Is resin or FDM better for printing miniatures?

Resin is better for miniatures with fine detail — faces, hands, weapon edges — because resin printers achieve 18–50 µm XY resolution versus 100–200 µm for a standard FDM nozzle. FDM is better for large terrain pieces, bases, and props where fine detail is less critical and build volume matters more. For wargaming figures and RPG miniatures, most serious hobbyists use resin. For terrain and scatter, FDM is cheaper and faster.

What resolution do I need for 28mm miniatures?

For 28mm scale miniatures (standard wargaming scale), you want XY resolution of 50 µm or better. Modern budget resin printers like the Elegoo Mars 4 Ultra achieve 18 µm XY, which is far finer than needed. At this resolution, faces, fabric textures, and weapon detail are all clearly visible. FDM printers at 0.2 mm layer height will show visible layer lines on 28mm figures — acceptable for bases and terrain, but not for display-quality characters.

Can you print miniatures on an FDM printer?

Yes — FDM miniatures are printable, especially for gaming rather than display. Use a 0.2 mm nozzle (or 0.4 mm at 0.1 mm layer height as a compromise), enable ironing for flat surfaces, and use Chitubox/Lychee-compatible STLs. The Bambu Lab A1 Mini with a 0.2 mm nozzle produces acceptable gaming miniatures. For display-quality or fine detail, switch to resin — it will always win at sub-5 mm features.

What resin settings should I use for miniatures?

For standard 4K–12K resin and 28mm miniatures: layer height 0.05 mm, bottom layers 4–6, bottom exposure 25–35 s, normal exposure 2–3 s (adjust per resin brand). Use grey or white resin for best detail visibility. Add a drain hole to hollow models over 20 mm to prevent cracking. Supports: auto-generated medium supports with 0.3–0.4 mm tip. Cure in UV station for 2 min each side after washing in IPA or dedicated wash solution.

What is the best cheap 3D printer for miniatures?

The Elegoo Mars 4 Ultra (~$220) is the best cheap 3D printer for miniatures. It achieves 18 µm XY resolution — the same as printers costing twice as much — on a compact build plate. The main limitation is build size: you will print 4–8 miniatures per batch. Budget for a UV curing station (~$30–50) and resin starter kit when buying any entry resin printer.

Best 3D Printer for Miniatures (2025)

For wargaming figures, RPG minis, and display models, your printer choice determines how much detail survives at tabletop scale. This guide compares the top resin and FDM printers for miniatures — with specific recommendations by budget and use case.

Resin vs FDM for miniatures: the core tradeoff

Resin printers cure an entire layer at once using a UV LCD screen. Because the XY resolution is determined by the screen pixel pitch — not a nozzle diameter — modern budget resin printers achieve 18–50 µm XY resolution. A standard FDM 0.4 mm nozzle has 400 µm diameter: more than 20× coarser.

For 28mm miniatures, this matters a lot. Faces, hands, buckles, and weapon edges at 28mm scale are 1–3 mm across. At 18 µm resolution, these features are reproduced faithfully. At 400 µm, they become blobs.

Feature	Resin (MSLA)	FDM
XY Resolution	18–50 µm	100–200 µm (0.4 mm nozzle)
Layer height	0.025–0.1 mm	0.05–0.3 mm
Post-processing	Wash + cure required (~30 min)	Support removal only
Material cost	$20–40 per litre	$20–30 per kg spool
Smell / ventilation	Strong — requires ventilation	Minimal (PLA)
Best for	Figures, characters, fine detail	Terrain, bases, vehicles, props

Summary: Use resin for characters, figures, and anything with fine detail under 5 mm. Use FDM for terrain, bases, vehicles, and large scenic pieces.

Top picks for miniature printing

Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra

Best overall for miniatures

Resin (MSLA)

Price~$450

XY / Layer Res.12K (19 µm XY)

Build volume218×123×220 mm

Pros

19 µm XY resolution — finer than the human eye can see on tabletop scale
Tilt-peel mechanism reduces suction forces, fewer layer failures
Large build plate fits a full warband in one print

Cons

Resin requires ventilation, PPE, and UV curing station
Post-processing adds 20–30 min per batch

See all Elegoo Saturn settings →

Elegoo Mars 4 Ultra

Best budget resin for miniatures

Resin (MSLA)

Price~$220

XY / Layer Res.9K (18 µm XY)

Build volume153×77×165 mm

Pros

18 µm XY resolution — near-identical detail to flagship resin printers
Very affordable entry point for high-detail work
Smaller footprint, easier to manage for beginners

Cons

Small build plate — only fits 4–8 miniatures per batch
No tilt mechanism — slightly higher failure rate on large flat surfaces

See all Elegoo Mars settings →

Bambu Lab A1 Mini

Best FDM option for miniatures

FDM

Price~$299

XY / Layer Res.0.2 mm layer height (0.4 mm nozzle)

Build volume180×180×180 mm

Pros

Auto-calibration — no manual leveling
AMS Lite supports multi-color miniatures
Quiet operation, beginner-friendly, excellent PLA results

Cons

0.4 mm nozzle is the limit — resin will always win on fine detail
Requires a 0.2 mm nozzle upgrade for best miniature results

See all Bambu Lab settings →

Prusa MK4

Best FDM for detailed terrain & bases

FDM

Price~$799

XY / Layer Res.0.05 mm layer height possible

Build volume250×210×220 mm

Pros

Inputshaper + 0.25 mm nozzle = best FDM surface quality available
Large build volume ideal for terrain pieces
PrusaSlicer miniature profiles well-documented

Cons

Expensive for FDM entry
Still cannot match resin on sub-5 mm features

See all Prusa MK4 settings →

Recommended settings for miniature FDM printing

If you are printing miniatures on an FDM printer, these settings get the best detail:

Nozzle size: 0.2 mm for finest detail; 0.4 mm is acceptable for 32mm+ scale at 0.1 mm layer height
Layer height: 0.1 mm or lower. Bambu and Prusa can go to 0.05 mm with a 0.2 mm nozzle
Print speed: 30–40 mm/s for outer walls — slow walls improve surface finish
Cooling: 100% fan from layer 1 for best bridging and overhang quality
Supports: Tree supports (OrcaSlicer / Bambu Studio) detach cleanly from miniature surfaces
Filament: PLA or PLA+ — lower printing temp means sharper corners and less stringing
Ironing: Enable on flat top surfaces (helmets, shields) for a smooth finish

Recommended resin settings for miniatures

Layer height: 0.05 mm — higher resolution than 0.1 mm default with minimal time penalty
Bottom layers: 4–6 layers at longer exposure (25–35 s) for strong bed adhesion
Normal exposure: 2–3 s for 4K–9K screens; 1.5–2 s for 12K screens. Test with a resin exposure test file
Supports: Medium auto-supports, 0.3 mm tip diameter. Thin tips detach without leaving marks on the figure
Hollow models: Add two 2 mm drain holes for models taller than 20 mm to prevent trapped uncured resin
Post-cure: Wash in IPA or dedicated wash solution 2 min, air dry 10 min, UV cure 2 min per side
Resin choice: Grey resin for priming; transparent amber or clear for display pieces