Best 3d printing resolution

Best High Resolution 3D Printers 2022: Complete Buyer's Guide

Resolution is a much-misunderstood aspect of accurate 3D printing, and there are many important factors that affect print quality beyond just layer height. This article recommends the best high-resolution 3D printers, explains the factors making up a high-resolution 3D printer, and the benefits and drawbacks.

Typically within 3D printing resolutions, the Z-axis resolution, or Z-resolution, is most discussed. This is the vertical resolution and means the minimum layer height or thickness possible for a 3D printer.

Premium Yet Affordable Resin Pick

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Extremely High Resolution 3D Printer

Small layers mean better resolution, and better surface quality parts with smoother surfaces and crisper edges.

Therefore, having a high-quality 3D printer that can print with small layer heights can be a great advantage. However, this is not the only factor that affects print quality, with a host of others affecting whether a high-resolution 3D printer actually prints accurate, smooth parts.

Accurate 3D printers we recommend

Name	Max build volume (mm)	Min layer height	Price	Where to buy
Ender 3 V2	220 x 220 x 250	0.1 mm	$279	Creality Store here
Elegoo Mars 2 Pro	129 x 80 x 160	0.01 mm	$280	Elegoo here
Anycubic Photon Mono 4K	132 x 80 x 165	0.01 mm	$299	Anycubic Store here
Elegoo Mars 3	143 x 90 x 165	0.01 mm	$349	Elegoo here
Prusa i3 MK3S	250 x 210 x 200	0.05 mm	$749 / $999	Prusa Store here
Formlabs Form 3	145 x 145 x 185	25 microns	$3,499	Dynamism here
Ultimaker S3	230 x 190 x 200	20 microns	$3,850	Dynamism Store here

Resolution in 3D printing: X, Y and Z resolution

Z-resolution corresponds to the layer height of a printed part. However, the X and Y-planes are also very important in a high resolution 3D printer.

The X and Y axes control the 2D parts of the print: those within each 2D layer. The Z then adds multiple layers, responsible for height – the third dimension. Though they are all axes, the XY and Z axes are controlled by two separate systems, with some FDM printers having far more accurate Z-resolutions than XY.

The X and Y resolutions are the smallest movements the printer’s print head (the projector, extruder or laser, depending on technology) can make within a layer – horizontally.

Different 3D printing technologies are capable of better resolutions than others. For example, SLA 3D printers are more accurate than FDM 3D printers, even though their Z-resolutions can look similar on paper. This is mostly down to the better XY resolutions resin 3D printers can print with, leading to smoother surface areas, with the best resin printers able to print parts with barely noticeable layer lines.

However, other factors can also significantly affect print quality.

Other factors that affect print quality

Nozzle size: smaller nozzles on FDM 3D printer extruders can print more intricate and precise details. Standard nozzles are typically 0.4mm, though you can get far smaller 0.1 or 0.2mm nozzles for small and accurate details. They also work better for printing supports and overhangs.
Stability of frame & vibrations: a sturdy, heavy metal frame that anchors the printer and print bed to the ground is less affected by vibrations and other extraneous factors that can affect print quality.
Material: different materials are more accurate and precise than others, or are easier to print successfully than others.
Technology: for example, SLA printers are more accurate than FDM, and PolyJet offers some of the best precision in 3D printing.
Slicer and printer settings: your 3D slicer settings will make all the difference in print quality, and even the most high resolution 3D printers will print poor quality models if not optimized.

When do high quality 3D printers make the most difference?

If you plan on 3D printing a very basic structure like a cube, whether you use a high quality 3D printer, or use large or small layers, will make no difference. In fact, using small layer heights will just make the exact same print take far longer.

For these very basic models with few intricate parts or details, a standard cheap 3D printer will work almost as well as an industrial, high-resolution 3D printer that costs 20x the price.

However, high-quality precise 3D printers make a significant difference in more complex parts that have diagonal or arched lines or sides, or have embossing and engravings.

Especially in curved or diagonal parts, the lower the layer height and more accurate the printer, the less stepped these features will appear, and the smoother they will look, even up close.Very high-resolution 3D printers such as resin printers are commonly used to 3D print jewelry molds, such as this 3D printed ring. Source: Shapeways.

Moreover, if you are printing a small part, for example 3D printing a miniature or tabletop model, using an accurate printer with very small layer heights can be worth it, as even if it takes several times as long this still won’t take more than an hour.

The best high-resolution 3D printers

Now we have illustrated the components that make up a high-quality 3D printer, here are some recommendations.

High resolution and quality here are relative, meaning that we have chosen those in each price range that excel – a $200 3D printer cannot compete with an industrial 3D printer costing $20,000, but it may be the best in its price range.

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Ender 3 V2 – accurate 3D printer for under $300

Price: $279 – Available on Creality Official Store here / Available on Amazon here
Build volume: 220 x 220 x 250 mm
Type of 3D printer: FDM 3D printer & DIY 3D printer
Minimum layer height: 0. 1mm

The Ender 3 is a low cost, relatively high-quality 3D printer.

Just as the original Ender 3 was starting to get long in the tooth, Creality swooped in with the Ender 3 V2. A well-thought-out printer, the Ender 3 V2 remedies many of the misgivings of its predecessor while still keeping the asking price affordable to even the most budget-restrained makers.

The belt tensioners, 4.2.2 32-bit mainboard, and silent stepper motor drivers do a lot to present what feels like a far more modern printer compared to the Ender 3.

In the context of low-cost high-resolution 3D printer performance, the Ender 3 V2 spec sheet doesn’t exactly wow, with a middling 100-micron layer resolution. But, don’t be fooled; high-resolution printing is defined by more resolution alone.

In action, the Ender 3 V2 assembles with a level of accuracy that feels inordinately good for a low-cost FDM printer. With few visible, warping, or layering issues with an excellent overall quality for larger parts and respectable results for smaller, detailed parts. And, coupled with that is a suitably large build volume – 220 x 220 x 250 mm to be exact – for larger projects and even small-scale batch printing.

For the price, you additionally get to play with a decent range of materials – PLA, ABS, PETG, TPU. The only caveat is you’ll need to stick to more straightforward prints, those relatively free of intricate embossing, minute detail, tight arches, and the like.

In our experience, the Ender 3 V2 shines best when used to create household items such as plant pots or, say, vases, figurines, toys, accessories, and similar items. We’d wager it also packs in enough printing aptitude for a modest business selling non-geometrically complex products.

Be warned; the Ender 3 V2 is very much a hobby kit printer, requiring its fair share of tinkering to perform at its best. Curious beginners up for a challenge and seasoned makers should find this a gratifying part of the printing process, but green newcomers may prefer an option a little lighter on the ‘hands-on’ aspects.

Top Pick

Creality Ender 3 V2 3D Printer

$279.99

Upgraded version of the original Ender 3 with a number of key quality-of-life improvements.

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Elegoo Mars 2 Pro

Price: Check latest price at Elegoo store here / Available on Amazon here
Build volume: 129 x 80 x 160 mm
Type of 3D printer: LCD 3D printer
Z-axis accuracy: 0.00125 mm, XY Resolution: 0.05 mm

The Elegoo Mars and Anycubic Photon range have both revolutionized low-cost, high-resolution 3D printing for hobbyists and businesses worldwide. The Elegoo Mars 2 is capable of such accurate resin models that it is increasingly used for casting 3D printed jewelry molds before having them made into gold or other metal rings, bracelets, and chains.

