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Creality Halot-One Plus 3D Printer Review: 4K Resolution, Sub-$400 Price
Tom's Hardware Verdict
Offering high resolution and an above-average build volume, the Creality Halot-One Plus is an impressive machine with a set of hardware features not typically seen at this price.
Pros
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4K+ resolution provides sharp detail and consistent surfaces
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Large 5-inch LCD interface is bright, fast, and responsive
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Halot Box slicer software is simple and easy to use
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Built-in Wi-Fi connectivity and remote print monitoring
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Integrated air filtration unit
Cons
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Z endstop placement at the top of the Z axis is a strange choice
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Creality Cloud platform appears to host many unauthorized models
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Four bolt build platform leveling can be messy
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The Creality Halot-One Plus is the flagship printer in the Halot line of MSLA printers, offering 4K resolution, a 7.9-inch mono LCD with a 3 second exposure time, and other high-end features in a package that retails for just under $400. The Halot-One Plus appears to have been designed for the prosumer market, with features like Wi-Fi connectivity, air filtration, and other features that don’t typically appear in printers in this price range.
During testing, this printer proved to be a logical next-step in resin 3D printing, showing how these features can be successfully implemented at a lower price point while still maintaining functionality. We had issues with the Creality Cloud platform and the lack of attribution on published models, but the printer hardware itself places this among the best resin 3D printers.
Creality Halot-One Plus Specifications
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| Machine Footprint | 9.29" x 9.57" x 16.46" (23.6cm x 24.3cm x 41.8cm) |
| Build Volume | 6.77" x 4.02" x 6.30" (172mm x 102mm x 160mm) |
| Resin | MSLA Photopolymer Resin |
| UV Light | 4,500 uw/m2 Integral Light Source |
| Masking LCD Resolution | 4320 x 2560 |
| Masking LCD Size | 7.9-inch |
| XY Axis Resolution | .04mm |
| Interface | 5-inch LCD Touchscreen |
Included in the Box of Creality Halot-One Plus
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)The Creality Halot-One Plus ships with everything you need to get started printing, including a set of Allen keys, plastic and metal scrapers to remove parts from the printer, a printed user guide, and a power cable, and some paper funnels for pouring resin back into the bottle from the vat.
The printer itself is well-packed and protected, with a protective plastic covering over the UV-resistant lid.
Unlike with many other resin printers, including the Elegoo Mars 3, the Halot-One Plus does not include any consumables such as gloves, masks, or other cleaning supplies. This isn’t a large omission, but it means first time users will want to make sure they have all the proper supplies before they start printing.
One of the first features I noticed on the Creality Halot-One Plus was the large LCD screen. The 5-inch screen is bright, responsive, and feels like the type of capacitive screen you’d expect to see on a tablet or mobile phone. This screen is easy to read and use, and immediately sets the Halot-One Plus apart from similarly priced machines that use smaller screens. The Halot-One Plus also includes an onboard ARM Cortex-M4 quad-core 64 bit processor, which gives it more processing power than other similarly priced machines.
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(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)The Halot-One Plus has a dark blue UV-resistant lid, something that stands out from the typical red, orange, or yellow used on similar printers.
This lid is close to opaque, and I can’t easily see through it during printing. The QR code printed on the top of the lid leads to the Creality Cloud site where users can purchase models, 3D printers, consumables, as well as a social platform for sharing prints.
The Halot-One Plus features an integrated 100W power supply, so there’s no need for an external power brick. The build size, printer size, and other information is printed on a sticker on the back of the printer, as well as a QR code that appears to contain information specific to the printer. The base of the Halot-One Plus is heavy and dense, and feels very sturdy despite the plastic shell.
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)The integrated air filtration system on the Halot-One Plus is a welcome addition and worked very well throughout our testing. The resin used in the MSLA printing process can have an odor during printing, and the integrated air filtration system significantly reduces the amount of odor from the Halot-One Plus.
The air intake is located directly behind the resin vat, and runs automatically throughout the duration of printing.
The Z axis on the Halot-One Plus uses a threaded rod with a captive nut for travel, and the dual linear rails allow for smooth and consistent movement. Most small format MSLA resin 3D printers use a single linear rail for travel, with dual rail systems being more common on larger machines like the Elegoo Saturn or the Anycubic Mono X. The build platform is suspended from a lightweight metal arm and doesn’t deflect, even when printing large and heavy parts.
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)The Halot-One Plus has the Z endstop located at the top of the Z axis, an unusual design choice for an MSLA resin 3D printer. Typically, the leveling process involves dropping the platform to Z0 (the bottom of the Z axis) and ensuring the platform is planar with the LCD screen. The Halot-One Plus requires the entire platform be brought to the top of the printer to define Z0, and then lowered to the LCD screen and leveled.
It’s hard to say if this is a less accurate process, but it’s definitely a more time-consuming one.
