Open-source and do-it-yourself concepts are central to 3D printing and its growth with hobbyists. Unfortunately, many people only think of fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printing when considering DIY projects, overlooking great resin 3D printers that use DLP, SLA, or LCD (mSLA) technology.
It’s hard to blame them for thinking that way back in 2013, but over the past decade some great DIY 3D printers have been created to print with resin. These machines are fun projects to take on and can help save a buck.
Although they’re arguably not at the same stage of development or popularity as their FDM counterparts, DIY resin 3D printers have proven to be quite popular with open-source audiences. In fact, their popularity was one of the driving forces behind companies creating lower-cost SLA and LCD printers.
Whether you’re looking for a printer on a budget or you just like the idea of getting hands-on even before you pour the liquid resin into the vat, DIY resin printers can be a great project to develop more skills and further your printing knowledge.
You too can build your own resin 3D printer by following the instructions from one of these great projects!
Making Mini LCD
This 2021 five-part YouTube series concludes with an impressive homemade LCD printer. Instead of being based on a Raspberry Pi, this project opts for an Arduino microcontroller – the creator suggests a Nano or Pro Mini.
The first video in the series lists all the needed parts, showing what was used, so that you can verify that you’ve got the right tools, while the second and third parts show the schematics of setting up the Arduino and the LCD screen.
The fourth video is the longest and it shows the majority of 3D printer construction happening. The fifth video, after going over the software, concludes with downloading a calibration cube. Unfortunately, a promised sixth video showing the 3D printer in action still hasn’t been posted, but it’s good to check back every so often.
As the videos show, pretty much anyone can replicate this process with easy-to-order parts and hand assembly. However, you need to be a serious hands-on DIYer as, for example, you need to solder the motherboard. DIY tech veterans will recognize similarities between this 3D printer and build-your-own computer kits from decades ago.
This can be an ideal project if you’re into 3D printing miniatures.
Roobee One
Roobee One is an open-source DLP 3D printer with an easy-to-follow guide on Instructables. It’s a project that others have replicated, so with enough patience and tweaking, you could have one yourself!
This printer’s 20 mm x 20 mm aluminum frame differentiates it from many all-plastic DIY projects and includes an emphasis on ventilation fans to keep harmful vapors away from the maker. A quick slideshow of the needed parts is on YouTube and each part that can be 3D printed has been compiled on a Thingiverse page with 12 files.
The printer has an adjustable print area of 80 mm x 60 mm x 200 mm and a build volume of 150 mm x 105 mm x 200 mm. The design was inspired by the Cristelia and Vulcanus MAX 3D printers, while the name comes from the printer’s ruby red coloring.
If you decide to go forward with this project, be sure to check the comments from both the Instructables and Thingiverse, as makers have shared tips from their own builds.
- Designer: aldricnegrier
- Project pages: Instructables, Thingiverse
- Approximate cost: $300
Prometheus
This 100% open-source LCD printer might just be the best DIY resin 3D printer on the web. The Prometheus is Raspberry Pi-based with an open-source motherboard and many 3D printed parts. It has an impressive build volume of 298 mm x 164 mm x 350 mm.
In addition to the GitHub files, there’s a 5-minute YouTube guide that walks you through the assembly of the suggested components. This project was unveiled in late 2022 and is still being improved on with the most recent update in May 2023.
The lengthy bill of materials (BOM) spares no detail, listing every washer, nut, and bolt you’ll need to build the Prometheus. It also includes links to buy each part (except the 3D printed ones of course!) from Amazon, Alibaba, or specific manufacturers. Just be sure to only buy one of the necessary electronic components and don’t order each alternative linked!
And for the vat, the creators suggest printing it in PLA or PETG, as they warn that other filaments may react to the chemicals in the resin.
Named after the Greek god who stole fire from the Olympian gods to gift to humanity, the project’s creators want to gift a resin 3D printer that’s accessible to everyone to inspire artistic and scientific innovations.
- Designer: TheContrappostoShop
- Project pages: GitHub, YouTube
- Approximate cost: $1,500
Honorable Mentions
These trailblazing DIY resin 3D printer projects crawled in the 2010s so DIYers can run in 2023.
Chimera
Another project that paved the way for this decade’s DIY resin printers, the Chimera was the Grand Prize Winner of Instructables and 3D Hubs’ 2015 3D Printer Enthusiast contest. If the barebones look isn’t for you, the instructions include a Lego frame you can build around the 3D printer!
The Chimera’s top-down design sets it apart from practically all other DLP 3D printers. The decision to go top-down is explained in depth in the instructions, but ultimately this approach is simplified and cheaper at the cost of quality.
This project’s named after the mythical Chimera because the designer built it from spare parts of a projector, an old computer, and some toys. If it sounds like it’s a project you may be interested in replicating but are on the fence because it’s from a while back, the 23 makers who shared their own versions might just confirm that it’s worth the effort.
- Designer: matstermind
- Project pages: Instructables, YouTube
- Approximate cost: $60 (in 2015)
Hi-Res DIY DLP 3D Printer
Created at a time when FDM dominated the DIY 3D printing community, this trailblazing 2013 DLP project has over 2 million views on Instructables, making it one of the most popular DIY 3D printers ever.
The quality of the mirror cradle and its inclusion to make a more compact printer sets this project apart from most DIYs that point the projector directly at the resin basin. While the instructions call for some high-end tools like CNC mills, the designer expects DIYers to get away with typical consumer drills and household power tools.
This DIY project was such a success that the inventor started Atum3D and commercialized the design after years of perfecting it. Check out Tristram Brudel now listed as their technical director!
- Designer: TristramBrudel
- Project pages: Instructables
- Approximate cost: $1,750 (in 2013)
License: The text of "DIY Resin 3D Printers: Most Promising Machines of 2023" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.