FDM or resin: which your project needs
The two technologies compared on detail, strength, size and price. With the clear cases where only one of them will do.
4 min read
FDM melts a plastic filament and lays it down. Resin cures a liquid with light, layer by layer. The visible difference is detail; the practical difference is what each part is good for.
| FDM | Resin | |
|---|---|---|
| Finest layer | 0.08 mm | 0.025 mm |
| Maximum size | 256 mm a side | 218 × 123 × 235 mm |
| Strength | Functional | Brittle |
| Price | Lower | Higher |
Choose resin if…
- It is miniatures, jewellery or figures where every detail shows.
- You need a smooth surface with no sanding, to show a client.
- The part is small and will take no load.
Choose FDM if…
- The part has to hold something: a bracket, an enclosure, a spare.
- It is big. Past a hand-span, resin gets awkward and expensive fast.
- You are going to iterate. Getting it wrong is cheaper in FDM.