MSLA 3D Print Settings: Resins & Material Advisor
Find the right resin for MSLA printing, check layer, wash and post-cure parameters, free, no sign-up.
What is MSLA, and why 16K
MSLA (Masked Stereolithography) cures resin with UV light projected through a masked LCD screen, layer by layer. Our Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra printer has 16K resolution and a pixel size of roughly 14 microns, so it reproduces micro-detail unreachable for FDM printing, openwork patterns, threads, micro-engraving or jewelry casting patterns. Below you can pick a resin for your project and check its parameters.
What do you need?
Select requirements important for your project, the list narrows as you go
Pick a resin
Comparison of all resins
| Resin | Segment | Price/kg | Layer (mm) | Wash | Post-cure (min) | Hardness | Difficulty | Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | Standard | ~28 EUR/kg | 0.025–0.05 | IPA | 10 | 84D | figurines, visual prototypes, models | |
| Water-washable | Standard | ~30 EUR/kg | 0.025–0.05 | water | 10 | 82D | models, figurines, prototypes | |
| Plant-based (eco) | Standard | ~33 EUR/kg | 0.025–0.05 | IPA | 10 | 80D | models, home and office use | |
| Transparent (Clear) | Standard | ~30 EUR/kg | 0.025–0.05 | IPA | 8 | 84D | lamps, lenses, visual effects | |
| ABS-like 3.0+ | Technical | ~37 EUR/kg | 0.05–0.05 | IPA | 15 | 80D | housings, mechanical parts | |
| Tough | Technical | ~35 EUR/kg | 0.05–0.05 | IPA | 15 | 78D | functional prototypes, snap-fits | |
| Flexible | Technical | ~75 EUR/kg | 0.05–0.05 | IPA | 15 | 60-70A | gaskets, grips, flexible parts | |
| Heat-resistant | Technical | ~82 EUR/kg* | 0.05–0.05 | IPA | 20 | 85D | molds, parts exposed to heat | |
| Fast | Technical | ~33 EUR/kg | 0.05–0.1 | IPA | 8 | 82D | quick iterations, larger batches | |
| High-precision 14K | Precision and castable | ~65 EUR/kg | 0.02–0.03 | IPA | 10 | 84D | premium miniatures, openwork, micro-engraving | |
| Rigid / Ceramic-filled | Precision and castable | ~58 EUR/kg* | 0.03–0.05 | IPA | 15 | 88D | measurement patterns, tooling | |
| Castable BlueCast X-One V2 | Precision and castable | ~327 EUR/kg | 0.03–0.05 | IPA | 30 | n/d (burnout) | casting patterns, signet rings, solid forms | |
| Castable BlueCast X-Wax Filigree | Precision and castable | ~327 EUR/kg | 0.02–0.03 | IPA | 30 | n/d (burnout) | filigree, openwork, thin walls |
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between standard and ABS-like resin?+
Standard resin is hard but brittle, great for visual models and figurines where detail matters more than impact resistance. ABS-like resin has toughness similar to ABS plastic and does not crack under bending or snap-fits, so it is chosen for housings and mechanical parts that need to survive real loads.
Is water-washable resin worse than IPA-washable resin?+
No, it is simply a different trade-off. Water replaces isopropyl alcohol for washing, which is more convenient and cheaper at home, but the print can be slightly less moisture resistant than an IPA-washed print, so parts exposed to humidity are better made from the IPA version.
What is castable resin, and why does it cost 1399 PLN/kg?+
Castable resin (e.g. BlueCast X-One) burns out with no ash residue during lost-resin casting, so the pattern disappears without contaminating the mould. The high price comes from the precise chemical formula needed for clean burnout, this is a resin for jewelers casting signet rings and solid forms, not for everyday printing.
Which resin works best for figurines and miniatures?+
Standard visual figurines are fine with Standard or Water-washable resin. If you need maximum micro-detail, openwork and thin features on a 16K printer, choose High-precision 14K resin, it has minimal shrinkage and the highest reproduction resolution.
Are resin prints durable?+
It depends on the resin segment. Standard visual resins are hard but brittle and can crack on impact, so they are not suited to functional parts. Technical resins like Tough or ABS-like are much stronger mechanically and, once properly UV-cured, work well for functional prototypes and wear parts.
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Need an MSLA print?
We print in standard, technical and precision resins on a 16K printer. Get an online quote.
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