Is Resin 3D Printing Miniatures Worth It?

In the world of 3D printing, resin printing for miniatures has gained popularity, but is it really worth it? Let's delve into the pros and cons of resin 3D printing for miniatures.

The Pros of Resin 3D Printing for Miniatures

When considering resin 3D printing for miniatures, there are several advantages that might appeal to you as a tabletop miniature hobbyist.

Endless Variety and Scalability

One of the significant benefits of resin 3D printing is the vast array of options available. With numerous creators entering the market, you have access to countless and beautifully crafted miniatures. Pretty much any type of miniatures, army, or terrain are available.

Additionally, the ability to scale models up or down provides flexibility in catering to different gaming scales. Don’t want your troll to be so small? Well, that’s really easy to fix in the slicer, where you can just decide how big you want it to be.

Cost-Effectiveness and Accessibility

Resin 3D printing has become more affordable and user-friendly over the years. With lower printer costs, improved quality, and easier machine accessibility, diving into this hobby has become more feasible.

The abundance of user guides and a supportive community further enhance the accessibility of resin printing.

The upfront cost will most likely be more, because it’s not just the printer and the resin you need to buy, but in the long run, the chances are this will work out more cost effective.

Improved Quality and Durability

Despite the inherent brittleness of resin, advancements in resin quality and durability have been impressive. Some resins, like the JamgHe Art Engineering resin, offer surprising durability, giving a lot more flexibility to your prints.

The quality of resin prints has also reached impressive levels, delivering detailed and high-quality miniatures for tabletop gaming.

The Cons of Resin 3D Printing for Miniatures

However, along with its advantages, resin 3D printing presents several challenges that hobbyists should consider before taking up this hobby.

Space and Safety Concerns

Resin 3D printing setups require a lot of space for the printer, resin storage, cleaning stations, and safety equipment. Managing resin fumes, toxicity, and ensuring proper ventilation demand dedicated space and safety precautions. Safety gear like gloves, masks, and eye protection are essential due to the hazardous nature of resin.

Some users play down the safety concerns, but the last thing you want to do is get resin in your eyes!

Messiness and Maintenance

Resin 3D printing can be messy and a lot of work can go into getting the perfect prints. Cleaning up spilled resin, maintaining equipment, and storing consumables like gloves and cleaning solutions add to the maintenance workload.

It’s not just a simple plug and play experience. Each printer and resin are different, so you’ll need to experiment with your settings until you find what works for your setup. This can involve a lot of waste, and cleanup time, which can often be frustrating and time consuming.

Hidden Costs and Technical Challenges

While resin printing may seem cost-effective initially, hidden expenses like resin refills, replacement parts, and electricity for maintaining optimal printing conditions can build up. Moreover, troubleshooting technical issues, such as failed prints, calibration problems, or print inconsistencies, can be frustrating and time-consuming.

Durability

Although I mentioned previously that durability has gotten better, 3D Printed miniatures still aren’t at the same level as traditionally produced miniatures. They’re more brittle and this can cause to parts breaking off when played with.

Some models are sculpted in a way to help avoid these issues, but some, especially DnD miniatures, can often have very thing parts and a lot of detail, just waiting to snap off when you handle the mini.

Conclusion

In conclusion, resin 3D printing for miniatures offers a blend of exciting possibilities and practical challenges. While the quality, customization, and creative potential of resin prints are unparalleled, the hobby demands space, safety precautions, maintenance, and technical know-how. .

Resin 3D printing can become a hobby of its own, and a very rewarding one, but it’s definitely not a cut and dry answer. Personally, I love it, but it’s not for everyone.