10 Best Resin 3D Printer Review 2021 (SLA/DLP/LCD)

Resin 3D printers use different technologies including SLA, LCD and DLP. Each of the technology produces distinct results that may suit best for your project.

Resin 3D printers or stereolithography 3D printers are a great investment for those who are into the 3D printing business. These machines are extremely fast and accurate. It can produce a wide variety of materials in a short span of time making it perfect for prototypes.

Resin 3D printers come in different technologies including DLP (digital light processing), SLA and LCD. I will explain each in this article as we explore the best resin 3D printers on the market. So, let’s get started!

So, without further ado, let’s get started with the top 10 best SLA 3D printers on the market!

Best Resin 3D Printers	Check Price	Features	Dimensions	Weight	Speed	Price
ELEGOO Mars 2 Mono	Click Here To Buy	Fast printing. Less maintenance. Impressive prints. Great accuracy. Sturdy build. Multi-language interface. 1-Year warranty	20 x 20 x 41 cm	6.2 kg	30-50mm/h	$$
LONGER Orange 10	Click Here To Buy	Affordable. User-friendly. Extremely quiet. Incredible print quality. Strong and sturdy construction. Fast proprietary slicer.	170 x 170 x 360 mm	5.4 kg	30 mm/h	$
Creality LD-002H LCD	Click Here To Buy	Affordable. Sturdy all-metal build. Fully assembled. Large build volume. Great print quality. Low level of noise. User-friendly interface and controls.	120 x 65 x 165 mm	7 kg	50 – 70 mm/h	$
Anycubic Photon S	Click Here To Buy	Custom slicer. Easy to use and setup. Impressive resolution. High-quality prints. Comprehensive instruction. Affordable.	220 x 200 x 400 mm	6.6 kg	20 mm/h	$$$
Peopoly Phenom	Click Here To Buy	Huge build volume. Modular design. Easy bed leveling. Responsive user interface. Faster and bigger than previous model.	452 x 364 x 780 mm	42 kg	30mm/h	$$$$$
ELEGOO Mars Pro MSLA	Click Here To Buy	Minimal setup. Sturdy design. User-friendly. Operates quietly. Great value for money. Impressive quality prints. New vats to hold more resin.	7.87 x 7.87 x 16.14 in	7.5 kg	22.5mm/h	$$
Phrozen Sonic Mini	Click Here To Buy	Fast. Affordable. Easy to use. Versatile. Offline printing mode. Reliable and less maintenance. Excellent accuracy and print quality.	250 x 250 x 330 mm	4.5 kg	50 mm/h	$$
Anycubic Photon Mono X	Click Here To Buy	Large build volume. Durable design. Minimal setup and easy to use. Fast and high-end detailed prints. Double cooling system.	270 x 290 x 470 mm	10.7 kg	60 mm/h	$$$$$
Original Prusa SL1	Click Here To Buy	Minimal setup. Comprehensive build. Replaceable carbon filter. Slick and stable design. Compatible with third-party resin. Complete ecosystem with the CWI.	400 × 237 × 225 mm	4 kg	6 seconds per layer	$$$$$
Formlabs Form 3	Click Here To Buy	Closed body. Good quality. Controlled monitoring. Productive powerhouse. Auto-refills the resin tank. Excellent one-click printing. User-friendly. Fast.	40.5 × 37.5 × 53 cm	17.5 kg	10-17 hrs for 4.5-inch Thinker test print	$$$$$

Best Resin 3D Printer Reviews

There are various types of resin 3D printers on the market but not all of them deliver the result they promise. To help you find the best resin printers, check out our list of SLA DLP LCD 3D printers below.

#1 ELEGOO Mars 2 Mono Resin 3D Printer Review

Click Here to Check Price for Elegoo Mars 2 Mono

This is one of the best budget resin 3D printers you will ever find in the market.

But, the brand doesn’t sacrifice quality for the price making its 3D printers among the most sought after in the market.

ELEGOO Mars 2 MSLA 3D Printer comes with a 6.08-inch LCD with 2K HD resolution and uses a monochrome LCD and COB UV light source. Thanks to its large build volume, you can print anything from industrial parts to board game miniatures.

