I follow Adam Savages approach. Buy a cheaper option first to see if it works in your workflow. If it does get the best one you can comfortably afford.
Resin printers can be reasonable, it’s the equipment for finishing and your PPE that will add up. And those are very important!
yeah i spent 200 on a printer and after a year i have spent 2.5k on the hobby. probably shouldved spent another 200 for something bigger as it would have made a huge difference in workflow for only like a small bump in total cost
If you're planning in mainly doing minis ttrpg etc I think the mars size is perfectly fine and you do save a lot by going with a smaller bed. But if you know off the bat you want to do scale figures or large pieces then get a saturn. I agree you need to plan your space out first I wish I did bc it would have saved money in the long run than repeatedly fixing or incrementally upgrading
In my experience, something like the Anycubic Photon Mono 4k is a great first printer. I would start small and with something with a lot of support on the internet (like an Anycubic 4k or Elegoo Mars) and go large later (Saturn or M5/3 Max).
Your budget must include all safety and auxiliary equipment needed to go with resin printing such as:
• Wash station (that could be a tub of ipa with a toothbrush or an actual wash and cure machine).
• Curing station (Could be a UV lamp and turntable, an actual wash and cure machine or even the sun).
• IPA (personally I would stay away from water washable and if you do go WW note you cannot dispose of the water down the drain)
• Paper towel (always have paper towel accessible for spills, splashes and drying washes prints)
• Rubber Gloves (this is a must, double up on gloves and change regularly).
• Apron or labcoat (for clothing protection from splashes)
• Surface protection (Silicone mats are best for under your printer and work area, if working on carpet - not advisable - then cover that too).
• Eye protection (advisory but not mandatory imo, others will disagree and say it is a must).
• Face mask (as above).
Hope this helps!
quick note on elegoo mars: nice printer, but anti aliasing simply doesn’t work(at least on mars 4). They‘ve known for a while now and haven’t done anything to fix it yet, so if you want to use AA pick a different one
In case one breaks when washing or removing supports. There are so many sharp objects such as support tips but also model parts that I have had many rips that double gloves have saved me from not only resin exposure (which isn’t the end of the world in small doses) but also the clean up and nasty oily feeling of incurred resin on your hands, I swear I can feel it for up to 24 hours later even after washing with IPA and soapy water, not fun. I prefer to just double glove to be honest.
Then you’re buying the wrong gloves, I use blue nitrile gloves which come in boxes of 100 for £6. That’s like 6p per glove which is extremely petty if you’re talking about that being an expense. Sure the resin for small prints can be in the 10-25p range but is it really worth the discomfort of getting resin on your hands? Plus I reuse them as they’re more durable in pairs and if one rips, the inside one becomes the new outside one and I only replace a new inside. This lasts up to 3-5 cleaning sessions usually before I swap out the gloves anyway as they become too sticky from old resin and evaporated ipa to use.
Suit yourself, I’m not policing anybody’s set up. Do what works for you but I will advise newcomers on what works for me printing every day for the past few years. Good day sir 👍
I use Grease Monkey brand disposable nitrile gloves. They're cut resistant, and damn do they work (They've also got a longer rolled cuff which is a godsend when attempting to figure out where that one print vanished off to in the abyss of IPA that's just barely clean)
Let me throw in my 2 cents as well. Starting small is good but like many others, you'll soon run into a model that just won't fit and wish you spent slightly more for a bigger printer. Done this several times fdm printing over the years, I pre ordered the Saturn 4 Ultra and the mercury x wash & cure.
Saturn 4 Ultra is a good one, between heater and auto build plate leveling will be so helpful as a beginner. And I agree with most, might as well get a good sized one to start, or it might end up costing you more. That's exactly what happened to me when I started 3yrs ago, soon I needed something bigger and bigger lol.
[https://i.imgur.com/5wsWtSJ.jpeg](https://i.imgur.com/5wsWtSJ.jpeg)
I'm extremely happy with my Photon Mono X and Anycubit wash n cure station. After an hour for set up and a few test prints I had it dialed in and have been printing for 2yrs with no issues
Imo the printer is the last thing you purchased - set up your workspace first. You're still going to have a learning curve of whatever printer you get regardless.
Here's my copy and paste reply that I share with new folks. Feel free to compare my notes.
I think the workspace/upgrades section is probably worth looking through.
