Best 3d printer for casting
8 Best 3D Printers For Jewelry 2023 (Wax & Resin, and Every Price Range)
3D printing jewelry rarely means 3D printing actual wearable pieces made from filament or resin, but instead using a jewelry 3D printer to create high-resolution wax models of the eventual gold or platinum design, used to create a mold that is burned out and cast via investment casting or lost wax casting.
And, rather than having to pay $25+ for someone to 3D print it for you, buying your own wax 3D printer for jewelry saves you serious money (can cost $1-2 to print your own) — and gives you more control over your production.
So, we put together our list of the best wax 3D printers for jewelry, including resin and wax printers, and in every price range, to help you pick the best jewelry printer for you.
4.3
$699.99
Large Volume Pick
4.7
$959.99
Amazon here
Extremely High Resolution 3D Printer
4. 4
Name | Build volume (mm) | Price | Where to buy |
---|---|---|---|
Elegoo Mars 2 Pro | 129 x 80 x 160 | $250 | Elegoo here |
Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K | 165 x 72 x 180 | $699 | Phrozen here |
Anycubic Photon M3 Plus | 245 x 197 x 122 | $699 | Anycubic here |
Anycubic Photon M3 Max | 300 x 298 x 164 | $1,049 | Anycubic here |
Peopoly Phenom | 276 x 155 x 400 | $1,999 | Matterhackers here |
Formlabs Form 3 | 145 x 145 x 185 | $3,499 | Dynamism Store here |
Solidscape S325 | 6″ x 6″ x 4″ | Quote | Get a quote |
Flashforge WaxJet 300 | 289 x 218 x 150 | ~$50,000 | Get a quote |
EnvisionTEC D4K Jewelry | 148 x 83 x 110 | Quote | Get a quote |
Resin 3D printers are considered the best 3D printers for jewelry. They use specialized castable wax resins, which rather than going from solid to liquid when heated, transition directly into a gas from their solid state.
FDM 3D printers are very rarely used as 3D printers for jewelry. They are not capable of the same resolutions, crisp surface finishes or accuracies required for intricate and delicate jewelry pieces. Jewelry is incredibly highly detailed — an inaccurate mold will create inaccurate and unimpressive jewelry.
Additionally, the better the jewelry 3D printer quality, the less finishing the resulting jewelry piece will need to perfect it.
What do jewelry 3D printers make?Usually they 3D print wax jewelry molds, for example ring designs before any stones are set, or individual chain links.
However, they can also be used to create like-for-like “fitting pieces” for testing the fit of an as-yet unmade ring for a client’s finger. Though making the final ring would be expensive and take time, an exact replica can be made on a jewelry 3D printer in just minutes to test the sizing.
This saves the trouble of creating a piece just to find it doesn’t fit properly. Whereas for jewelry molds specialized castable resins are required, for these fitting pieces standard resins can be used.
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The Best 3D Printers for Jewelry
Elegoo Mars 2 Pro: Cheapest jewelry 3D printer
- Jewelry 3D printer price: $250 — Available at Elegoo store here / Available on Amazon here
- Build volume: 129 x 80 x 160 mm
Pros
Great value for great resolution.
Works at quick speeds.
Cons
Newer and high-spec models are available.
Featuring a 6-inch monochrome LCD screen offering HD 2K resolution, the Elegoo Mars 2 Pro offers precise jewelry printing for the price. Rather than DLP or SLA, the Mars 2 Pro uses LCD printing to cure entire resin layers at once, quickening print speeds and able to print at 30-50mm/h.
Other 3D printers for jewelry on this list offer better quality, but for the price the Mars 2 Pro is a great option. It is sturdily built with its CNC-machined aluminum structure for better stability, and the mono LCD is upgraded for improved lifespan to save you money over the long term. It’s one of the best 3D printers for jewelry under $500.
This is the detail we achieved when using the Elegoo Mars 2 pro – enough for fine jewelry pieces.The Elegoo Mars has Z-axis resolutions of up to 0.00125mm, XY-resolutions of 0.05mm, and weighs 6.2kg. It also supports 12 different languages, so if you’re not a native English speaker you can choose your own language.
The video below even shows, from start to finish, how accurately you can make wax models for gold jewelry using a standard Elegoo Mars. Even this standard version produces good quality wax models, and the Elegoo Mars 2 Pro comes with several upgrades on the original.
However, new and better Elegoo printers have since come out, which can create even more precise and intricate jewelry features. If you have the budget, consider upgrading to the Elegoo Mars 3 or Mars 3 Pro for the best resolutions.
Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K: Extremely high-quality 3D printer for casting
- Price: Check latest price at Phrozen here
- Build Volume: 165 x 72 x 180 mm
- XY Resolution: 22 Microns
- LCD Size: 7.1”
- LCD Resolution: 8K
- Material Compatibility: Resin
Pros
Unmatched resolution.
Ultra-stable dual linear rails ensure great stability.
User-friendly operation.
Cons
Small build volume for the price.
The Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K is the latest entry to Phrozen’s well-respected line-up of resin 3D printers. Setting it apart from the rest of the Phrozen stable and many other manufacturers is an 8K LCD (7500 x 3240 px) combined with an XY resolution of 22 microns, positioning it as one of the most detailed consumer-grade printers around.
The machine effectively doubles the 4K resolution found on most printers released in the last year or two, offering unparalleled results to satisfy even the most demanding jewelry makers and designers.
This allows you to create feature-rich, highly detailed, intricate parts and models with superb surface finish. For jewelry making, the Sonic Mini 8K can print extremely intricate resin molds for rings, broaches, bracelets, earrings, and much more.
The quality is largely unsurpassed in this price range, and the Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K should be at the top of the list of anyone serious about using 3D printing to create market-ready, production-grade jewelry casts from the first print onwards.
Further enhancing the Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K’s printing abilities is an ultra-stable dual linear rails setup, which ensures superb stability, mitigating print errors, alongside a frosted, laser-cut build plate that promotes fantastic adhesion, even on small parts and models like jewelry.
Finally, the light array is what Phrozen calls a linear projection LED module. Cutting through the jargon, this simply means excellent light uniformity for sharper, more consistent results.
The 165 x 72 x 180 mm build volume is large enough to batch print several casts at once, though it may be a little small for larger businesses. However, it makes up for this with user-friendly operation, and, again, a level of quality unheard of even a few years ago.
We recommend pairing the Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K with Phrozen’s own castable resin, notably the Phrozen Castable Resin W40, Phrozen Castable Resin W20, Phrozen Castable Dental & Jewelry Resin. The printer is compatible with third-party castable resins, but the quality does take a small hit, so it’s best to stick with Phrozen’s optimized resins for the best results.
