Resin vs FDM 3D Printer: Which ELEGOO Printer to Buy for Miniatures, Cosplay or Functional Parts

ELEGOO makes both kinds of consumer 3D printer. FDM printers, sold as the Centauri, Neptune and OrangeStorm lines, melt plastic filament and lay it down layer by layer. Resin printers, sold as the Mars, Saturn and Jupiter lines, cure liquid photopolymer with light from an LCD screen. During ELEGOO's 2026 Black Friday sale, the two types overlap on price: a $369 Centauri Carbon 2 Combo sits next to a $399 Saturn 4 Ultra 16K and a $259 Mars 5 Ultra. That makes it more important to pick the right technology first.

This guide works through the decision by project type, using ELEGOO's own product specifications and the extra costs each type brings.

The short answer

Prices are from ELEGOO's US Black Friday page and the brand's November 2 press release. The sale runs until December 1.

How the two technologies differ

FDM (fused deposition modeling) pushes a filament such as PLA, PETG, ABS or TPU through a heated nozzle. Layers are visible, and fine details depend on the nozzle size. In exchange, the parts are strong, the materials are cheap and easy to store, and you can print in several colors with a feeder like ELEGOO's CANVAS. Cleanup is usually just pulling the part off the plate.

Resin (MSLA/LCD) printers expose a vat of liquid resin through a high-resolution screen, one layer at a time. ELEGOO's current resin line uses 9K to 16K screens: the PR describes the Mars 5 Ultra as 9K and the Saturn 4 Ultra as 16K. That resolution produces the crisp, smooth detail miniature painters want. In exchange, parts must be washed and cured after printing, uncured resin needs careful handling, and the printers need a well-ventilated space.

When resin is the right choice

Choose resin if detail matters more than size or strength. ELEGOO positions its resin printers this way:

• Saturn 4 Ultra 16K ($399, down from $649.99): ELEGOO's release describes a 16K LCD, a large build volume, a heated resin vat, automatic leveling and tilt-release technology. It's aimed at "tabletop miniatures, collectibles and character models." ELEGOO lists its speed at 150 mm/h.
• Mars 5 Ultra ($259, down from $338): 9K resolution, automatic leveling, tilt release and print-failure detection. ELEGOO calls it "an accessible choice for first-time resin users, tabletop gamers and miniature enthusiasts."
• Jupiter 2 ($849, down from $1,299.99): ELEGOO's large-format resin printer, for big detailed parts.

The real cost of resin

The printer price is only part of the cost. Plan for:

1. A wash-and-cure station. ELEGOO's Mercury Plus V3.0 is $109 in the sale, down from $199.99. It's the standard way to clean prints in solvent and then UV-cure them. ELEGOO sells bundles that pair it with a Saturn or Mars printer, and some are discounted too.
2. Resin and solvent. You'll go through resin quickly, plus isopropyl alcohol or a washing liquid, and these need safe storage and disposal.
3. Ventilation and protection. Use nitrile gloves and eye protection, and print in a ventilated room. ELEGOO sells add-ons such as the Marsmate air purifier, listed at $139 during the sale.
4. Temperature control. Resin prints more reliably when warm. Some ELEGOO resin printers have a heated vat, and the brand also sells a 120W Mini Heater accessory, $55 on sale.
5. Consumable parts. ELEGOO's warranty covers resin printer LCD screens for only 3 months, and resin tanks and build plates for 6 months. Release film isn't covered at all. Screens and films wear out with use, so budget for replacements.

When FDM is the right choice

Choose FDM if you want parts you can use, not just display:

• Functional prints: hooks, clips, enclosures, replacement knobs, plant pots, tool holders. PLA and PETG are cheap, and the finished parts are tough enough for daily use.
• Multicolor prints without painting: the Centauri Carbon 2 Combo ($369) adds ELEGOO's CANVAS four-spool feeder, with automatic filament recognition, auto refill when a spool runs out, and tangle detection.
• Engineering materials: the Centauri Carbon 2 has a 350°C hardened nozzle, a 110°C bed and an enclosed chamber. ELEGOO lists ABS, TPU and carbon-fiber blends, and says it can print PC and PET.
• Large pieces: the Neptune 4 Max ($359) has a 420 x 420 x 480 mm build volume and runs Klipper firmware with speeds up to 500 mm/s. The OrangeStorm Giga ($2,499) goes up to 800 x 800 x 1000 mm.

