When it comes to resin 3d printing miniatures—whether for tabletop games, display pieces, or custom figurines—the two most popular printing methods are resin vs filament 3d printer setups: resin printing (SLA/DLP/LCD) and filament printing (FDM). Both have their strengths, and the right choice depends on your priorities. Let’s break down the differences in cost, strength, precision, and beginner-friendliness.
1. Cost: More Than Just Printer Price
FDM (Filament) printers often have a lower entry cost, with budget models starting under $200. Filament like PLA is inexpensive, widely available, and easy to store. However, achieving miniature-level detail can require upgrades—smaller nozzles, slower print speeds, and more post-print sanding or priming—which adds both expense and time.
A resin 3d printer, once costly, now starts at around $200–$300. While 3d printer resin costs more per liter than filament per kilogram, the value per print can be higher for miniatures. Why? A 3d resin printer can produce multiple highly detailed minis in one batch without extra setup or tuning. You also skip most of the sanding and surface prep, which means less labor cost and faster turnaround from printer to paintbrush.
If your primary goal is high-quality miniatures, the best resin 3d printer often delivers more “finished quality” per dollar spent—especially when factoring in time saved on post-processing.
2. Strength: Durability vs. Detail Retention
FDM prints, especially in PETG or ABS, can handle more physical stress and are less likely to break if dropped. This makes them great for functional parts or game pieces that will see heavy use. The trade-off is that fine details can still chip or deform during printing or handling, especially on very small features.
Resin 3d print models are traditionally more brittle, but modern 3d printing resin materials have changed the game. Tough, impact-resistant, and even semi-flexible resin blends now exist, offering significantly more durability while maintaining the ultra-fine detail that resin 3d printing is known for. This is important for miniatures—because it means you no longer have to choose between strength and sharp details.
For display models and painted minis, standard printer 3d resin is more than sufficient. For gaming pieces that see frequent handling, a tough resin formula can give you strength comparable to FDM while keeping the superior surface quality.
3. Precision: The Miniature Maker’s Priority
FDM printers typically operate at 0.1–0.2 mm layer heights, with smaller nozzles allowing for slightly finer detail at the cost of speed. Even then, visible layer lines and loss of very fine textures are hard to avoid, especially on small-scale models.
A 3d print resin setup excels here. With layer heights as low as 0.025–0.05 mm, it captures every tiny engraving, facial expression, and texture without stair-step artifacts. Better yet, resin 3d printing time is based on layer count, not model complexity—so you can print an entire set of minis in the same time it takes to print one.
If detail is your top priority, a resin 3d printer is the clear winner—especially for highly detailed 28–75 mm figures.
4. Beginner-Friendliness: Clean Setup vs. Easy Results
FDM is cleaner to handle—no liquids, gloves, or chemical cleanup. However, dialing in the settings for miniature-quality prints can be tricky, often requiring multiple test prints and fine-tuning.
While 3d resin printing involves liquid materials and post-processing steps like washing and curing, it’s surprisingly beginner-friendly when aiming for great miniature results: most modern machines come pre-calibrated, and slicer settings are optimized for out-of-the-box high detail.
In short: FDM feels simpler at first, but a resin 3d printer often gets you to “display-ready” minis with less trial and error.
Final Thoughts
If you need large, durable models at low cost, FDM is a solid choice. If you want smooth, detailed, and professional-quality miniatures without spending hours on surface prep, resin is hard to beat.
For painters and collectors who want their miniatures to look as good on the table as they do in the sculpt, resin offers unmatched precision and finish. With affordable, beginner-friendly resin printers now on the market, creating studio-quality minis at home has never been easier.
