Standard Resin: density, exposure and when to choose it
Standard Resin is the base general-purpose photopolymer resin most people start with in resin printing. It gives the best detail of any plastic printing process, but is brittle: models made from it shatter on impact or bending rather than flexing. Its main niche is miniatures, mold prototypes, decorative and display models — where surface quality matters, not mechanical strength.
Key properties
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Density (cured) | ≈1.10 g/cm³ |
| Exposure | 405 nm (LCD/DLP) |
| Post-cure | 60–90 sec UV chamber |
| Printer type | MSLA/LCD (budget-friendly), DLP |
| Post-processing | IPA (or equivalent) wash 3–5 min + UV post-cure |
| Toxicity before curing | the liquid resin irritates skin and is toxic on contact — gloves and room ventilation are mandatory |
When to use it
- Miniatures, figurines, tabletop games — where fine layer-level detail matters.
- Mold and fit prototypes needing a smooth surface with no visible layers.
- Jewelry and craft test models before moving to casting resin.
- One-off decorative objects not subject to mechanical stress.
When to pick something else
- Functional parts under impact load — you need Tough Resin or ABS-like Resin.
- Parts that need to bend or spring — go with Flexible Resin.
- Large housing or outdoor parts — PETG or ABS is more cost-effective and reliable here, since resin yellows and degrades in the sun.
Pros and cons
Pros: the best detail of any 3D printing technology, a smooth surface with no sanding needed, an affordable price per liter, a wide choice of colors and translucent variants.
Cons: brittleness — models break easily on drop or bending, requires IPA washing and post-curing, the liquid resin is toxic and has a smell, limited outdoor lifespan (yellows and clouds in the sun).
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Resin is sold by the liter, not the kilogram, and a liter of Standard Resin usually costs more than a kilogram of a base FDM filament like PLA — factor that into your base material cost. On top of that come consumables: IPA gets used up with every wash and needs periodic replacement or filtering, and the printer's FEP film wears out and needs changing. Resin's defect rate is higher than FDM's — platform detachment, layer adhesion failures from humidity or room temperature — this too should be priced in as insurance against reprints.