Read more: our Elegoo Mars 2 Pro review & test prints

As an MSLA printer, the Elegoo Mars prints resin models that outperform its FDM counterparts, with high resolution 3D prints that barely show their layers. The 6-inch 2K LCD screen makes for fast 3D printing, able to cure a layer every 2 seconds.

Additionally, the Mars 2 Pro’s CNC machined aluminum structure improves stability, eliminating outside vibrations that could affect a precise 3D printed model’s detailed features. Moreover, the new and improved build plate is designed for better adhesion and better quality outcomes.

The printer is accessible in 12 languages, so non-English speakers needn’t worry, and if you do have any problems with your Elegoo Mars 2 Pro, the company will replace it with its 1-year warranty. Overall, it’s a great, high-quality 3D printer for cheap and precise resin part production.

A dinosaur head we 3D printed when we reviewed the Elegoo Mars 2 Pro.

Budget Resin Pick

Anycubic Photon Mono 4K

Price: Check latest price at Anycubic here / Available on Amazon here
Build volume: 132 x 80 x 165 mm
Type of 3D printer: LCD 3D printer
Z-axis accuracy: 0. 00125 mm, XY Resolution: 0.035 mm

Yet another iterative upgrade to a respected family of resin printers, the Anycubic Photon Mono 4K is another impressive option for those high-res 3D printer heads out there. It’s no understatement to count the Anycubic Photon Mono 4K among the top cheap high-resolution 3D printers out there.

Under the hood, the Anycubic Photon Mono 4K sports, you guessed it, a 4K LCD panel capable of a pixel resolution of 35 microns, a 15-micron improvement on its predecessor. In layman’s terms, this equates to a smooth finish and fine detail in every print, both immediately apparent to the naked eye.

Imperfections are near indistinguishable, and, dare we say it; the results are as close to perfection as we’ve seen in this price range in the overwhelming majority of prints. The Anycubic Photon Mono 4K also nips through prints with a more-than-respectable sub 2 second layer cure time.

For us, the printer brims with hobby potential. We’d be hard-pressed to pinpoint an application where it doesn’t impress. That said, the Anycubic Photon Mono 4K comes into its element with 3D models and similar display items thanks to its propensity for carving out detailed features.

Much like other resin printers, the Anycubic Photon Mono 4K comes with its fair share of mess and requires strict adherence to a regular cleaning regimen. The absence of a resume function and an occasionally temperamental native slicer feel like unfortunate oversights. But, these are minor gripes for an otherwise excellent low-priced, small form factor resin printer.

Elegoo Mars 3 – Best Cost-Effective Resin Pick

Price: Check latest price at Elegoo here / Amazon here
Build volume: 143 x 90 x 165 mm
Type of 3D printer: LCD 3D printer
Z-axis accuracy: 0.00125 mm, XY Resolution: 0.035 mm

The Elegoo Mars is back and arguably better than ever, with a new numeral slapped on for good measure. Fast, beautifully detailed, compact, and cost-effective, the Elegoo Mars 3 also sports the specs we like to see in high-resolution-geared resin printers, namely a 6. 6-inch 4K Ultra Monochrome LCD and a razor-thin 35-micron resolution.

Marketing and technical blather aside, Elegoo Mars 3 delivers impressively detailed results with clean edges and on-point accuracy suitable for even the most demanding resin projects. A larger build volume than the Mars 2 Pro, tallying up to 143 x 90 x 165 mm, also lends itself to larger prints while keeping up those minute features and finer details.

We’re particularly impressed with how well the printer fares when tackling figurines, toys, and models, even what we deem large ones for a resin printer. Best of all, the Elegoo Mars 3 sticks to the Mars tradition of no-nonsense printers that perform to the same high standard day-in, day-out. In other words, a workhorse.

Despite some reservations about the flimsy lid and the lack of features like air filtration and Wi-Fi connectivity, we highly recommend the Elegoo Mars 3 for makers, hobbyists, and businesses looking for a cheap high-resolution 3D printer. Note that the Elegoo Mars 3 is tied to the ChiTuBox slicer and won’t work with third-party alternatives.

Premium Resin Pick

Prusa i3 MK3S+

Price: $749 kit / $999 assembled – Available on Prusa Store here
Build volume: 250 x 210 x 200 mm
Type of 3D printer: FDM 3D printer & DIY 3D printer
Minimum layer height: 50 microns

Balancing high resolution and workhorse-like reliability, the Prusa i3 MK3S+ is known for being one of the best 3D printers around. Available as a 3D printer kit or pre-assembled for a few hundred dollars extra, this FDM printer can print precise 50-micron layers, and do so time and time again without fail.

For better XY resolutions and part quality, resin printers like the Elegoo Mars are still better, but the Prusa balances still excellent quality, with wider material compatibility – from ABS to PLA to Polycarbonate to Nylon! – and can even be adapted into a color 3D printer that can print 5 colors simultaneously if you purchase the Multi Material Upgrade Kit.

You can purchase the Multi Material Upgrade Kit from Prusa here.

It’s fast, always improving, and balances excellent resolution with dogged grit and reliability.

Best 3D Printer Kit Overall

Original Prusa i3 MK3S+ kit

The best 3D printer kit of all time. If you have $1,000, this is some of the best value you can get.

Buy as a kit hereBuy pre-assembled here

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Formlabs Form 3

Price: $3,499 – Available on Dynamism Store here
Build volume: 145 x 145 x 185 mm
Type of 3D printer: SLA 3D printer
XY Resolution: 25 microns

The leading prosumer resin 3D printing company, Formlabs printers are now used extensively across the jewelry, dental, medical and hearing aid sectors.

Looking at the numbers underpinning the Formlabs Form 3 – chiefly, a 145 x 145 x 185 mm build volume and 25-micron resolution – isn’t exactly a head-turner. However, Formlabs’ innovative LFS tech is the type of innovation we like to see. The real sophistication lies in just how easy the printer is to use. With the Formlabs Form 3, the onus is on the machine to do its thing, no faffing and no babysitting required.

And, the results follow. Equipped with high-quality resin, the Formlabs Form 3 performs exceptionally to yield beautifully finished and detailed prints suitable for commercial ends. Print failures are all but nonexistent; you’d need to physically shake the machine during a print to trigger anything resembling errors.

You do pay a hefty premium for the pleasure of owning a Formlabs Form 3. However, the expense is quickly recouped in time saved alone by the set-a-task-and-forget nature of the printer, something that could conceivably prove invaluable in a fast-paced commercial environment. For small to medium-sized businesses requiring small-batch failsafe precision models along with prototyping, there’s little out there to rival the Formlabs Form 3.

Overall, for precise 3D printing, the Form 3 is one of the highest resolution and quality 3D printers out there.

Extremely High Resolution 3D Printer

Ultimaker S3

Price: $3,850 – Available on Dynamism Store here / Available on Matterhackers here
Build volume: 230 x 190 x 200 mm
Type of 3D printer: FDM 3D printer & dual extruder 3D printer
Minimum layer height: 20 microns

Smaller, but every part as technically brilliant as the S5, the Ultimaker S3 is capable of incredible 20-micron layer heights that are so small you’ll struggle to see them. Though this slows down print time by increasing the number of layers in a part, the resulting model will have unmatched quality compared to almost any other FDM printer.

As well as the fantastic precision, the Ultimaker S3 is also a dual extruder 3D printer, allowing for the production of precise, multi-colored or multi-material 3D prints, and as a result is used heavily in creating architectural building model prototypes before building work begins.

For those interested in architectural model production, view our ranking of the best architecture software.