Anycubic Photon M3 Plus/Max
- Price: $700-$1,000 — Check latest price at Anycubic here / Amazon here
- Build Volume: 245 x 197 x 122 mm / 300 x 298 x 164 mm
- XY Resolution: 34 Microns / 46 Microns
- LCD Size: 9. 25″ / 13.6″
- LCD Resolution: 6K / 7K
- Material Compatibility: Resin
Pros
Large build volume.
Textured build plate offering superb print adhesion.
Fine details and features suitable for jewelry making.
Cons
The fans are very noisy.
With a 6K and 7K LCD resolution and 34 and 46 micron XY resolution respectively, the Anycubic Photon M3 Plus and Max produce high-quality prints stacked with fine details and features suitable for jewelry making.
However, the real benefit here is the large resin build volume compared to many similarly specced and priced 3D resin printers.
The Anycubic Photon M3 Plus boasts a 245 x 197 x 122 mm, while the Anycubic Photon M3 Max expands this to 300 x 298 x 164 mm – some of the largest in the budget resin market.
What this means for jewelry making, given that resin printers cure entire layers at once, is higher productivity: you can produce more jewelry at once, which is ideal for budding businesses looking for a cost-effective printer to kickstart a jewelry-making venture.
Both printers also come with several quality-of-life features that make these very easy to use and master. These include smart resin filing, a laser engraved build platform for superb adhesion, high-precision ball screw z-axis rails, and up to 60-100 mm/h print speeds, so you can prototype quickly and efficiently before committing to a production run.
Though the Anycubic M3 Plus and Max pair well with third-party filament, they work best with Anycubic DLP Craftsman Resin. It’s optimized for precise prints with intricate features, and a perfect resin for jewelry prototyping. It has the added benefit of reducing shrinkage, and has a shorter exposure time to cure than most other resins.
Large Volume Pick
Peopoly Phenom: large-scale resin printer for batch printing jewelry molds
- Jewelry 3D printer price: $1,999 — Available on Matterhackers here
- Build volume: 276 x 155 x 400 mm
Pros
Large work area for the price.
Super fast bulk printing.
Cons
Loud fans.
The Peopoly Phenom offers truly enormous printing volumes, almost unheard of for a jewelry 3D printer. For jewelers looking to produce many rings or other pieces simultaneously, this larger volume provides space for dozens of wax jewelry models. If you’re in demand for jewelry and want to make as many as possible then this larger build volume is crucial.
With its 4K high resolution projection quality using MSLA technologies, the Phenom produces crisp, accurate and consistent jewelry molds. MSLA takes elements from both LED and LCD technologies, the result being fast, accurate and repeatable jewelry 3D printing.
- The even larger version, the Peopoly Phenom L, is available here.
- For faster print speeds, the premium Peopoly Noir is available here.
The Phenom uses Chitubox resin 3D slicer, useful if you’ve previously used it previously on another printer. Overall, it’s one of the best 3D printers for jewelry, and a great choice for people looking to make large numbers of castable wax jewelry models.
Formlabs Form 3
- 3D for jewelry price: $3,499 — Available on Dynamism here
- Build volume: 145 x 145 x 185 mm
Pros
Extremely fine details and precision, ideal for jewelry.
The gold standard for professional resin printing.
Cons
Small build area.
Seen as the gold-standard in professional resin printing, the Form 3 is capable of fantastic precision, with its new custom Light Processing Unit (LPU) using lenses and mirrors to accurately print jewelry models.
For the price, the Form 3 offers 25-micron resolutions and very consistent and repeatable printing. For those looking for a 3D printer for jewelry able to produce the same design flawlessly again and again, or for producing custom intricate designs, the Form 3 can handle both without issue.
Formlabs make their own castable wax resins designed for jewelry with “crisp settings, sharp prongs and smooth shanks. ” Within the Formlabs workflow therefore is a complete jewelry production process for wax models, though the Form 3 also excels as a dental 3D printer and in other industries, too.
Extremely High Resolution 3D Printer
Solidscape S325: best 3D wax printer for jewelry
- Price: Requires a quote
- Build volume: 6” x 6” x 4”
Pros
Designed especially for jewelry making.
Accurate and precise.
Cons
No support for Mac users.
Soliscape make specially designed jewelry 3D printers, so any Solidscape printer you buy is optimized for jewelry printing. Whereas other printers like the Form 3 are designed to excel in a number of industries, the Solidscape S325 is designed with jewelry wholly in mind.
The S325 is the cheapest of Solidscape’s jewelry 3D printer range. It offers great accuracy, material jetting wax models for the precise and effective investment casting of precious metals. Solidscape stress that all their models are castable in gold and platinum, and do not expand or shrink during the investment casting process.
The S325 is capable of 0.001-inch layer thicknesses, with accuracies of 0.005 inches. Overall, as a specialized 3D printer for jewelry, Solidscape have a rich history in jewelry 3D printing and can be trusted to deliver high-quality and precise ring wax models, time and time again.
Flashforge WaxJet 400
- Price: ~$50,000
- Build Volume: 289 x 218 x 150 mm
- Layer Thickness: 16 Microns
- Resolution: 1200 x 1200 x 1600 dpi
- Material Compatibility: Flashforge casting wax and dissolvable wax support material
Pros
Great for mass production with great quality.
fast print speeds.
Cons
Not particularly large.
Unlike most of the other printers on our list, the Flashforge WaxJet 400 is aimed at established businesses for mass production with flawless quality. It employs multi-jet 3D printing technology instead of SLA, vastly improving production speeds, saving time and money, and shortening the time to market.
The machine produces casting wax patterns, not the final end-product jewelry. These casts are used for the final casting process, usually in metals, followed by polishing, stone setting, and sandblasting.
Though the 289 x 218 x 150 mm build volume isn’t particularly large, the printer is designed to work tirelessly at faster print speeds, improving productivity, with the printer able to churn out hundreds of models per day.
As Flashforge notes, the printer can produce up to 10kg of wax patterns in a single month. This is all done at an astounding 16-micron minimum layer height, beating the quality found on SLA resin printers, with high precision, high accuracy, and high detail results.
Due to the use of multi-jet technology, the Flashforge WaxJet 400 is limited to Flashforge materials. But rather than a constraint, these are optimized to make the most of the device’s capabilities.
These include FFWJ1100 and FFWJ1200, both wax-based casting materials, and FFMS3100, a wax-based support material that dissolves easily after the printing process to simplify post-processing, allowing for steep overhangs and clean bridges, even on the smallest rings.
EnvisionTEC D4K Pro Jewelry 3D printer
- Jewelry 3D printer price: Requires a quote
- Build volume: 148 x 83 x 110 mm
Pros
High-resolution professional-grade desktop 3D printer.
