Before their first 3D print order, many people face the same dilemma: FDM or resin? Both technologies turn a digital model into a physical object, but they work completely differently — and each is better for different projects. In this guide we compare them honestly, without marketing gloss.
Cards on the table first: at 3DnaKlik we print exclusively with FDM technology on a Bambu Lab P2S. That is exactly why we can tell you openly when FDM is not the right choice and when resin will give a better result. If after reading you find your project belongs on FDM, you get an exact price in 30 seconds on our instant quote page — no registration required.
How do the two technologies work?
FDM — printing with filament
FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) melts plastic filament and deposits it through a heated nozzle layer by layer until the whole object is built. The materials are thermoplastics — the same class of plastics known from industrial products: PLA, PETG, ASA, flexible TPU, and fiber-filled engineering nylons. FDM is the most widespread 3D printing technology in the world today because it is reliable, affordable, and offers exceptional material variety.
Resin — printing with liquid resin (SLA / MSLA / DLP)
Resin printers work the other way around: a vat holds liquid photopolymer resin that UV light selectively cures layer by layer — with a laser in SLA, an LCD screen in MSLA, or a projector in DLP. Because light draws details far more precisely than a nozzle can deposit them, the result is extremely fine detail and smooth surfaces that FDM cannot match.
Detail and surface finish: resin wins here
Let us be honest: if your main criterion is the finest possible detail, resin is the better technology. The resin cures with an accuracy of a few tens of microns, so layers are practically invisible and the surface is smooth straight off the printer. That is why resin dominates in tabletop miniatures, figurines with facial details, jewelry and casting master models, and dental applications.
FDM prints with layers from 0.08 to 0.28 mm — at Fine 0.08 mm quality it achieves very good results for decorative objects, signs, enclosures, and larger figures, but layers remain visible at shallow angles. For a 30 mm miniature with facial details, resin remains king. For almost everything else, the difference is rarely decisive in practice — the material properties are.
Strength and durability: FDM wins here
Standard resins are brittle once cured — a printed part tends to crack when dropped or bent. Photopolymers are also not UV-resistant: a part left in the sun gradually becomes more brittle and discolors. Tougher (tough, ABS-like) resins narrow the gap, but in toughness, heat resistance, and UV stability they still generally cannot match engineering thermoplastics.
FDM thermoplastics were developed precisely for functional use: PETG for everyday functional parts, ASA for parts in sun and rain, PA6-GF and PAHT-CF for brackets and mechanically loaded components, and TPU 95A is flexible like rubber — more on it in our TPU filament article. For brackets, enclosures, replacement parts, jigs, and anything that has to withstand something, FDM is the clear choice.
Print size
On the Bambu Lab P2S we print parts up to 256 × 256 × 256 mm in a single piece; larger models are split into parts and prepared for assembly. Most affordable resin printers have a noticeably smaller build volume, and larger resin prints also mean more resin consumed, more support structures, and more cleaning. For larger objects — from enclosures to garden and workshop projects — FDM is practically the only sensible path.
Material selection
FDM offers the widest material range of any 3D printing technology. At 3DnaKlik we currently print PLA (decorative objects and prototypes), PETG (functional and water-resistant parts), ASA (UV stability for outdoor use), TPU 95A (flexible parts), and the engineering nylons PA6-GF and PAHT-CF. Material prices range from €22/kg for PETG HF to €110.70/kg for PAHT-CF — the full list with colors and properties is on our materials page.
The resin world offers standard, tough, flexible, castable, and dental resins. But the properties remain bounded by photopolymer chemistry: even specialty resins generally trail thermoplastics in toughness and long-term durability, and flexible resins cannot compare to TPU. If you are choosing between FDM materials, our materials overview will help.
Post-processing: the biggest hidden difference
An FDM part is ready to use straight after printing — remove any support structures and that is it. No chemicals, no extra equipment, no waiting.