The printer is easy to use, easy to print with – Ultimaker also own Cura, the most popular 3D slicer – and offers fantastic 20-micron precision with a wide variety of materials compatible, including carbon fiber. Overall, the printer speaks for itself, and proves itself as one of the best high resolution 3D printers in FDM.

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Ultimaker S3

Ultimaker manufacture some of the most accurate and highest build quality FDM 3D printers around.

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Advantages of a High Resolution 3D Printer

Better quality: high resolution makes for smoother surface finishes, with great details and aesthetics on parts.
The only way to get fine details: models that have arches and sharp diagonal details can look very jagged in higher layer heights, with low resolution 3D printers unable to adequately print these details.

Disadvantages of an accurate 3D printer

Perfect settings required: increased precision requires perfect calibration, the perfect temperature settings to avoid imperfections in the filament or resin, and the right heated bed temperature and adhesion on the print bed. Any errors here can create imperfections in the print.
Much slower: printing with 25-micron layer heights takes four times as long as 100-micron layer heights, as four 25-micron layers equal the height of one 100-micron layer. For large and complex models, prints can take days.
Higher chance of print failure: the more layers a model has, the more opportunities there are for errors to occur – which could render the part useless.

High-Resolution 3D Printing Technologies

Some 3D printing technologies considered high-resolution include:

FDM – Fused Deposition Modeling

FDM, or Fused Deposition Modeling, is the most popular and common technology used for high-resolution printing. The process involves depositing melted filament in layers on a fixed build platform using a heated extruder to create models. FDM falls on the lower end of the high-res spectrum and is generally favored as a low-cost alternative to more expensive technologies. FDM printers commonly offer resolutions in the 50 to 200 microns range.

Resin (SLA, DLP, LCD)

Photopolymerization, commonly known as resin 3D printing, involves projecting a laser or light source to cure liquid light-sensitive resin into layers. Specific technologies include Stereolithography (SLA), Low Force Stereolithography (LFS), Masked Stereolithography Apparatus (MSLA), and Digital Light Processing (DLP). Resin printers commonly hit layer resolutions as low as 25 to 35 microns.

MJF – Multi Jet Fusion

Multi-Jet Modeling, or Material Jetting, uses inkjet print heads to jet melted materials layer by layer to create a 3D part or model. Expensive and highly accurate, MJF printers are the reserve of large businesses with deep coffers.

PolyJet – Photopolymer Jetting

Printers that employ PolyJet, or Photopolymer Jetting, rely on layers of photo-sensitive liquid photopolymer resin jetted via print heads then cured thanks to a UV light source to create prints. Much like MJF, PolyJet involves considerable expense, although the printers are generally smaller in size.

High-Resolution 3D Printer FAQs

Are High-Resolution 3D Prints Stronger?

No, the opposite. As a general rule, thicker layers (or a lower resolution) generate tougher results. This is because they minimize the number of contact points between layers. Fewer layers interfacing with one another means a lower likelihood of bond strength issues.

But, print strength relies on many factors, including layer adhesion and height, extruder and bed temperature, material quality and type, and the printing technology employed. A definitive answer is more related to the specific printer than the resolution. A capable device, like any of the best high-resolution 3D printers, produces reliable parts at higher resolutions.

What Is High-Resolution 3D Printing?

The answer varies greatly depending on who you ask. For the sake of simplicity, high-resolution 3D printing is best described as the process of printing parts with higher overall quality – whether that be smoothness, finish quality, detail, or model accuracy – than you’ll typically find in the 3D printing space.

What Can You Do With a High-Resolution 3D Printer?

High-resolution 3D printing suits a vast swathe of applications. In the commercial field, companies favor high-resolution printing in areas such as dentistry, jewelry, biomedicine, and all manner of functional prototyping where precision is critical. In the hobby space, makers turn towards high-resolution printing for projects that require fine detail, such as figurines, modeling, and other decorative pieces.

What Effect Does 3D Print Resolution Have on Speed?

Higher resolutions decrease speed.

Print speed relates to how fast a printer deposes each layer. Since high-resolution printing is synonymous with thinner layers, the print speed is generally slower than lower-res printing. High-resolution 3D printing sacrifices print speed in favor of accuracy. Exact timings depend on the desired resolution, the technologies underpinning the printer in use, such as resin or MJF, and the complexity of the model.

We also have an article about how to maximize dimensional accuracy and precision in 3D printing.

8 Best High Resolution 3D Printers In 2022

When looking for a 3D printer, you look at features like build volume, extruder type, nozzle, build plate to suss out the best.
But in the end, if we’re honest, all we want are picture-perfect prints printed quickly.
And that’s what this article highlights: the best FDM and resin 3D printers that produce the highest resolution prints in the shortest amount of time.

Prusa i3 MK3S+
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Elegoo Mars 2 Pro
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Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K
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Table of Contents
The Best High Resolution 3D Printers (FDM)
The Best High Resolution 3D Printers (SLA/Resin)
FDM 3D Printers:
1. Creality Ender 3 V2 (Best for Beginners to Advanced Users)
2. Prusa I3 MK3S+ (Best Value)
3. Dremel DigiLab 3D45 (Best for Education)
4. Ultimaker S5 (Large Build Volume)
SLA/Resin 3D Printers:
5. Elegoo Mars 2 Pro (Best Choice)
6. Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K (Beginner Friendly)
7. Anycubic Photon Mono X (Prints Fast)
8. Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K (Premium Choice)
What is Resolution in 3D Printing? X, Y, and Z Resolution
Other Factors That Affect Print Quality
Material
Printer Stability
Type of Printing
Temperature
Slicer settings
Nozzle size
When Do High-Quality 3D Printers Make the Most Difference?
Advantages and Disadvantages for High Resolution 3D Printers
Advantages
Disadvantages
SLA VS FDM
Which is Stronger: FDM or SLA?
What is the Effect of 3D Print Resolution on Speed?

The Best High Resolution 3D Printers (FDM)
1. Creality Ender 3 V2 (Best for Beginners to Advanced Users)
2. Prusa i3 MK3S+ (Best Value)
3. Dremel DigiLab 3D45 (Best for Education)
4. Ultimaker S5 (Large Build Volume)
The Best High Resolution 3D Printers (SLA/Resin)
5. Elegoo Mars 2 Pro (Best Choice)
6. Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K (Beginner Friendly)
7. Anycubic Photon Mono X (Prints Fast)
8. Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K (Premium Choice)

FDM 3D Printers:
1. Creality Ender 3 V2 (Best for Beginners to Advanced Users)

3D Printer Type: FDM | Materials: PLA, ABS, TPU & PETG| Build Volume: 220 x 220 x 250 mm | Print Resolution: 100 microns
Cheap. Capable. Efficient. The Creality Ender 3 series is a 3D printing staple. And the upgraded Ender 3 V2 is one of the best budget printers, capable of churning out high-resolution prints.
This world-class budget machine (yes, I used world-class and budget in the same sentence – the 3D printer is a delightful paradox) is perfect for newcomers. Once you buy this printer, you don’t need to purchase any other printer because this machine handles it all.
Stuck setting up your printer? Printing issues chipping away your happiness? Then Creality’s vast user base would be happy to solve the problem for you. The official community can be found on this site. There are plenty of Facebook groups as well.
Silent stepper motor drivers and a 32-bit mainboard are just some ways the V2 leveled up over its older brother, the original Ender 3 model.
The Bowden extruder in the V2 performs an admirable job of creating fantastic prints. The print resolution in the XY-axis and the Z-axis is 0.1mm.
The Ender 3 V2 comes with rare features at this price point, like a filament runout sensor and resume-printing option during a power cut. Coupled with a large build volume of 220 x 220 x 250 mm, it’s hard to find fault with this printer.
But alas, faults it does have. For instance, loading the filament into the Ender V2 was irksome. This was an issue we faced with the Ender 3 as well. And this high accuracy 3D printer requires assembly.
Don’t let the minor nitpick dissuade you, however. The Ender 3 is the best budget high resolution 3D printer.