The resin vat on the Halot-One Plus is smooth and easy to clean, with printed labels that indicate 250mL, 450mL, and 650mL fill levels. The vat also has a spout molded into the front right and back left corners, which makes pouring resin out of the vat and back into the bottle a simple and mess-free process. One of the screws that secures the vat to the frame had some flashing on the molded thumbscrew, and this meant the screw couldn’t actually fit into the mating hole without being trimmed. Not a major issue, but definitely a QC issue that should have been caught before the printer was packed and left the factory.
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(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)The light source of the Halot-One Plus is what Creality calls the “Integral Light Source”, which is a high-powered 4,500 uw/cm2 LED array that is projected through the masking LCD via an angled mirror in the base of the printer.
This light source generates a substantial amount of heat during printing, which causes the onboard fan to run continuously during printing.
The 7.9-inch masking LCD has a resolution of 4320 x 2560, a resolution that is slightly above the typical 4K resolution (4098 x 2560) used on similar resin 3D printers like the Elegoo Mars 3. This 4K resolution translates to an XY pixel size of .04mm (40 microns), which is high enough to capture fine details and texture when printing.
Image: Creality
(Image credit: Creality)Build Platform on Creality Halot-One Plus
The Creality Halot-One Plus uses a four bolt leveling system to ensure a planar relationship between the build platform and the masking LCD. Because the Z endstop is located at the very top of the printer, this process involves loosening the build platform connecting bolts, sending the built platform to the top of the printer to trigger the endstop, then reversing direction and sending the platform to the bottom of the Z axis.
Once the platform is sitting flush on the masking LCD, the four bolts are tightened and the platform is leveled.
The Halot-One Plus has four upward-facing bolts that secure the build platform to the gantry arm, and these bolts tend to fill with resin during printing. This is a poor design choice, as resin tends to pool inside the bolt cap heads, in the knurling, and around the bolts, which is very difficult to clean and remove. Elegoo has solved this on their Mars 2 Pro and Mars 3 printers by using a simple captive ball joint that can be leveled with only two screws. Those platforms are easy to level and clean without additional effort.
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)Printing Safety with Halot-One Plus
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)The Creality Halot-One Plus uses 405nm UV resin, a material that you need to handle safely when in an uncured state to avoid injury. The resin can be harmful when making contact with skin, so make sure to wear gloves when pouring, cleaning up, or handling uncured resin.
I also make sure I’m wearing gloves when removing the build platform after a print, as the resin tends to pool on top of the platform and can drip off while the platform is being removed.
Make sure you use the Halot-One Plus in a well-ventilated room to minimize the danger from inhaling fumes. Any spills or uncured resin stuck to a surface should be cleaned using 99% isopropyl alcohol and the container for the resin should be kept closed and secured when not actively pouring material.
Printing the Included Test Print on the Creality Halot-One Plus
The test print included with the Creality Halot-One Plus is one of the best demonstration prints I have ever seen. The 8 hour print is titled “Kholek Suneater”, and it fills nearly the entire build area of the Halot-One Plus from corner to corner. This model comes pre-sliced using the same settings as in Halot Box (.05mm layer height, 3 second layer exposure time, 40 second base layer exposure time, etc.), and is ready to print directly from the USB thumb drive.
Creality has apparently identified one of the common applications of resin 3D printing (tabletop gaming and miniatures) and has embraced this by including a detailed miniature model with the Halot-One Plus. My previous experience with Creality’s test prints was poor; the Creality LD-002R (a budget MSLA resin 3D printer) included a test model that took over 19 hours to print and was not particularly impressive.
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(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)This model has a very dense support structure, which is required to support all the various fine features including a long hammer and tail. The support structure was removed easily and left minimal marks on the printed model. Unfortunately, I broke the hammer during washing, but was able to glue it back on without much effort. The spikes on the armor, the thin tail, and the other details present on this model are sharp and in focus, and I believe that anyone who purchased this printer to make miniatures would be immediately delighted to see such a high-quality model come out of the printer without any additional preparation.
Preparing Files for Printing with Creality Halot Box
(Image credit: Creality)While resin 3D printers tend to be much more mechanically simple than filament FDM 3D printers, the software typically requires more setup work and the part preparation is a very important part of the process. Creality includes a copy of Halot Box with the Creality Halot-One Plus, which is the slicer design for the Halot series of printers.
Halot Box offers two separate menus for slicing parts: Basic Options and Advanced Options. As expected, Basic Options contains parameters like layer thickness, exposure time, build platform raise height, and more which users will likely adjust the most often. These options are pre-populated with parameters that are more focused on success as opposed to speed, with a 3-second layer exposure and a 40 second initial layers exposure. Advanced Options contains more complicated parameters, such as shrinkage compensation for X, Y, and Z axes, anti-aliasing, and other parameters.
Halot Box is a fully featured slicer and is capable of importing models, hollowing them for resin printing, adding support structures, and even more advanced features like adding text, slicing a model into pieces, and measuring between two points. These features make Halot Box just as feature-rich as ChituBox and Lychee slicer, both of which are also compatible with the Halot-One Plus.
