3D Printers for Miniatures: Resin for Detail, FDM for Terrain
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For 28 to 32 mm figures with faces and weapons, buy a resin printer: the Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra or Anycubic Photon Mono 4 for a desk, the Saturn 4 Ultra for a batch of twenty at once. For terrain, scatter, bases, vehicles and anything over about 75 mm, an FDM printer does it cheaper, stronger and without chemicals; the Bambu A1 mini is the default. Many hobbyists end up with one of each.
Uncured resin is a skin and respiratory irritant. Wear nitrile gloves and eye protection, ventilate, wash in IPA in a covered container, and fully cure before handling. Never pour resin or wash down a drain.
Where to buy
Which process for which part
| Part | Process | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 28 to 32 mm figures | Resin (MSLA) | Faces, hands, weapons need 20 to 50 µm detail |
| Busts, 54 mm and 75 mm display figures | Resin | Surface finish for painting |
| Terrain, ruins, walls | FDM | Big, cheap in PLA, tough; layer lines read as texture |
| Bases, tokens, dice towers | FDM | Function over finish |
| Vehicles, mechs, dragons over 100 mm | FDM (0.4 mm, 0.12 mm layers) or large resin | FDM is far cheaper; resin for competition finish |
| Scatter and props | FDM | Volume and cost |
Resin printers for figures
| Printer | Build volume | Screen | Pixel | Figures per plate (28 mm) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra | 153 × 78 × 165 mm | 7-inch 9K | 18 µm | About 10 to 15 | Tilt release, auto level; the default first buy |
| Anycubic Photon Mono 4 | About 153 × 87 × 165 mm | 7-inch 10K | About 17 µm | About 10 to 15 | Cheapest; manual levelling |
| Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K S | 165 × 72 × 180 mm | 7.1-inch 8K | 22 µm | About 10 to 15 | Long miniature reputation |
| Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra | 218.88 × 122.88 × 220 mm | 10-inch 12K | 19 × 24 µm | About 25 to 35 | Armies and larger models |
See resin printers for miniatures for settings and supports.
FDM printers for terrain
The Bambu A1 mini prints terrain and bases at 0.12 mm layers with a 0.4 mm nozzle and needs no tuning; the A1 does the same at 256 mm for large ruins. A 0.2 mm nozzle on either sharpens small details for FDM figures that will be seen from arm’s length. See FDM printers for miniatures and printers for terrain.
The units in the box
The listings are the Photon Mono 4, the Mars 5 Ultra and the Bambu A1 mini.
FAQ
Can FDM print a 28 mm figure? Yes, with a 0.2 mm nozzle and 0.08 mm layers; it looks like a tabletop figure, not a display piece.
Which resin? A tough or ABS-like blend; standard resin snaps swords. See ABS-like resins.
LayerWalker
Print defect diagnosis, calibration procedures and parts that actually fit. Corrections welcome through the contact page.
