If you’re using resin 3D printing (НАПРИМЕР., СЛА, DLP technologies) for high-detail prototypes, медицинские модели, 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 к 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:
Категория смолы | Стоимость за грамм (юаней/грамм) | Ключевые характеристики | Типичные приложения |
Обычная смола | 0.02 ~ 0.05 | Бюджетный, основная деталь, легко печатать; подходит для простых прототипов | Модели для хобби, нефункциональные части дисплея, basic design drafts |
Высокоэффективная смола | 0.05 ~ 0.2 | Теплостойкий (до 120 ° C.), инженерный уровень (НАПРИМЕР., ABS-like toughness, пластичность) | Функциональные части (НАПРИМЕР., Небольшие шестерни, Электронные корпуса, precision prototypes) |
Специальная функциональная смола | ≥ 0.2 | Биосовместимый, проводящий, fluorescent, или пламени-возвратный; соответствует отраслевым сертификатам (НАПРИМЕР., FDA, Iso 10993) | Стоматологические модели, Медицинские имплантаты, кондуктивные датчики, аэрокосмические компоненты |
Пример: 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, пост-обработка, труд, and other hidden expenses. Below is a breakdown of each factor:
(1) Амортизация оборудования & Energy Consumption
Resin 3D printers are more expensive than basic FDM machines, and their depreciation plus energy use adds to the per-gram cost.
Тип стоимости | Стоимость за грамм (юаней/грамм) | Ключевые детали |
Амортизация оборудования | 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 |
Ключевая нота: 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, повысить силу, and refine appearance. Each step adds 0.01–1.0 RMB/gram to the total cost:
Поступ-обработка шага | Стоимость за грамм (юаней/грамм) | Цель |
Уборка (Isopropyl Alcohol) | 0.05 ~ 0.2 | Remove uncured resin from the part surface; prevents stickiness and ensures surface smoothness |
Вторичное отверждение (UV/Oven) | 0.05 ~ 0.2 | Improve part strength (increases tensile strength by 20–50%) и долговечность; reduces residual resin |
Шлифование/полировка | 0.1 ~ 0.5 | Smooth surface roughness (НАПРИМЕР., from Ra 1.6μm to Ra 0.8μm); eliminates layer lines for aesthetic parts |
Распыление/покрытие | 0.1 ~ 1.0 | Add protection (НАПРИМЕР., Сопротивление царапин, Ультрафиологическое сопротивление) or aesthetic effects (НАПРИМЕР., матовая отделка, metallic sheen) |
Пример: 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) Труд & 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 (юаней/грамм) | What It Includes |
Basic Service | 0.5 ~ 2.0 | 3D Печать + basic post-processing (уборка, secondary curing, Поддержка удаления) |
Premium Service | 2.0 ~ 5.0 | Custom programming (Для сложной геометрии) + fine post-processing (шлифование, полировка, покрытие) + качественная проверка (Проверки размеров, strength testing) |
Пример: A 50g simple part from a basic service costs 0.03 (смола) + 1.0 (услуга) = 1.03 юаней/грамм (общий 51.5 юаней). The same part from a premium service costs 0.03 + 3.0 = 3.03 юаней/грамм (общий 151.5 юаней)—3x more.
(4) Материальные отходы
Resin 3D printing requires support structures to hold parts during printing, which increases resin use by 20–50%. Этот “waste cost” adds 0.004–0.1 RMB/gram to the total:
Support Structure Density | Waste Rate | Added Cost Per Gram (юаней/грамм) | Пример (100g Part) |
Низкий (Simple Parts) | 20 ~ 30% | 0.004 ~ 0.03 | 20–30g extra resin → 0.4–3 RMB added |
Высокий (Сложные части) | 30 ~ 50% | 0.006 ~ 0.1 | 30–50g extra resin → 0.6–10 RMB added |
Ключевая нота: Complex parts with overhangs or thin walls (НАПРИМЕР., стоматологические модели) have higher waste rates—planning support placement carefully can cut waste by 10–20%.
(5) Заказать объем & Минимальное количество заказа (Могил)
Service providers often offer discounts for large batches, while small orders may incur a “minimum fee” that inflates the per-gram cost:
Заказать объем | Discount vs. Маленькие партии | Пример: 100g Ordinary Resin Part (Original Cost: 0.1 юаней/грамм) |
Небольшая партия (<100глин) | 0% (May have MOQ fee) | 0.1 юаней/грамм + 50 RMB MOQ fee (общий 60 RMB for 100g) |
Средняя партия (100g ~ 1kg) | 10 ~ 20% | 0.08 ~ 0.09 юаней/грамм (общий 8 ~ 9 RMB for 100g) |
Большая партия (>1кг) | 20 ~ 40% | 0.06 ~ 0.08 юаней/грамм (общий 6 ~ 8 RMB for 100g) |
3. Total Cost Per Gram: Разбивка по сценариям
To see how all these factors come together, below are three common printing scenarios—from low-cost hobbies to high-end specialized parts:
Сценарий | Тип смолы | Технология | Total Cost Per Gram (юаней/грамм) | Пример (300g Part Total Cost) |
Low-Cost Hobby (Self-Printed) | Обычная смола | Desktop DLP | 0.02 ~ 0.05 (смола) + 0.05 ~ 0.1 (depreciation) + 0.05 ~ 0.2 (пост-обработка) = 0.12 ~ 0.35 | 36 ~ 105 юаней |
Mid-Range Functional Part (Service Provider) | Высокоэффективная смола | Промышленная SLA | 0.05 ~ 0.2 (смола) + 0.1 ~ 0.2 (depreciation) + 0.1 ~ 0.5 (пост-обработка) + 0.5 ~ 2.0 (услуга) = 0.75 ~ 2.9 | 225 ~ 870 юаней |
High-End Specialized Part | Специальная функциональная смола | Industrial DLP | ≥0.2 (смола) + 0.1 ~ 0.2 (depreciation) + 0.3 ~ 1.0 (пост-обработка) + 2.0 ~ 5.0 (услуга) = 2.6 ~ 6.4 | 780 ~ 1,920 юаней |
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) Выберите подходящую смолу для ваших нужд
- Use ordinary resin for non-functional prototypes (НАПРИМЕР., 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: Например, use dental resin only for oral models, not for general prototypes.
(2) Optimize Support Structures to Cut Waste
- Используйте программное обеспечение для нарезки (НАПРИМЕР., Весна, Lychee Slicer) to generate minimal but effective supports. Например, 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 (НАПРИМЕР., 10+ части в месяц), investing in a desktop resin printer (10,000–30,000 RMB) eliminates service fees. Например, a 1kg ordinary resin roll printed in-house costs 20–50 RMB vs. 500–2,000 RMB from a service—saving 90% через некоторое время.
(4) Batch Print to Get Service Discounts
If outsourcing, group small orders into a single batch to qualify for service provider discounts. Например, печать 5 Небольшие части (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
В Yigu Technology, Мы верим balancing resin type, технология, 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); Для функциональных частей, 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.
Часто задаваемые вопросы
- Why is special functional resin (НАПРИМЕР., dental resin) so much more expensive than ordinary resin?
Special functional resin requires specialized raw materials (НАПРИМЕР., biocompatible monomers) and strict quality control to meet industry standards (НАПРИМЕР., FDA for medical use). The certification process (НАПРИМЕР., 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 мкм) to remove debris. Reused resin works well for non-critical parts (НАПРИМЕР., test prints) and can cut material costs by 20–30%. Однако, 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.