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)I prepared this model of a dragon using the default Halot Box settings, including a 5mm shell after hollowing, medium support settings, and default slicer settings. Sliced with a .05mm layer height and a 3 second exposure time, this print took just over 12 hours to print out using Anycubic Water Washable Aqua Grey resin. The process of importing a model, hollowing, adding drain holes, adding support, and slicing took about 5 minutes and was intuitive and easy.
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(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)Comparison of the Creality Halot-One Plus vs.
Elegoo Mars 3(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)The 4K resolution mono LCD on the Creality Halot-One Plus makes it a natural competitor to smaller resin printers like the Elegoo Mars 3, but the larger build volume and Wi-Fi capabilities help it to edge out most competition. Instead of focusing on Z height, the Halot-One Plus has a large surface area on the build platform, providing additional space for printing multiple parts.
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| Header Cell - Column 0 | Creality Halot-One Plus | Elegoo Mars 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Masking LCD Resolution | 4320 x 2560 | 4098 x 2560 |
| Masking LCD Size | 7.9 inches | 6.7 inches |
| XY Resolution | .04mm | .035mm |
| Build Dimensions | 6. 77 x 4.01 x 6.29 inches | 5.64 x 3.52 x 6.89 inches |
| (172mm x 102mm x 160mm) | (143mm × 89mm × 175mm) | |
| Build Volume | 170.76 cubic inches | 136.79 cubic inches |
| Printer Dimensions | 9.29 x 9.57 x 16.46 inches | 8.93 x 8.93 x 17.28 inches |
| (23.6cm x 24.3cm x 41.8cm) | (22.7cm x 22.7cm x 43.85cm) | |
| Printer Volume | 1463 cubic inches | 1378 cubic inches |
| Build / Footprint Ratio | 11.70% | 9.90% |
| (higher is better) | ||
| Price | $399 | $299 |
The Halot-One Plus has a somewhat squat appearance in contrast with the taller and narrower Mars 3, and the large LCD screen on the front gives it an appearance that is closer to an appliance than a 3D printer.
The build volume is somewhere between the Elegoo Mars 3 and the Elegoo Saturn, and the price also sits between the two.
The Halot-One Plus is slightly larger in size than the Mars 3, but the differences in build volume and X/Y area are clear when comparing the two. In addition, the built-in air filtration system, large LCD, and dual Z axis linear rails give the Halot-One Plus a more industrial appearance. The front-facing USB port makes swapping out USB drives easy on both printers, but the power button on the Halot-One Plus is located on the back of the machine as opposed to the front-mounted power button on the Mars 3.
The build platform of the Halot-One Plus has a lightly textured surface, which gives printed parts a more complex surface to bond to during printing. Placing the platform of the Halot-One Plus and the Mars 3 side-by-side highlights the difference in build area, with the Halot-One Plus being a full inch longer in the X axis and just under half an inch wider in the Y axis.
The difference in build area is complemented by an increase in pixel resolution, which makes the Halot-One Plus XY pixel size .04mm, a 5 micron difference from the .035mm resolution of the Mars 3.
Printing a Large Model on Creality Halot-One Plus
(Image credit: Creality)The build platform on the Creality Halot-One Plus is large enough to fit busts from Loot Studio, so I printed the bust of Korut The Mechappilian. The model prints in 5 pieces: the bust, left arm, right arm, base, and minigun. I was able to fit the bust and both arms onto a single build platform, and printed the minigun and base separately. Processing these files in Halot Box was easy, and just involved dragging the models into the window, clicking “slice”, and exporting. No additional steps were needed, and I used Anycubic Grey Craftsman Resin and the default exposure settings.
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)The first filled build platform printed flawlessly, and the level of detail was incredible.
The lizard-like texture on the model looked realistic, and the smooth armor components had a consistent and even appearance. The 3-second exposure time seemed like a perfect fit for this resin as the support material snapped off easily and without leaving major pockmarks on the model.
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(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)After washing and curing the model, the general surface quality was still very impressive. The smooth surfaces have an even appearance and there are virtually no layer lines present, owing to the .05mm layer height and the .04mm X/Y resolution. The nubs left by the support structure detach easily, and can be removed by simply running a pair of tweezers over them.
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)The final assembled bust looks more like a resin collectible than a 3D print, and the general quality was as good as any resin 3D printer under $2,500 that I have used. The joints fit together with simple peg and hole locating features, and they were a perfect friction fit.
You can clearly make out the lizard skin texture on the model, and the fine detailing on the armor is easy to see without magnification.
Printing Models from Creality Cloud
(Image credit: Creality)Creality has implemented Creality Cloud into its Halot Box software, which allows users to download models directly from the internet into their slicer. This feature has come under scrutiny due to the widespread abuse enabled by the ability to mass upload models, regardless of their copyright or designer intent. YouTuber Bryan Vines made an excellent video discussing this topic, which shows how the platform was intended to be used versus the current usage.