User friendly.
Produces very detailed parts.
Cons
Small build volume.
Described by EnvisionTEC are the highest resolution professional-grade desktop 3D printer, as well as claiming to have the fastest speed, the D4K is well suited to jewelry 3D printing. Speed and accuracy are key to jewelry production, with the printer’s 4K UV DLP projector able to create crisp wax models at speed to be cast into stunning jewelry pieces.
EnvisionTEC are the originators of DLP 3D printing, having pioneered the process more than a decade ago. Now, their advanced D4K Pro can produce accuracies of up to 25 microns in the XY resolution, and 1 micron on the Z axis.
The jewelry 3D printer works well with EnvisionTEC’s WIC100 Series wax material, used to then burn out and investment cast precious jewelry. Though it’s an industrial 3D printer costing over $10,000, larger jewelers will find the D4K one of the best 3D jewelry mold printers.
Buying Guide – Things to Consider When Buying a 3D Printer for Making Jewelry
Resolution
Resolution measures the level of detail a 3D printer can produce, hugely important for jewelry production. A higher resolution 3D printer can produce more accurate models, finer details, better surface quality, and more intricate details – all essential where the final aesthetic quality is so important.
In terms of the casting process, higher accuracy models ensure few issues and errors during the casting process, saving costs on instanced prototyping and batch production for the market.
On an SLA resin printer, we would recommend at least a 6K resolution LCD, ideally 8K, while on a multi-jet printer, anything below 20 microns provides sufficient detail for high-quality casts.
Build Volume and Print Speed
A larger build volume allows for larger individual parts, though this particular usecase doesn’t matter in jewelry making, where parts are small.
However, for batch printing jewelry casts, it’s absolutely key. Larger build areas let jewelry businesses print multiple models at once, an important consideration if your plans include large and frequent production runs.
Resin printers cure entire layers at once, so whether you are printing one model or a dozen, the print times are the same. So, you can print faster because you can squeeze more models into a larger build surface without upping the production time.
Cost
For a decent 3D printer for jewelry making, you can expect to pay upwards of $700, with prices surging to well over $50,000 for professional-grade machines.
As the saying goes, you get what you pay for, so if you are comfortable with a smaller-scale operation (and slightly less precise models), a more affordable printer is a viable choice.
Otherwise, we strongly recommend considering a more professional 3D printer, because more expensive machines offer better overall print speeds, build volumes, workflows, and, therefore, better productivity.
Resin Compatibility
Always check whether a 3D printer is compatible with third-party materials, or tied to the manufacturer’s materials, before locking in your choice.
Most importantly, check it’s compatible with castable resins or wax suitable for jewelry. Not all are (especially cheaper resin printers), which could result in an expensive mistake.
Note that castable resin tends to be more expensive than typical 3D printing resin. But due to the size of the models produced in jewelry making, models are fairly cheap to print.
The Jewelry 3D Printing Process- CAD File: Either design your own jewelry piece on CAD software, pay someone to design your desired piece, or pay for an existing jewelry STL file online and download it.
- Slice & Prepare: If not already an STL or other compatible file, export it as one. Then import it into your 3D slicer and slice it for printing.
- Print the model: Use a castable wax resin designed for jewelry model 3D printing.
- Molding: Pour your molding material over your wax jewelry model, and leave it to harden.
- Melt the wax: Heat your new mold so that the original wax model melts and evaporates, leaving a hollow empty space inside with the exact dimensions of your planned jewelry piece.
- Casting: Pour melted liquid metal e.g. gold, silver or platinum into the mold to cast it.
Can a 3D Printer Print Jewelry?
Yes, you can 3D print jewelry with a 3D printer using lost wax casting. The printer produced what is called a wax or castable resin pattern – a 3D model of the desired jewelry produced using a material that can melt away easily.
The pattern is then covered and surrounded in plaster. The block of plaster is then gently warmed to melt the wax/resin inside, creating a gap that matches the shape, size, and details of the jewelry.
The space is filled with melted metal like silver or gold. As the metal cools, it takes on the shape of the pattern, resulting in a finished piece of jewelry.
Can You Use 3D Printer Resin for Jewelry?
Yes, you can use 3D printer resin to produce jewelry, but only with more expensive castable resins, which are designed specifically for lost wax casting.
These differ from standard resin in that they are designed to melt away when heated up, much like wax, the material of choice for traditional jewelry casting. The idea here is that they are used to create plaster molds, melted, then replaced by molten metals to create jewelry.
What 3D Printers Do Jewelers Use?
Jewelers use 3D printers designed to print with castable resin, wax, or castable wax because these machines can print “patterns” – casts that are used in the lost wax casting process to create burnable molds.
When these molds are encased in plaster and then burnt away, liquid molten metal is poured in to create the final jewelry pieces.
How Much Is a Jewelry 3D Printer?
Jewelry 3D printers range from entry-level, consumer-grade machines from $700 to $1000, such as the Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K and Anycubic Photon M3, all the way to industrial, professional-grade 3D printers costing tens of thousands of dollars, such as the Flashforge WaxJet 400.
How Much Does It Cost to 3D Print Jewelry
Assuming 1kg of castable resin costs $100, and a 2g average weight of a castable ring, you can print 500 of these rings with 1kg of resin. This calculates the average cost at $0.20 per jewelry print. However, this doesn’t factor in unused resin, failed prints, post-processing, etc.
Advantages of owning a jewelry 3D printer
- Saves money long term: rather than paying a 3D printing service $20+ to print your mold for you, you can print your own wax jewelry molds for just a dollar each for lost wax casting.
- Control your own jewelry production: with the ability to print jewelry in-house, you control your own workflow and apart from resin shortages, cannot be slowed down by supplier failures. Your order will always be top priority.
- Fast: going from CAD model to a piece ready to be investment cast is quick, especially when you can print and cast everything in one place.
- Very accurate: precise, smooth and intricate jewelry is not an issue for jewelry 3D printers, some able to print with below 10-micron accuracy to capture your ring’s most delicate and beautiful features.
- Repeatable and scalable: 3D printers for jewelry can create potentially dozens of identical or customized ring molds at once, perfect for scalable jewelry production.
Further on the saving you money point, this is a video showing how a low-cost Elegoo 3D printer can print accurate enough jewelry wax molds to then cast in gold:
FAQs
Can You Make Gold Jewelry With a 3D Printer?
Though you can’t print gold directly on a consumer-grade 3D printer (some professional printers can, but the process is complex and expensive), standard 3D printers can produce wax or castable resin models that are then used to create plaster molds.
