mm is decent for miniatures and jewelry.

Despite the low price, it produces sharp prints with little pixelation. Setup is also easy with the user-friendly touch screen menu. For those looking to get started with resin printing on a budget, the Anycubic Photon Ultra is a leading choice.

Key Specs:

Build Volume: 130 x 73 x 165mm
Resolution: 2K DLP (1440 x 2560 px)
Layer Height: 0.01 – 0.15mm
Print Speed: 10-30 mm/hour
Price: $189

7. Creality LD-002R – Best DLP Resin Printer for Beginners
   The Creality LD-002R is a great beginner DLP resin printer with its affordable price and decent 120 x 68 x 155 mm build volume.

It uses a UV LED light source paired with a 2K LCD panel to deliver prints with XY resolution down to 47 microns. Print speeds reach 20-30mm/hr which is good for a budget printer.

It’s easy to setup and use thanks to the color touchscreen and straightforward menus. Print quality is also surprisingly good for the low price.

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