For example, on the front page of the Creality Cloud, I saw the chainmail model by Agustin “Flowalistik” Arroyo. This model is currently available with a Creative Commons Attribution license, which means attribution is required when sharing the model or derivatives. The model on Creality Cloud has been uploaded by “user3265593031”, and features the picture from Printables as well as filenames with “flowalistik” in them, further proving they were uploaded by someone other than the creator.
The chainmail model was easily downloaded, sliced, and sent to the printer without any additional steps required through Halot Box. While this does make searching for and downloading models a simple process, it’s troubling to see that the original creator has no effective recourse for limiting this type of piracy. In this case, I was aware of the original creator but it would be completely understandable that most users may not, and may even think the model was being provided by Creality directly.
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)The Halot-One Plus is also able to download models from Creality Cloud directly from the printer interface without using Halot Box or any other slicer software. While this is a convenient feature, it is still subject to the same issues as downloading models from Creality Cloud via Halot Box. For instance, I downloaded this Minion file from the printer interface, but have no easy way to determine who the original designer was, what copyright license they used, and their intent for the printed model.
In addition, the model printed completely solid and used significantly more resin than I was expecting for such a small print.
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(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)The Creality Halot-One Plus is a sleek, smart, and well-performing printer that worked well during our testing and left me impressed with the quality of prints made with minimal to no adjusting of the default settings when using the Halot Box slicer. The 172mm x 102mm x 160mm build volume is larger than other similarly priced printers, and the 4K resolution of the masking LCD provides sharp detail and fine features.
The Halot-One Plus sits in the awkward spot between small and large format resin 3D printers, and it’s hard to see if there is a place in the market for this machine. The large onboard LCD and built-in Wi-Fi connectivity are something you would expect on a more expensive printer like the Prusa SL1S, but are users currently looking for these features over build volume and print speed? That’s a hard question to answer, and only time will tell if the Halot-One Plus becomes a popular model.
If resolution isn’t your primary concern and you’re looking for the most build volume for your dollar, the Elegoo Saturn (on sale on Amazon for $369) and Elegoo Saturn 2 (available as a pre-order for $550) provide larger build volumes for a similar price tag. If you want to go in the other direction and find a printer with a higher resolution and aren’t worried about the price, the Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K provides an eye-watering .022mm XY resolution at an $899 price tag.
Andrew Sink first used a 3D printer in 2012, and has been enthusiastically involved in the 3D printing industry ever since. Having printed everything from a scan of his own brain to a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, he continues to dive ever more deeply into the endless applications of additive technology. He is always working on new experiments, designs, and reviews and sharing his results on Tom's Hardware, YouTube, and more.
Top 10 cheap resin 3D printers this year (from $149!)
Searching for a cheap resin 3D printer? Check out our list of some of the most affordable liquid resin 3D printers on the market this year! If you make a purchase through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a small commission to support our content and site.
Last update January 5, 2022
This Fall, we removed old products (Monoprice MP Mini sla, Sparkmarker, Alfawise W10) and updated others to reflect the newest versions available (Creality LD-001 to LD-002R, Elegoo Mars to Mars Pro, etc.). We also added the popular Qidi Tech Shadow and Phrozen Sonic Mini 4K.
Table of contents
What’s the best cheap resin 3D printer in 2022?
9 best cheap resin 3D printers in 2022
Shadow 5.5 S
Photon Zero
Orange 10
LD-002R
Mars Pro
Sonic Mini 4K
X1
Photon S
Shuffle XL Lite
DIY resin 3D printer projects
Resin 3D printer advantages compared to FDM 3D printers
Resin 3D printer limits compared to FFF 3D printers
Conclusion: should I get a resin 3D printer or a filament 3D printer?
LCD resin 3D printer technology: how does it work?
Cheap resin 3D printer FAQ
What’s the best cheap resin 3D printer in 2022?
Cheap resin 3D printer announcements have flourished over the past few years.
Initially intended for professional use in a variety of industries, resin 3D printers are becoming more and more common at the consumer level.
This is thanks to a relatively new resin 3D printing technology that involves the use of an LCD screen, which is widely available today and at a low cost. Hence, complex DLP and laser systems are being swapped out to make resin 3D printing more accessible and affordable to hobbyists.
If you’re a pro, you may want to take a look at our selection of professional resin 3D printers.
Generally, LCD resin printing also allows for faster 3D printing than laser-based technologies, as LCD printers are able to solidify entire layers of resin at once.
Resin 3D printers are one of the most precise types of 3D printers, especially in comparison with FFF 3D printers (entry-level ones, at least). However, you do need to know that at this stage and especially in this price range, resin 3D printing can get messy and the material is pretty smelly.
The resin vat and build plate need to be carefully cleaned after each print, the vat film should be changed every so often, and you also have to clean the printed models and put them in a special light for them to harden correctly. For your safety, it’s also required to wear gloves and recommended to wear a mask.