The wax is burnt out from the molds and replaced with molten gold to create gold jewelry. Though the process remains the same, it’s the creation of complex and bespoke molds that is now much easier thanks to 3D printing.
Can a 3D Printer Print Wax?
Yes, you can 3D print wax to create casts and molds to bring to lift complex and intricate parts during the casting process. But, nowadays, it’s more common to find hybrid materials like castable resin, which are a little more durable and tougher than wax, but burn off during the casting process just as well.
Which 3D printer is best for Jewellery?
For the highest quality detail and features, the Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K is one of the best jewelry making 3D printers on the market today. For those looking to batch print larger quantities of jewelry, Anycubic’s M3 Plus and Max offer generously-sized build volumes while maintaining excellent detail and precision.
Related articles you may be interested in:
- Best CAD software for jewelry design
- 3D printed jewelry projects
- Best jewelry 3D scanners
- The best 3D printers for miniatures
7 Best 3D Printers For Jewelry Making & Casting (2023 Update)
- Last Updated: February 18, 2023
- Pat Nathaniel
Whether you’re starting a new hobby or a new business, 3D printing jewelry is an exciting project to take on.
A few clicks and some resin, and you magically get a completely customized piece of fine jewelry – it’s like alchemy is finally real!
At this point you want to make your dream a reality. We’re going to take a dive into the different printers you have as options, and then we’ll get into some things you need to know about jewelry making so you’re well-equipped to print your first piece.
Elegoo Saturn 2 8K
Build volume: 219 x 123 x 250 mm
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Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K
Build volume: 165 x 72 x 180 mm
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Peopoly Moai
Build volume: 130 x 130 x 180 mm
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Table of Contents
- Top 3D Printers For Jewelry At A Glance
- 1. Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K (Best Choice)
- 2. Formlabs Form 3+ (Best Print Quality)
- 3. Phrozen Sonic Mini 4K (Best Budget)
- 4. Elegoo Saturn 2 8K (Best Value)
- 5. Peopoly Moai (Premium Choice)
- 6. Creality Ender 3 Pro (Best FDM)
- 7. Solidscape S325 (Best Professional Choice)
- How Does 3D Printing Jewelry Work?
- Process of 3D Printing Jewelry
- Available 3D Printing Processes
- Should I Use FDM or SLA for Jewelry?
- FDM
- SLA
- Why 3D Print Jewelry?
- Conclusion
Top 3D Printers For Jewelry At A Glance
We’ve researched over 20 different 3D printers for jewelry making for our own business and below are our top 7.
- Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K (Best Choice)
- Formlabs Form 3+ (Best Print Quality)
- Phrozen Sonic Mini 4K (Best Budget)
- Elegoo Saturn 2 8K (Best Value)
- Peopoly Moai (Premium Choice)
- Creality Ender 3 Pro (Best FDM)
- Solidscape S325 (Best Professional Choice)
1.
Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K (Best Choice)3D Printer Type: LCD | Materials: 405 nm Resin | Build Volume: 165 x 72 x 180 mm
Easily the best 3D printer out there for making jewelry at a consumer level is the Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K. Phrozen shows up on this list a few times, and the only reason I can give for this is that their team is insanely good at making high-detail 3D printers.
The Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K is built around its crown jewel: an 8K monochrome LCD screen. This part makes the machine capable of printing models with 8K pixel resolution, which means prints can have a ton of detail If this doesn’t spark your interest, then I don’t know what will; just look at the prints made by this machine:
Source: Youtube Adam Savage’s TestedOn top of the high LCD resolution of the Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K, the printer also brings a terrific X/Y printing resolution of just 22 µm, or 0.022 mm. This is about as precise as you can get today, and, for reference, the Phrozen Sonic Mini 4K has a precision of only 35 µm (not as good).
Sadly, the price you pay for this incredible print quality comes in the form of print space. Moreover, as indicated by the “Mini” in the name, the Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K has a relatively small build space of only 165 x 72 x 180 mm. While this limits you to printing only small models, it shouldn’t be a problem for making jewelry.
So, if you want an overall beast of a resin 3D printer that can make jewelry pieces more detailed than your wildest dreams, I strongly recommend the Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K.
- 8K printing resolution
- Amazing X/Y printing precision
- Sturdy frame
- Touchscreen user interface
- Requires 8K resin for maximum print quality
- Somewhat small print space
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2.
Formlabs Form 3+ (Best Print Quality)3D Printer Type: LFS | Materials: Resins | Build Volume: 145 x 145 x 170 mm
When it comes to print quality with SLA 3D printers, it’s hard not to think of Formlabs. Formlabs practically invented consumer-level resin 3D printing, and the Form 3+ is one of their latest innovations, bringing top-notch print quality to the field.
The Form 3+ replaced the Form 2, which used to be on our list until we realized the former is much more precise. Moreover, Form 3+ has an X/Y printing resolution of just 25 µm, almost the same as the Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K. Additionally, the overall quality of prints made on the Form 3+ is immaculate, with high-detail prints coming out like this:
But my favorite part about the Formlabs Form 3+ isn’t even the crazy print quality, but its reliability. Formlabs goes above and beyond to make sure that their machines are the most reliable on the market, and they’ve done a terrific job with Form 3+. Loaded with sensors, the Form 3+ basically never fails, and if it does, it lets you know the exact issue!
Additionally, using the Form 3+ is a delight due to the full-color touchscreen display onboard the printer that runs a well-designed and easy-to-use interface. It’s also important to note the print size on Form 3+: a solid 145 x 145 x 185 mm. Not the biggest around, but certainly large enough to handle any and all jewelry prints.
Unfortunately, Formlabs Form 3+ has some issues when it comes to compatibility. For one, Formlabs makes it difficult to modify or upgrade the machine outside of their ecosystem. And through RFID chips in the resin tanks, they prevent you from using 3rd-party resins.
- Insanely high print quality
- Great printing precision
- Sturdy frame
- Easy-to-use touchscreen interface
- Can’t use 3rd-party resins
- Doesn’t allow for upgrades or modifications
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3.
Phrozen Sonic Mini 4K (Best Budget)3D Printer Type: LFS | Materials: 405 nm UV Resin | Build Volume: 134 x 75 x 130 mm
If you want exceptional print quality without breaking the bank then the new and improved Phrozen Sonic Mini 4K is for you.
Compared to other affordable resin 3D printers like the Anycubic Photon S and Elegoo Mars 2 Pro, we found the printing quality superior in the former. The XY layer resolution of the Mini 4K is 35 microns vs the 50 microns of those two printers.
As you know, in the world of television and mobile phones, 4K screens produce high-quality images. Similarly, thanks to the 4K LCD screen with the Mini 4K, you’ll get a better print resolution.