It is four times longer in lifespan and two times faster in printing speed compare to RGB LCD 3D printers making it among the high printing efficiency, more stable performance and less maintenance resin 3d printers.

I have a very positive experience with this resin 3D printer because it is very easy to set-up and use with good support! It also delivers impressive items with incredible detail and impressive resolution.

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#2 LONGER Orange 10 Resin 3D Printer Review

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This is one of the most popular SLA 3D printers in the market.

This resin SLA 3D printer is a valued entry-level LCD light curing machine.

It doesn’t require much setup. In fact, you can start printing within minutes after unboxing because it is relatively simple and easy to use. It has fewer settings to adjust compare to FDM printers making the whole experience much smoother and faster.

In addition, there’s nothing to complain about when it comes to its performance because it delivers high-quality outputs with an incredibly good resolution! This laser SLA 3D printer is no doubt a beast in 3D printing.

Overall, it is a great value for the money because for its price it performs even better than Formlabs Form 2 and seems to be more reliable than most of its resin 3D printer counterparts. It delivers high precision outputs and can print models with great details like miniatures and jewelry. So, I highly recommend this resin 3D printer!

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#3 Creality LD-002H LCD Resin 3D Printer Review Review

Click Here to Check Price for Creality LD-002H

Creality 3D printers are becoming more and more popular and LD-002H is one of the most affordable resin 3D printers available in the market. It is low cost and efficient because it delivers prints with incredible precision and resolution thanks to its powerful UV light for fast printing ensuring 3s per layer.

This is also user-friendly because it comes with a 3.5-inch full-color touch screen with 2K HD masking strength with special high-strength tempered glass for operation and you can level the platform by simply adjusting four screws. Within five minutes after the assembly, you can start printing! Its all-metal-body doesn’t just look stylish and sleek, it also reduces vibration for a smoother print.

Overall, this is a great resin 3D printer with a nice feel, impressive features, and durably built. It also delivers successful prints.

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#4 Anycubic Photon S UV LCD 3D Printer Review

Click Here to Check Price for Anycubic Photon S

Anycubic Photon is a low-cost desktop DLP 3D printer. Anycubic didn’t fail us when it created its own version of resin 3D printer. Photon S UV LCD is easy to set up, convenient to use, operates smoothly and delivers quality outputs with incredible resolution.

This machine has a reputation of being reliable and affordable that’s why it makes it into our list.

The software is straightforward and it has only four settings. It produced accurate and highly-detailed parts compared to FDM printers. It produced industrial quality outputs with smooth curves and flawless bevels and chamfers.

It also works fast. It can finish large miniatures between 2 to 3 hours and 6 at once takes about the same time. In addition, the brand offers after-sale service and lifetime technical support. Overall, I’m very happy with this 3D printer.

Unfortunately, this has a small build volume but on the positive side, it makes this portable, has great resolution and very affordable. This is great for 3D printer enthusiasts. But, maintaining this SLA DLP 3D printer is not easy as using resin can be messy.

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#5 Peopoly Phenom Resin 3D Printer Review

Click Here to Check Price for Peopoly Phenom

Phenom is the latest resin 3D printer by Peopoly. Unlike the Moai series which uses laser,  Phenom is designed using MSLA (Masked Stereolithography Apparatus) technology which combines LCD and LED.

Its modular design and ease of use make it more attractive to small businesses who want to take advantage of its generous build volume. It is equipped with 12.5-inch 4K resolution LCD screen and a UV-LED panel, a custom lens that distributes the light evenly across the build plate and blocks infrared head from the lamps.

Overall, this is a great resin 3D printer because it’s big and fast.  It also costs lower compare to its competitors that offer the same features.

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#6 ELEGOO Mars Pro MSLA Printer UV Photocuring LCD 3D Printer Review

Click Here to Check Price for Elegoo Mars Pro

ELEGOO is one of the very popular brands when it comes to resin 3D printers and Mars Pro is one of its best offerings.

It is equipped with a new user interface with a dark theme and a simple design. It is made with an aluminum alloy which keeps it light but sturdy. Meanwhile, the set screws of the building plate were changed to anti-slip hexagon socket screws for a more stable and long-lasting leveling result.