If you’re willing to go through all of that, take a look at our selection of some of the best cheap resin 3D printers on the market this year!
Looking for something a little easier? Check out these filament-based desktop 3D printers for under $300.
9 best cheap resin 3D printers in 2022
| Brand | Product | Build size | Country | Price Approximate starting prices based on supplier-provided information and public data. Prices may vary by region, over time and do not include additional products or services (taxes, shipping, accessories, training, installation, …). | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qidi Tech | Shadow 5.5 S | 115 × 65 × 150 mm4.53 × 2.56 × 5.91 in | – | $ 149151 €132 £22,209 ¥ | Contact |
| ANYCUBIC | Photon Zero | 97 × 54 × 150 mm3.82 × 2.13 × 5.91 in | – | $ 169172 €150 £25,190 ¥ | Contact |
| ELEGOO | Mars Pro | 120 × 68 × 155 mm4.72 × 2.68 × 6.1 in | – | $ 250250 €222 £37,264 ¥ | Contact |
| Creality | LD-002R | 119 × 65 × 160 mm4.69 × 2.56 × 6.3 in | – | $ 250254 €222 £37,264 ¥ | Contact |
| Longer3D | Orange 10 | 98 × 55 × 140 mm3.86 × 2.17 × 5.51 in | – | $ 269273 €239 £40,096 ¥ | Contact |
| Phrozen | Sonic Mini 4K | 134 × 75 × 130 mm5.28 × 2.95 × 5.12 in | – | $ 330335 €293 £49,188 ¥ | Contact |
| EPAX | X1 | 115 × 65 × 155 mm4.53 × 2.56 × 6.1 in | – | $ 399406 €354 £59,473 ¥ | Contact |
| Phrozen | Shuffle XL Lite | 188 × 120 × 198 mm7. 4 × 4.72 × 7.8 in | – | $ 399399 €354 £59,473 ¥ | Contact |
| ANYCUBIC | Photon S | 115 × 65 × 155 mm4.53 × 2.56 × 6.1 in | – | $ 469477 €416 £69,907 ¥ | Contact |
Expand to see more specs
The products in the table are ranked by price (low to high).
| Product | Brand | Build size | Price Approximate starting prices based on supplier-provided information and public data. Prices may vary by region, over time and do not include additional products or services (taxes, shipping, accessories, training, installation, …). | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shadow 5.5 S | Qidi Tech | 115 × 65 × 150 mm4.53 × 2.56 × 5.91 in | $ 149151 €132 £22,209 ¥ | Contact manufacturer |
| Photon Zero | ANYCUBIC | 97 × 54 × 150 mm3.82 × 2.13 × 5.91 in | $ 169172 €150 £25,190 ¥ | Contact manufacturer |
| Mars Pro | ELEGOO | 120 × 68 × 155 mm4. 72 × 2.68 × 6.1 in | $ 250250 €222 £37,264 ¥ | Contact manufacturer |
| LD-002R | Creality | 119 × 65 × 160 mm4.69 × 2.56 × 6.3 in | $ 250254 €222 £37,264 ¥ | Contact manufacturer |
| Orange 10 | Longer3D | 98 × 55 × 140 mm3.86 × 2.17 × 5.51 in | $ 269273 €239 £40,096 ¥ | Contact manufacturer |
| Sonic Mini 4K | Phrozen | 134 × 75 × 130 mm5.28 × 2.95 × 5.12 in | $ 330335 €293 £49,188 ¥ | Contact manufacturer |
| X1 | EPAX | 115 × 65 × 155 mm4.53 × 2.56 × 6.1 in | $ 399406 €354 £59,473 ¥ | Contact manufacturer |
| Shuffle XL Lite | Phrozen | 188 × 120 × 198 mm7.4 × 4.72 × 7.8 in | $ 399399 €354 £59,473 ¥ | Contact manufacturer |
| Photon S | ANYCUBIC | 115 × 65 × 155 mm4.53 × 2.56 × 6.1 in | $ 469477 €416 £69,907 ¥ | Contact manufacturer |
Overview of the best low-cost resin 3D printers
Qidi Tech (or Qidi Technology) is a leading manufacturer of 3D printers for hobbyists.
Their Shadow 5.5 S 3D printer is available at a steal!
It’s equipped with a large color touchscreen, a dual linear rail for the print bed, and a 2K LCD screen for high-resolution prints. There’s also an air filter to help reduce the strong resin odors.
Users have noted that the Qidi Tech Shadow resin printer is one of the easiest to use.
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The ANYCUBIC Zero has been a community favorite for a while. It’s one of the best offers on the market, delivering good quality prints and a relatively easy setup.
If you have any trouble with the printer, you can ask one of the many ANYCUBIC resin printer owners and users for help on forums and dedicated Facebook groups.
Like many other cheap resin printers, the Zero has a touchscreen and USB connectivity for offline printing.