The real cost of FDM

FDM is cheaper to run day to day, but it has its own extras:

1. Filament. A 1 kg spool goes a long way for most household prints. ELEGOO's $1 Flash Deals during the sale let you add selected 1 kg spools for $1 with a qualifying printer.
2. Consumable parts. ELEGOO's warranty excludes build plates, nozzles, PTFE tubes, heaters, thermistors and hot ends on its FDM printers. The extruder and print-head kits have only a 6-month warranty.
3. Space and noise. Open-frame printers like the Neptune 4 Max are big and louder. The enclosed Centauri Carbon 2 quotes 45 dB in Silent Mode, measured by ELEGOO with PLA and its auxiliary fan off.

Questions to settle before you buy

What size are the things you want to make? Most miniatures fit on any resin plate. Cosplay helmets usually don't, so you'd need either a large-format resin machine like the Jupiter 2 or an FDM printer.

Where will the printer live? Resin needs ventilation and space to handle chemicals. An enclosed FDM printer with a filter, such as the Centauri Carbon 2, fits better in a shared living area.

Do you want to paint? Resin miniatures usually get primed and painted. FDM multicolor through CANVAS gives you colored prints straight off the plate, though you can still see the layers.

How much hands-on work will you accept? FDM has the simpler workflow. Resin adds washing, curing, resin storage and cleanup after every print.

Mixing both

Many hobbyists end up with one of each: a resin printer for figures and an FDM printer for terrain, storage and functional parts. During this sale, a Mars 5 Ultra ($259) plus a Centauri Carbon 2 ($319) costs $578 before tax and add-ons. That's still $271 less than a single Jupiter 2. Before buying two machines, check ELEGOO's return rules. Its US store gives you 14 days from receipt and charges a restocking fee on change-of-mind returns.

Quick FAQ

Is resin harder for a beginner? It takes more work, not more skill. Every resin print has to be washed and cured, and you have to handle liquid resin safely. ELEGOO's automatic leveling on the Saturn 4 Ultra 16K and Mars 5 Ultra removes one of the classic setup chores, but the post-processing stays the same.

Can an FDM printer make miniatures? Yes, but the layers show at small scales and fine features soften. For display-quality tabletop figures, resin is the usual choice.

Can a resin printer make functional parts? Standard resins are more brittle than PLA or PETG. For hooks, clips and brackets that take real loads, FDM is the safer choice.

Which costs less to run? Usually FDM. Filament is cheaper per print, and there's no solvent to buy or dispose of.

Where to go next

For the full list of sale prices and the $1 Flash Deal dates, see our ELEGOO Black Friday 2026 roundup. If FDM is your pick, our Centauri Carbon 2 Combo review goes deeper. Our ELEGOO shopping guide explains shipping, the 14-day return window and warranty coverage before you check out.

References

1. ELEGOO, "ELEGOO Launches 2026 Black Friday & Cyber Monday Deals, with Up to 54% Off 3D Printers and Accessories," PR Newswire, November 2, 2026. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/elegoo-launches-2026-black-friday--cyber-monday-deals-with-up-to-54-off-3d-printers-and-accessories-302926200.html
2. ELEGOO US, "Black Friday Sale" page, accessed November 3, 2026. https://us.elegoo.com/pages/elegoo-black-friday
3. ELEGOO US, Neptune 4 Max product page, accessed November 3, 2026. https://us.elegoo.com/products/neptune-4-max-fdm-3d-printer
4. ELEGOO US, Saturn 4 Ultra 16K product page, accessed November 3, 2026. https://us.elegoo.com/products/saturn-4-ultra-16k-10inch-monochrome-lcd-resin-3d-printer
5. ELEGOO US, Centauri Carbon 2 Combo product page, accessed November 3, 2026. https://us.elegoo.com/pages/elegoo-centauri-carbon-2-combo
6. ELEGOO US, Refund & Warranty, accessed November 3, 2026. https://us.elegoo.com/pages/refund-policy