It also comes with a built-in active carbon filter that absorbs and filters the irritant resin odor before they are ventilated throughout the cooling fan at a super adsorption rate giving the user a fresher and safer printing experience. Plus, leveling is so easy and it works like a charm. It delivers impressive print quality for its price.

I’m very happy with its price, quality, performance, and output. This resin 3D printer is highly recommended!

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#7 Phrozen Sonic Mini UV Photocuring LCD Resin 3D Printer Review

Click Here to Check Price for Phrozen Sonic Mini

Phrozen Sonic Mini is a great low-cost resin 3D printer that offers fast printing, high precision and ease of use. Phrozen is based in Taiwan and it aims to deliver professional and consumer-friendly LCD 3D printers.

Phrozen Sonic Mini resin 3D printer comes with highly improved manufacturing and process. It cures resin in one second. It also uses thermal stable mono-LCD and has a lifetime of over 2000 hours, so you don’t need to panic about maintenance.

Also, this resin 3D printer is easy to set up that you can start printing in five minutes in 3 clicks. It has a great build quality and solid mechanism. It feels solid and very responsive. It is the easiest printer to start your 3D printing journey.

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#8 Anycubic Photon Mono X Resin 3D Printer Review

Click Here to Check Price for Anycubic Photon Mono X

Anycubic Photon Mono X is a professional LCD-based SLA 3D printer.

It uses upgraded UV matrix of LEDs for evenly distributed light and a double effective cooling system for stable printing performance and longer service life. It is also equipped with WiFi function allowing you to print and control it remotely.

You can also rely on its design and durability because it comes with a sanded aluminum platform that enhances adhesion between the platform and prints. It is also equipped with a quality power supply with UL certification, CE marking and ETL certification.

Overall, this is a great upgrade if you want a new resin 3D printer. It costs less than $1,000 but delivers amazing prints with fine details. It is also very easy to use because the bed leveling is fast and easy and you rarely need to redo it. It has solid mechanics, impressive performance, and a growing user community that is very useful for beginners and seasoned users.  So, it’s highly recommended.

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#9 Original Prusa SL1 Resin 3D Printer Review

Click Here to Check Price for Original Prusa SL1

Prusa is known for its RepRap 3D print, but it has moved on from creating SLA 3D printers with SL1 based on mSLA technology.

In typical Prusa fashion, it delivers impressive results with great details. It will also give you a heads-up if a print is likely to run out of resin mid-print. It is equipped with a heavy aluminum body designed to make it more stable for accurate printing.

It is also easy to set up because it is simple and straightforward. But unlike other 3D printers, it might take 20 to 30 minutes to set up. But going for the kit might take longer to assemble, perhaps, up to 10 hours. The Prusa team provides comprehensive instructions that are easy to follow making it possible for absolute novice to set it up.

Josef Prusa and his team strive for perfection and they are on the right track with SL1. Also, Prusa made it clear that they aren’t competing with budget resin and their printer offers a host of convenient features that offers well-designed and harmonized machine.

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#10 Formlabs Form 3 Review

Click Here to Check Price for Formlabs Form 3

Formlabs Form 3 is the most complete desktop resin 3D printer in the market. It offers flawless prints and scale prototyping with industrial-quality.

Form 3 is equipped with a custom-designed Light Processing Unit (LPU) that uses a compact system of lenses and mirrors for accurate and repeatable prints. It also comes with a high-power-density laser that passed through a spatial filter to guarantee a clean laser spot.

Form 3 constantly monitors print performance, so you can focus on bringing your creative ideas to life. It also has integrated sensors to maintain the ideal print conditions and send alerts about the state of the machine.

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SLA 3D Printer Material

SLA produces parts from thermoset polymers. The good thing with this is that it has a smooth, injection mold-like surface finish. It has fine features that are highly-detailed and high stiffness.

Unfortunately, it is relatively brittle which makes it not suitable for outdoor uses. Overexposure to UV radiation may change the material properties and will make this susceptible to creep.

When it comes to SLA 3d printer resins, you will find tons of options, too. Here’s an overview for you.

