3D printers are the future of printing technology. A couple of years ago, no one knew anything about 3D printing. However, things are dramatically changing, and people know a lot about 3D printing.
The thing is, there are many reasons why you might consider 3D printing. You might be a hobbyist, or maybe you are considering starting a business, even engineers and designers need 3D printing.
The only issue you might face is that there is a massive number of 3D printers on the market. And generally speaking, 3D printers are expensive, so you can’t risk getting one that won’t help you end up with the results you are aiming for.
This is why we decided to make this guide and list the best 3D printers for Miniatures on the market. Also, we’ll talk about what you should look for when you are buying a 3D printer.
Table of Contents
List of The Top 5 of 3D Printers for Miniature Printing
- AnyCubic Photon UV LCD 3D Printer – Best 3d printer Overall
- Comgrow Creality Ender 3 – Best for Beginners and Amateurs
- BIBO 3D Printer Dual Extruder – Best 3D Printer for Terrain
- FlashForge Creator Pro – Best 3D Printer for Miniatures
- Sindoh 3DWOX DP200 – Best High-End 3D Printer for Miniatures
Our Favorite Picks 3D Printers for Miniatures
| Name | AnyCubic Photon UV | Comgrow Creality Ender 3 | BIBO 3D Printer Dual Extruder | FlashForge Creator Pro | Sindoh 3DWOX DP200 |
| Printing Speed | 20 mm/h | 180 mm/h | 350mm/s | 100 mm/s. | 40 mm/s |
| Technology | DLP – LCD shadowing | FDM | FDM | FFF | FDM |
| Resolution | 25 ~ 100 µm | 100 µm | 50 – 300 µm | 100~500 microns | 50 microns |
| Build Volume | 115 x 65 x 155mm | 220x220x250mm | 214 x 186 x 160 mm | 227 x 148 x 150 mm | 210 x 200 x 195mm |
The 5 Best 3D Printers for Miniatures in 2024
1. AnyCubic Photon UV LCD 3D Printer – Best Overall
AnyCubic makes the best and most reliable 3D printers on the market. AnyCubic Photon is an impressive printer, especially at this price point. To begin with, the printer is a DLP SLA 3D printer, but the photon is an LCD SLA with a UV LED light source.
DLP technology makes the printer extremely precise and accurate, especially when it comes to details. There is a lot that makes this printer unique. Besides, being affordable, the prints project from the top-down, which is opposite to a lot of other 3D printers where the projection process happens from bottom to top.
Despite being an SLA machine, you will be surprised by the detailed and smooth miniatures that this printer is capable of producing. Also, the resolution range enables you to add intricate details without compromising the print quality.
Lastly, setting up this printer is a piece of cake. You can fully assemble its parts in 30 minutes. It is user-friendly with a touch screen interface that will allow you to preview the object before printing it, and the bed leveling is a smooth process.
On the downside, the print volume is small, especially when compared to other 3D printers on the market. Also, the printer uses a resin that has a strong overwhelming smell.
- Easy to set up
- Detailed designs
- Affordable especially for an SLA DLP printer
- High-quality prints
- User-friendly
- Slicer generates good support structures
- Hard to clean
- Limited print Volume
- Resin is messy to print with and has a strong smell
Final Verdict
AnyCubic Photon is an excellent 3D printer, especially for D&D miniatures. You can use it to print detailed objects that are still compact and have good quality. Besides, it is easy to use, and you will catch up quickly with one print after the other.
2. Comgrow Creality Ender 3 – Best for Beginners and Amateurs
Comgrow Creality Ender 3 is another affordable printer that is great as an entry-level for 3D printing. It’s great if you want to try 3D printing if you are on a budget and that’s why it is considered one of the top 3d printers under $200.
The printer is flexible and easy to use. It will resume printing even after the power goes out or if you experience any other interruptions.
The extruder is upgraded so that the plugging risk is down to its minimal and avoids faulty extrusion. Also, it is designed with V-slot POM wheels to be more durable and portable.
When you take the printer out of the box, it will take around two hours to assemble. This is an advantage because most of the other printers on the market need more time to be ready to use.
The printer’s hotbed can reach 110 degrees Celsius in no time once you power the printer up.
Unfortunately, the base of the object can be a little uneven, which causes a little wobbling. You might need some extra adhesions to stabilize the 3D object, yet; this printer is an exceptional option for beginners who don’t want to spend a lot of money without experimenting with 3D printing.