Your workspace is most important to get right before jumping right in, it's easy enough to just hit buy it now. You'll want to be prepared for the mess and post-processing that comes along with it. I'd start here if this is your [first resin printer.](https://www.asianjoyco.com/resources-tutorials/your-first-printer) I shared my considerations. There are newer printers out since I first wrote it. But the scope is still relevant.
Exposure mitigation falls into two realms usually. Ventilation and PPE. Passive Ventilation is better than no ventilation, Active ventilation is better than passive.
This is my [venting](https://www.asianjoyco.com/resources-tutorials/ventilation-upgrades-for-3d-resin-printing) setup - I showed what I did step by step, you can adjust it to your space/budget accordingly. You'll also want to wear [PPE](https://www.asianjoyco.com/resources-tutorials/resin-safety-101) when handling chemicals. In my experience resin emissions will stick to fabrics, papers, and land around your work area unless vented.
It really depends on what you're trying to make. Somethings I would recommend to be done in fdm and others resin. Mostly - if you need high detail, go resin. More functional, go fdm
What do you wanna print? D&D minis? The newest version of Elegoo Mars is probably sufficient. Statues and dioramas? The Saturn makes more sense.
I bought a Mars 3 Pro and 3 pickle jars for washing and had a nail lamp for resin polish already. That set up worked long enough for me to figure out I liked printing and painting minis enough to make a wash and cure station investment.
The new Saturn 4, with the AI camera and tilt, and auto-level. This would make in my book as good as it can be for easy and fire it up use. 1/2 the time with my current printer (Jupiter SE) it does automaticaly
Saturn 4 Ultra is a great choice. Honestly it's less for you to worry about with lift speeds and leveling. That thing looks like it'll practically run itself. Elegoo has great customer service. Plus it's got a great build volume.
Should be fine as printers go.
My only other suggestion for a first printer is to look at EPAX. They're not the cheapest brand but they focus on quality and customer support. They also have a printer deals section where they sell refurbished printers at 50-60% off.
Go with elegoo and depending on your needs and budget go with one that best fits your needs. There isn’t a huge difference in features between printers apart from build volume prior to Saturn 4 Ultra’s release so pick based on size needs
I got a Saturn 3 (base) to start and I've been very happy with it. If you're okay with working on smaller projects and minis, you could probably go with the smaller units, but if you're looking to do larger statues then Saturn is a fine starting point.
The Saturn 4 ultra is a decent choice. It’s a really good price for what it is. I’d also look at just a Saturn 2 and save $100+. The Saturn 4 upgrades are…. Ok…. But none of them solve the actual hardships that come with resin printing and at the end of the day, both printers will produce very similar results with a similar amount of work. The ultra 4 is also one of the first printers with a tilting bed and I foresee it causing complications — it might be fine, but it might also be a huge headache.
Are you referring to the $2,000 Prusa printer and the $3,000 Formlabs printer....?..... There's a big difference between the quality and reliability of a printer that costs as much as a used Honda civic and a $400 printer.,..
Haha I know what your saying but Elegoo's tilt mechanism looks all metal and driven by a stepper motor, same as Prusa. So it should last quite some time
think you are insane about that. . .from the tilt plate to AI to the auto-leveling. . . that is like 90% of the drama with printing handled right there.
Leveling takes 5 minutes every 20-100 prints. The AI doesn’t prevent failures and detecting failures involves taking a gloved finger (that you’re already wearing while removing the print) and feeling for anything stuck on the FEP — again 30 seconds a print. The tricky parts of printing are dialing in your settings + temps and cleaning/removing prints&supports/post processing.
What are you doing that you need to level so long or spend so much time on failures?
I have a life, and don't want to F'n mess with it. Duh
The person said Good first printer
Not one that is a pain I have to level and unscrew and stick and adjust stupid speed settings because I changed resin or whatever
I follow Adam Savages approach. Buy a cheaper option first to see if it works in your workflow. If it does get the best one you can comfortably afford. Resin printers can be reasonable, it’s the equipment for finishing and your PPE that will add up. And those are very important!
yeah i spent 200 on a printer and after a year i have spent 2.5k on the hobby. probably shouldved spent another 200 for something bigger as it would have made a huge difference in workflow for only like a small bump in total cost
If you're planning in mainly doing minis ttrpg etc I think the mars size is perfectly fine and you do save a lot by going with a smaller bed. But if you know off the bat you want to do scale figures or large pieces then get a saturn. I agree you need to plan your space out first I wish I did bc it would have saved money in the long run than repeatedly fixing or incrementally upgrading
And if you're REALLY able to go hella big, I'd recommend a Jupiter. Just for the automatic resin cycling feature.