In all fairness, the differences between prints from the three printers weren’t pronounced. But in detail-packed jewelry, you’ll notice the power of the 4K LCD.
Source: Youtube Uncle JessyThe Sonic Mini 4K also prints faster – one layer in 2 seconds fast (although the newer models of the Photon and Mars are keeping up).
If you want a beginner-friendly resin 3D printer for jewelry, then the Mini 4K is for you. It’s that easy to use. Just plug in, level, and start printing. The default settings in Chitubox work without any adjustments although you’ll have to tweak it for certain designs.
In terms of printer noise, the Sonic Mini 4K is a bit noisier than the original Sonic Mini. The noise mainly comes from Mini’s Z-axis stepper motor during the changing of layers.
All in all, for 3D printing jewelry and miniatures you can’t go wrong with the Sonic Mini 4K. It excels where print details are a must.
- Exceptional print quality for super fine details
- Easy to level the bed
- Built tough
- Touch screen is very responsive
- Beginner-friendly
- Possible flex in the build plate arm for large print areas
- Screen can get easily damaged
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4.
Elegoo Saturn 2 8K (Best Value)3D Printer Type: MSLA | Materials: 405 nm UV Resin | Build Volume: 219 x 123 x 250 mm
Another 8K printer on this list is the Elegoo Saturn 2 8K, which, in my opinion, is the best bang for your buck when it comes to printing high-detail jewelry.
The Saturn 2 is made by Elegoo, one of the most popular manufacturers of budget-friendly resin 3D printers. And the Saturn 2 definitely is budget-friendly, offering 8K printing capabilities for less than $600!
As an 8K 3D printer, the Elegoo Saturn 2 uses an 8K pixel resolution LCD screen that allows for very high-detail prints. And parts are very precise because the Elegoo Saturn 2 has an X/Y resolution of 28.5 microns. This isn’t as good as the Formlabs Form 3+ or Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K, but it’s still very precise and a great deal considering the price of the Saturn 2.
With the Saturn 2, you can make some super detailed 8k-resolution prints, like the one seen below:
Plus, the Saturn 2 gives you a decent amount of print space, totaling 219 x 123 250 mm. This is more than enough for typical jewelry prints and will allow you to print multiple rings or necklace pendants at once, no problem!
Another thing I love about the Elegoo Saturn 2 is the print speed: up to 70 mm/hour. This is very fast and means you can pump out more jewelry projects compared to other printers, which typically have a max speed of 40-60 mm/hour.
So, if you want to print large without sacrificing print quality or detail, the Elegoo Saturn 2 8K is the perfect option. And it won’t break the bank!
- Great bang for your buck
- 8K printing resolution
- Terrific printing precision
- Fast print speed
- Large build space
- More prone to issues with the VAT
- Not as precise as other 8K printers
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5.
Peopoly Moai (Premium Choice)3D Printer Type: SLA | Materials: Any Resin Designed for SLA Printers | Build Volume: 130 x 130 x 180 mm
The logical next printer to look at on this list is the Peopoly Moai. Everything you love about SLA 3D printers at a more reasonable price.
This checks the same boxes as Form 2; it’s super accurate, quiet to operate, easy to use, and you can easily print using a resin bath. The difference is that this machine is a lot less expensive, and the resin is also less expensive. The other thing that’s great about the Moai is it allows 3rd party resin!
Source: Youtube Teaching TechThis machine isn’t as polished or sophisticated as the Formlabs’ 3D printer, but it is no stick in the mud, either. It will deliver great accuracy and precision for a fair price. Peopoly’s Moai resin 3D printer is an excellent choice for beginners who have the cash. It’s also the perfect choice for people who like to experiment and tinker.
Since it’s open-source and allows 3rd party resins, you have a lot of room to test the boundaries of this printer.
We recommend the Moai as the best jewelry 3D printer for beginners and it’s equally friendly to limit-testers and experimenters.
- Compatible with 3rd party resins
- Robust assembly
- Great supporting documents
- Good value
- Beginner-friendly
- Assembly required
- Prints are sometimes messy
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6.
Creality Ender 3 Pro (Best FDM)3D Printer Type: FDM | Materials: PLA, ABS, TPU & PETG | Build Volume: 220 x 220 x 250 mm
For a couple of hundred bucks, you can start learning how to make custom jewelry. The Creality Ender 3 Pro is not the most polished or glamorous printer, but it’s a workhorse.
A lot of people consider it the best FDM 3D printer for jewelry in its price category, myself included. What you get are reasonably accurate and quality prints (for a non-resin 3D printer). You can start learning the process and experimenting without breaking the bank.
The 3D printer is also really sturdy and durable.
If you’re not comfortable investing thousands into a 3D printer, the Creality Ender 3 Pro gives you the option to start small and see how passionate you are about the space.
Unlike the rest of the 3D printers in this list, since this is an FDM 3D printer you’re not pigeonholed to just using resins. Sure, it’s not the best 3D printing tech for making jewelry, but it can do a ton of other stuff. You can enjoy the full range of freedom that comes with having an FDM printer.
That said, FDM 3D printers print quality is noticeably less smooth and accurate than their resin 3D printer counterparts.
Admittedly, sometimes I break things just so I can 3D print replacements – and that’s something you can’t do with an SLA 3D printer.
- Very budget-friendly
- Robust machine
- Decent accuracy
- High-quality print potential
- Some reliability issues
- Assembly required
- Print bed is sometimes warped
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7.
Solidscape S325 (Best Professional Choice)3D Printer Type: Material Jetting | Materials: Midas Castable Material & Melt Dissolvable Support | Build Volume: 152 × 152 × 101 mm
Our last option for you is the Solidscape S325. This printer is a bit more professional than the other options on this list. As such, it costs a good bit more, but it also offers a lot more print quality, reliability, and other benefits!
The S325 is a professional 3D printer that’s meant specifically for making jewelry molds. In fact, the S325 doesn’t actually use traditional SLA printing technology; instead, it uses material jetting, a different type of 3D printing.
With material jetting, the Solidscape S325 can print in wax materials, which traditional SLA 3D printers don’t work with. Being able to print wax is super useful for jewelry 3D printing because it makes the mold-making process a breeze.
And, despite the different technology, the Solidscape S325 still yields a ton of detail in 3D-printed jewelry pieces.
What I personally find most fascinating about this printer is its support abilities. Moreover, the Solidscape S325 prints support, generated by its proprietary 3D slicer software, using a material that dissolves post-printing. As such, you can print very intricate models, with overhangs, without worrying about supports hurting the visual quality of the model.
So, if you want to get into 3D printing jewelry professionally or make a business out of it, then you’ll need a printer like the Solidscape S325 to ensure high-quality prints in materials specifically meant for jewelry.
