If you’re using resin 3D printing (Por exemplo, SLA, DLP technologies) for high-detail prototypes, medical models, 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 para 10 RMB/gram for high-end, specialized parts. This guide breaks down the core cost drivers, provides practical references, shares cost-saving tips, 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 | Custo por grama (RMB/grama) | Principais características | Aplicações típicas |
| Ordinary Resin | 0.02 ~ 0.05 | Baixo custo, basic detail, fácil de imprimir; suitable for simple prototypes | Hobby models, non-functional display parts, basic design drafts |
| High-Performance Resin | 0.05 ~ 0.2 | Resistente ao calor (até 120 ° C.), engineering-grade (Por exemplo, ABS-like toughness, ductilidade) | Partes funcionais (Por exemplo, engrenagens pequenas, gabinetes eletrônicos, precision prototypes) |
| Special Functional Resin | ≥ 0.2 | Biocompatível, condutor, fluorescent, ou retarda de chama; meets industry certifications (Por exemplo, FDA, ISO 10993) | Modelos dentários, implantes médicos, conductive sensors, Componentes aeroespaciais |
Exemplo: 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, pós-processamento, trabalho, and other hidden expenses. Below is a breakdown of each factor:
(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 de custo | Custo por grama (RMB/grama) | Detalhes -chave |
| 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 -chave: 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, melhorar a força, and refine appearance. Each step adds 0.01–1.0 RMB/gram to the total cost:
| Etapa de pós-processamento | Custo por grama (RMB/grama) | Propósito |
| Limpeza (Isopropyl Alcohol) | 0.05 ~ 0.2 | Remove uncured resin from the part surface; prevents stickiness and ensures surface smoothness |
| Cura secundária (UV/Oven) | 0.05 ~ 0.2 | Improve part strength (increases tensile strength by 20–50%) e durabilidade; reduces residual resin |
| Lixamento/polimento | 0.1 ~ 0.5 | Smooth surface roughness (Por exemplo, from Ra 1.6μm to Ra 0.8μm); eliminates layer lines for aesthetic parts |
| Pulverização/revestimento | 0.1 ~ 1.0 | Add protection (Por exemplo, Resistência a arranhões, Resistência a UV) or aesthetic effects (Por exemplo, acabamento fosco, metallic sheen) |
Exemplo: 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) Trabalho & Service Fees
Se você terceirizar a impressão para um provedor de serviços (em vez de usar sua própria máquina), taxas de mão de obra e serviços podem representar 50%+ of the total cost—especially for small batches or complex parts:
| Tipo de serviço | Additional Cost Per Gram (RMB/grama) | O que inclui |
| Serviço Básico | 0.5 ~ 2.0 | 3D impressão + pós-processamento básico (limpeza, secondary curing, Remoção de suporte) |
| Serviço Premium | 2.0 ~ 5.0 | Programação personalizada (para geometrias complexas) + pós-processamento fino (lixar, polimento, revestimento) + Inspeção de qualidade (verificações dimensionais, strength testing) |
Exemplo: Uma peça simples de 50g de um serviço básico custa 0.03 (resina) + 1.0 (serviço) = 1.03 RMB/grama (total 51.5 RMB). A mesma parte de um serviço premium custa 0.03 + 3.0 = 3.03 RMB/grama (total 151.5 RMB)—3x mais.
(4) Desperdício de material
A impressão 3D em resina requer estruturas de suporte para segurar as peças durante a impressão, o que aumenta o uso de resina em 20–50%. Esse “custo de resíduos” adiciona 0,004–0,1 RMB/grama ao total:
| Densidade da Estrutura de Suporte | Taxa de desperdício | Custo Adicionado por Grama (RMB/grama) | Exemplo (100g Parte) |
| Baixo (Peças Simples) | 20 ~ 30% | 0.004 ~ 0.03 | 20–30g de resina extra → 0,4–3 RMB adicionados |
| Alto (Partes complexas) | 30 ~ 50% | 0.006 ~ 0.1 | 30–50g de resina extra → 0,6–10 RMB adicionados |
Nota -chave: Peças complexas com saliências ou paredes finas (Por exemplo, modelos dentários) have higher waste rates—planning support placement carefully can cut waste by 10–20%.
(5) Volume do pedido & Quantidade mínima do pedido (MOQ)
Service providers often offer discounts for large batches, while small orders may incur a “minimum fee” that inflates the per-gram cost:
| Volume do pedido | Discount vs. Pequenos lotes | Exemplo: 100g Ordinary Resin Part (Original Cost: 0.1 RMB/grama) |
| Pequeno lote (<100g) | 0% (May have MOQ fee) | 0.1 RMB/grama + 50 RMB MOQ fee (total 60 RMB for 100g) |
| Medium Batch (100g ~ 1kg) | 10 ~ 20% | 0.08 ~ 0.09 RMB/grama (total 8 ~ 9 RMB for 100g) |
| Lote grande (>1kg) | 20 ~ 40% | 0.06 ~ 0.08 RMB/grama (total 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:
| Cenário | Tipo de resina | Tecnologia | Total Cost Per Gram (RMB/grama) | Exemplo (300g Part Total Cost) |
| Low-Cost Hobby (Self-Printed) | Ordinary Resin | Desktop DLP | 0.02 ~ 0.05 (resina) + 0.05 ~ 0.1 (depreciation) + 0.05 ~ 0.2 (pós-processamento) = 0.12 ~ 0.35 | 36 ~ 105 RMB |
| Mid-Range Functional Part (Provedor de serviços) | High-Performance Resin | SLA industrial | 0.05 ~ 0.2 (resina) + 0.1 ~ 0.2 (depreciation) + 0.1 ~ 0.5 (pós-processamento) + 0.5 ~ 2.0 (serviço) = 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 (pós-processamento) + 2.0 ~ 5.0 (serviço) = 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 (Por exemplo, 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: Por exemplo, use dental resin only for oral models, not for general prototypes.
(2) Optimize Support Structures to Cut Waste
- Use o software de corte (Por exemplo, Uma primavera, Lychee Slicer) to generate minimal but effective supports. Por exemplo, 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 (Por exemplo, 10+ peças por mês), investing in a desktop resin printer (10,000–30,000 RMB) eliminates service fees. Por exemplo, a 1kg ordinary resin roll printed in-house costs 20–50 RMB vs. 500–2,000 RMB from a service—saving 90% ao longo do tempo.
(4) Batch Print to Get Service Discounts
If outsourcing, group small orders into a single batch to qualify for service provider discounts. Por exemplo, impressão 5 Peças pequenas (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
Na tecnologia Yigu, acreditamos 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); Para partes funcionais, 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.
Perguntas frequentes
- Why is special functional resin (Por exemplo, dental resin) so much more expensive than ordinary resin?
Special functional resin requires specialized raw materials (Por exemplo, biocompatible monomers) and strict quality control to meet industry standards (Por exemplo, FDA for medical use). The certification process (Por exemplo, 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 (Por exemplo, test prints) and can cut material costs by 20–30%. No entanto, 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.