A resin part requires a mandatory post-print procedure: washing in isopropyl alcohol (IPA) to remove uncured resin, followed by post-curing under UV light. Uncured resin is a skin irritant and sensitizer — handling requires nitrile gloves, surface protection, good ventilation, and proper disposal of residues, which must never go down the drain. This is not an argument against resin as a technology — but it is a real cost in time, equipment, and space that buyers often overlook. If you order from a resin service, they handle the post-processing, but that step shows up in the price and lead time.
Price: how it is calculated
With FDM you pay for the material actually used and the print time. Because filaments are affordable and there is no post-processing after printing, simple smaller parts start from €4 with us, and the price is always final — no hidden costs. We broke down exactly how the price is built step by step on our pricing page.
With resin, the price of resin per kilogram is generally comparable to or higher than common filaments, and on top of that come consumables (IPA, filters, gloves, FEP film) and the manual labor of cleaning and curing. For small, highly detailed pieces resin makes complete financial sense; for larger volumes the cost rises quickly. For your specific model there is only one honest answer: upload your STL or 3MF to the instant quote and see the final price in 30 seconds.
What to choose for what — decision table
| Project | Better choice | Why |
| Miniatures and figurines with fine details | Resin | finest detail, smooth surface with no visible layers |
| Jewelry, casting master models, dental | Resin | accuracy at the tenth-of-a-millimeter level, specialty castable resins |
| Functional and mechanically loaded parts | FDM | tough thermoplastics (PETG, PA6-GF, PAHT-CF), screwing, loads |
| Replacement parts for devices and machines | FDM | dimensional stability, true engineering material properties |
| Larger pieces (up to 256 mm in one piece) | FDM | large build volume, better price per volume |
| Flexible parts (gaskets, cases, grips) | FDM (TPU) | TPU is permanently elastic; flexible resins are rare and less durable |
| Outdoor parts | FDM (ASA) | ASA is UV-stable; resins degrade and embrittle in the sun |
| Decorative objects and gifts | depends | FDM at 0.08 mm suffices for most; resin for exceptionally fine detail |
| Quick prototypes of enclosures and mechanisms | FDM | fast, affordable, no post-processing — from file to part in one step |
An honest summary
- Choose resin if you print miniatures with facial details, jewelry or casting master models, or anything where microscopic detail is the only criterion — and you accept the brittleness and post-processing that come with it.
- Choose FDM if you need functional, durable, larger, or flexible parts, outdoor parts, replacement parts, or prototypes — in other words, for the vast majority of practical projects.
At 3DnaKlik we print FDM only. If your project objectively belongs in the resin category, we will tell you so openly and will not talk you into the wrong technology — in that case, look for a specialized resin service. For everything else, we are here.
Frequently asked questions
Can FDM print miniatures?
Yes — at Fine 0.08 mm quality, results for terrain, larger figures, and props are very good and noticeably cheaper than resin. For classic 28–32 mm miniatures with fine facial details, however, resin is objectively better and we do not hide that.
Is resin printing dangerous?
Uncured resin is a skin irritant and sensitizer, so it requires gloves, ventilation, and proper disposal. A properly washed and post-cured part is safe for normal handling. FDM printing has none of these constraints — the part is ready to use straight off the printer.
Which technology is faster?
It depends on the project. A resin printer cures an entire layer at once, so it is very efficient with a build plate full of small pieces. Modern FDM printers like the Bambu Lab P2S are extremely fast on medium and larger parts — and since washing and UV curing are eliminated, the total time from file to usable part is often shorter with FDM.
Ready for a quote?
If your project belongs on FDM, upload your STL or 3MF file, choose the material and quality, and get a final price in 30 seconds — no registration and no hidden costs. We print in Gorica pri Slivnici and deliver across Slovenia. If anything is wrong with the printed part through our fault, we reprint it free of charge or refund your money.
Also read: How Much Does 3D Printing Cost | All materials