The availability of both printers and resins has grown significantly in the few years since the first reasonably priced desktop resin 3D printers were introduced to the market. Because of its reputation for producing incredibly fine detail, resin printers are widely used to print jewellery and miniatures. They can also be applied in fields like dentistry, which need very precise moulds or prints.
In general, resin is a liquid substance that solidifies when exposed to UV light. Monomers, which combine to form polymers, oligomers, and additives-about which the producers are very reticent-are used in its formulation. When these components are exposed to light, they solidify as a photopolymer.
Choosing the Right Resin for Your 3D Printer
Use premium 3D resin to create highly accurate objects with extraordinary details. When the (often tiny) sample of resin from the majority of printer manufacturers runs out, the question of which 3D printer resin to purchase becomes apparent.
Selecting the resin produced by the printer's manufacturer is the most practical choice if you're new to 3D printing resin. This will simplify things because manufacturers frequently offer print settings that have been shown to function with a particular hardware and resin combination. But if you're looking for some unique solutions, it would be such a waste not to try the other resin makers that make some fantastic things.
Standard
Think of standard 3D resin as your introduction to the resin universe. These types are just your daily drivers and the ones you'll take off the shelf for prototypes as they're not designed for any particular use case. Because standard resins lack certain characteristics (mostly in strength or heat resistance) that make them appropriate for functional purposes, they are primarily employed for visual modelling.
So-called eco 3D printer resins, which smell significantly less strong than standard alternatives, have been introduced by some producers. Since these environmental options are primarily meant for general use or model-making, they can also be classified as standard because they are not intended for a particular use.
Water Washable
What makes water washable resins different from all the other types is that they allow you to rinse your 3D-printed items with tap water instead of alcohol. Since alcohol raises the total cost of resin 3D printing, the water-washable alternatives are more reasonably priced and simpler to use.
However, water-washable resins involve some concessions over normal ones because of a different formula. First off, hollow prints show that water-washable solution results in more brittle parts.
Water-washable 3D printing resins require more drying time before curing, thus while the curing timeframes are the same as for normal ones, the total processing time may be longer. Excessive water retention during curing might exacerbate brittleness. Plus, water-washable options are a useful tool if utilized in dry surroundings for something like visual prototypes, as they eliminate the inconvenience of handling alcohol throughout the printing process.
Tough
The tough type of resin is the best option for producing functioning pieces. Their modified formula, which contains additives that increase the polymer's structural strength, qualifies them for such uses. Drilling into models printed with durable 3D printer resins typically doesn't pose a significant risk of cracking, making it useful for post-processing applications involving threaded inserts. Additionally, the harder surface allows for better sanding without causing damage to the component.
Tough resins are more expensive per volume than regular ones because they are intended for the professional and industrial side of resin 3D printing. It's also important to note that, in comparison to other types, they often smell a little stronger.
Draft
The draft or rapid resin was designed to need the least amount of time for each layer to cure. Certain draft resins are made to effectively print thicker layers because doing so can also help to shorten the print time. This is particularly useful in situations like product development when design iterations are necessary during the prototype process until the final shape is achieved. And if you’re wondering how this type smells, the scent of draft resins is typically not as strong as that of tough resins; in fact, it's rather close to the mild strength of regular 3D printing resin.
Flexible
In the past few years, flexible resins have seen significant growth as they have found their way into consumer goods including drinking bottles, running shoes, bicycle saddles, and even basketballs. Because of their, well, flexibility, these 3D resins typically state how hard they are and have a tendency to be fairly tough.
Rubber is the closest thing that flexible resins resemble. Flexible resin components must be strong, able to bear pressure and revert to their original form. Some alternatives mimic silicone as well.
Despite the material's elasticity, things should not be altered after printing on it. The majority of flexible resins are only available in neutral or simple hues, which may disappoint you if you want to 3D print a lot of coloured models using them. The scent of flexible types, which is frequently contrasted with that of rigid ones, isn't so striking.
8K
Screen resolutions for LCD 3D printers are rising quickly in tandem with the industry's rapid advancement in resin 3D printing. In less than two years after the release of the first 4K resin printers, we have already transitioned to 8K resolution, which refers to the approximate number of pixels across the width of the screen.
Similar to how 8K resins sound amazing, the phrases 4K and 8K are excellent resources for marketing collateral. The quality generated by these options won't always be better than any other if you don't have an 8K machine. Rather, the producers of said resin have merely adjusted them to function as best they can with 8K 3D printing technology.