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The Orange 10 is Longer3D’s most affordable desktop resin 3D printer. According to user feedback, it offers a good price-to-performance ratio.
It is equipped with a touch screen display for real-time print status monitoring.
A nice addition is its ability to detect if the LCD screen is overheating, in which case it automatically pauses the print to give the screen time to cool down.
Also, this cheap resin 3D printer is delivered with everything you need to get started, including a bottle of resin, gloves, and an SD card.
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Creality is a prominent brand when it comes to affordable 3D printers. While they are mostly famous for their CR-10 series of large volume FFF 3D printers, they do also sell cheap liquid resin 3D printers.
The Creality LD-002R, also known as Comgrow LD-002R (Comgrow is a reseller), supports Wi Fi, Ethernet, and USB connectivity. It features a 3.5-inch color touchscreen and a relatively intuitive user interface.
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The Elegoo Mars Pro has been quite popular for hobbyists and 3D printing fans. Hence, if you have any issues or questions, you’ll probably find answers on online forums and groups.
Elegoo’s customer support team is also pretty reactive.
It’s equipped with a 2K LCD screen, a 3.5-inch color touchscreen, and can print layers as thin as 0.01 mm. Once you find the printer’s sweet spot with the right settings, you’ll be able to get very decent prints out of it.
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Based in Taiwan, Phrozen is a 3D printer manufacturer specializing in LCD-based SLA printing technology since 2013. They launched their first stereolithography 3D printer, the Phrozen Make, on Kickstarter in 2017.
The Sonic Mini 4K is one of the latest additions to their lineup, and offers an ultra high definition curing screen to provide even better print quality than before. It works best with Phrozen’s proprietary Aqua-Gray 4K resin but is compatible with third-party materials too.
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The EPAX X1 features a 3.5-inch color touchscreen and a 2K LCD masking screen for its 50 LED light sources. Its cover only has one “window”, contrary to most other printers on this list which have a colored, transparent cover.
Therefore you won’t be able to see the print process as much as with another printer, but it does block out more light, which may contribute to getting better quality prints.
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The Photon S is an upgraded version of the standard Photon mentioned further above. Upgrades include stronger UV light and better distribution, an air filtration system (which helps reduce smelly resin odors a bit), and an easier leveling system.
However, the metal structure of the machine was swapped out for plastic in order to help bring the price down and keep the printer affordable. Aside from this, the Photon S is overall better than the original version, which is still good quality.
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The Phrozen Shuffle XL Lite is on the higher end of the price spectrum, but it does print a bit faster than the rest and offers a much bigger build area. Phrozen launched their first 3D printer on Kickstarter and have been quite successful with their lineup since then.
They also sell Phrozen Cure, a UV post curing chamber, although it is a bit pricey as well ($385).
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DIY resin 3D printer projects
Did you know that you could build a resin 3D printer on your own? DIY resin 3D printers are affordable but can be quite tricky to build. Below are some cheap DIY resin 3D printer projects you can try out if you have the time:
- Hi-Res DIY DLP 3D Printer
- Build a DIY Laser 3D Printer Stereolithography at Home
- Chimera: $60 DLP High-Res 3D Printer
Bear in mind that you will have to dedicate a lot of time to these projects, and they will require a lot of tweaking before delivering decent results.
3D printers: resin vs filament
When choosing a 3D printer, it is important to figure out whether a resin 3D printer or filament 3D printer is best for you. Below are some of the pros and cons of resin and filament 3D printers.
The following are general statements and apply to cheap resin 3D printers and cheap FFF 3D printers. Professional and industrial-grade 3D printers (both resin and filament) overcome some of these limits.
Resin 3D printer advantages compared to FDM 3D printers
In comparison with filament-based 3D printers, resin 3D printers offer some advantages:
- They offer a higher level of detail and accuracy
- Surface finishes are smoother than FFF 3D prints
- It is possible to make castable or burnable molds (e.g. for jewelry making)
- Resin 3D printers generally require less tweaking
Resin 3D printer limits compared to FFF 3D printers
Cheap resin 3D printers also have some limits when compared to filament 3D printers:
- Resin 3D printer build volumes are often much smaller
- Material handling is time-consuming (cleaning up after each print)
- Printed models require post-processing (cleaning and UV hardening)
- The material is more expensive, smelly, toxic, and less colors are available
- The resin tank needs to be replaced after a few uses
Conclusion: should I get a resin 3D printer or a filament 3D printer?
This will depend on what you’re going to use your 3D printer for.
If you need to 3D print figurines, chess parts, or anything small and detailed, then a resin 3D printer is the way to go to get high resolution. However, you will need to get used to the cleaning routine (don’t forget to wear gloves!) and find a dedicated, well-ventilated room for the printer.
If you need to 3D print larger objects and don’t mind sacrificing a little bit of accuracy and details, then a filament printer may be best for you. You’ll have a larger choice of materials and at a cheaper price, although you will have to put time and effort into tweaking your printer (build plate, axes, nozzle, temperatures, etc.).
