What is the highest resolution 3d printer

What is Resolution in 3D Printing? X, Y, and Z Resolution

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

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?

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.

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?

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?

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.

Phrozen announces the highest-resolution 3D printer to ever hit the commercial market

Phrozen, one of the world’s top manufacturers of 3D printers, has announced the Sonic 8K mini, a resin-based LCD printer with the highest resolution ever seen on a commercially available machine. 

As the name would imply, this printer's 8K resolution can achieve crisp details at even the smallest sizes, with an XY resolution of 1152 PPI (or 22 Microns), making it fantastic for tabletop miniatures and prototyping products like jewellery.

While still being classed as a compact-sized printer, you’re getting a decent screen size of 7.1-inches, alongside other benefits like a solid metal resin vat and a 3.5-inch touch display panel.  

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The Phrozen Sonic 8K Mini is almost here

There are plenty of 3D printers on the market right now, but developments within the making space are coming thick and fast. If you’re on the market for something that can achieve extremely fine detail then you’ll be navigated towards resin-based printers (often called LCD, SLA or DLP dependant on what type of technology is being used), rather than filament (or FDM) printers thanks to their ability to pick up details without noticeable print lines.

The Sonic 8K looks to be especially capable of not only getting in teeny details on prints but also smooth surfaces without any noticeable layer lines which can reduce post-processing time for sanding or priming.

The early bird price for the Sonic Mini 8K will be $349.99 (around £260 / AU$480) with the original price set at $599. 99 (around £440 / AU$820), and will be available to preorder over on the Phrozen website from October 17 , though you’ll need to sign up for email alerts to get the notification regarding when preorders go live if you’re keen to get that early bird deal.

Phrozen Sonic 8K Mini specifications

The specifications and dimensions of the Phrozen Sonic 8K Mini are as follows:

• Build Volume: 165  x 72 x 180 mm
• Layer Height: 0.01mm
• XY Resolution:  22 microns (7680 × 4320 pixels)
• Printing Speed: 80mm an hour
• Bed-Leveling: N/A
• Display: 3.5-inch touchscreen
• Third-Party Materials: Yes
• Materials: Specialist 8K UV resin
• Printer size: 290 x 290 x 420 mm
• Weight: 15kg

Phrozen is also launching a specialized 8K resin alongside the Sonic 8K, dubbed the Phrozen Aqua-Gray 8K Resin.  

It’s not clear if this will be available in other colors going forwards but Gray is a fantastic base for almost every project and prototype anyway that can better display the details of your print than solid black or white.

“With the launch of Sonic Mini 8K, customers can now create extremely high-quality professional prints in 8K resolution effortlessly,” says Ray Wu, the CEO of Phrozen. “We aim to expand the accessibility of LCD 3D printing by continuing to create consumer-friendly and high-resolution 3D printers for the masses so that everyone can experience the joy of 3D printing.”

If you’re especially keen to know more then Phrozen has a Facebook group where it provides more exclusive information to group members, which may prove useful if you’re looking to get yourself to the head of the queue.

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Jess is a former TechRadar Computing writer, where she covered all aspects of Mac and PC hardware, including PC gaming and peripherals. She has been interviewed as an industry expert for the BBC, and while her educational background was in prosthetics and model-making, her true love is in tech and she has built numerous desktop computers over the last 10 years for gaming and content creation. Jess is now a journalist at The Verge.

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. nine0003

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

1. Resolution in 3D printing: X, Y and Z resolution
2. Other factors affecting print quality
3. When do high quality 3D printers matter most?
4. Best High Resolution 3D Printers
5. Ender 3 V2 - Precision 3D Printer Under $0
6. Elegoo Mars 2 Pro
7. Anycubic Photon Mono 4K
8. Elegoo Mars 3 - Best Inexpensive Resin Choice
+ 3903S
9. Formlabs Form 3
10. Ultimaker S3
11. Advantages of a high resolution 3D printer
12. Disadvantages of a precision 3D printer
13. High resolution 3D printing technologies
14. 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. nine0003

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. nine0003

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. nine0014
• 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. nine0003

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. nine0003

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 over an hour. nine0003

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. nine0003

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. nine0003

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. nine0003

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. nine0003

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. nine0163 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. nine0003

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. nine0003

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. nine0003

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. nine0003

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. nine0003

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. nine0003

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. nine0003

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. nine0003

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. nine0003

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. nine0003

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. nine0003

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. nine0003

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

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. nine0003

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. nine0163

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. nine0003

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. nine0163

What is the resolution of a 3D printer? What does it affect. How to setup!.

In many technical descriptions, one can come across such a characteristic of a 3D printer as resolution. This parameter is changeable and therefore it is also important to understand what it is and what values ​​​​it can take, since this will be reflected in the print results.

An analogy can be made with an ordinary image, that is, a picture. The higher the resolution, the better the picture will be, the higher the detail. However, the size of such an image will be larger. This is natural for any devices (phones, tablets, TV screens, etc. ). It's the same with a 3D printer. nine0003

Any 3D model is formed by slicing. This is the process of cutting into separate horizontal layers, from which a physical model is formed.
The 3D printer has two types of resolutions:
• along the X and Y axes;
• Z-axis.

The first will be the resolution in the 3D plane, and the second will be the height of the layer.

In the specifications of a 3D printer, the maximum resolution is the minimum layer height value. The lower the layer height, the better the detail will be. At the same time, the number of layers will also increase, which will affect the printing time - it will increase. nine0003

For comparison, we can take FDM, SLA printers. Printing technologies are different, as are the characteristics. For an FDM printer, the minimum layer height is 0.05mm. An indicator less does not make sense, since these devices are not suitable for printing highly detailed products, as well as small models. And a smaller value of resolution along the Z axis will not affect the print quality. In SLA 3D printers, the layer thickness can be 0.005mm. Therefore, such devices are used to print small parts, such as jewelry, dental products. nine0003

A legitimate question arises: “Is high resolution always required?” If you set the layer thickness to the minimum value, then the print time will always increase. For example, if you print a product not at 100 microns, but at 25 microns of layer height, then the printing time will increase by 4 times, that is, in direct proportion.

If ​​your model is a flat wall at a right angle, the resolution increase will not affect the quality. At least substantially accurate. In the event that your 3D printer is not well calibrated, then the layers may shift relative to each other. And it turns out that the more layers there are, the greater the displacement and, accordingly, the irregularities. And as a result, at high resolution, you can get a detail of worse quality. nine0003

If you need to print miniature products with complex elements: engravings, roundness, arches, a large number of complex shapes, then high resolution will be a must, because otherwise no elements will be clearly printed, and they may simply be invisible.

Z-axis resolution will be limited by the design of the printer. For FDM devices, this will be the nozzle diameter. It is impossible to set the layer thickness greater than the nozzle diameter, since this would be impossible from a physical point of view. For SLA printers, it is also impossible to supply more than 100 microns, since the layer must be well cured by the laser. The higher the layer height, the longer it will take to illuminate the laser. In addition, due to the high layer thickness, various defects and artifacts can occur, that is, the quality of the product will suffer greatly. nine0163
The X and Y resolution will depend on the design of the printer. When viewed from the point of view of prints, then this indicator will affect the last layers of the product. For an FDM printer, it will also depend on the nozzle diameter, and the smaller it is, the higher the resolution will be. In this case, the fills will be less noticeable, and the quality of the product will be higher.

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