3D printing is a great hobby that many people are getting into these days. While they are staying at home, they can just print their favorite models using downloadable designs. Typically, there are two types of material that you can use for 3D printing.
One is a filament, and the other one is resin. They both have their unique qualities. Here, I will discuss the best UV resin for 3D printers. This will help you a lot if you want to print smaller models because the resin, in that case, works out the best.
However, choosing the right resin is also as important. So, keeping up with that, here I will give you a buying guide for the best resin for your 3D printer. Without wasting any more time, let’s jump right into it.
We have reviewed the top-quality UV Resin for 3D printers below. If you are in a hurry you can check out the following:
- Best value – ANYCUBIC 3D Printer Resin
- Best in budget – SHINE SING 3D Rapid LCD UV-Curing Resin
- Best in quality – ELEGOO 3D Printer Resin LCD UV-Curing Resin
Top 5 resin for your 3D printer
After going through extensive research on the internet, these are the top choices I could find based on user experiences. So, you shouldn’t have any problems with the quality of these resins; the only thing that may differ is the features.
1. SainSmart 3D Printer Resin
If you want rapid curing time on your 3D printing, then this can be an excellent resin to get. It doesn’t take too much time to cure if you have a quality resin 3D printer to pair it up with.
Along with that, it also has a low viscosity. So, you won’t be struggling to mix or pour this resin in the printing process. It provides you with quick prints as well.
The color you get on the resin is pretty clean and impressive. It delivers what it promises to deliver, so there is nothing to complain about there. And it mixes very well with different flexible resins and dyes.
Specifications
- Volume: 1000g
- Viscosity: 100 to 150 mPa.s
- Wavelength: 395nm to 405nm
- Color: Transparent
- Hardness: 88D
- Density: 1.07 to 1.12 g/cm3
Pros
- The resin can cure just in no time at all.
- It has a nice color finish
- The resin is very easy to mix and use
- It comes with a well-packed aluminum container
- You get quick printing results with the resin
Cons
- The resin can be a bit foamy
- You might have some problems opening the bottle
2. ANYCUBIC 3D Printer Resin – Best value
Are you looking for resins that are affordable in price but don’t compromise in quality? Then, this can be the perfect pick for you. These resins come with good quality, and the price is pretty reasonable to go along with it.
You can get good-quality prints using this resin, and you don’t need to put a lot of effort into it either. If you are printing smaller models, you will get crisp details coming from your prints with a quality printer.
The resin is very easy to use, making it suitable for people who are just getting into 3D printing. You won’t have to worry about any complicated mixture process to use this resin for your purposes.
Specifications
- Volume: 1000g
- Viscosity: 552mPa.s
- Wavelength: 405nm
- Color: Gray
- Hardness: 79D
- Density: 1.1 g/cm3
Pros
- This is a value for money resin choice for anyone out there
- You get good print quality using this resin for your projects
- They are very easy to use for miniatures
- The stability from the prints is pretty decent
- It comes with a quick curing process as well
Cons
- There is no safety data sheet for this resin
- It isn’t that tough or flexible to use
3. SHINE SING 3D Rapid LCD UV-Curing Resin – Best in budget
When budget is a little bit of concern for you, this can be your pick when you need a lot of resin. It has a comparatively lower price than most other resins you get to see out there.
The colors you get from the resin are of top quality. They are not too bright or too dull. You will get the perfect color profile on your prints with this resin for sure. As for the print quality, this gives you some clean, detailed prints throughout.
Adding to that comes the factor of low odor factor of the material. You won’t have to worry about bad smells when you are using this resin for your 3D printing purposes. Also, the smooth surface is something you can’t get over with this one.
Specifications
- Volume: 1000g
- Wavelength: 405nm
- Color: Various
- Hardness: 84D
- Density: 1.05 – 1.25 g/cm3
Pros
- This resin gives you the perfect color profiles you require
- The print quality is pretty good using this one
- They are less expensive than other options
- It doesn’t smell too bad when you are using this resin
- This resin isn’t brittle like a lot of other choices
Cons
- You might face some curing issues with these
- The quality could be a little better
4. ELEGOO 3D Printer Resin LCD UV-Curing Resin – Best in quality
Well, to be very honest, this is one of the best resins you can find for any of your projects. The price is industry standard and the quality is top-notch. You will have no complaints with this one whatsoever.
The print quality you get using this resin is just simply amazing. You get all the intricate details that you desire to have in your 3D models. While you are in the printing process, you won’t have trouble with any odor coming from the resin either.
This is surely a value for money resin to you for your 3D printing projects. While they have similar pricing as most other resins, they are very much effective and excellent in quality. So, you get a lot of value out of the resin.
