The world of 3D printing is amazing and presents us with endless possibilities for creativity and ingenuity. It is also quite an expensive and resource-heavy hobby that can quickly add up to a lot of costs if you are not paying attention.
In this article, I am going to give you the full list of the items that, from my experience, every resin 3d printer owner should have, will need, and will likely want to purchase to go along with their printer.
I will go in the order of what I feel are the no-compromise necessities first and then move on to the things that are less important but improve the experience greatly if you have them.
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First, The Printer!
Yeah, I know that is obvious but there are many different types and brands out there. They all have different options of build size, resolution, and printing times. Make sure that when you are looking at several different printers, you do not consider the price as the only money you are spending. There will be a lot of accessories that go with it. Ideally, keep the printer itself under your cap spend amount so you can do more with it after you have it. I know it can be overwhelming to look at and compare specs on each but there are loads of helpful Youtube videos out there to help you by showing the pros and cons of lots of different brands.
This is the first step on a long journey. Take your time and know what you are getting into. It will be worth it in the end.
It is not without it's problems but I love my Elegoo Saturn. It is a great size medium-end printer that can be a great starter printer.
The Computer
A computer that can run the slicing software to prepare your prints. This one is easily overlooked. Not everyone has a beast of a computer and when rendering 3D models it can be difficult if your computer is older or has fewer resources. Make sure to check the minimum requirements for your slicing software of choice before purchasing your printer. Lest you have to purchase a new computer to go with it.
Resin
Resins will greatly differ in cost based on their uses and chemical makeup. Some of the more high-end resins can print greater detail, cure faster or harder, and even be flexible if needed. Some are better for small things like dice or miniatures, whereas others can be used to make industrial parts for your engineering project. It can be extremely overwhelming to try to make sense of all the options. It is likely that no one (unless you have a bottomless purse) will be able to know firsthand all the options and the pros and cons of each.
However, there are several Youtube videos out there in which people tested many types and reported their findings. These videos will be very valuable to someone looking for the best choice for their project. If you are just starting out though, I recommend going with budget resin to test and learn how your machine works. Sometimes the 1kg bottles can go for sale for $15-20 on Amazon if you are looking for deals. Better that you blow through a $20 bottle of resin learning about exposure times, leveling your build plate, cleaning your vat, and reprinting failures while you figure out how to support them than it would be to blow through that $80 bottle of high-end flexible resin before you figure it out.
Proper PPE
Protecting yourself and your family from the toxic fumes of resin printing is essential. If you are gonna skimp on anything in this list, do not let it be the protection. I wrote another article here that goes over how you can create a positive pressure enclosure that will allow you to resin print in any room in your house safely. Even if it is right next to you in a room you spend most of your time in (as mine is).
It is vital to make sure you have a ventilation system, properly fitting masks rated for VOCs, gloves, and that you are mindful of contamination while you work. Depending on the size of the models you plan to print, you may also wish to have eye protection and sleeves. You really do not want to get this stuff on or in you.
Your PPE does not need to be hindering or uncomfortable. Thin nitrile gloves are thin, easy to work with, and keep your hands safe and clean. The mask I use is light, comfortable, and easy to breathe through. You can find it here, and the replacement filters here.
Cleaning supplies
Resin is messy. Sticky messy nasty stuff that gets everywhere if you are not careful with it. Make sure you have all the supplies you need for cleanup before you start. The last thing you want to be doing is dripping resin all across the kitchen floor digging under the sink for that cleaner that you "knew you had somewhere". Paper towels (lots of them), microfiber (or other non-scratching) cloths, IPA (isopropyl alcohol), containers to work in, and something to cover your work surface with. Once you get the hang of it, as you get more comfortable with the cleaning process and make a routine you can start to reduce your waste. But at first, you will want to make sure you have more supplies than you think you need... just in case.
Paint strainers/funnel
This really goes along with cleaning supplies, however, I felt it was important enough to have a separate section. When your print is done and it is time to pour out the unused liquid resin in your vat, you are not going to want to pour any broken supports or small partially cured pieces of resin back into the bottle. Those things, if left in your vat or unknowingly put into the bottle can (worst case senerio) get between your build plate and screen and crack it. This is not something you want because you didn't take the time to strain your resin as you put it away.