- Can print in wax and other special materials
- Dissolvable support capabilities
- Very reliable
- High print quality
- Proprietary 3D slicer software
- Tons of customer support
- Very expensive
- Requries consultation with a sales representative
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How Does 3D Printing Jewelry Work?
Just to clear things up, you’re not going to be printing custom gold jewelry right from the nozzle of your 3D printer. Instead, you’re going to be printing a high-detail mold that you can use to make your custom jewelry. Or, if you’re fine with a plastic piece, you’ll be printing high-detail resin jewelry.
If you’ve made jewelry the traditional way before, you know the low-tech method of making these molds. You start by hand-crafting or CNC machining a version of the ring or jewelry piece, and then you create a mold around the part. After that, you solidify the mold and pour in your molten silver or gold to make the final ring!
3D printing a ring or other jewelry piece relies on the same processes, but it utilizes the technology of the 21st century. Moreover, instead of milling or hand-carving, you’re using a 3D printer to make a more detailed and precise jewelry piece, so you can make a more detailed mold.
Basically, any 3D printer, including hobbyist options like the Ender 3, can work for making jewelry molds. However, for a more detailed mold and, thus, a more intricate final jewelry piece, you’ll want to use a higher-end resin 3D printer.
Process of 3D Printing Jewelry
In case you don’t know the process for 3D printing jewelry, let’s take a quick look at it.
First, you have to find a design for a jewelry piece or make a 3D model yourself. The latter method is better if you want a custom jewelry item and you can design your model in a CAD software, like Onshape or Blender.
Once you’ve got your ring 3D model, you’ll need to 3D print the part. No, we’re not making it out of gold, so you’ll need to print it in a plastic filament, resin, or special wax. Try to use a material that’s meant for high-detail printing, like Phrozen Aqua Grey 8K resin.
After you have the 3D printed version of your jewelry price, you’ll need to get it ready for casting in a more durable material like gold or silver. You can make a mold of your 3D printed model using wax!
Finally, pour your molten precious metal into that mold. After some time, the magic is done! You have a shiny ring!
But that whole process is really the easy part. The more challenging part is figuring out what 3D printer is right for you. Like a “choose your own adventure” book, you have some options to start you down your path.
Available 3D Printing Processes
When it comes to 3D printing a jewelry piece, there are a few different types of 3D printers you can use.
Most consumer-grade 3D printers are Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) machines. FDM 3D printers use a heating element known as the hot end to melt stringed plastic material and lay it out, layer-by-layer, into your 3D model.
However, the more popular type of 3D printer for making jewelry is Stereolithography, or SLA for short. Instead of a heating element and stringed plastic, SLA 3D printers use a special laser with liquid resin. The liquid plastic resin is poured into a tub called the VAT, and the laser is placed beneath a screen, which solidifies the resin, layer by layer, to form your desired 3D model.
SLA is a more favorable tech for jewelry because of its high-detail printing abilities, but FDM is the more universal printing technology.
Should I Use FDM or SLA for Jewelry?
Okay, now that the nerdy science talk is over, let’s take a look at the two main methods of 3D printing used to make jewelry. Below, I’ve discussed how both FDM and SLA 3D printers work as well as each of their benefits.
FDM
The big benefit of using an FDM printer for making jewelry is that the cost is really low. The upfront cost of the printer is lower, and the operating cost is much lower. Of course, there’s a downside to this.
The quality you get with an FDM printer isn’t close to the quality you get with an SLA printer – it’s a lot worse. Moreover, you can’t capture as much detail or small features in prints on an FDM 3D printer as you can with an SLA machine.
As such, if your jewelry doesn’t require a lot of fine detail or you want to save money, then an FDM printer will be perfect for you. Additionally, an FDM printer is the better option if you plan on printing a ton of non-jewelry projects because FDM parts are stronger than those made on an SLA printer.
SLA
On the other hand, SLA 3D printers are typically more expensive than FDM printers. While the cost of an SLA printer has dropped dramatically over the past few years, you also need other hardware, like a washing station and a UV curing light, to use an SLA machine. And these costs should be considered when looking at the price of an SLA machine.
But the extra money for an SLA 3D printer is definitely worth it if you’re looking to print high-detail models. For example, if you wanted to 3D print a jewelry piece that had a very intricate design, an SLA 3D printer would be best.
It’s actually insane how much detail SLA 3D printers yield in models. Most SLA 3D printers today use a 4K pixel resolution LCD screen, but some printers, like the Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K, can print with 8K pixel resolution quality!
Sadly, there are some other problems with SLA 3D printers. For example, the resin is toxic and smells bad, making the printing process more dangerous. And, after a print is finished, you have to wash the part and cure it with a UV light.
But if you want to print high-detail models and are okay with spending a lil’ extra, then an SLA 3D printer is definitely for you!
Why 3D Print Jewelry?
Source: Youtube Slava TVSo we highlighted how to 3D print jewelry, and what goes into it. But are you totally convinced that you should even try it? Why 3D print jewelry?
Why 3D print anything? The answer is exactly the same.
You have complete freedom over the design. You can make highly customized pieces and serve a niche market. If you can operate 3D CAD, you can completely design your own pieces to print.
Pieces can be made that seem to defy physics. You can 3D print such intricate pieces with odd geometries. This is great for modern pieces of jewelry.
For some pieces, there is no alternative. Traditional methods cannot scratch the surface of what you can make with a 3D printer. Some of your physics-defying pieces simply cannot be made on a CNC mill, so there’s no other option.
Prototyping is so much faster. I’m from a manufacturing background so trust me when I say that nothing compares to the lifecycle speed of a project when you’re using a 3D printer.
The time between the initial concept, designing, and getting your first working prototype could be 8 hours with a 3D printer. Traditional manufacturing methods might take a week for the same amount of progress.
The cost is so low. Crazy low. You don’t need a staff of trained machinists, design engineers, and project managers. You are the entire team. You don’t need a $250,000 CNC milling machine; a printer that costs a couple of hundred dollars will suffice. You don’t need a $100 piece of raw material to prototype with, $5 is plenty. Finally, you don’t need to pay someone hourly to make it, you hit “go” and leave the room.
So why 3D print jewelry? It’s faster, cheaper, more customizable, and you can make any shape you want.
Conclusion
I hope you get as excited as I do when I hear about all the different ways to 3D print jewelry and start growing your business or just making fun pieces as gifts to family and friends.
The process isn’t so hard to learn when you get your hands on a printer.
Whether you go with an FDM printer, an SLA printer, a budget option, or a professional high-quality printer, you’re going to love the new world you unlock with your 3D printer.
