If you’re using resin 3D printing (PER ESEMPIO., SLA, DLP technologies) for high-detail prototypes, modelli medici, or functional parts, understanding the cost per gram is critical for budgeting. Unlike FDM printing, resin 3D printing costs aren’t fixed—they range from 0.1 RMB/gram for basic applications A 10 RMB/gram for high-end, specialized parts. This guide breaks down the core cost drivers, provides practical references, condivide suggerimenti per risparmiare sui costi, and answers common questions to help you make informed decisions.
1. Cost Per Gram of Common Resin Types
Resin type is the biggest driver of cost, with ordinary resins being affordable and specialized options commanding premiums. Below is a detailed breakdown of the most widely used resins:
| Resin Category | Costo al grammo (RMB/grammo) | Caratteristiche chiave | Applicazioni tipiche |
| Resina ordinaria | 0.02 ~ 0.05 | Basso costo, basic detail, facile da stampare; suitable for simple prototypes | Hobby models, non-functional display parts, basic design drafts |
| High-Performance Resin | 0.05 ~ 0.2 | Resistente al calore (fino a 120 ° C.), engineering-grade (PER ESEMPIO., ABS-like toughness, duttilità) | Parti funzionali (PER ESEMPIO., piccoli ingranaggi, recinti elettronici, precision prototypes) |
| Special Functional Resin | ≥ 0.2 | Biocompatibile, conduttivo, fluorescent, o Flame-Retardant; meets industry certifications (PER ESEMPIO., FDA, Iso 10993) | Modelli dentali, Impianti medici, conductive sensors, componenti aerospaziali |
Esempio: A 200g ordinary resin part costs 4–10 RMB in material alone. The same part made with dental-grade biocompatible resin costs ≥40 RMB—4–10x more—due to its specialized properties and certification requirements.
2. 5 Core Factors That Impact the Total Cost Per Gram
The cost per gram of resin 3D printing isn’t just about the resin itself—it also depends on equipment, post-elaborazione, lavoro, and other hidden expenses. Di seguito è riportata una ripartizione di ciascun fattore:
(1) Equipment Depreciation & Energy Consumption
Resin 3D printers are more expensive than basic FDM machines, and their depreciation plus energy use adds to the per-gram cost.
| Tipo di costo | Costo al grammo (RMB/grammo) | Dettagli chiave |
| Equipment Depreciation | 0.05 ~ 0.2 | Industrial-grade SLA/DLP printers cost 10,000–1,000,000 RMB; depreciation is spread over 5–10 years. Small desktop printers (10,000–30,000 RMB) have lower depreciation (0.05–0.1 RMB/gram) than industrial machines (0.1–0.2 RMB/gram) |
| Energy Consumption | 0.01 ~ 0.05 | High-power UV light sources (30–100W) drive energy use; larger-format printers or longer curing times increase consumption |
Nota chiave: For small-batch users, desktop printers are more cost-effective—their lower depreciation keeps the per-gram cost 50% lower than industrial machines for basic prints.
(2) Post-Processing Costs
Nearly all resin 3D printed parts need post-processing to remove uncured resin, Migliora la forza, and refine appearance. Each step adds 0.01–1.0 RMB/gram to the total cost:
| Passaggio di post-elaborazione | Costo al grammo (RMB/grammo) | Scopo |
| Pulizia (Isopropyl Alcohol) | 0.05 ~ 0.2 | Remove uncured resin from the part surface; prevents stickiness and ensures surface smoothness |
| Currezione secondaria (UV/Oven) | 0.05 ~ 0.2 | Improve part strength (increases tensile strength by 20–50%) e durata; reduces residual resin |
| Levigatura/lucidatura | 0.1 ~ 0.5 | Smooth surface roughness (PER ESEMPIO., from Ra 1.6μm to Ra 0.8μm); eliminates layer lines for aesthetic parts |
| Spruzzatura/rivestimento | 0.1 ~ 1.0 | Add protection (PER ESEMPIO., Resistenza a graffi, Resistenza UV) or aesthetic effects (PER ESEMPIO., finitura opaca, metallic sheen) |
Esempio: A 100g part needing cleaning + secondary curing costs 10–40 RMB in post-processing. Adding sanding and spraying raises this to 30–190 RMB—tripling the post-processing cost.
(3) Lavoro & Service Fees
If you outsource printing to a service provider (instead of using your own machine), labor and service fees can account for 50%+ of the total cost—especially for small batches or complex parts:
| Service Type | Additional Cost Per Gram (RMB/grammo) | What It Includes |
| Basic Service | 0.5 ~ 2.0 | 3D Printing + post-elaborazione di base (pulizia, secondary curing, Rimozione del supporto) |
| Premium Service | 2.0 ~ 5.0 | Custom programming (per geometrie complesse) + fine post-processing (levigatura, lucidare, rivestimento) + Ispezione di qualità (controlli dimensionali, strength testing) |
Esempio: A 50g simple part from a basic service costs 0.03 (resina) + 1.0 (servizio) = 1.03 RMB/grammo (totale 51.5 RMB). The same part from a premium service costs 0.03 + 3.0 = 3.03 RMB/grammo (totale 151.5 RMB)—3x more.
(4) Spreco di materiale
Resin 3D printing requires support structures to hold parts during printing, which increases resin use by 20–50%. Questo “waste cost” adds 0.004–0.1 RMB/gram to the total:
| Support Structure Density | Tasso di rifiuti | Added Cost Per Gram (RMB/grammo) | Esempio (100g Part) |
| Basso (Parti semplici) | 20 ~ 30% | 0.004 ~ 0.03 | 20–30g extra resin → 0.4–3 RMB added |
| Alto (Parti complesse) | 30 ~ 50% | 0.006 ~ 0.1 | 30–50g extra resin → 0.6–10 RMB added |
Nota chiave: Complex parts with overhangs or thin walls (PER ESEMPIO., modelli dentali) have higher waste rates—planning support placement carefully can cut waste by 10–20%.
