3D Resin Printing : Best BUDGET printer
I’m often asked which 3D resin printer I consider to be the Best Budget Buy, the one that’s an ideal choice for a newbie wishing to try the hobby as cheaply as possible, or maybe for someone seeking a cheap second machine. For that reason I’ve dedicated a page especially to it and included a few links that I hope will prove useful.
My choices below may be a little controversial. Beyond a doubt the Mars 5 represents a leap forward in technology and is by far the easiest machine for a newcomer to have as it makes using it so much easier. But the Anycubic gives you a slightly bigger build volume and is a much more basic machine – meaning to use it you’ll need to learn about plate levelling etc, and as most machines don’t have self-levelling, you’ve got to learn some time.
VogMan’s Best Budget Printer Picks
| RANK | PRINTER | XY RES'N | PPI | SIZE | W x D x H | REVIEW | PRICE | COMMENTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anycubic Photon Mono 2 4K | 35 µm | 726.8 | S | 143 x 89 x 165 mm |  |
4096 x 2560 pixels. The best budget 35 micron printer in my opinion. Great all-rounder. | |
| 2 | Elegoo Mars 5 4K | 35 µm | 725.7 | S | 143 x 89 x 150 mm | |
4098 x 2560 pixels. Elegoo's clever attempt to make an easy to use, low cost resin printer aimed at newcomers. I was very impressed. |
| The reasoning behind my ranking decisions has nothing to do with price. My ranking is based purely on ability and how well each printer impressed me. To understand the table headings properly, visit the listing at the bottom of the page. |
About the Price Links
Prices change so often I simply can't list them. So instead, I provide links to the Official Stores and Amazon. Some of these are affiliate links and clicking them will generate a few pennies for me if you make a purchase, but importantly this will not cost you any extra and it does not affect how I rank these printers. I don't play that game!
Resin
And don't forget you're going to need a lot of resin for these Large 3D printers. Check out my recommended resins!
Understanding the Table Headings
The headings on the Printers table are abreviated to save on space and that may lead to confusion. So below I list the headings and their full meaning.
| RANK | This is shortened from "My Ranking" and refers to how I personally list them, with 1 being the best, 2 the second best, etc | |
| PRINTER | The name of the printer, often incorporating the K value of the screen (e.g. 9K, etc). | |
| XY RES'N | Short for "XY Resolution" this refers to the calculated micron value usually quoted in sales gumph. The smaller the number, the better. To understand how this is calculated and what it really means, watch the video below. | |
| PPI | Short for "Pixels Per Inch" this figure generally isn't provided but essentially describes image clarity, wherein the greater the density of pixels, the greater the image definition will be. To understand how this is calculated and what it really means, watch the video below. | |
| SIZE | Refers to the overall size of the printer, i.e. S (Standard or Small), M (Medium) and L (Large). The bigger the printer, the bigger the prints that can be created. | |
| W x D x H | Width x Depth x Height measured in millimetres, and describing the maximum print area available. | |
| REVIEW | This is a link to my YouTube review. These are generally worth watching. | |
| PRICE | Prices change so often I simply can't list them. So instead, I provide links to the Official Stores and Amazon. Some of these are affiliate links and clicking them will generate a few pennies for me, but importantly this will not cost you any extra and it does not affect how I rank these printers. I don't play that game! | |
| COMMENTS | This is a very brief summary of my thoughts about the printer. There's not enough room for a full report, but watching the video should provide the rest. | |
| * | Note : "tba" is an abbreviation of To Be Advised, meaning the information should turn up eventually. |