PMPA Craftsman Cribsheet #145: Resin Printing for the Shop

Published November 1, 2025

By David Wynn, Director of Technical Services & Industry Affairs

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Resin printing is typically a plate dipped into a vat of photosensitive liquid that is printed one layer at a time from the bottom up. Prints are printed upside down. The build plate is lowered from above to the bottom of the resin tank. Each whole layer of is printed almost instantly. Layers are typically smaller than fused deposition modeling (FDM) but often a comparable part will print faster with resin than FDM. Layers print at the same time whether printing a small object or a full build plate. Build plates can be filled with multiple items for a faster effective cycle time. Surface finish and part tolerances are improved with resin typically holding tolerances of around ±0.005″. Resins are a developing field and are presented as unique manufactured products. 

*All data presented in the graph above is for reference. It is based directly on data provided from various manufacturers for their products. Colors within a resin family can affect mechanical properties. Presented as a general guideline to the above materials.