As for what printer to use, if you want to make high-detail jewelry pieces, I strongly suggest the Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K or Formlabs Form 3+. Both printers offer exceptional print quality, but the Sonic Mini 8K is probably better for those who don’t need as much print space.
And, if you’re on a budget, but still want to print high-detail models, then the Elegoo Saturn 2 8K should be your speed. It’s very budget-friendly, and has an 8K LCD screen for yielding high-quality prints.
On the FDM side, you have the Creality Ender 3 Pro which is perhaps the best option in this space. It’s budget-friendly and, as it’s an FDM 3D printer, the Ender 3 Pro is also a great machine for non-jewelry prints, so there’s a lot of opportunity for you!
Finally, if you’re ready to invest in your business and grow it, consider the top-of-the-line Solidscape S325 printer.
Enjoy your time with your new 3D printer! There’s a lot of learning and growing to be had!
Pat Nathaniel
Pat is the editor-in-chief at Printing Atoms. He has a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Florida and wants to spread the word on 3D printing. When he's not writing, he likes to tinker with his Ender 3 Pro, test filament brands, and scuba dive.
3D printers for foundries
3D printing allows you to print master models for making molds from CAD files. The time to create a master model on a 3D printer is much less than the time to produce a casting sample using traditional methods.
- Cons of traditional injection molding
- Benefits of 3D printing
- Choosing a 3D printer0006
Disadvantages of traditional casting
Conventional mold making techniques include 3D modeling and making a master model using milling, manual labor, or other types of machining. All these methods are quite laborious and have obvious disadvantages:
- long production time,
- high cost,
- Error probability due to factor,
- is not very accurate.
Special features, such as embossed markings on flat and conical parts of the product, are very difficult to achieve with these methods.
The situation is the same with the wooden master models. To obtain a mold, they are covered with a special mixture of betonite and sand, due to which the method is called "casting into the ground." Such an operation requires a huge amount of labor and time, and most importantly, it is quite expensive and does not provide the required accuracy of the finished product.
Disadvantages of traditional casting
Conventional mold making techniques include 3D modeling and the production of a master model using milling, manual labor or other types of machining. All these methods are quite laborious and have obvious disadvantages:
- long production time,
- high cost,
- Error probability due to factor,
- is not very accurate.
Special features, such as embossed markings on flat and conical parts of the product, are very difficult to achieve with these methods.
The situation is the same with the wooden master models. To obtain a mold, they are covered with a special mixture of betonite and sand, due to which the method is called "casting into the ground." Such an operation requires a huge amount of labor and time, and most importantly, it is quite expensive and does not provide the required accuracy of the finished product.
3D printing and injection: why it's worth it
3D printing speeds up the mold creation cycle many times over. It takes only a few hours to produce a high-precision master model using a 3D printer (as opposed to long and painstaking manual work). In addition, the master can be sure that he will receive a product that matches the digital model by 100%.
3D printing allows you to make casting master models from different materials
Wax. This material produces blanks for creating molds with a melting point of about 60 degrees, smooth surfaces and excellent detail. 3D stencils are most widely used in industry, dentistry, and jewelry.
3D printing and injection: why it's worth it
3D printing speeds up the mold creation cycle many times over. It takes only a few hours to produce a high-precision master model using a 3D printer (as opposed to long and painstaking manual work). In addition, the master can be sure that he will receive a product that matches the digital model by 100%.
3D printing allows you to make casting master models from different materials
Wax. This material produces blanks for creating molds with a melting point of about 60 degrees, smooth surfaces and excellent detail. 3D stencils are most widely used in industry, dentistry, and jewelry.
3D Wax Printers >>
Photopolymer. Burnout master models (burnout temperature from 600 degrees) with an ash content of 0.01% are created from this material, as well as high-precision samples for creating silicone molds.
Wax 3D printers >>
Photopolymer. Burnout master models (burnout temperature from 600 degrees) with an ash content of 0.01% are created from this material, as well as high-precision samples for creating silicone molds.
Resin burnout
3D printed silicone mold
Resin burnout
3D printed silicone mold
In addition, when using a 3D printer for foundry production in Moscow and other cities of Russia, it became possible to refine the master model in a new way. Under the complex geometric design, grooves are made on the mold, into which the missing pieces of durable material made using 3D printing are glued. The use of this technology significantly reduces labor costs for manual refinement, and also reduces the time for preparing the mold for casting.
Before starting production, 3D prototyping can optimize the working steps of the casting process. For example, after trial tests of injection molds, you can check the parts made in them and correct the molds without any difficulties, without creating a new model equipment each time.
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- Creating a mold on a 3D printer guarantees rapid production of part prototypes from drawings or 3D file data.
- the ability to print molds of any complexity.
- ease, convenience, cleanliness and low cost of mold creation.
In addition, when using a 3D printer for foundry production in Moscow and other cities of Russia, it became possible to refine the master model in a new way. Under the complex geometric design, grooves are made on the mold, into which the missing pieces of durable material made using 3D printing are glued. The use of this technology significantly reduces labor costs for manual refinement, and also reduces the time for preparing the mold for casting.
Before starting production, 3D prototyping can optimize the working steps of the casting process. For example, after trial tests of injection molds, you can check the parts made in them and correct the molds without any difficulties, without creating a new model equipment each time.
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- Creation of a mold on a 3D printer guarantees rapid prototyping of parts from drawings or 3D file data.
- the ability to print molds of any complexity.
- ease, convenience, cleanliness and low cost of mold creation.
How the process of casting on the burned master models
How is the process of casting on the burned mastermodes
Choosing a founder 3D printer
Uniontech RSPRO 600
Flashforge Waxjet 400000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 W
UnionTech RSpro 600
Flashforge WaxJet 400
3D Systems ProJet 2500 W
Choosing the best 3D printer for printing miniatures
3DPrintStory    Reviews    Choosing the best 3D printer for printing miniatures
The use of 3D printers for printing game miniatures is gaining more and more popularity today. As the price of 3D printers continues to fall, it is likely that the demand for 3D printed game miniatures will only continue to rise.
If you pick the right 3D printer, you can get amazing 3D models for your board games or to put an inspirational figurine from your favorite game on your desktop.
Today's desktop 3D printers have become reliable, easy to use and provide decent quality finished products.
How to choose a 3D miniature printer?
There is a wide range of desktop 3D printers that can be used to print miniatures in 3D at home. And if you study the market a bit, or at least the options below, you can get great detailed 3D models.
With the right 3D printer, you can print your own figurines and even create your own board games.
