Print speed is almost always quoted on the simplest geometry at the thickest layer setting. It tells you very little about your Tuesday.
What determines whether a printer earns its place is the cost per part after post-processing, the reliability of the first layer, and how much of your technician's day it consumes. A printer that runs unattended overnight and needs a five-minute wash is worth more than a faster printer requiring supervision.
The three technologies, honestly
| Technology | Where it wins | What you accept |
|---|---|---|
| LCD (mSLA) | Lowest entry cost, excellent detail, wide resin compatibility. The default for most labs. | The LCD panel is a consumable with a rated hour life. Budget replacement as a running cost, not a repair. |
| DLP | Fast, consistent across the plate, long-lived light engine. Strong for volume models and aligners. | Higher price. Resolution is fixed by projector and build area — a larger plate means larger pixels. |
| SLA (laser) | Large build volumes, excellent surface finish on big parts. | Slower on full plates. More moving parts; laser and galvanometer are serviceable components. |
Cost per part, fully loaded: resin + the amortised LCD panel or light engine + wash solution + technician time. Run this over 1,000 parts and the ranking frequently reverses against purchase price.
Resin degrades while you are not using it. Light exposure, temperature swing and pigment settled in an unshaken bottle produce inconsistent shades and failed prints — then the machine takes the blame. Keep it dark and stable, shake before every print, filter before pouring back, and write the open date on the bottle.
The full guide, including the blank three-year cost-of-ownership table you can take to any vendor.
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The complete series — all 6 guides
- 1. Capital equipment — The three numbers before any purchase
- 2. Milling units — Wet, dry or both
- 3. 3D printers — Why print speed is the wrong number (you are here)
- 4. Intraoral scanners — Open STL or their portal
- 5. Sintering furnaces — The program, not the furnace
- 6. Choosing a distributor — Ten questions for any distributor
← Part 2: Milling unitsPart 4: Intraoral scanners →
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