With the common application of 3D printing technology, more and more 3D products have appeared around our lives, such as cell phone holders, pen holders, as well as our favorite toys artifacts and decorations. If you haven't been in touch with 3D printing, and you want to have a 3D printer of your own, and are worried about the selection of 3D printing materials, whether to choose resin or filament, UJOYBIO3D will give you a detailed introduction.
Filament or Resin Printer?
Before you enter the life of 3D printing, you need to know which kind of 3D printer is more suitable for you. Currently, the more commonly used printers in homes, studios and schools are filament printers and resin printers, but you may find that a filament printer called FMD is extremely popular around you, so UJOYBIO3D will give you a detailed analysis on the two types of mainstream printers.
| Compare Dimensions | Resin Printer | Filament Dyeing Printer (FDM) |
| Device Costs | Higher: Entry-level models typically cost $360-$720 | Lower: Entry-level models typically range from $70 to $430 |
| Material Costs | Higher: $20~$70 per liter for resin, high waste of consumables | Lower: $10~$30 per kilogram of filament, more durable material |
| Post-treatment cost | High: need to buy additional equipment such as cleaning machine, curing lamp, alcohol, etc. | Low: Simple post-processing, no additional equipment or few tools required. |
| Maintenance and Consumables | Complicated maintenance, limited life of light source, screen, resin tank. | Simple maintenance, low replacement cost for nozzles and heated beds. |
| Operating Difficulty | High: requires learning print setup, post-processing, and cleanup techniques | Low: intuitive and simple to set up and use, easy to get started |
| Printing Accuracy | High precision, high detail, suitable for complex models | Medium precision, obvious layer pattern, but suitable for functional parts. |
| Printing speed | Slow: suitable for small, high-precision models | Faster: suitable for large models or rapid prototyping. |
| Safety | Need to pay attention to the volatility and irritation of resin, need protective measures. | Safer: use PLA and other environmentally friendly materials, non-toxic and odorless |
| Environmental Requirements | Need good ventilation, suitable for studio environment | Adaptable to the environment, suitable for home or general offices |
| Common Troubleshooting | Complicated: such as incomplete curing, delamination and other problems require experience. | Simple: such as clogged nozzles, failure of base plate adhesion, easy to solve. |
| Cost of failure | High: high material waste, troublesome to clean up failed models | Low: low material cost, low impact of print failure |
| Suitable Applications | High precision needs: jewelry, artwork, medical models, etc. | Functional requirements: prototypes, large models, mechanical parts, etc. |
From the above table, you can clearly understand that FDM filament printers are more suitable for entry-level new players, which have the advantages of low cost, easy to operate, suitable for learning and home use, etc., very cost-effective. For advanced 3D printing users, you can can choose resin printers appropriately, appropriate current pursuit of higher precision, the model is extremely detailed requirements.
But with the emergence of the industry's very good top bambu lab brand printers, especially on the FMD filament printer precision made a very big improvement, the lowest layer height can be as fine as 0.08mm, using this degree of fineness, print out the finished model surface has been very close to the effect of the resin printing, with the continuous progress of 3D printers, I believe that in the near future, the FDM filament printer and resin There is no difference between the fineness of FDM filament printers and resin printers in the near future.
Filament and resin materials, which is more suitable for you?
Above introduced the characteristics and applicability of filament printing and resin printers, followed by a comprehensive understanding of the characteristics of filament materials and resin materials, so that you can further understand the difference between these two types.
| Features/Applications | Resin Material Printing | Filament Printing |
| Accuracy and Detail | High (suitable for complex models) | Low (suitable for functional parts) |
| Mechanical Properties | Brittle, suitable for display models | Strong, suitable for functional use |
| Material cost | Higher | Low |
| Post-printing treatment | Complex (cleaning + curing) | Simple (sanding or no treatment) |
| Material type | SLA、DLP、LCD | PLA, ABS, PETG, TPU, nylon, carbon fiber |
| Printer Cost | Higher | Lower |
| Applicable Scenarios | Medical, jewelry, artwork, high-precision needs | Prototyping, mechanical parts, large parts, decorative printing |
| Safety | Some irritation to the environment and skin | PLA+ material has environmental protection function |
As you can see from the above table, filament materials and resin materials have their own advantages in different fields. So, if you need high precision and surface quality, such as jewelry, artwork, etc., choose resin printing. If you need functional parts, large models, or are cost-sensitive, such as prototypes, structural parts, and home decorations and artifacts, choose filament printing. With a good budget and diverse needs, you can have both kinds of equipment, flexible material selection, and make decisions based on your actual needs and budget.
Of course, filament (FDM material) is more suitable for newbies. Filament printers (FDM) are easy to operate, with lower environmental and safety requirements, and are suitable for use at home or in a normal office. The printers are inexpensive and low maintenance, so novices can start experimenting with 3D printing at a lower cost. No need for complex post-processing, only need to learn basic slicing software and print parameter adjustment. PLA filament is an environmentally friendly material, non-toxic and harmless, the printing process is basically odorless, more suitable for families and novices. The printing process is visible and easy to adjust the parameters; even if it fails, the material and time costs are not high.
Resin is suitable for users with some experience and requires experience and careful handling. Resin printing requires strict environmental control, such as ventilation and safety precautions (avoiding skin contact and inhalation of volatiles). The post-processing process is complex (cleaning, curing), which increases the learning threshold and equipment requirements, and is more costly. Resin printers and consumables are more expensive, and the cost of print failures is also higher.
Therefore, for novices, it is recommended to start with filament printing, and then try resin printing after familiarizing yourself with the 3D printing process.
Bambu FDM Printer and UJOYBIO3D Filament
From the development of 3D printing technology, which material has more future?
1. Future potential of resin materials
The types and properties of resins are constantly improving, such as the emergence of high-strength, flexible, biocompatible and other specialty resins, allowing light-curing technology to enter the medical, aerospace, jewelry and high-end manufacturing fields. In the medical (e.g. dentures, bone models) and industrial high-precision fields, resin printing has a promising future due to its detailed performance and precision advantages.
With technological advances, biodegradable and non-toxic resins are being developed, which is expected to reduce the negative impact of resins on the environment and health.
2. Future potential of filament materials
There is a wide range of filament materials (e.g., PLA, ABS, carbon fiber-reinforced nylon) covering different needs from prototypes to functional parts. Composite materials such as carbon fibers, metal fillers, and conductive filaments are expanding the application areas of FDM, enhancing functionality and performance.
Multi-jet printing, mixed-color and mixed-substrate printing, and faster FDM equipment are further reducing time and labor costs.
3. The future coexistence of the two
Resin technology is suitable for high-precision, low-volume customized production, such as medical devices, precision industrial parts, and artistic design. Filament technology is more suitable for large-scale, functional and everyday needs, such as rapid prototyping, mechanical part manufacturing and home printing.
To summarize
3D printing novices are advised to start with filamentary materials (FDM), which is low cost, easy to get started, and suitable for learning and trial and error. In terms of future development, both materials will excel in different areas, with resin technology dominating the high-precision and high-end customization areas. Filament technology will remain important in functional manufacturing and everyday applications.
If your goal is to work in specialized fields or innovative applications for a long time, try resin printing; while if personal interest is the main focus, filament printing is sufficient for most needs.
The PLA+ series of filament currently available at UJOYBIO3D features easy printing, high toughness, high impact resistance, and high speed printing, making it the best choice for novices to get started in 3D printing.