Standard resin. This produces high stiffness, high resolution prints with a smooth injection molding-like finish with. They are low-cost which makes them ideal for prototyping applications.

Clear resin. This is similar to standard resin but can be post-processed to near optical transparency.

Engineering SLA resin. This material stimulates a range of injection-molded plastics to provide engineers with a wide choice of material properties for prototyping, testing, and manufacturing.

Tough resin. This is developed for applications requiring materials that can withstand high stress and strain. Parts printed with this SLA 3d printer filaments have tensile strength and modulus of elasticity that is comparable to ABS.

Durable aluminum resin. This is a wear-resistant and flexible material with mechanical properties similar to Polypropylene (PP). This can be used for parts that require high flexibility, low friction and smooth surface finish.

Heat resistant resin. This is ideal for applications requiring high thermal stability and operates at a high temperature. This material has a heat deflection temperature between 200-300°C making it great for hot air and fluid flow equipment and casting and thermoforming tooling.

Rubber-like resin. This material allows engineers to simulate rubber parts that are soft to touch. It has a low tensile modulus and high elongation at break. This is well-suited for objects that will be bent or compressed like packaging, stamps, wearable prototyping, handles, overmolds and grips.

Ceramic-filled resin. This material is reinforced with glass or other ceramic particles and result in very stiff and rigid parts with a very smooth surface finish.

Dental and Medical SLA resin. There are different classes of this material. Class I is for custom medical equipment like surgical guides, Class IIa biocompatible resins can be in contact with the human body for up to a year. This is used to produce custom hard splints or retainers.

Castable SLA resins. This material enables printed parts with sharp details and a smooth finish. It will burn out clearly without leaving ashes or residue. This allows the production of parts directly from digital design to investment casting through a single 3D printed part which makes it suitable for jewelry and other small and intricate components.

How Do Resin 3D Printers Work?

Most resin 3D prints use SLA 3D printing technology. Basically, this is all about UV laser that’s why these printers are also referred to as UV resin 3D printer or UV curable 3D printers.

Here’s how it works.

1. The roller of the printer spreads out a razor-thin layer of liquid polymer. Since this layer is liquid it will spread out over the entire platform ensuring that each layer has a consistent thickness.

2. The liquid polymer is UV sensitive. When struck by a computer-controlled UV laser the resin will change from a liquid to a solid-state. The laser draws the outlines of the print onto the resin layer and hardens the part that it touches. The parts that are not touched by the laser will remain liquid.

3. The two steps above are repeated over and over again. The model is lowered by a fraction and the roller spreads out a new layer. The laser then solidifies specific areas of that layer, which will become parts of the 3D print object. This is repeated until the model is finished.

4. Once the printing process is completed and the entire object has been printed, the print is raised out of the resin tank. The excess liquid will simply flow away and can be reused for other prints. The prints then need to be removed and finished manually. The post-process usually includes removal of the support structure and smoothening and spray-painting surfaces.

DIY Resin 3D Printer

If you are in a tight budget, can afford the best resin 3D printers on the market or you just enjoy challenging tasks like assembly, you can get an SLA 3d printer DIY kit. Building a DIY SLA 3D printer is challenging and fun at the same time.

The advantage of this is that you will learn about your 3D printer head on because you assemble it. More importantly, you will save tons of money.

In this section, I will share some machines, software to control DIY resin 3D printers and instructions to help you start your DIY resin 3D printer.

Nano DLP. This is a software that most are using to control a DIY DLP (digital light processing)3D printer with Raspberry PI. This is accessible by connecting to Raspberry Pi through a web browser.

It accepts SLC files as input and produces the images on HDMI port. It also allows you to control Z-Axis, Shutter and other hardware.

Hi-res DIY DLP 3D Printers. This is a high resolution DIY resin 3D printer. It is designed by TristramBudel and delivers really good results. In fact, the commercial Atum3D printer is based on it.

Conclusion

If you want to get the best SLA or DLP 3D printers on the market, you should pick one in our list. The 3D printers mentioned above have proven track records of delivering high-quality prints.

If you want to know more about 3D printers and 3D printing, feel free to check our homepage.