Resin looks better and is genuinely more hazardous to work with.
Verdict
FDM for size, strength and a workspace you can live in. Resin for detail. Filament printers are larger, cheaper to run, print functional parts and produce almost no hazardous waste. Resin printers produce far finer detail, which is why miniatures and jewellery masters are printed on them, and they involve liquid photopolymer that is a skin sensitiser and an environmental hazard, plus an alcohol wash and a UV cure step. Resin needs ventilation, gloves and eye protection every time.
| Bambu Lab A1 FDM 3D Printer | ELEGOO Mars 5 Resin Printer | |
|---|---|---|
| Detail level | Good | Excellent |
| Build volume | Larger | Smaller |
| Post-processing | Remove supports | Wash in alcohol, then UV cure |
| Consumable cost | Low, filament | Higher, resin plus alcohol |
| Ventilation required | Recommended | Essential |
| Protective equipment | None needed | Nitrile gloves and eye protection |
You want to print functional parts, larger objects, or anything you will handle a lot. Filament is cheap, the failure modes are inconvenient rather than hazardous, and a modern enclosed or auto-levelling machine prints reliably enough to run in the background. It also lives in a spare room without turning it into a workshop.
Check Bambu Lab A1 FDM 3D Printer on Amazon
You are selling miniatures, jewellery masters, dental or model work where surface detail is the product. Nothing at this price matches resin for fine features. Commit to the handling: nitrile gloves every time, eye protection, ventilation to outside, never pour resin or wash alcohol down a drain, and cure all waste before disposal.
Check ELEGOO Mars 5 Resin Printer on Amazon
Uncured photopolymer resin is a skin and eye irritant and a sensitiser, meaning repeated exposure can produce an allergy that ends your ability to work with it. It is also harmful to aquatic life. Read the safety data sheet for the specific resin, use gloves and ventilation, and dispose of waste according to your local hazardous waste rules rather than in household bins or drains.
FDM, clearly. Filament is inexpensive and there is no consumable alcohol, no filters and no separate wash and cure station. Resin printing has real ongoing costs beyond the resin itself.
FDM, with ventilation and away from where you sleep, is common. Resin in a bedroom is a poor idea for the same reason you would not keep solvents there. If the only space you have is a living space, that is an argument for FDM.
Comparison based on published manufacturer specifications and the general consensus of owner reports. We have not tested these units side by side. Confirm current prices and specifications before buying. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.