What is a filament 3D printer?

Filament 3D printing, also known as fused deposition modeling (FDM), is a type of 3D printing process that uses a continuous filament of thermoplastic material to create a three-dimensional object layer by layer. The filament is fed through a heated extruder to form the item, which drops the melted material in a specified pattern onto a build plate. FDM is a well-liked and often utilized 3D printing method because of its accessibility and flexibility. 

Advantages 

FDM printers are generally less expensive as compared to most resin 3D printers. 

Faster Prints

Parts from FDM printers tend to be built quickly and without much post-processing. This is because FDM printers can use standard filaments like ABS and PLA, which are already strong enough for most purposes, but with FDM, you don’t need as high a resolution as resin printers typically require.

Accessibility

Both professionals and amateurs can use FDM printers because of their ease of use.

Lower Resolution

FDM prints have a resolution of around 50-400 microns, which determines how excellent they are. This implies that the tiny surfaces of the components produced using FDM printers won't be smooth. This can be minimized based on the settings on your printer, but some roughness will always remain.

Limited Customization

Fused Filament Fabrication is the method used by FDM printers to print.

This indicates that the machine builds up your part in layers by using a filament rather than resin droplets to print.

The issue with this is that these filaments are only available in predetermined colors and strengths.

Because of this, while some specialty filaments may work in FDM printers for some applications, they won’t always give you what you want because their properties don’t meet your requirements.

Which is a resin 3D printer

Resin 3D printing is a type of additive manufacturing process that uses liquid photopolymer resin materials to create highly detailed, precise, and intricate jewellery. In a resin 3D printer, a light source like a laser or projector selectively cures a liquid resin into a solid shape layer by layer.

Advantages

Highly Accurate

In terms of part geometry, 3D resin prints are extremely accurate and even outperform FDM. As a result, the components themselves are very useful.
 

High-Resolution Parts and Are Flexible

The Z-axis (the direction that goes up and down) of 3D resin prints has a resolution that is much higher than that of FDM, resulting in extremely smooth surfaces at the microscopic level.

Disadvantages

More Expensive but Weaker Than FDM

Although some FDM printers are more expensive than some resin printers, resin printing is typically much more costly than FDM. Internally, the printer is more intricate and makes use of a much larger number of parts than FDM printers.

While more expensive, a resin print would likely be weaker than its FDM equivalent if printed at the same resolution as an FDM printer. As I mentioned earlier, FDM prints generally have higher tensile and flexural strengths.

High Maintenance

In general, 3D Resin printers cost more to maintain because their internal complexity is greater.

Since there are numerous types of resins, you should always ask yourself what you intend to use the printer for before placing your first order.

Their properties vary significantly across brands and grades – some are better suited for specific purposes than others.

Difference between FDM vs resin 3D printer

Quality

Resin wins when it comes to quality, simply because resin printing offers significantly higher quality than filament printing. To achieve the same printing standard using an FDM 3D printer, you would need to increase printing time, resulting in higher costs. SLA printing has a powerful and precise laser that makes even the tiniest of movements count, leading to a higher print resolution and better overall quality. 

SLA 3D printers have substantially lower minimum layer heights than FDM printers, which improves quality and detail. Even while expensive FDM materials like PLA, PETG, and Nylon still produce excellent quality prints, resin printers are often better because resin printing allows for the finer features to show through.

Price

The cost of FDM and resin 3D printers is another decisive factor. Both printer types may be purchased for a reasonable price, however, the cost of a resin 3D printer increases quickly based on the technology and build volume.

Strength

A regular SLA 3D printer creates stronger filament components than a very costly FDM 3D printer due to the intrinsic characteristics of filament, despite the fact that premium resin 3D prints are extremely sturdy. Large-scale producers use FDM technology and robust filaments like Polycarbonate largely because of their strength. In fact, Polycarbonate is the go-to material used for 3D printing durable and resistant mechanical parts. While resin prints are much more detailed, they are fragile because resin 3D printing still has a long way to go when it comes to product strength.

Safety

Health and safety issues are present with both resin and filament. High temperatures and the release of hazardous gases are side effects of FDM 3D printing. Fumes and unexpected chemical reactions are possible while 3D printing resin. Therefore, it is recommended that both kinds of 3D printers be used in well-ventilated areas. Furthermore, you should also invest in a sound filtration system that minimises the risk of skin irritation and long-term respiratory issues. Moreover, make sure that you always use Nitrile gloves when handling uncured materials and safety glasses to protect your eyes from toxic chemical by-products. 

Which one is better?

Whether you decide to buy an SLA 3D printer or an FDM 3D printer largely depends on the purpose for which you'll use it. Opt for an FDM 3D printer if you're looking for a printer that can print many low-cost prototypes in a short amount of time and if precision and surface finish aren't vital product features. Use an SLA 3D printer if your top priorities aren't model strength and durability and you're making casting moulds for intricate products like jewellery pieces. 

Conclusion

Sculptoris Innovation is a leading provider of 3D printing services for the jewellery industry in India, offering the best resin 3D printer for jewellery manufacturing. With a commitment to customer satisfaction, Sculptoris Innovation is the trusted choice for 3D printing services in India's jewellery industry.