If you don't want to develop 3D models of figurines from scratch (and this will really require some skills and time from you), then you can find interesting 3D models on sites with free 3D printable models. After downloading the model, you can immediately print it or edit it before 3D printing for your own needs. We also recommend that you familiarize yourself with interesting 3D models from Dutchmogul. Perhaps in his wonderful collection you will find something interesting for yourself.
To get the same level of detail as the thumbnails above, your 3D printer must meet certain criteria. The most important feature of a 3D printer to consider is the level of detail it can reproduce. This criterion is formed based on the following parameters:
Nozzle diameter
To create a 3D miniature, heated plastic is extruded through a hole. Orifice is the diameter of the nozzle. Make sure the 3D printer nozzle size is less than 0.4mm.
XY Movement Accuracy
The X and Y axis movement accuracy of the 3D printer head should be considered.
Layer Thickness
Layer Thickness is the height of each layer of heated plastic that is used to create a 3D figurine or miniature. To get a more detailed model, you need to reduce the layer thickness. However, the low thickness means that 3D printing will take longer. In order to print a detailed miniature, you will most likely need a 3D printer that can print with a layer thickness of 100 microns (0.1 mm) or less.
Material type
The most common materials used in 3D printers are ABS or PLA. To get a good surface, after 3D printing, it should be post-processed. If you are using ABS plastic, you can sand the miniature and steam it in acetone to get a smooth surface. It is also worth paying attention to PETG plastics, which are gaining more and more attention and positive user reviews.
Thumbnail size (scale)
If you want to start 3D printing game miniatures, think about the size you would like to get.
A 28mm (~1:58 scale) or 54mm (~1:32 scale) miniature can be made with a standard desktop 3D printer that melts plastic filament. To make a smaller miniature, you will need an SLA Resin printer, which uses liquid resin and strengthens it.
In addition to the figurine, you can also print larger models. 3D printing large models such as houses, huts, castles, trees, and tanks will require more expensive 3D printers that provide faster speeds with good 3D print quality. But there is an important point in the choice. It is better to choose high-quality 3D printing than a large one. You can always separate larger models for printing and then join them together using the same adhesive. The result will be much better than lower quality 3D printing on a 3D printer with a large workspace.
HICTOP CR-10S 3D Printer
Value for money, the Hictop CR-10S is one of the best and most affordable budget 3D printers on the market. The Prusa i3 3D printer was taken as the basis for the design.
The Hictop printer uses quality materials for the power supply, motherboard and motion control systems. The metal framework is a rigid and strong design.
The Hictop printer will arrive unassembled, but assembly is easy. You will have to essentially screw in four bolts and connect the necessary wires. That is, you can proceed directly to 3D printing almost immediately after purchase.
The "S" at the end of the CR-10S stands for two Z-axis lead screws and stepper motors.
Dual axis system improves extruder movement accuracy. As a result, you naturally get more accurate 3D printing overall. This is an excellent inexpensive 3D printer that is suitable for 3D printing miniatures and figurines for board games.
The Hictop 3D printer has a mechanism to control the remaining amount of plastic. If the plastic runs out, the printer will go into pause mode and after feeding new material, you can continue printing from the area where you left off. This is a particularly relevant feature for printing large-scale 3D models.
These 3D printers are quite popular, so you will find a lot of information and tips on how to use them online. In addition, thanks to an active community, the Hictop CR-10S has a large number of modifications and upgrades that you can implement yourself and improve its already decent 3D printing quality.
Hictop CR-10S is a quality and affordable 3D printer, which is definitely suitable for 3D printing miniatures and figures of characters from your favorite games or movies.
FLASHFORGE CREATOR PRO 3D printer
FlashForge 3D Printer Creator Pro took inspiration from Makerbot Replica.
A nice feature of the FlashForge 3D printer is that it includes all custom enhancements from Makerbot. These improvements include:
- Metal worktable supports. Thus, the working table became more stable during heating and assembling.
- Plastic-coated knobs for easy workbench calibration.
- The Central Processing Unit (CPU) supports Sailfish firmware which allows automatic calibration. In addition, the CPU helps regulate heat and delivers higher quality 3D prints.
The above features make the Creator Pro an excellent miniature 3D printer.
In addition, this 3D printer is made in a closed case, which allows you to print ABS plastic with much less difficulty.
Creator Pro allows you to print two colors at the same time. If you plan to paint the finished model in the future, then you don’t really need this feature, but in general it gives you much more options than the standard analogues with one extruder.
Since the Creator Pro is based on the Makerbot Replica, there is a lot of information available on the internet about this 3D printer.
3D printer SINDOH DP200 3DWOX
If you are looking for a reliable 3D printer for printing miniatures, then you should pay attention to Sindoh DP200 3DWOX. This is the best choice if you want to make 3D mini figures.
This 3D printer is easy to use, suitable even for beginners in the world of 3D printing. Below are some of its features:
- 3D printing table covered with aluminum PTFE.
- 3D printing resolution is 50 microns (0.05 mm).
- Equipped with a high efficiency particulate air filter and a closed chamber for 3D printing, which is especially good when using ABS plastics.
- Easy to use material cartridge chamber.
- Sindoh excels at printing minifigures in high detail.
One of the disadvantages of the Sindoh DP200 printer is that it can only use manufacturer's filament. Consequently, you will pay more money for cartridges because you will not be able to use materials from other manufacturers. The price of these cartridges, of course, is higher than analogues.
Otherwise, the Sindoh DP200 3DWOX 3D printer is a great option for high quality 3D printing of detailed models.
DREMEL DIGILAB 3D Printer
The use of SLA technology for 3D printing helps to obtain miniature products of very high quality. SLA also helps print miniature parts as small as 28mm. The price of this wonderful 3D printer is comparable to the cost of a laptop.
SLA printing differs from FFF printing in the very essence of the processes. During SLA 3D printing, liquid resin is baked using a UV laser. The formation of the part looks like a gradual lifting of the finished model and a bath with liquid material.
Industry-intensive stereolithographic 3D printers are now available at home! The Dremel Digilab 3D printer has proven itself as a hobby printer, which differs from expensive industrial analogues in its exceptionally smaller workspace.
Key features of the Dremel Digilab 3D printer:
- The minimum wall thickness of the 3D model is 25 microns (0.025mm).
- Faster 3D printing compared to FFF 3D printers.
- Excellent surface quality of the finished 3D model.
Digilab is a great SLA 3D printer. It is easy to use and, according to user reviews, reliable.
With this 3D printer, you can use resins to make investment casting molds. It can also be used to make jewelry by casting metals.
Some disadvantages of using SLA for 3D printing:
- It's expensive. The resin needs to be updated, as over time it ages and loses the necessary properties.
- Resins require maintenance. Make sure you start 3D printing only after the balloons created by adding resin to the tank are gone.
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