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LCD (mSLA) resin 3D printers

LCD stands for liquid crystal display, the panel familiar from screens. In the LCD method, a UV light shines through an LCD panel onto UV-curable resin. The panel lets light through only where the resin should cure, which forms the object. Like DLP, LCD exposes a whole layer at once, so it prints relatively fast. Accuracy depends on the resolution of the LCD panel; typical hobby resin printers use 4K panels, and machines with 8K panels are also on the market, so accuracy keeps improving. The structure is simple and LCD panels are inexpensive, so LCD resin printers are available at quite affordable prices.

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How LCD resin printing works, step by step

What steps does it take to make an object with an LCD resin printer? The process falls into six main steps. On 3Techs this method is listed as LCD (mSLA).

  1. Prepare the data with slicer software
  2. Fill the resin and start printing
  3. When printing is finished, remove the object from the build plate
  4. Remove leftover resin with IPA (isopropyl alcohol) or a similar solvent
  5. Post-cure the object with UV light to stabilize the material properties
  6. Remove the supports, sand off any burrs, and the part is done

Features of LCD resin printing (advantages and disadvantages)

Here are the advantages and disadvantages of LCD resin printing.

Advantages

  • Advantage 1: High accuracy

    The accuracy of LCD prints depends on the pixel count of the LCD panel, and is generally around 50 to 100 µm, so LCD can make very accurate objects. Many inexpensive, high-resolution LCD panels are on the market, so LCD resin printers are both affordable and accurate. 4K (4096 × 2160) panels are common, and 5.5K and 8K panels are now used as well, improving accuracy further. Apart from removing burrs left by supports, the surfaces without supports come out very smooth.

  • Advantage 2: Little warping

    Resin printing does not cure the material with heat, so prints generally warp less. SLS and FDM heat the material and need proper cooling, but resin printing does not.

Disadvantages

  • Disadvantage 1: Post-processing is needed

    After the object is removed, resin printing needs washing with an organic solvent such as IPA (isopropyl alcohol) and post-curing to fully harden the material and bring out its properties. Because chemicals (organic solvents) are used, you need suitable equipment. At a larger scale, you also need to manage waste liquid, worker health and solvent safety.

  • Disadvantage 2: Part strength

    Parts made by LCD resin printing are weaker (in tensile and bending strength) than parts made by SLS or FDM. They suit objects that carry no load, such as figures, but industrial parts need careful consideration at the design stage.

LCD (mSLA) printers on 3Techs

The LCD (mSLA) printers listed on 3Techs, with build size, price and other specs side by side.

See all 88 LCD (mSLA) printers