- Affordable
- Durable
- Portable
- Easy to assemble
- Will resume printing automatically after a power outage
- Low plugging risk
- Low risk of bad extrusion
- Hotbed than can reach high temperatures up to 110 degrees Celsius within 5 minutes from powering the printer
- The uneven base that makes you experience a slight wobble
- The need for extra adhesions to stabilize
Final Verdict
Comgrow Creality Ender 3 is the perfect printer for amateurs who are looking to fulfill their gaming fantasies our want to try printing 3D gifts. You might have a little trouble with stabilizing the printed object. Still, other than this, you will find that the printer runs smoothly, and it can definitely offer you a satisfying printing experience.
3. BIBO 3D Printer Dual Extruder – Best 3D Printer for Terrain
This printer requires some experience and is not the best option for beginners. What customers love about this printer is that they can use a lot of materials with it like wood, leather, plastic, and even paper.
The printer is smart in more than one way. To begin with, it can automatically detect when the filament spool has run out and immediately pauses the printing process so that you can load another spool without hurting the final product. Also, there is a Wi-Fi control option.
It will allow you to monitor the printing process through your phone so you can keep track of the progress easily. Also, this Wi-Fi connection will allow you to control the printing process from your phone or even the PC.
The printer has a lot of features that attract customers and make it one of the top-selling 3D printers on the market. For instance, the laser engraving ability of the printer will allow you to engrave plastic, wood, etc.
And of course, the main selling point is the dual extruder that gives you the option to print two copies of the same object, and by this saving half of the time, you need to print multiple copies of one object.
Lastly, the printer is easy to operate with a full-color touchscreen, which makes things much easier to control.
The only drawback is that the printer is not easy to assemble. A lot of customers struggled with the manual and had to search for how to put the printer together.
- Can use several materials like plastic, leather, wood, paper, etc
- Smart controls
- Automatically detects when the filament spool has run out
- Wi-Fi connection to control and monitor the printing process from your phone or PC
- Dual extruders that cut down the printing time in half and help you print two copies at once
- User-friendly with a touch screen interface
- Not suitable for beginners
- Not easy to assemble
- Manual isn’t as helpful as advertised
Final Verdict
BIBO 3D printer is an outstanding printer that is great for printing miniatures. You can use different materials for printing your objects, and it has a lot of features that make it practical and easy to use, like the smart controls and the dual extruders.
Beginners might find this printer a little complicated and hard to assemble, so; it is a better option for someone who has some experience with 3D printing.
4. FlashForge Creator Pro – Best 3D Printer for Miniatures
FlashForge Creator Pro has a lot of features that make it stand out from the 3D printers available on the market nowadays. For starters, unlike the three printers mentioned above, this printer comes fully assembled with a will built metal frame.
Also, it uses fused filament fabrication (FFF) technology which makes it an excellent option for beginners who are new to 3D printing.
The plate of the printer can withstand very high temperatures while keeping a high level of protection in an enclosed acrylic chamber. Besides, the LCD screen of the printer is one of the best on the market and functions smoothly.
Another thing that makes this printer unique is the accurate movement of the z-axis, which is highly accurate. Just like the BIBO 3D printer, this printer has dual extruders that allow you to make two copies of the same print. However, FlashForge Creator Pro prints object with a high resolution that ranges between 100 and 500 microns.
Add to this one of the best features that customers enjoy about the printer, the revamped and pre-installed front door that makes access to the print more convenient.
The printer supports all filament types, and you can use it with Windows, Mac OSX, and Linux.
The only drawback of the printer is the limited dimensional accuracy, yet, it still stands out and is the best option for those who don’t use 3D printing on a regular basis and for beginners as well.
- It is fully assembled at delivery
- The enclosed acrylic chamber which offers high protection and insulation
- Accurate z-axis movements
- Can tolerate high temperatures
- Re-designed access doors are more convenient
- Supports all filament types
- Compatible with Windows, Mac OSX and Linux
- Limited dimensional accuracy
Final Verdict
FlashForge Creator Pro is an outstanding printer that will make printing miniature an exceptional experience. You can expect a lot of this printer, and satisfaction is guaranteed.
Some customers complained that the print layers are visible, but most of the customers made amazing miniatures using them.
Read also: Amazing 3D Printers under $500
5. Sindoh 3DWOX DP200 – Best High-End 3D Printer for Miniatures
This model of Sindoh printers beats other models of the company and is more capable of achieving a more compact object.
