Resin 3D printers (MSLA)
Resin (MSLA) cures whole layers with an LCD screen and UV light, achieving detail that filament can't match — which is why it dominates miniatures, dental and jewelry. In exchange it demands post-processing (alcohol wash + UV cure), gloves and ventilation: liquid resin is an irritant. If it's your first printer and you don't need that level of detail, start with FDM.
25 models · data verified against official spec sheets (sources on each page) · updated with every catalog change
HALOT R6
Mars 4 Ultra
Mars 5
Photon Mono 4
Mars 4 DLP
Saturn 3
Mars 4
Mars 5 Ultra
Saturn 2
Sonic Mini 8K S
Saturn 4
HALOT-MAGE S
Saturn 3 Ultra
Photon Mono M5s Pro
Saturn 4 Ultra 16K
Photon P1
Saturn 4 Ultra
Jupiter SE
HALOT-X1
Photon Mono M7 Pro
Photon Mono M7 Max
Jupiter 2
Sonic Mega 8K
SL1S SPEED
Form 4
How to choose
Resin wins on detail and loses on everything else
For miniatures and small, finely detailed parts nothing comes close: resin resolves features filament can't. But every print ends in an isopropyl alcohol wash and a UV cure, and that's 20–30 minutes of hands-on work per batch that filament simply doesn't have.
You need space, gloves and ventilation from day one
Liquid resin irritates skin and its fumes don't belong in a bedroom. Plan for nitrile gloves, goggles, a wipeable surface and real ventilation. Used alcohol doesn't go down the drain either: cure it in sunlight and bin it as solid waste.
Look at the LCD pixel pitch, not just the microns
The number that matters is real pixel size (screen width divided by its resolution), not the '8K' on the box. And the LCD is a consumable: it lasts 1,000–2,000 hours and must be replaced. Check the replacement price for your model first, because on large screens it isn't cheap.
Resin build volume is deceptive
A large-area MSLA doesn't print faster than a small one — time depends on height, not part count — so filling the plate is nearly free. That's the exact opposite of filament, and it's why resin pays off so well for batches of miniatures.
FAQ
- Resin or filament for a first printer?
- Filament (FDM), unless your main goal is highly detailed miniatures. Resin requires handling chemicals, post-processing and more cleanup.
- What does 8K or 12K mean on a resin printer?
- It's the resolution of the LCD screen that cures each layer. More resolution over the same screen size means more detail per pixel (smaller voxel size).