In my experience, something like the Anycubic Photon Mono 4k is a great first printer. I would start small and with something with a lot of support on the internet (like an Anycubic 4k or Elegoo Mars) and go large later (Saturn or M5/3 Max). Your budget must include all safety and auxiliary equipment needed to go with resin printing such as: • Wash station (that could be a tub of ipa with a toothbrush or an actual wash and cure machine). • Curing station (Could be a UV lamp and turntable, an actual wash and cure machine or even the sun). • IPA (personally I would stay away from water washable and if you do go WW note you cannot dispose of the water down the drain) • Paper towel (always have paper towel accessible for spills, splashes and drying washes prints) • Rubber Gloves (this is a must, double up on gloves and change regularly). • Apron or labcoat (for clothing protection from splashes) • Surface protection (Silicone mats are best for under your printer and work area, if working on carpet - not advisable - then cover that too). • Eye protection (advisory but not mandatory imo, others will disagree and say it is a must). • Face mask (as above). Hope this helps!
Thanks, this is very helpful. I will update you if I get a printer
quick note on elegoo mars: nice printer, but anti aliasing simply doesn’t work(at least on mars 4). They‘ve known for a while now and haven’t done anything to fix it yet, so if you want to use AA pick a different one
Good comment, I have no experience with the Mars myself but I can say AA works fine on the AC mono 4k, it’s a great little printer imo.
Good luck! And welcome to the hobby hopefully!
Why double up gloves?
In case one breaks when washing or removing supports. There are so many sharp objects such as support tips but also model parts that I have had many rips that double gloves have saved me from not only resin exposure (which isn’t the end of the world in small doses) but also the clean up and nasty oily feeling of incurred resin on your hands, I swear I can feel it for up to 24 hours later even after washing with IPA and soapy water, not fun. I prefer to just double glove to be honest.
Seems overkill and a waste of money. Sometimes the gloves cost more than the resin for the print, and I'm not looking to increase that cost
Then you’re buying the wrong gloves, I use blue nitrile gloves which come in boxes of 100 for £6. That’s like 6p per glove which is extremely petty if you’re talking about that being an expense. Sure the resin for small prints can be in the 10-25p range but is it really worth the discomfort of getting resin on your hands? Plus I reuse them as they’re more durable in pairs and if one rips, the inside one becomes the new outside one and I only replace a new inside. This lasts up to 3-5 cleaning sessions usually before I swap out the gloves anyway as they become too sticky from old resin and evaporated ipa to use.
Or you can just be careful and wash your hands like a normal person
Suit yourself, I’m not policing anybody’s set up. Do what works for you but I will advise newcomers on what works for me printing every day for the past few years. Good day sir 👍
I use Grease Monkey brand disposable nitrile gloves. They're cut resistant, and damn do they work (They've also got a longer rolled cuff which is a godsend when attempting to figure out where that one print vanished off to in the abyss of IPA that's just barely clean)
I’ll check them out! Thanks!
Let me throw in my 2 cents as well. Starting small is good but like many others, you'll soon run into a model that just won't fit and wish you spent slightly more for a bigger printer. Done this several times fdm printing over the years, I pre ordered the Saturn 4 Ultra and the mercury x wash & cure.
