What is the difference between Resin 3D Printers and FDM 3D Printers?
Resin 3D printers use a liquid photopolymer resin that is cured with a UV light. The object is built layer-by-layer in the vat of resin, which is then hardened by curing under a UV lamp and finished by post-processing. This type of printer produces highly detailed and accurate prints, but can be more expensive than FDM 3D printers.
Resin Printers are best suited for miniatures, vehicles and scatter terrain. Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D printers are the most common type of desktop 3D printer available today. They use thermoplastic filament that is heated to its melting point before being extruded through a nozzle onto a build platform layer by layer until the print has been completed. FDM printing offers good quality objects at an affordable price, but cannot produce objects with as much detail or accuracy as Resin 3D printing can achieve.
FDM printers are used for big buildings or big terrain pieces.
SLA Printing
SLA printing, also known as stereolithography, is a type of 3D printing technology that uses a laser to cure and solidify a photopolymer resin layer by layer to create a 3D object. The process begins by using computer-aided design (CAD) software to create a digital model of the object to be printed. This model is then sliced into thin layers, and the printer uses the laser to trace and cure each layer of resin in a precise pattern, building up the object layer by layer.
SLA printing is known for its high accuracy and resolution, making it a popular choice for prototyping and producing small, detailed parts and objects. It is often used in industries such as automotive, aerospace, and medical devices. The main disadvantage of SLA printing is that it can be slower and more expensive than other 3D printing technologies, such as FDM (fused deposition modeling).
FDM Printing
FDM (fused deposition modeling) is a type of 3D printing technology that works by extruding layers of molten plastic through a nozzle to build up a 3D object. The process begins by using computer-aided design (CAD) software to create a digital model of the object to be printed. This model is then sliced into thin layers, and the printer uses the nozzle to deposit layers of molten plastic, one on top of the other, to build up the object.
FDM printing is a widely used 3D printing technology due to its affordability, simplicity, and reliability. It is often used for prototyping, manufacturing functional parts, and producing end-use products. FDM printers are relatively easy to use and maintain, and they can print a wide range of materials, including plastics, composites, and metals. The main disadvantage of FDM printing is that it has relatively low accuracy and resolution compared to other 3D printing technologies, such as SLA (stereolithography).