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Is SLA Resin Printer or FDM Filament Printer Better for Scale Modeling?

Writer's picture: Print ReplicaPrint Replica

Updated: Feb 3

You're a scale modeler and you have decided to buy a 3D printer, this article will help you choose between FDM filament printers and SLA resin printers.


First, here is our conclusion:

  • SLA resin printers are more suitable for printing 90% of scale models, which are small to medium scale models that requires extremely high precision for details (1:72 to 1:12 scale vehicles, figures etc.).

    SLA resin printer
    SLA resin printer
  • FDM filament printers can be cheaper and more convenient for large size models that requires less accuracy (1/8 or larger figures, 1/35 or 1/72 dioramas, R/C models).

FDM filament printer
FDM filament printer

After this short answer, let's dig into the pros & cons of both FDM and SLA printers.


SLA resin printer pros & cons

SLA resin pros:

1) Level of details: 10 micron resolution (0.01mm or 0.004in) precision that surpasses the detail level of traditional plastic injection kit models.

Our Ferrari 250 GTO Engine
Our Ferrari 250 GTO Engine

2) Less sanding: Since precision is higher, less sanding is required for large / smooth parts like car or aircraft body.

Resin printed car body
Resin printed car body

3) Easier support removal: Resin supports are very thin, the contact point between the tip of the support and our models can go down to 0.2mm (0.008 in), so you can easily remove the supports using your bare hands. The support removal process is less likely to damage thin / detailed parts.

Our support contact diameter is 0.2mm
Our support contact diameter is 0.2mm

4) More reliable: resin printers are mechanically extremely simple. There is only one single motor (Z-axis) moving the build plate up and down. On the contrary, FDM printers have at least 5 motors (X-axis, Y-axis, Z-axis, extruder, extruder fan) and more probability for things to go wrong.

Z-axis motor is the only moving part in a resin printer
Z-axis motor is the only moving part in a resin printer

5) Small and medium printer size price: you can get a very good medium-sized resin printer for the $200-300 price range.

The state-of-the-art Elegoo Saturn 4 medium-sized printer (5.9L) is only selling at $299
The state-of-the-art Elegoo Saturn 4 medium-sized printer (5.9L) is only selling at $299

6) Same printing speed when your build plate is full: Unlike FDM printers where a single nozzle have to travel over the build plate, resin printers' UV screen covers the entire build plate. This means that you can jam up your build plate on a resin printer without increasing printing time.


It takes 4h6m to print this one single part
It takes 4h6m to print this one single part
It takes exactly the same amount of time to print this full build plate where the previous part is still included
It takes exactly the same amount of time to print this full build plate where the previous part is still included

SLA resin cons:

  • Large size resin printers cost: Large size resin printers with more than 10L print volume can be costly

Elegoo Jupiter 6K (13L) selling at $890
Elegoo Jupiter 6K (13L) selling at $890
  • Liquid resin handling: you need to be extra careful when manipulating resin to avoid spilling the liquid, and also wear gloves and a mask

Wear gloves and a mask while manipulating liquid uncured resin
Wear gloves and a mask while manipulating liquid uncured resin
  • Extra steps for post-processing: You need a wash and cure station to wash the resin then cure it to solidify your print.

2-in-1 wash and cure station
2-in-1 wash and cure station

FDM filament printer pros & cons

FDM filament pros:

1) Larger print volume at affordable price: You can print very large dioramas in one piece.

Anycubic Kobra Max (whopping 72L print volume) selling at $429
Anycubic Kobra Max (whopping 72L print volume) selling at $429

2) Easier to handle: FDM filaments are solid plastic wires that are easier to handle, you can touch them without gloves and it won't spill like liquid resin

You can touch FDM filament with your bare hands
You can touch FDM filament with your bare hands

3) Wider range of material: FDM printers can handle standard PLA, PETG materials. But there are also more exotic materials like carbon fiber nylon that are extremely light and can resist shock, perfect for R/C models.

Polymaker Fiberon PA6-CF Carbon Fiber Nylon Filament
Polymaker Fiberon PA6-CF Carbon Fiber Nylon Filament

4) Multi-color prints: We printed this Zelda figure using a FDM multi-color printer.

Multi-color print
Multi-color print

FDM filament cons:

1) Visible layer lines: a lot of sanding and polishing are necessary to reach an acceptable level for scale modelers

2) Hard to remove supports: Supports for FDM printing is constantly improving, the tree supports makes support removal easier. However, compared to resin supports, tree supports are still very thick and hard to remove. You're very likely to break small detailed parts while removing supports

Tree supports are still harder to remove compared to resin supports
Tree supports are still harder to remove compared to resin supports

3) Top layers not smooth: for FDM you need to activate ironing option to make the top layer smooth

No ironing vs ironing
No ironing vs ironing

Final verdict: You should own both a FDM filament and a SLA resin printer

FDM and SLA are suitable for different type of scale models. You should own both types of printer and use them for their most suitable purpose. You should use FDM filament printers for your dioramas or R/C models. You should use SLA resin printers for your static vehicles and figures.

However, if you really have to pick one over the other, we would say that resin is more suitable for scale modeling, because we care about detail accuracy and only resin printers can reach that level of pickiness ;)

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