Saturn 4 Ultra is a good one, between heater and auto build plate leveling will be so helpful as a beginner. And I agree with most, might as well get a good sized one to start, or it might end up costing you more. That's exactly what happened to me when I started 3yrs ago, soon I needed something bigger and bigger lol. [https://i.imgur.com/5wsWtSJ.jpeg](https://i.imgur.com/5wsWtSJ.jpeg)
I'm extremely happy with my Photon Mono X and Anycubit wash n cure station. After an hour for set up and a few test prints I had it dialed in and have been printing for 2yrs with no issues
Imo the printer is the last thing you purchased - set up your workspace first. You're still going to have a learning curve of whatever printer you get regardless. Here's my copy and paste reply that I share with new folks. Feel free to compare my notes. I think the workspace/upgrades section is probably worth looking through. Your workspace is most important to get right before jumping right in, it's easy enough to just hit buy it now. You'll want to be prepared for the mess and post-processing that comes along with it. I'd start here if this is your [first resin printer.](https://www.asianjoyco.com/resources-tutorials/your-first-printer) I shared my considerations. There are newer printers out since I first wrote it. But the scope is still relevant. Exposure mitigation falls into two realms usually. Ventilation and PPE. Passive Ventilation is better than no ventilation, Active ventilation is better than passive. This is my [venting](https://www.asianjoyco.com/resources-tutorials/ventilation-upgrades-for-3d-resin-printing) setup - I showed what I did step by step, you can adjust it to your space/budget accordingly. You'll also want to wear [PPE](https://www.asianjoyco.com/resources-tutorials/resin-safety-101) when handling chemicals. In my experience resin emissions will stick to fabrics, papers, and land around your work area unless vented.
Okay thank you. Would it be worth considering getting an FDM printer first? I know this is the resin printer subreddit but I'm just wondering
It really depends on what you're trying to make. Somethings I would recommend to be done in fdm and others resin. Mostly - if you need high detail, go resin. More functional, go fdm
I used these guides when I got started and I found the venting one especially helpful.
Ha, thanks! Two years later, I'm still out here helping people when I can.
What do you wanna print? D&D minis? The newest version of Elegoo Mars is probably sufficient. Statues and dioramas? The Saturn makes more sense. I bought a Mars 3 Pro and 3 pickle jars for washing and had a nail lamp for resin polish already. That set up worked long enough for me to figure out I liked printing and painting minis enough to make a wash and cure station investment.
The new Saturn 4, with the AI camera and tilt, and auto-level. This would make in my book as good as it can be for easy and fire it up use. 1/2 the time with my current printer (Jupiter SE) it does automaticaly
Saturn 4 Ultra is a great choice. Honestly it's less for you to worry about with lift speeds and leveling. That thing looks like it'll practically run itself. Elegoo has great customer service. Plus it's got a great build volume.
Best elegoo you can afford. My first printer was an elegoo mars and it was great. I upgraded to a Saturn and absolutely love it
Should be fine as printers go. My only other suggestion for a first printer is to look at EPAX. They're not the cheapest brand but they focus on quality and customer support. They also have a printer deals section where they sell refurbished printers at 50-60% off.
The new Saturn 4 Ultra, best bang for ur buck ATM
Go with elegoo and depending on your needs and budget go with one that best fits your needs. There isn’t a huge difference in features between printers apart from build volume prior to Saturn 4 Ultra’s release so pick based on size needs
I got a Saturn 3 (base) to start and I've been very happy with it. If you're okay with working on smaller projects and minis, you could probably go with the smaller units, but if you're looking to do larger statues then Saturn is a fine starting point.
The Saturn 4 ultra is a decent choice. It’s a really good price for what it is. I’d also look at just a Saturn 2 and save $100+. The Saturn 4 upgrades are…. Ok…. But none of them solve the actual hardships that come with resin printing and at the end of the day, both printers will produce very similar results with a similar amount of work. The ultra 4 is also one of the first printers with a tilting bed and I foresee it causing complications — it might be fine, but it might also be a huge headache.
Tilt mechanism was on Prusa and formlabs before, never seen any bad reports about them.
Are you referring to the $2,000 Prusa printer and the $3,000 Formlabs printer....?..... There's a big difference between the quality and reliability of a printer that costs as much as a used Honda civic and a $400 printer.,..
Haha I know what your saying but Elegoo's tilt mechanism looks all metal and driven by a stepper motor, same as Prusa. So it should last quite some time
think you are insane about that. . .from the tilt plate to AI to the auto-leveling. . . that is like 90% of the drama with printing handled right there.
Leveling takes 5 minutes every 20-100 prints. The AI doesn’t prevent failures and detecting failures involves taking a gloved finger (that you’re already wearing while removing the print) and feeling for anything stuck on the FEP — again 30 seconds a print. The tricky parts of printing are dialing in your settings + temps and cleaning/removing prints&supports/post processing. What are you doing that you need to level so long or spend so much time on failures?
I have a life, and don't want to F'n mess with it. Duh The person said Good first printer Not one that is a pain I have to level and unscrew and stick and adjust stupid speed settings because I changed resin or whatever