2. Prusa I3 MK3S+ (Best Value)

3D Printer Type: FDM | Materials: PLA, PETG, ASA, ABS, PC, HIPS, Flex, Nylon, Carbon filled & Woodfill | Build Volume: 250 x 210 x 210 mm | Print Resolution: 50 microns
The Prusa i3 MK3S+, a 3D printing heavyweight and an upgrade over its previous MK3S iteration, is expensive. But you get what you pay for – the printer over-delivers in terms of quality.
The printer setup can be challenging, especially if you decide to save with the cheaper kit version. But the gorgeous and detailed handbook shipped with the printer guides you meticulously through the whole process.
Shipped with the 3D printer are premium components like a magnetic PEI-coated steel spring heated bed and a custom E3D V6 hot end.
The I3 MK3S+ now comes with Prusa’s in-house PrusaSlicer software. Based on the previous Slic3r tool, it replaces the earlier two software options — one for beginners and one for advanced users — with one simple-to-use package.
Though if you prefer Simplify3D or Cura, the printer also works with them.
For high-resolution prints, it’s necessary to dampen vibrations during printing. The sturdy aluminum frame of the Prusa stops any shaking with ease, leading to better prints. The machine handles whatever you throw at it without breaking a sweat. The layer resolution is 0.05 mm, and the print quality is better than most other printers in the market. Take a magnifying glass or a microscope, you’d be hard-pressed to find flaws in the prints.
Another impressive characteristic of the Prusa is its incredibly fast printing speed of more than 200mm/s. Few FDM 3D printers can print so fast, although you probably won’t print in high resolution at those speeds.
The Prusa I3 MK3S is a brand that never disappoints and delivers on all fronts.

3. Dremel DigiLab 3D45 (Best for Education)

3D Printer Type: FDM | Materials: PLA, ECO ABS, PETG & Nylon | Build Volume: 254 x 152 x 170 mm | Print Resolution: 50 microns
The Prusa got you excited, and now you want more premium 3D printers to ogle at before you take your pick? Then take a look at the Dremel DigiLab 3D45; it gives Prusa a run for its money.
Large prints can be printed with ease with its large build volume of 254 x 152 x 170 mm. In addition, The DigiLab Slicer software uses the open-source Cura platform, which is suitable for both beginners and advanced users.
One of DigiLab’s unique features is its ability to handle filaments that most 3D printers can’t, like polycarbonate, Nylon, and EcoABS.
The 3D printer is perfect for classrooms. In fact, it comes with a curriculum meant for students from elementary to university levels. Students can easily use the printer as the machine was designed for learning.
The DigiLab is safe for students. It is completely enclosed and it has a carbon filter, so you don’t have to worry about anyone inhaling toxic fumes. And there’s one more benefit with enclosed printers, they help regulate temperatures which result in higher resolution prints.
Just like the Prusa i3 MK3S, the 3D45 has an excellent resolution of 0.05 mm. And that reflects in the final prints, which look beautiful. And like the i3 MK3S, the printer excels at making high-quality prints consistently. Both printers are masters at their craft.
If you want a cheaper but equally effective Dremel printer, go for the Dremel 3D40 Flex.
The 3D40 does lack a couple of features, however – it can handle only PLA while the 3D45 can handle more (like I mentioned above). The 3D40 also lacks a camera for remote monitoring of prints, a heated platform to reduce warping, and a carbon filter to eliminate fumes.
Even the best 3D printers have issues, and the 3D45 isn’t an exception. In addition to its hefty price, a major downside is its difficulty in handling third-party filaments. The Dremel works best with company-made filament. Similar to Apple, the printer is meant to function like a closed ecosystem.
But also just like the Apple, the Dremel performs flawlessly and is worth the big bucks it asks for.

4. Ultimaker S5 (Large Build Volume)

3D Printer Type: FFF | Materials: Tough PLA, TPU 95A, ABS, Nylon & TPU | Build Volume: 330 x 240 x 300 mm | Print Resolution: 0.25 mm nozzle: 150 – 60 micron, 0.4 mm nozzle: 200 – 20 micron, 0.6 mm nozzle: 300 – 20 micron & 0.8 mm nozzle: 600 – 20 micron
This 3D printer is for the true professionals; for those that don’t play around. With one of the biggest build volumes and a dual-extruder, this is an Olympic grade printer
Make sure you have a desk dedicated just for S5, it’s humongous. The 3D printer is not meant for newbies, it’s meant for professionals and small business owners. There’s no better printer than this for creating functional prototypes.
The print bed comes with two types: a glass bed for everyday use and a special anodized aluminum bed for advanced materials (like polycarbonate and ABS). Both of these can be swapped easily.
Ultimaker Tough PLA, is a special PLA for functional prototyping, tooling, and manufacturing aids. This PLA has similar impact strength to ABS and also has a higher stiffness.
The feature that sets the S5 apart from other FDM 3D printers is its dual extruding feature. It comes with two printheads and two print cores.
The BB print core is meant only for PVA, whereas the AA print core is mainly for all other materials. If you want to print dual colors, use two AA cores. The PVA core is primarily used for support.
The user experience of the S5 is a delight. From the touchscreen to the loading filament, every aspect of the printer is intuitive to use.
If you want to squeeze the highest resolution possible out of an FDM 3D printer, then the S5 is the machine to get. It can reach incredibly low XY resolutions of 0.02 mm. The Z-axis resolution is 0.1mm.
The pricing for the Ultimaker S5 can make people sweat. Luckily, there’s a cheaper version of the S5- the S3 (around $2000 cheaper. But it’s still pricey).
Here are some of the features that make the S5 more expensive.
The Ultimaker is similar to the Dremel in that it’s preferable to use filaments from the company itself. If not, you could find yourself with poor-quality prints.
If you want the best high resolution 3D printer in the FDM category, the Ultimaker S5 is a no-brainer.

SLA/Resin 3D Printers:
5. Elegoo Mars 2 Pro (Best Choice)

3D Printer Type: LCD | Materials: 405nm UV Resin | Build Volume: 129 x 80 x 160 mm | Print Resolution: 50 microns
A big advantage of resin printers is the high resolution they produce at a fraction of the price. And the Elegoo Mars 2 is an excellent example of this.
The Mars 2 Pro comes with a 6.08 monochrome LCD with a 2K HD resolution which plays a huge factor in the quality of the prints.
The build quality is solid, with a CNC machined aluminum body. The 3D printer doesn’t budge, ensuring that the high-resolution prints maintain steady quality. Build size is small, as with most resin 3D printers.
Another advantage that resin printers have over FDM printers is their printing speed. They take about 1-2 seconds per layer, only. The Elegoo Mars 2 inherits this speed gene from the family of resin printers.
It prints miniatures with amazing precision. The XY resolution is 0.05 mm and the Z-axis resolution is just 0.01 mm.
You’ll find the 3D printer great for home use. Make sure to keep it in a ventilated space as resin fumes are toxic (luckily some of the fumes are mitigated by the carbon filter in the printer).
The Elegoo Mars 2 is the Creality of the resin world and is always a worthwhile buy.

6. Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K (Beginner Friendly)

3D Printer Type: LCD | Materials: 405 nm UV Resins | Build Volume: 165 x 72 x 180 mm | Print Resolution: 22 microns
4K resin printing used to be all the rage and a game-changer. Then 8K came along and changed the game yet again. So, Phrozen updated its Sonic Mini 4K to the Sonic Mini 8K.
It’s still the familiar Mini, it just comes with double the K’s (and an orange enclosure).
The 8K screen treatment has improved the Mini’s accuracy somewhat. Whereas the 4K version reached layer resolutions of 0.035mm at 722 PPI, the 8K screen takes the printer up to 0.022mm at 1,152 PPI.
It’s not as drastic a jump as going from 2K to 4K screens, but the difference is still noticeable to sharp eyes.
Otherwise, the Mini 8K remains mostly the same. The print speed sits unchanged at 80mm/h and the minimum layer height is the same old 0.01mm.
Both specs were already good so why change them?
Source: Youtube FauxHammer
Maximum print volume has expanded a bit to 165 x 72 x 180 mm thanks to the 8K LCD screen being bigger, which is welcome. At the same time, though, the printer is twice as heavy as the 4K.
The printer is still locked mostly to Phrozen’s own resins, which is a bit of a bummer. You can try third-party materials, but be ready to wrestle with your print settings for optimal results.
The price has unfortunately increased, too. Mini 8K is almost twice as expensive as the 4K version. But Phrozen still sells the 4K as well, so if you don’t need that slight increase in print detail, you can save your pennies.
All in all, Phrozen Mini 8K offers excellent miniature and jewelry 3D printing capabilities, much like its predecessor.

7. Anycubic Photon Mono X (Prints Fast)

3D Printer Type: LCD | Materials: 405 nm UV Resins | Build Volume: 192 x 120 x 245 mm | Print Resolution: 50 microns
Most SLA printers are tiny. But Anycubic Photon Mono X breaks the mold. With its large build volume and high-resolution printing capability, it’s a highly desirable precision 3D printer on our list.
The frustrating thing about most SLA printers is small build volumes, so it’s welcome when printers like the Mono X hit the market.
Sometimes bigger is better (and more beautiful), and that’s exactly the case with this printer. Not to objectify printers, but the printer with its yellow acrylic lid is a looker.
When we compared prints between the Mono X and Phrozen Sonic Mini’s 4K version, we found that the latter is better in terms of print quality – but only by a margin. For 99% of people, the difference would be negligible. The Mono has a similar resolution to the Mini – 0.05 mm XY resolution and 0.01 mm Z axis resolution. The new Mini 8K has it squarely beaten, though.
The addition of the WiFi on this printer was a ridiculous option. With this, you can only connect Anycubic’s mobile app to the printer. You can’t connect the slicer on the computer to the machine.
For those who have a business to run and who like to print fast, the printer is a speed-demon, with a printer velocity of 60 mm/h.
Price withstanding, the Mono X checks all the boxes you’d want in a high resolution 3D printer for resin printing.

8. Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K (Premium Choice)

3D Printer Type: LCD | Materials: Compatible with Phrozen and 3rd Party Resins of 405 nm | Build Volume: 330 x 185 x 400 mm | Print Resolution: 43 microns
Did the Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K leave you hoping for bigger things? If so, you can’t get much bigger than the same company’s Sonic Mega 8K.
If you thought the Anycubic was huge, you’ve seen nothing yet. This absolute behemoth of a 3D printer comes with a mind-blowing 330 x 185 x 400 mm build volume.
Basically, you could print a baby with this thing.
But what’s possibly more stunning is that you’re not compromising high resolution or print detail for the build volume. Mega 8K has a resolution of 0.043mm, which you might notice beats Elegoo. That’s those 8K screens for you.
Source: Youtube Top 3D Shop Inc.
To top it all off, the printer is easy to operate. The print bed is pre-calibrated (although the screws to attach are annoying to attach) and the machine has USB and Ethernet connectivity. A Wi-Fi module would be nice, but that’d probably make the price astronomical.
Oh yes, let’s talk about the price.
This shouldn’t come as a surprise, but the price tag of this machine matches the build chamber’s size. It’s not bad value, considering the volume and print detail, but you’ll still have to sink a lot of money into the Mega 8K.
It’s also designed to work best with Phrozen’s resins, which will add to the running costs.
But if you want to print massive high-resolution parts, you can’t do much better than Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K.

What is Resolution in 3D Printing? X, Y, and Z Resolution
Source: Youtube Miniac
The technical definition of resolution in 3D Printing is the shortest distance a 3D printer nozzle travels when depositing filament.
If you’ve ever purchased a phone or television (or maybe you made your girlfriend/boyfriend get them for you), you’d have come across the term resolution frequently. You’ll know that a 1080p screen has better picture quality than that of a 720p screen.
Likewise, in 3D printing, a high resolution 3D printer is by far the most important factor to consider when buying a printer if you want high-quality prints.
You’ll often hear terms like Z layer resolution and XY resolution in 3D printer reviews. The Z layer resolution is the height of a single layer in a 3D print. The X and Y resolution, on the other hand, is the shortest distance the nozzle travels in the horizontal direction.

Other Factors That Affect Print Quality
Source: Youtube NeedItMakeIt
Material
Not all materials print with the same quality: some materials produce higher quality prints than others.
Printer Stability
Vibrations during printing can hamper 3D printing accuracy. That’s why a sturdy, stable printer is important. All metal printers are sturdier than plastic printers.
Type of Printing
Resin printing produces a higher resolution of prints than FDM printing.
Temperature
Different plastics print better at different temperatures. For ABS, extrusion temperatures of up to 240-250°C are ideal for accurate prints. PLA on the other hand benefits from temperatures of 200-220°C.
Slicer settings
Slicer settings play a big role in print quality, so make sure you play with these settings to get the perfect print. The layer height will have a big effect on print quality and print speed.
Nozzle size
The smaller the nozzle size, the more accurate and high resolution the print.

When Do High-Quality 3D Printers Make the Most Difference?
Source: Youtube Miniac
High-quality 3D printers don’t make much of a difference on basic flat surfaces like a cube. A cheaper less accurate printer can even produce the same cube in a shorter period of time (because the nozzle diameter size is larger which means it deposits more filament in less layers).
But if you love printing intricate miniatures, prints with curved or diagonal surfaces, or embossings and engravings, then the difference between a high resolution 3D printer vs a low-resolution printer is blatantly obvious.

Advantages and Disadvantages for High Resolution 3D Printers
High-quality 3D printers don’t make much of a difference on basic flat surfaces like a cube. A cheaper less accurate printer can even produce the same cube in a shorter period of time (because the nozzle diameter size is larger which means it deposits more filament in less layers).
But if you love printing intricate miniatures, or prints with curved or diagonal surfaces, or embossings and engravings, then the difference between a high resolution 3D printer vs a low-resolution printer is blatantly obvious.
Source: Youtube My Tech Fun

Advantages
Print Quality
Higher resolution printing naturally leads to smoother surfaces, finer details, and more accurate printing.
Efficient Workflows
High-res printing also leads to efficient workflows while being uncompromising on speed and quality.
More Variability in Creating Objects
These 3D printers can create the most intricate and complex of designs while maintaining quality.
Picture a model or a sculpture in your head. You can make a real-life version of that with the help of a high res 3D printer.
Disadvantages
Slow Speed
It’s not all sunshine, rainbows, and popcorn with high resolution 3D printers. A piece that may take an hour with a lower res 3D printer will take four hours to print on a high-res one.
More error-prone
The more layers in a print, the more time it takes to print, and the greater the chances of a printing error.
Requires Precise Calibration
Your printer setting game needs to be tight to get the highest resolution prints possible. The extrusion and bed temperatures must be just right, and the right nozzle must also be selected.