LCD resin 3D printer technology: how does it work?
Resin printers that use LCD technology are different from DLP or laser-based resin 3D printers.
SLA 3D printers, LCD 3D printers, and DLP 3D printers all use liquid resin as 3D printing material. A light source makes the resin become solid in specific areas.
To put it (very) simply, laser stereolithography printers use a very precise laser, while DLP printers use a special light projector and mirror system.
For more information, take a look at our guide to 3D printing technologies.
LCD-based resin 3D printers generally also use a light projector, but instead of using a complex system to direct the light to the right place, they simply use an LCD screen as a “mask”. The screen displays a slice of the object and lets the projector’s light shine through the necessary places. LCD resin printers are cheaper than SLA or DLP 3D printers.
Resin 3D printers tend to be a lot slower than filament-based technologies because the resin needs a few seconds of light for each layer. If you multiply each layer by the number of seconds it takes to solidify the resin, you’ll see that it can take a whole day to 3D print something that’s only a few inches tall.
Cheap resin 3D printer FAQ
How much does a 3D printer resin cost?
The average cost of standard 3D printing resin is about $50 per liter.
The price depends on the quality of the resin material, the type of the resin material, as well as the manufacturer.
How does a resin 3D printer work?
Resin 3D printers use liquid resin as the 3D printing material. The resin will become solid when struck by a computer-controlled UV laser or other light sources.
Are resin 3D printers easy to use?
For someone with at least some 3D printing knowledge and experience, it can be relatively easy to learn how to use a resin 3D printer.
the choice of a professional and a beginner / Selections of products from Aliexpress and not only / iXBT Live
So, I continue the topic of 3D printers, this time we will talk about budget and affordable photopolymer devices. Photopolymer 3D printing is becoming cheaper and cheaper and is becoming available not only to professionals, but also to novice printers-makers-designers.
The cost of a number of models has dropped significantly in recent years, especially budget startups in SLA printing, making affordable office models of compact printers such as Sparkmaker and Longer. Almost all models are available in a warehouse in the Moscow region, they are delivered quickly, it makes sense to add to the basket and compare, choose the best one for yourself in terms of cost and printing parameters. nine0003
Easy Printer for Beginners - Sparkmaker SLA
Sparkmaker SLA Printer
Sparkmaker SLA is the most affordable printer for beginners. One of the very first available models, the price is less than $200. At the moment, a number of upgrades are available, a lot of spare parts, ready-made models for printing. Print resolution: 845 x 480 dots, working area dimensions: 98 x 55 x 125 mm. Virtually no noise, works autonomously, height calibration is provided. Printers and resin available in Moscow. nine0003
Professional photopolymer printer Longer ORANGE
Longer Orange 30 Longer Orange 10
One of the few 3D printers that I have appreciated.
The Orange 10 and Orange 30 printers work literally out of the box and, unlike expensive models, are not capricious at all. It is easy to operate, if necessary, you can set the print height. A detailed review of the Longer Orange 30 model. All models and Longer Resin photopolymer are available in Moscow. Orange 10 has a print resolution: 854 x 480 dots, working area dimensions: 98 x 55 x 140 mm. Orange 30 has a print resolution: 2560 x 1440 dots, working area dimensions: 120 x 68 x 170 mm. Virtually no noise, works autonomously, height calibration is provided. Printers and resin available in Moscow.
Anycubic PHOTON excellent resin printer
Anycubic PHOTON Anycubic PHOTON-S
Anycubic's well-deserved large resin 3D printer. Two models are sold at the same time: PHOTON and PHOTON-S. The latter is slightly more expensive, has design changes, but both print perfectly. Of the features, I will highlight the patented hinged mechanism for attaching the table, which facilitates alignment.
Both PHOTON models have a print resolution: 2560 x 1440 dots, working area dimensions: 115 x 65 x 155 mm. All models are available in Moscow, at the same time do not forget to buy a fast Anycubic photopolymer - one of the cheapest. nine0003
Photopolymer printer Anet N4 LCD
3D printer Anet N4
An interesting model from Anet is a photopolymer printer of the “N4” model with a print resolution of 2560 x 1440 dots and a working area of 120 x 65 x 138 mm. But the price pleases - this is one of the most budget printers with 2K resolution. The minimum "pixel" size is 40 microns. Don't forget to bring Anet photopolymer resin for testing.
Interesting photopolymer 3D printer Nova
Printer Nova3D
An unusual 3D printer was released by Nova3D, a stylish office compact printer for photopolymer printing. Of the features - an accurate T-rail rail was used, the table has an inclination adjustment for easy adjustment. The size of the print area is 130 x 70 x 150 mm.
Print resolution 2K (2560 x 1440 dots). Attention: offline printing (from USB Drive) is provided, as well as connection via LAN and WiFi. Printers are available in Russia.