(5) Volume dell'ordine & Quantità di ordine minimo (Moq)
Service providers often offer discounts for large batches, while small orders may incur a “minimum fee” that inflates the per-gram cost:
| Volume dell'ordine | Discount vs. Piccoli lotti | Esempio: 100g Ordinary Resin Part (Original Cost: 0.1 RMB/grammo) |
| Piccolo lotto (<100G) | 0% (May have MOQ fee) | 0.1 RMB/grammo + 50 RMB MOQ fee (totale 60 RMB for 100g) |
| Medium Batch (100g ~ 1kg) | 10 ~ 20% | 0.08 ~ 0.09 RMB/grammo (totale 8 ~ 9 RMB for 100g) |
| Grande lotto (>1kg) | 20 ~ 40% | 0.06 ~ 0.08 RMB/grammo (totale 6 ~ 8 RMB for 100g) |
3. Total Cost Per Gram: Scenario-Based Breakdown
To see how all these factors come together, below are three common printing scenarios—from low-cost hobbies to high-end specialized parts:
| Scenario | Tipo di resina | Tecnologia | Total Cost Per Gram (RMB/grammo) | Esempio (300g Part Total Cost) |
| Low-Cost Hobby (Self-Printed) | Resina ordinaria | Desktop DLP | 0.02 ~ 0.05 (resina) + 0.05 ~ 0.1 (depreciation) + 0.05 ~ 0.2 (post-elaborazione) = 0.12 ~ 0.35 | 36 ~ 105 RMB |
| Mid-Range Functional Part (Service Provider) | High-Performance Resin | SLA industriale | 0.05 ~ 0.2 (resina) + 0.1 ~ 0.2 (depreciation) + 0.1 ~ 0.5 (post-elaborazione) + 0.5 ~ 2.0 (servizio) = 0.75 ~ 2.9 | 225 ~ 870 RMB |
| High-End Specialized Part | Special Functional Resin | Industrial DLP | ≥0.2 (resina) + 0.1 ~ 0.2 (depreciation) + 0.3 ~ 1.0 (post-elaborazione) + 2.0 ~ 5.0 (servizio) = 2.6 ~ 6.4 | 780 ~ 1,920 RMB |
4. 4 Practical Tips to Reduce the Cost Per Gram
You don’t have to compromise on quality to lower costs. Try these strategies:
(1) Choose the Right Resin for Your Needs
- Use ordinary resin for non-functional prototypes (PER ESEMPIO., design drafts) instead of high-performance or special resin—saves 75–90% on material costs.
- Reserve specialized resin only for parts that need its unique properties: Per esempio, use dental resin only for oral models, not for general prototypes.
(2) Optimize Support Structures to Cut Waste
- Usa il software di taglio (PER ESEMPIO., Una primavera, Lychee Slicer) to generate minimal but effective supports. Per esempio, use tree supports instead of full supports to reduce resin waste by 20–30%.
- Design self-supporting angles (≥45° for most resins) to eliminate the need for supports in some areas—this cuts waste and post-processing time.
(3) Print In-House for Small Batches
If you print regularly (PER ESEMPIO., 10+ parti al mese), investing in a desktop resin printer (10,000–30,000 RMB) eliminates service fees. Per esempio, a 1kg ordinary resin roll printed in-house costs 20–50 RMB vs. 500–2,000 RMB from a service—saving 90% col tempo.
(4) Batch Print to Get Service Discounts
If outsourcing, group small orders into a single batch to qualify for service provider discounts. Per esempio, stampa 5 Piccole parti (total 300g) at once costs 0.75–2.9 RMB/gram vs. 0.75–2.9 + MOQ fees for individual prints—saving 10–40%.
Yigu Technology’s Perspective on Resin 3D Printing Costs
Alla tecnologia Yigu, Crediamo balancing resin type, tecnologia, and service is the key to cost-effective resin 3D printing. Many clients overspend by using special resin for simple prototypes or outsourcing small prints that could be done in-house. Our team helps clients select the right resin: For basic drafts, we recommend ordinary resin (0.02–0.05 RMB/gram); per parti funzionali, high-performance resin (0.05–0.2 RMB/gram) balances cost and performance. We also optimize support structures to cut waste by 20–30% and offer batch service discounts (20–40% for >1kg orders). Our goal is to help clients get high-quality resin 3D prints at the lowest possible cost per gram—without sacrificing detail or durability.
Domande frequenti
- Why is special functional resin (PER ESEMPIO., dental resin) so much more expensive than ordinary resin?
Special functional resin requires specialized raw materials (PER ESEMPIO., biocompatible monomers) and strict quality control to meet industry standards (PER ESEMPIO., FDA for medical use). The certification process (PER ESEMPIO., Iso 10993 testing for biocompatibility) also adds significant costs—making it 4–10x more expensive than ordinary resin.
- Can I reuse uncured resin to reduce waste?
Yes—collect uncured resin from the printer’s resin tank and filter it through a fine mesh (100–200 μm) to remove debris. Reused resin works well for non-critical parts (PER ESEMPIO., test prints) and can cut material costs by 20–30%. Tuttavia, avoid reusing resin for functional or specialized parts, as it may have reduced strength or consistency.
- How much does post-processing add to the total cost per gram?
Post-processing typically adds 0.05–1.0 RMB/gram, depending on the steps. Basic cleaning and secondary curing add 0.1–0.4 RMB/gram, while complex steps like sanding and coating add 0.4–1.5 RMB/gram. For most mid-range parts, post-processing accounts for 20–40% of the total cost per gram.