SLA VS FDM

Like we briefly touched on before, SLA (aka resin) 3D printers produce far more accurate prints than FDM printers.
SLA printers use UV or laser to cure the resin. These two light sources have different spot sizes. Anycubic Photon Mono X, a popular resin printer, has an XY resolution of 0.05mm and a Z layer resolution of 0.01mm. The resolution of most high-end consumer printers falls in this range.
On the other hand, FDM 3D printers don’t compare to resin printers. For example, one of the best FDM printers, the Prusa i3 MK3S+, has a Z layer resolution of only 0.05mm.

Which is Stronger: FDM or SLA?
Source Youtube Hoffman Tactical
SLA might trounce FDM in detail quality, but when you start looking at part durability, the tables suddenly turn. FDM prints are much stronger and more durable than SLA prints.
Although SLA can produce extreme details, the prints are often brittle. They don’t withstand impacts and snap or break easily. You shouldn’t use SLA for parts that require any mechanical strength — its value is in the looks.
FDM thermoplastics, on the other hand, are generally used even in heavy industries for functional parts. That should tell you all you need to know about their strength.
The ultimate durability of FDM parts depends on the material, how you printed it, and which printer you used. But in general, FDM is much stronger than SLA.

What is the Effect of 3D Print Resolution on Speed?
Source: Youtube Phrozen 3D Printer
Speed is one of the main considerations in 3D printing, whether high or low resolution. When it comes to high-res 3D printing, you unfortunately have to sacrifice speed.
The general rule of thumb is that the higher the resolution, the lower the print speed.
That might be disappointing to hear, but it only makes sense. Just like it takes you longer to draw a more detailed picture than a stick figure, 3D printers take longer to cram in all the detail to high-resolution prints.
That said, printer manufacturers are locked in a constant battle of finding the optimal ratio of resolution vs. speed. Many of the printers on this list will produce great results in a relatively short time.

Best High-Resolution 3D Printers of 2022: A Complete Buying Guide

Resolution is a little-understood aspect of precision 3D printing, and there are many important factors that affect print quality beyond layer height. This article recommends the best high resolution 3D printers, explains the factors that make up a high resolution 3D printer, and the advantages and disadvantages.

Usually, when choosing a resolution for 3D printing, the Z-axis resolution, or Z-resolution, is the most discussed. This is the vertical resolution, which refers to the minimum height or layer thickness possible for a 3D printer.

Smaller layers mean better resolution and better surface finish on parts with smoother surfaces and sharper edges.

So having a high quality 3D printer that can print at low layer heights can be a big advantage. However, this is not the only factor that affects print quality, there are many others that affect whether a high resolution 3D printer actually prints accurate and smooth details.

Contents

Resolution in 3D printing: X, Y and Z resolution

Other factors affecting print quality

When do high quality 3D printers matter most?

Best High Resolution 3D Printers

Ender 3 V2 - Precision 3D Printer Under $0

Elegoo Mars 2 Pro

Anycubic Photon Mono 4K

Elegoo Mars 3 - Best Inexpensive Resin Choice
+ 3903S
Formlabs Form 3

Ultimaker S3

Advantages of a high resolution 3D printer

Disadvantages of a precision 3D printer

High resolution 3D printing technologies

High resolution 3D printer FAQ

Resolution in 3D printing: X, Y and Z resolution

The Z resolution corresponds to the layer height of the printed part. However, the X and Y planes are also very important in a high resolution 3D printer.

The X and Y axes control the 2D print details: the ones that are inside each 2D layer. Then the Z-axis adds several layers, representing the height - the third dimension. Although these are all axes, the XY and Z axes are controlled by two different systems, with some FDM printers having a much finer resolution in Z than in XY.

low and high resolution in 3d printing layers

X and Y resolution is the smallest movement of the printer's print head (projector, extruder or laser, depending on the technology) within the layer - horizontally.

Various 3D printing technologies are able to provide better resolution than others. For example, SLA 3D printers are more accurate than FDM 3D printers, although their Z-resolutions may look the same on paper. This is mainly due to the better XY resolution resin 3D printers can print at, resulting in smoother surfaces, and better resin printers are able to print parts with barely visible layer lines.

However, other factors can significantly affect print quality.

Other factors affecting print quality

Nozzle size: Smaller nozzles on FDM 3D printer extruders allow more complex and precise parts to be printed. Standard nozzles are typically 0.4mm, although much smaller 0.1mm or 0.2mm nozzles are available for printing small and precise parts. They are also better suited for printing supports and ledges.

Frame and Vibration Stability: The strong, heavy metal frame that secures the printer and print bed to the ground is less susceptible to vibrations and other external factors that can affect print quality.

Material: different materials are more accurate and precise than others, or are easier to print successfully than others.

Technology: for example, SLA printers are more accurate than FDM and PolyJet offers some of the best accuracy in 3D printing.

Slicer and Printer Settings: Your 3D slicer settings will be critical to print quality, and even the highest resolution 3D printers will print poor quality models if not optimized.

When do high quality 3D printers matter the most?

If you are planning to 3D print a very simple structure, like a cube, then using a high quality 3D printer, using large or small layers will make no difference. In fact, using low layer heights will cause the exact same print to take much longer.

For these very simple models with few complex parts, a regular cheap 3D printer will work almost as well as a high resolution industrial 3D printer that costs 20 times more.

However, high-quality precision 3D printers greatly improve the quality of more complex parts that have diagonal or arcuate lines or sides, as well as embossing and engraving.

Particularly for curved or diagonal parts, the lower the layer height and the more precise the printer, the less stepped these elements will look and the smoother they will look even up close.

Very high resolution 3D printers such as resin printers are commonly used to 3D print jewelry molds such as this 3D printed ring.

Source: Shapeways.

What's more, if you're printing a small part, such as 3D printing a miniature or desktop model, using an accurate printer with a very low layer height can be worth it, because even if it takes several times longer, it still won't take more than an hour.

Best High Resolution 3D Printers

Now we have illustrated the components that make up a high quality 3D printer, here are some guidelines.

High resolution and quality are relative here, meaning we have chosen printers in each price range that outperform others - a $200 3D printer can't compete with a $20,000 industrial 3D printer, but it can be the best in its class. price range.

Ender 3 V2 - Under $300 Precision 3D Printer

Price: $279

Assembly volume: 220 x 220 x 250 mm

3D printer type: FDM 3D printer and DIY 3D printer

Minimum layer height: 0. 1 mm

The Ender 3 is an inexpensive and relatively high quality 3D printer.

Just as the original Ender 3 began to age, Creality released the Ender 3 V2. A well-designed printer, the Ender 3 V2 eliminates many of the shortcomings of its predecessor while maintaining an affordable price for even the most budget-conscious manufacturers.

Belt tensioners, a 4.2.2 32-bit motherboard, and silent stepper drivers do a lot to present a printer that feels much more modern than the Ender 3. 3 V2 is not amazing: the layer resolution is only 100 microns. But don't be fooled: high resolution printing is only defined by high resolution.