I don't know much about other printers, but my Saturn SUCKS at pouring out of the vat (really they could have done much better with the pour spout) and I would have resin all down the bottle and all over the table if I did not use a good wide funnel to direct the resin into the bottle.
Save yourself some time, frustration A LOT of paper towels, and a potentially costly repair and get a funnel with a strainer stat!
Somewhere To Clean The Print
Yeah there are all those fancy wash and cure stations out there. If you have the money go for it. They really seem to work pretty well, but if you are like me and on a tight budget having a couple of good lock-lid containers filled with different (levels of dirty) batches of IPA will work fine.
The Lightbox
If you got a wash and cure machine GREAT! If not then you will need some way to post-cure your prints before they are done. For this, you can just leave them in a sunny window for a few days (flipping them a couple of times) or if you live in a cave (like I do) or have pets (like I do) you might want to invest in a cure box or make your own. A decently strong (Plenty enough) 405nm light can be purchased for less than $20 on Amazon. Rig that up in a box lined with aluminum foil and you got yourself a lightbox. You might want to go the exta mile and put a small turning display stand in the center of the box, otherwise, just rotate it yourself every few minutes.
One could get away with just those things. A printer, a computer to slice, resin to make things, a place to safely print, protective gear, and the supplies to clean up the mess.
However, there are several other "quality of life" purchases that can really make a difference.
Silicone Mats
All of them! Seriously it is so much easier (and safer) to clean the uncured toxic resin off of a silicone mat than it is off of plastic, wood, glass, or anything else. Covering all of your work surfaces with these will make cleaning far less stressful. My favorite ones are the thicker ones made for crafting. They last longer and can take much more abuse. A much better use of your money. I highly recommend this larger one as it is plenty of space to cover my entire work table when I am post-processing.
Silicone Scraper
The useless little plastic yellow scraper that came with my Saturn is the stupidest thing! I learned the hard way at the beginning to NOT use that on your FEP as it will dent and scratch it all up. A silicone scraper can be used to help encourage your resin to move a little faster down into the funnel and into the bottle when you are pouring out your vat. This will save a lot of time but also standing there holding the dang thing waiting for the resin to slooooowly drip is never a fun part of printing. Plus it helps you save resin by getting it all out of the vat. Saving resin wherever possible is always a good thing.
Spray Bottles
These things are live savers (and time savers and resource savers). They are great! Having a small spray bottle to put your IPA in will help bring your cleaning to the next level. A .99 bottle can cut your frustration, work time, and resource usage in half. Spray down everything you are trying to clean and let it sit for a few minutes, then wipe it up with a paper towel. It helps to break down and clean up any resin spills.
Extra FEPs
Your stock FEP (if you are not an idiot like me and scratch it in the first print) should last you a good long while. But when it breaks... you will be stuck between a rock and a hard place. You could even be in the middle of a print when it happens. It is ALWAYS a good thing to have extra FEPs on backup for when yours inevitably breaks.
Screen Protector
You have a very expensive and very delicate machine on your hands. Just like your cell phone, you want to protect it. So many things can happen from the FEP getting a tiny hole that leaks onto your screen and cures there, to accidental scratching when placing or removing the vat, to the level of your build plate being off and putting too much pressure on the screen, cracking it. Whatever could happen, the last thing you want to do is have to replace your screen, or worse your whole printer. The peace of mind that a few screen protectors can give you seem well worth the few extra dollars. And they don't make a difference in print quality. So why wouldn't you?
Containers in Containers With Containers
Your biggest ongoing cost with 3D printing (depending on how much you are doing it) is the Alcohol you use to clean your prints. Yes, you could go with water-washable resin, this does cut down the need for so much alcohol but water washable is known to be quite brittle, expensive, and really still cleans better in IPA from my experience. Plus just because you CAN wash it in water, does not mean you can wash it right down the sink. You will need to keep the water that came in contact with the resin and either cure it in your lightbox or leave it outside to cure and evaporate (somewhere where your neighbor's kids or your community stray cat won't decide it is fun to play in). Water washable, although it sounds like a great time/money saver, actually seems to not be worth the effort.
