Resin-based 3D Printing: Advantages and Disadvantages
We now have the luxury of choose between various technologies since 3D printing has become so commonplace. Even though resin-based 3D printing technology won’t be widely available for some time, filament-based FDM 3D printing currently rules the casual 3D printing industry.
This essay examines the advantages and disadvantages of resin-based 3D printing in great depth. What advantages does each have over the other when it comes time to pick between resin and filament? Will the desktop-scale 3D printing enthusiast be able to use a resin-based printer?
Advantages of using resin for 3D printing
Improved resolution
The primary benefit of printing with resins over filaments is the superior aesthetics of resin-based 3D printing. Resin-based printing is only constrained by the size of the laser being fired into the liquid resin, as opposed to FDM printing where the resolution is restricted by the size of the nozzle extruding the filament. As a result, resin printing can replicate objects with very fine features. Additionally, prints manufactured with resin have a satisfyingly smooth surface that is only possible with post-processing when using FDM printing.
Speedier printing procedure
When compared to printing with a filament, resin printing is much quicker. The extruder in an FDM printer must travel around the print bed in order to deposit the molten filament following the designated patterns. Due to the extruder’s weight and the regulated method in which the filament must be extruded, this procedure is laborious.
More durable final products
The end products of FDM printing display high anisotropy, meaning that their mechanical qualities are not equal along all three axes, which is one of its main shortcomings. Because layer-to-layer barriers are inherently weak, filament prints are particularly vulnerable to shear pressures operating in the direction of the layer lines.
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Disadvantages of resin-based 3D printing
More expense
The cost of the printer and the raw ingredients are higher when printing with resin. While a desktop-scale FDM printer can be purchased for roughly $300, the least expensive resin printer available today still costs more than $1000. You’ll need to spend close to $3000 if you choose one of the more popular models.
No composite print option available
High-end FDM printers may contain numerous extruders, enabling the creation of prints using a variety of filament types. When printing a model that needs support structures, this may be quite helpful since certain materials work better as supports than others. For instance, PVA filament may be easily removed from a final print by soaking it in water.
Arduous and unorganized post-processing
If you want your prints to look professional, post-processing is required for both FDM and resin-based printing. Support structures must be taken down, flaws must be cleaned or sanded away, and the proper paint must be applied.
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