In action, the Ender 3 V2 is built to a level of precision that seems unusually high for an inexpensive FDM printer. With few visible, warping or layering issues, with excellent overall quality for large parts and decent results for small, detailed parts. Added to this is a fairly large build volume - 220 x 220 x 250 mm to be precise - for large projects and even for small-scale printing.

For the price, you also get to work with a decent range of materials - PLA, ABS, PETG, TPU. The only caveat is that you'll have to stick with simpler prints that are relatively free of complex embossing, small details, narrow arches, and the like.

In our experience, the Ender 3 V2 works best when creating household items such as plant pots or, say, vases, figurines, toys, accessories, and the like. We are sure that his printing abilities will be enough for a modest business selling non-geometrically complex products.

Keep in mind that the Ender 3 V2 is largely a hobby printer that needs a fair amount of tweaking to get the best results. Curious beginners and seasoned makers should find this an enjoyable part of the printing process, but "green" beginners may prefer an option with fewer "practical" aspects.

Elegoo Mars 2 Pro

Price: $299

Assembly volume: 129 x 80 x 160 mm

3D printer type: LCD 3D printer

Z-axis accuracy: 0. 00125 mm, XY-axis resolution: 0.05 mm

The Elegoo Mars and Anycubic Photon ranges have revolutionized low-cost, high-resolution 3D printing for hobbyists and businesses around the world. The Elegoo Mars 2 is able to create resin models so accurate that it is increasingly being used to 3D print jewelry molds before they are molded into gold or other metal rings, bracelets and chains.

As an MSLA printer, Elegoo Mars prints resin models that outperform FDM counterparts in high resolution 3D prints with almost no visible layers. The 6-inch 2K LCD screen enables fast 3D printing by allowing a layer to be cured every 2 seconds.

In addition, Mars 2 Pro's CNC-machined aluminum construction improves stability by eliminating external vibrations that can affect 3D print detail. In addition, the new and improved build plate is designed for better adhesion and a higher quality result.

The printer is available in 12 languages, so those who do not speak English need not worry, and if you have any problems with the Elegoo Mars 2 Pro, the company will replace it under a 1-year warranty. Overall, this is a great, high quality 3D printer for producing resin parts cheaply and accurately.
3D print of a dinosaur head we made while reviewing the Elegoo Mars 2 Pro.

Anycubic Photon Mono 4K

Price: $299

Assembly volume: 132 x 80 x 165 mm

3D printer type: LCD 3D printer

Z-axis accuracy: 0.00125 mm, XY resolution: 0.035 mm

The Anycubic Photon Mono 4K is another iterative upgrade of the venerable family of resin printers, an impressive option for those into high-resolution 3D printers. The Anycubic Photon Mono 4K is without a doubt one of the best cheap high resolution 3D printers out there.

Under the hood of the Anycubic Photon Mono 4K is, you guessed it, a 4K LCD panel capable of delivering 35 micron pixel resolution, 15 microns better than its predecessor. In simple terms, this means a smooth surface and the finest detail in every print, which is immediately visible to the naked eye.

Imperfections are almost indistinguishable and, dare we say, the results are overwhelmingly close to perfection, as we have seen in this price range. Anycubic Photon Mono 4K also penetrates prints with a more than respectable layer cure time of less than 2 seconds.

For us, this printer has great hobby potential. We could hardly find an application where it would not impress. However, the Anycubic Photon Mono 4K comes into its own when working with 3D models and the like, thanks to its penchant for carving out detailed details.

Like other resin printers, the Anycubic Photon Mono 4K has its fair share of clutter and requires a strict regular cleaning routine. The lack of a resume feature and the sometimes unstable native slicer seem like annoying oversights. But these are minor shortcomings for a great inexpensive small form factor resin printer.

Elegoo Mars 3 - Best inexpensive resin choice

Price: $349 - Available on Amazon here

Assembly volume: 143 x 90 x 165 mm

3D printer type: LCD 3D printer

Z-axis accuracy: 0. 00125 mm, XY-axis resolution: 0.035 mm

The Elegoo Mars is back and perhaps even better than ever, plus a new number. Fast, superbly detailed, compact and economical, the Elegoo Mars 3 also has the features we prefer to see in high-resolution resin printers, namely a 6.6-inch 4K ultra-monochrome LCD display and razor-slim 35-micron resolution.

Marketing and technical chatter aside, the Elegoo Mars 3 delivers impressively detailed results with clean edges and precise precision suitable for even the most demanding resin projects. The larger case volume of 143 x 90 x 165mm compared to the Mars 2 Pro also allows for larger prints while retaining the finest features and fine details.

We're particularly impressed with how well the printer handles figurines, toys and models, even those we think are big for a resin printer. Most importantly, the Elegoo Mars 3 sticks to the Mars tradition of flawless printers that perform at the same high level day in and day out. In other words, it's a workhorse.

Despite some concerns about the flimsy lid and the lack of features such as air filtering and Wi-Fi connectivity, we highly recommend the Elegoo Mars 3 to manufacturers, hobbyists and businesses looking for an affordable high resolution 3D printer. Please note that Elegoo Mars 3 is tied to the ChiTuBox slicer and will not work with third party alternatives.

Prusa i3 MK3S+

Price: $749 set / $999 complete

Assembly volume: 250 x 210 x 200 mm

3D printer type: FDM 3D printer and DIY 3D printer

Minimum layer height: 50 microns

The Prusa i3 MK3S+ combines high resolution with workhorse reliability and is known as one of the best 3D printers in the world. This FDM printer can print accurate 50 micron layers and do it again and again without fail.

For better XY resolution and detail quality, resin printers like Elegoo Mars are better, but Prusa still has great quality, wider material compatibility - from ABS to PLA, polycarbonate to nylon! - and can even be converted into a color 3D printer that can print 5 colors at once if you purchase the Multi Material Upgrade Kit.

It's fast, constantly improving, and combines superior resolution with tenacity and reliability.

Formlabs Form 3

Price: $3,499

Assembly volume: 145 x 145 x 185 mm

3D printer type: SLA 3D printer

XY resolution: 25 microns

Printers from Formlabs, a leading company in consumer 3D resin printing, are currently widely used in the jewelry, dental, medical and hearing aid industries.

If you look at the numbers behind the Formlabs Form 3 - which is, first of all, the build volume of 145 x 145 x 185 mm and a resolution of 25 microns - it does not attract too much attention. However, Formlabs' innovative LFS technology is the type of innovation we love to see. The real sophistication lies in how easy the printer is to use. With Formlabs Form 3, it's all about the machine doing its job, no fiddling or babysitting.

And the results will not keep you waiting. Equipped with high quality resin, the Formlabs Form 3 works exceptionally well, producing gorgeous and detailed prints suitable for commercial purposes. Print failures are virtually non-existent; in order for any errors to occur, it is necessary to physically shake the machine while printing.

For the pleasure of owning a Formlabs Form 3, you pay a lot of money. However, these costs are quickly repaid in time savings due to the printer's set-and-forget nature, which can be invaluable in a rapidly changing business environment. For SMBs that require low-volume, trouble-free, accurate models along with prototyping, there is little that can compete with the Formlabs Form 3.

Overall, for precision 3D printing, the Form 3 is one of the best quality high-resolution 3D printers out there.

Ultimaker S3

Price: $3,850

Assembly volume: 230 x 190 x 200 mm

3D printer type: FDM 3D printer and
dual extruder 3D printer
Minimum layer height: 20 microns

The Ultimaker S3 is smaller but has the same performance as the S5. It is capable of creating incredible 20 micron layers that are so small they are hard to see. While this slows down print times by increasing the number of layers per part, the resulting model will be of unsurpassed quality compared to almost any other FDM printer.