Wanhao Professional Printers
Wanhao Duplicator D11 CGR Wanhao Duplicator D8
One of the most thoughtful and best selling 3D printers from Wanhao. Two models of photopolymer printers are now available in the store - Duplicator D11 CGR (updated model) and Duplicator D8 (2019 model). Both models are deservedly considered the best for photopolymer printing, as for the new D8, I will single out a large print area (192 x 120 x 180 mm). Of the "chips" - WiFi connection.
Kelant 9 Large Resin 3D Printer0005
Kelant S400
Well, one of the inexpensive large-format office models is the Kelant S400. The size of the print area is 192 x 120 x 200 mm, the high power of the UV matrix (total power consumption is about 140 W) - all this makes it possible to print quickly and efficiently.
The printer is available when ordering from Moscow, IML delivery (courier).
So, the selection includes the most popular, inexpensive and popular models of SLA printers. A number of models were left out of the article, I think I will make a continuation in the near future to cover everything, plus I will add photopolymer resin to the recommendations. By the way, most stores specializing in 3D printing, both on Aliexpress and locally, offer their own options for photopolymer, and there are inexpensive and good options. When choosing, consider the current store coupons, and also choose local delivery (from Russia / RU). nine0003
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A budget photopolymer 3D printer Longer appeared on Kickstarter
The model is called Orange 30. This photopolymer 3D printer (SLA UV) is a simple and reliable desktop model that is accessible to everyone.
A big plus of the Orange 30 is that it doesn't require much skill for basic printing. Manufacturer Longer has several videos that teach the basics of 3D printing. The printer is quiet, there are no exposed moving or hot parts, and it is practically safe to use at home or in the office. nine0003
→ Longer Project: Reliable & Most Affordable Desktop SLA 3D Printer on Kickstarter
→ Official store Longer3d.com
The Longer Orange 30 photopolymer printer is a “tower” with dimensions of 20 x 20 x 39 cm, a massive metal base, a light-protective cap on top. The cap, by the way, is needed not so much to protect the user as to protect the photopolymer from parasitic light from outside. Under the hood is a tray for photopolymer and a Z-axis drive that raises the print table gradually upwards as the model is created. At the base there is a control board with a touch screen, a UV matrix for illuminating the photopolymer, and a 2K display (LCD display with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels).
The size of the bath is 120 x 68 mm, the maximum working stroke along the Z axis is 170 mm. This is more than the popular budget Sparkmaker SLA 3D printer. nine0003
Features
Brand: Longer
Model: Orange 30
Type: SLA UV 3D printer
Print area size: 120 x 68 x 170 mm
Print layer thickness: 0.02...0.1 mm
Print speed: 30 mm/h (at 0.1 mm layer).
Display: yes, touch, 2.8"
Illumination Type: UV LED Matrix 405nm
Consumable type: 405 nm photopolymer resin (UV Resin)
If you decide to become a baker, please be aware that the current rate available is $229 (Orange 30 printer + bottle of photopolymer). Shipping cost to Russia $110. They promise to start sending samples in August 2019.
This is one of the most budget options. You can wait and take this printer for sale. But the price may rise (on Kickstarter, the "crossed out" price is $450). Maybe not get up. OEM clones of previous Longer models are freely sold in Chinese stores (FDM printers from $150 and up, SLA from $250).
nine0003
The design is simple but effective: a single Z-axis is fitted with an MGN12 rail guide. Not crooked shafts, but a normal (Chinese) rail. A bath for a photopolymer is used metal. Yes, it is simple, on tacks, stamped, but it is not plastic. The table for forming the model is also metal. The printer developers have provided a mechanism for leveling the table. There is a corresponding operation in the printer menu for this.
Bold plus of this model is the presence of a touch screen with printer control, printing and model preview. I have never seen a built-in file viewer before. In my opinion, this is a killer feature in a budget model. nine0003
Why do you need a photopolymer printer - to print accurate models (copies) with high detail (20...50 microns). Similar printers are used in dentistry, jewelry, modeling, etc. There are special photopolymers, for example, castable, which allows casting on 3D models.
Longer3D and before that flashed, as a manufacturer of OEM models, which then appear under other brands, such as Alfawise.
The catalog contains an interesting model Longer Orange 120 - this is a modified Sparkmaker, with a display and a metal bath. Comrades from Longer reworked the budget printer and fixed the main jambs. nine0003
Pay attention to the model Longer Orange 10. This is the "younger" model Orange 30. It has a similar design, but has a smaller print area of only 98 x 55 x 140 mm, and also has a "child" matrix resolution (854 x 480 dots) . The retail price of such a printer is just under $300. The manufacturer has videos on setting up and using the Orange 10 model, and on the site you can find drivers, slicers, firmware and instructions.
I like that little-known startups develop and bring projects to perfection. Moreover, Longer has other interesting models. No wonder other manufacturers buy OEM licenses from Longer and release the same devices under their own brands. Even with shipping, this printer is half the price of the popular Wanhao Duplicator 7 and Anycubic Photon.