The print bed can handle a temperature of 110 degrees Celsius; however, the nozzle attached to the print head can withstand temperatures between 180 and 220 degrees.
The printer will allow you to print with a resolution of 50 microns, and yet you can get highly detailed prints.
The nozzle of the printer can clean itself automatically, not to mention that the printer is simple when it comes to set up and assembly.
The design of the printer is exceptional. It ensures that the printer keeps its functionality together with a great look. Still, at the same time, it reduces the chances of fluctuations caused by the interference of humidity and temperature. This ensures a better print quality that is free of any problems.
Moreover, the printer supports Wi-Fi connectivity, and you can control the settings of the printer and transfer your designs to the printer easily. It supports a standard USB thumbstick and USB cable, which are both included in the box.
On the downside, Sindoh 3DWOX DP200 is a bit restricted when it comes to the filaments and cartridge system. A lot of customers wish to see future models with automatic bed leveling instead of unnecessary complications.
- Can withstand high temperatures
- Highly detailed prints
- The nozzle can clean itself automatically
- Simple set up and easily assembled
- Reduced fluctuations caused by temperature and humidity
- Wi-Fi connectivity to control settings
- Limited and restrictive filament options
- The cartridge system is complicated
Final Verdict
Sindoh 3DWOX DP200 is one of the most reliable 3D printers that are available on the market and one of the best 3d printers for 28mm miniatures.
You can use it to get highly detailed prints, although you might struggle with the cartridge system a little, you will still end up with brilliant miniatures without getting that big plastic mess that you might end up with when using other printers.
Check also: 3D Printers for Cosplay in 2024 – Buyer’s Guide
How to Pick a 3D Printer for Miniatures
Knowing what specs to look for when buying a 3D printer for miniatures is essential.
There are a lot of models on the market, and not all are suitable for printing miniature; also, some printers that are suitable for printing miniatures and not good for beginners and require having some experience to be able to run them smoothly.
So, without further ado, let’s jump into our list of specs to look for before buying a 3D printer.
Nozzle Diameter
The diameter of the printer’s nozzle is the most critical factor when it comes to picking a 3D printer that you can use for miniature. Most of the 3D printers available on the market come with a nozzle diameter of 0.4mm.
However, when it comes to miniatures, the smaller the diameter of the nozzle, the better, and you can also go for a swappable nozzle.
The small diameter of the nozzle slows the 3D printing process a lot, yet; it allows you to increase the level of details that you can accomplish on your print as well as the quality of the miniature.
Precision and Resolution
The quality of the print depends on the axis that the filament extrudes along. It could either be the XY axis or the z-axis.
The XY axis usually provides the level of precision and is built to provide a higher resolution. This is why it is more suitable for miniatures printing.
Moreover, you can test the capabilities of your 3D printer using the 3D Benchy test.
Material
There is no doubt that buying a printer that is versatile and can work with various filament types is always a better option to go to. It can drastically save you time and energy.
Not to mention that imbibing the quality of the material of the printed miniature without the need for a lot of post-printing processing is a great bonus. This means that you have lesser chances of messing up your miniature.
The structure of the printer
A 3D printer with unstable parts affects the level of details of the miniature. It is better to find a printer with steady parts because this makes it more durable and ensures better print quality. This is why we recommend you with a metal structure instead of plastic. It will also allow you to get more details and precision on your miniature.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What Resolution of 3D Printing Is Good for Miniatures?
The higher the resolution of the printed object is the better. On average, getting a printer of 50 microns is enough for you to have sharp and defined details on the printer but, 100 microns or higher is what we recommend you settle for.
How Much Does It Cost to 3D Print Miniatures?
Making a miniature is cost-effective. Of course, you don’t need to pay tons of money to get a good deal. On average, you can print a miniature for around $5.
What Is Hero Forge?
Hero Forge is one of the most sophisticated 3D printing services. It allows you to design tabletop and gaming miniatures and 3D print them then have them delivered to your doorstep.
Final words
Chasing a good 3D printer was never an easy job. Even the most affordable ones might be a little expensive for some people, so you have to make sure to get something that suits you to avoid investing your money in the wrong place.
AnyCubic Photon is a perfect 3D printer for D&D and gaming miniatures; On the other hand, Comgrow Creality Ender 3 and FlashForge Creator Pro are amazing options for beginners who want to get something that is more simple and easier to operate. On the other hand, the BIBO 3D printer is a better option for those who have some experience when it comes to 3D printing.