In addition to being fantastically accurate, the Ultimaker S3 is also a dual-extruder 3D printer that produces accurate, multi-color or multi-material 3D prints and is therefore widely used for prototyping architectural models of buildings prior to construction work.

For those interested in creating architectural models, check out our ranking of the best architectural software.

The printer is easy to use, easy to print with - Ultimaker also owns Cura, the most popular 3D slicer - and delivers fantastic 20 micron precision with a wide range of compatible materials, including carbon fiber. Overall, the printer speaks for itself and proves to be one of the best high resolution 3D printers in FDM.

Benefits of High Resolution 3D Printer

Best Quality: High resolution results in a smoother surface, with excellent detail and detail aesthetics.

The only way to get fine details: models that have arches and sharp diagonal details can look very jagged at high layer heights, and low resolution 3D printers can't adequately print those details.

Ideal settings required: improved accuracy requires perfect calibration, perfect temperature settings to avoid filament or resin defects, and proper bed temperature and adhesion on the platen. Any errors here may result in defects in the print.

Significantly slower: prints with a 25 micron layer height four times longer than with a 100 micron layer because four 25 micron layers equals one 100 micron layer height. Large and complex models may take several days to print.

Higher chance of print failure: The more layers a model has, the more chances for errors to occur that can render a part useless.

High-Resolution 3D Printing Technologies

High-Resolution 3D Printing Technologies include:

FDM - Fused Deposition Modeling
resolution. The process involves layering molten filament onto a fixed build platform using a heated extruder to create patterns. FDM is at the lower end of the high resolution spectrum and is commonly used as a low cost alternative to more expensive technologies. FDM printers typically provide resolutions in the 50 to 200 micron range.

Resin (SLA, DLP, LCD)

Photopolymerization, commonly known as resin 3D printing, involves projecting a laser or light source to cure a liquid photosensitive resin into layers. Specific technologies include stereolithography (SLA), low power stereolithography (LFS), masked stereolithography (MSLA), and digital light processing (DLP). Resin printers typically achieve a layer resolution of 25-35 microns.

MJF - multi-jet simulation

Multi-jet modeling, or material inkjet, uses inkjet printheads to layer-by-layer melted materials to create a 3D part or model. Expensive and high-precision MJF printers are a reserve of large companies with a large treasury.

PolyJet - Resin Inkjet

PolyJet, or photopolymer inkjet, printers use layers of photosensitive liquid photopolymer resin to create prints, which is fed through the printheads and cured by exposure to ultraviolet light. Like the MJF, the PolyJet is expensive, although the printers are usually smaller.

High Definition 3D Printer FAQ

Are high definition 3D prints more durable?

No, on the contrary. Generally, thicker layers (or lower resolution) produce harsher results. This is because they minimize the number of contact points between layers. Fewer layers in contact with each other means less chance of bond strength problems.
However, print strength depends on many factors, including adhesion and layer height, extruder and bed temperatures, media quality and type, and the printing technology used. The definitive answer depends more on the specific printer than the resolution. A capable device, such as any of the best high resolution 3D printers, produces reliable parts at higher resolution.

What is high resolution 3D printing?

The answer to this question varies greatly depending on who you ask. To keep things simple, high-resolution 3D printing is best described as the process of printing parts with a higher overall quality—whether it be smoothness, quality of finish, detail, or model fidelity—than is typically found in the realm of 3D printing.

What can be done with a high resolution 3D printer?

High resolution 3D printing suitable for a wide range of applications. In the commercial realm, companies prefer high-resolution printing in areas such as dentistry, jewelry, biomedicine, and all kinds of functional prototyping where accuracy is critical. In the hobby realm, creators are turning to high-resolution printing for projects that require fine detail, such as figurines, modeling, and other decorative items.

How does 3D printing resolution affect speed?

Higher resolution reduces speed.
Print speed refers to how quickly the printer applies each layer. Because high resolution printing is synonymous with thinner layers, print speeds are typically slower than low resolution printing. With high-resolution 3D printing, printing speed is sacrificed in favor of accuracy. The exact time depends on the desired resolution, the underlying technologies of the printer being used such as resin or MJF, and the complexity of the model.

8 most common 3D file formats

3DPrintStory

There are different formats for storing information about 3D models. Surely you have heard about the most popular ones like: STL, OBJ, FBX, COLLADA, etc. They are widely used in 3D printing, video games, film, architecture, medicine, construction and education. At the same time, each of the listed areas has its most popular formats, which were formed due to historical or practical reasons. In the article below, we will look at the various file formats of 3D models and dwell in more detail on the 8 most popular today.

What is the 3D file format?

The main purpose of a 3D file is to store information about a 3D model in the form of a plain text or binary file. In essence, they encode information about the geometry, appearance, scene, and animation of a 3D model.

The geometry of a model describes its shape. Appearance includes colors, textures, material, etc. A scene refers to the location of light sources, cameras, and peripheral objects. Well, animation characterizes the movement of a 3D model.

However, not all 3D file formats store all of this information. For example, the STL format stores only information about the geometry and ignores the rest of the data. On the other hand, COLLADA stores all this data.

STL and COLLADA are just two of the many formats that are used in practice. Today there are more than 100 3D file formats!

How many 3D file formats are there?

There are hundreds of 3D file formats. Why are there so many? Mainly due to the fact that each developer of CAD software (for example, AutoDesk or Blender) has its own file format optimized specifically for their software. So if you are using AutoCad you will most likely be working with DWG files, and if you are using Blender you will be working with BLEND files.

Native 3D file formats are a problem...

Suppose you are using AutoCad (an AutoDesk product) and your friend is using Blender. And let's say you want to share your 3D model with a friend.

And here it turns out that everything is not as simple as we would like... Your AutoCad outputs a DWG file, since this is its "native" format. But Blender (your friend's software) only works with BLEND files. That is, you will not be able to work on the same 3D model together.

Universal 3D file formats solve the problem

Universal or open source formats are used to solve the compatibility problem. And of course, these formats have become very popular.

The two most popular universal formats are STL (.STL extension) and COLLADA (.DAE extension). They are very widely used to exchange 3D medal data between CAD programs. If you want to share your 3D model, you can convert the DWG file to COLLADA format - this process is called "export". Your friend takes this COLLADA file and imports it into Blender, where the COLLADA file is converted into the native BLEND format. Thus, you can use different CAD programs and still exchange data.

Proprietary and generic formats are the main fork in the world of 3D file formats. To date, most 3D modeling software has the ability to read and write popular universal formats. In addition, most programs also support the ability to work with formats from individual vendors that have become so common that they simply cannot be ignored. It is these proprietary and universal formats that we will consider below.

The table below summarizes the 8 most popular 3D file formats and their types.
We have already mentioned most of the characteristics above.

3D Model Geometry Encoding

Each 3D model has a unique geometry and encoding of this geometry is the basis of any 3D model file format.

There are three principal methods for encoding surface geometry, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. These are approximate mesh, precise mesh, and constructive solid geometry (CSG).

Approximate mesh

During this encoding method, the surface of the 3D model is covered with a mesh of small imaginary polygons. Triangles are the most commonly used. The file saves the vertices and normal vectors to the sides of the triangles. Thanks to this, it is possible to accurately display the surface geometry of a 3D model.

Triangles approximate smooth surface geometry.
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