Specifications
- Volume: 1000g
- Wavelength: 405nm
- Viscosity: 150-200 mPa.s
- Color: Gray
- Hardness: 84D
- Density: 1.1 g/cm3
Pros
- The resin yields excellent printing results throughout
- You get intricate details in your prints without missing out on anything
- The resin provides you odorless operationIt has got great value for money aspect
- The sturdiness is pretty impressive from the material
Cons
- You just have to pay extra attention to the exposure before using it
- The colors can be a bit off
5. NOVA3D 3D Printer Resin 405nm LCD Rapid Resin
Here’s another quality resin for a better 3D printing experience. You will love the experience you have with this resin. It doesn’t lack quality while printing, and you end up with smooth surfaces on your 3D printer.
This one comes with some quick curing and printing functions. You will get quick printing results without having to wait for too long to get the perfect results. While it’s quick, it doesn’t lose any details in the process either. If you have a quality printer, you can rest assured of all the details you want in your models.
One great thing about this resin is the ease of use and accurate colors. You don’t need to worry about the shades of color on this one. With this resin, you get just the color you want to have in your 3D printed model.
Specifications
- Volume: 1000g
- Wavelength: 405nm
- Color: Gray
- Hardness: 84D
- Density: 1.1 g/cm3
Pros
- This is a high-quality resin for any 3D printing projects
- You get all the details in your 3D printed models with this resin
- This resin is very easy to use without any complications of mixing
- It provides you with quick curing and printing results
- You will get proper and accurate colors from the resin
Cons
- The stability of the resin could be a bit better
Buying guide for the UV resin for 3D printer
Well, I may have narrowed down your choices from hundreds to just 5. Still, you will need to go through the tough decision of choosing one from them. Yes, you can try out 5 different ones and see which one meets your needs. But there is one other way to find out your perfect pick.
Here, I will go through some considerations that you should think of before buying a resin for your 3D printer. Going through these considerations helps you pick the perfect resin that will suit your needs the best. Let’s get on with it then.
Type of resin
For starters, the resin can be of different types. You will need to choose the correct type based on your project. The most common choices you will come across are standard, flexible, and tough.
You can use standard resins for most prints. Whether it’s a miniature or a larger model doesn’t matter that much. Unless you need to have a weight load capacity or the print to carry something, in that case, you will have to go for the tough or hardy resin types.
Other than that, sometimes, you might need to get flexibility from your resin 3D models. For that purpose, you can get flexible resin types. Once again, most of the 3D printed resin models use the standard resin anyways.
Color
Color is also something that you have to consider. Sometimes you can go with transparent, and sometimes you can choose gray as a color. Usually, when you want to paint over your model, choosing gray works out the best for you. It’s easier to paint and draw a vision of how you will paint the model with a gray resin.
On the other hand, there is the option to go with transparent or clear. This means the 3D printed model will be see-through or, simply put, will look like water. Then, another option you get is choosing the color, and there are several color options you can get. You just have to choose the one for your particular project and needs.
Print quality and details
When it comes to the print quality, you will surely need to consider whether the resin is good enough or not. With cheap quality resin, your prints will also be cheap, regardless of how good or expensive your printer is.
Another thing about resin printing is, it’s great for capturing details in print. So, if you are getting a resin that doesn’t catch proper details, then it’s just a waste of money at that point.
Quantity
Usually, you can get two common quantities for your resin packages. It’s either 500ml or 1L. They can also be considered in 500g and 1000g. What quantity you should get mainly depends on your needs and your project. If you print using resin regularly, then going for the 1000g packaging will work out the best for you.
Odor
3D printing can get smelly at times. Some resins can create a pretty bad odor that you can’t even inhale properly. While you may already have a respiratory mask on, it’s still necessary to look for resins that don’t create that much odor. So, look for resins that have less odor specialty in them.
Price
Last but not least, to be very honest, there isn’t much difference in the price of the different brands and resin options. They all follow pretty standard pricing in general. So, you can’t truly choose one and say it’s cheaper than other options.
However, if you find an option, then going for that will be a wise choice, especially if you are getting resin in bulk. Because that way the price difference will impact your buying decision.
Once you consider these factors, you can get on ahead and check out the options. Then, you will surely find the pick that suits your needs perfectly.
Final thoughts
All in all, getting the best UV resin for 3D printers always comes down to your projects and their requirements. Yes, there will be a lot of options out there, but not all of them will provide quality and detailed prints.
If you struggle to choose from the mere 5 choices I listed out, I have some suggestions that might help.
For the best quality in resin, I suggest going for the ELEGOO 3D Printer Resin. To get the best value, I would say ANYCUBIC 3D Printer Resin is perfect. As for a budget pick on bulk buy, the SHINE SING 3D Rapid LCD UV-Curing Resin has a bit lower price tag than the competition.
Still, you can choose anyone from the ones I discussed and end up satisfied with the quality they provide.