So this is where containers come in. The more "levels" of dirty IPA you have, the easier it is to use as little as possible. I currently use a 3 tier system, but I have seen others that use up to 5 tiers.
The initial rinse in the dirtiest of the containers of alcohol gets any of the large chunks and drips of resin off. Then it is transferred to another bath of almost clean alcohol that gets what the dirty one left behind. Then the last stage is clean alcohol. In which the print gets brushed and then pulled out and left to air dry. If after air drying the print still does not look clean enough, (there are shiny spots of uncured resin still visible) back into the last stage for another brushing. Using this system I have definitely saved a lot on alcohol.
The best containers I have found for this process are these amazing self-straining pickle jars. The less I need to stick my gloves into the alcohol to pull out the print the better. Plus if you don't have a wash and cure station, it is easy to just act like a washing machine and turn and lift and lower the basket within your IPA to agitate any stuck-on bits right off.
A 405nm UV Flashlight
There are going to be times when you have a lot of resin-soaked paper towels that need to be cured before they can be disposed of. Also, if you get any drops of uncured resin on your silicone surfaces, you can easily whip out the handy flashlight and just hold it over the offending parts for a minute and your issue is fixed. You may now safely dispose of it (or peel it off your silicone and throw it away) The handiness of having a flashlight to "spot cure" as needed makes cleanup just that much easier.
An Air Purifier/Fans
If you are working in a small space (like me) and don't have a designated, well-ventilated area to do your post-process and clean up, it is really worth investing in an air purifier and some good powerful fans. Because my space is so small I am post-processing in the dining room which is connected directly to the living room where my family spends time all day, it means when I am post-processing I need to be able to quickly push all the contaminated air out the door. I put the Air purifier right next to me while I work (under the table as the VOCs are heavier than air and will sink) to get the bulk of it, and any that do not get sucked in by the purifier get caught in a fan-made wind tunnel right out the open door.
This means that shortly after finishing cleaning and putting everything back safely sealed in the positive pressure tent, the masks can come off. The faster you can get rid of those harmful chemicals in the air, the better for you and everyone around you.
An Ultrasonic Cleaner
Just like the wash and cure station this is definitely not needed but oh boy does it help. Being able to take the last step of your wash routine and drop it in the ultrasonic cleaner and walk away to do the rest of your cleanup is a time saver for sure. And the ultrasonic vibrations help get any of that gunk stuck between the supports in a way that even the finest of brushes (I used a paintbrush) could not reach. A lot less elbow grease and a lot more time to spend finishing up your print to enjoy.
Those are some of the things that I think make the experience of using a 3d printer far more enjoyable. But of course, there are plenty of things out there that I have not experienced that could truly make the experience even better.
Flexible Build Plate
I have heard these are really good, although I have not tried them myself. Mostly because my routine does not seem to call for it. It is a flexible plate that is held onto your build plate with magnets that slides off easily and can bend to release the print.
After many times struggling to get the print off the build plate in the past, I could definitely see where this would be useful. But I think where it really shines is that you do not need to remove the build plate from the printer to get your print off. Meaning you do not have to clean it, you do not have to relevel it and you can just leave the resin in the vat and grab your print, slap another flexible plate on, and hit print again. I could see this being a huge time saver and very useful for someone who does many prints back to back or does printing for a living.
Wash and Cure Station
I know I have already mentioned this many times. I hope one day I will be able to get one. They look like they would be (as the ultrasonic cleaner is) a huge time saver, although I do believe they use a lot more alcohol so it would not only be more expensive to purchase but also more expensive to use. But especially the ones that allow you to just drop your build plate into and it cleans not only the print but the build plate too would be so very nice and cut down a lot of cleaning time.
This is in no way an exhaustive list of all the wonderful things you can use to make your 3D Printing experience more enjoyable. But I hope that it has helped bring into perspective what I wished I had known before getting my printer. THIS IS EXPENSIVE!
All the NEEDED items alone add up, then there are plenty of additional items that would be very nice to have.
Good luck on your printing journey and make fun things!
If this article has been helpful to you I would love to see you drop a like and if there is anything I missed please comment below.