5 Best 3D Printers for Jewelry

1. Formlabs Form 2 (Top Pick)

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Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0

Created by Formlabs, a Massachusetts-based company, the Form 2 is the best desktop 3D printer that you can use for jewelry. It sells for around $4,000 apiece, which puts it in the same price range as high-end professional FFF 3D printers such as the Ultimaker 3 and the BCN3D Sigmax.

Unlike budget resin 3D printers, the Form 2 is an SLA 3D printer that uses a powerful laser to turn liquid resin into solid objects. It comes assembled out of the box, which translates to a quicker initial setup. The build quality of the machine is good, with well-secured parts from top to bottom, which can’t be said for some of the budget options out there. Equipped with an easily removable enclosure for protection, the Form 2 has a good build volume for a desktop resin 3D printer, featuring a max build volume of 5.7 x 5.7 x 6.9 inches.

Formlabs designed the Form 2 with user convenience in mind, equipping the unit with a touchscreen interface for print management, as well as Wi-Fi connectivity and an integrated resin system that allows you to quickly change materials. Print management is very easy, with no need to go through a complicated series of commands just to start a print. Moreover, the unit can detect the resin type, automatically adjusting the settings to match the loaded resin.

Regarding print quality, this Formlabs offering is just as advertised, capable of producing extremely detailed and smooth prints, with a low failure rate once properly tuned-up and fast print speed for a desktop SLA 3D printer. Formlabs also offers materials designed specifically for jewelry making, such as the Castable Wax Resin. If you need help with printing jewelry, the company also offers guides to get you on the right track, which is great for newcomers.

All in all, the Form 2 is a fantastic 3D printer for jewelry, featuring an easy-to-use touchscreen interface and good build volume. The community support is also great, which is good news for those who are completely new to 3D printing. If you want to use a 3D printer for jewelry making, the Form 2 is the best option right now.

2. Anycubic Photon (Best Budget)

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Editor’s Rating: 3.9/5.0

One of the best 3D printers for miniatures, the Anycubic Photon is the best option if you don’t want to spend over a grand for a 3D printer. You can get it for around $500, which makes it significantly more affordable than our top pick. In FFF 3D printing, that figure is already considered expensive by many, but that’s not the case in SLA 3D printing, where the best ones typically sell for over $1,000.

An LCD-based resin 3D printer, the Photon is an excellent budget option. While not exactly screaming “premium,” the frame is well built, with integrated handles at the sides for easy transport and a windowed front door. Out of the box, the machine is relatively easy to set up, featuring a manual bed leveling system that’s not as difficult as you might think.

The Photon is mostly assembled, with not much core parts to put together other than the build platform and the resin vat. Like the Formlabs Form 2, it has a touchscreen interface out front, which is convenient. Although limited regarding features, the touch-based control panel is well designed and is easy to use.

For connectivity, the Photon has a USB port, with support for offline printing, which some people will find more convenient than Wi-Fi connectivity. Compared to our top pick, it has a smaller build area, only offering a max build volume of 4.5 x 2.6 x 6.1 inches. That’s still good enough for jewelry, though, so the limited print area is not that big of a deal.

Featuring a 25-micron resolution, this budget SLA 3D printer is capable of producing highly detailed models, which makes it great for small items with intricate details like jewelry. While not in the same league as our top pick, it’s better than the similarly priced Wanhao Duplicator 7 v1.5 regarding overall print quality. It’s even better than some of the more notable high-resolution FFF 3D printers on the market, which makes it well worth the money.

Overall, the Photon is a great product that offers good value for the money, especially if you want to produce custom jewelry just for fun and don’t want to spend too much on a 3D printer. It’s got good build quality for a budget product and comes with an active online community.

3. Peopoly Moai 130 (Best Value)

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Editor’s Rating: 4.2/5.0

The Peopoly Moai 130 is a great SLA 3D printer for custom jewelry, boasting excellent print quality and a generous build volume. It’s the upgraded version of the standard Moai, and the best part is that it sells for a similar price.

You can get the Moai 130 in either a pre-assembled package or a kit, with the former selling for around $1,450. If you prefer a hassle-free setup and want a 3D printer that you can play around with immediately, go for the assembled package. If you are comfortable with machines and electronics and want to learn about the core parts of SLA 3D printers, get the kit, which is around $50 cheaper.

Of the products in this guide, the Moai 130 stands out due to its design. It looks like a small cabinet with a side-hinged door out front. The print bed and the resin vat are located in the upper half while the main electronics are in the bottom half. The entire unit is well designed and does not feel cheap.

The Moai 130 has an upgraded print bed that’s easier to level, along with an internal sensor-controlled heater module that keeps the printing chamber in optimal printing condition. Furthermore, the unit features a resin vat coated with Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene (FEP), which cuts down on cleaning sessions and makes sure all the remaining liquid resin in the vat can be used again for prints.

Featuring SD card connectivity, the Moai 130 can produce 3D models with outstanding accuracy, with the unit easily capable of printing with 10-micron layer thickness. You can count on it to consistently produce complex jewelry once properly calibrated. If you are having issues getting the settings right, you can ask for help in the established online community. The manufacturer also offers good customer support in case you want to go that route.

If you want a resin 3D printer for jewelry that’s more affordable than the Formlabs Form 2, check out the Moai 130. It’s the upgraded version of an already good product. It’s got excellent print quality and good build volume and comes with a great community. It’s not as premium-looking as other SLA 3D printers out there, but it gets the job done, which is more important.

4. Reify 3D Solus

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Editor’s Rating: 4.0/5.0

Created by Reify 3D and sold in the US by Junction3D, the Solus is a 3D printer that uses a DLP projector to cure the liquid resin. At the Reify 3D online store, you can get it for around $2,400, but there is no projector included in the package.

Junction3D, on the other hand, sells it in a bundle, with the package composed of the Solus, a DLP projector, an aluminum resin tank upgrade, and three replacement films. The bundle sells for about $3,500, which puts it in the same price range as our top pick from Formlabs.

Featuring a sturdy case made of anodized aluminum, the Solus is a well-designed machine with well-secured components, from the motion system to the main electronics. The print bed is relatively easy to level and won’t prove to be a headache to deal with at the onset. On the other hand, the Solus’ print area is easily the smallest among the products on this list, with a max build volume of 3.2 x 1.8 x 3.2 inches.

Capable of producing extremely smooth and detailed prints, this DLP-based resin 3D printer comes with Reify 3D’s custom software, the Contour. Developed exclusively for the Solus, the Contour is easy to use and offers a good selection of options. The Solus is also compatible with third-party materials, which is a notable feature when it comes to resin 3D printers.

Overall, the Solus is a great machine for 3D-printing jewelry. It has a user-friendly software and an open material system and features a well-secured case with a protective enclosure. If you want a DLP resin 3D printer that produces great prints, check out the Solus.

5. B9Creations B9Creator v1.2

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Editor’s Rating: 4.1/5.0

The B9Creations B9Creator v1.2 is another excellent DLP resin 3D printer for jewelry, featuring a sturdy frame with a well-secured print area in the upper half. Selling for around $4,500, this 3D printer is the most expensive item in this guide.

Compared to the Reify 3D Solus, the B9Creator v1.2 has a more unappealing design, especially concerning the unit’s lower half, where the DLP projector is located. The initial setup is easy since the machine is already assembled. The unit connects via USB only, with no option to print while untethered to the computer, which might disappoint some of you.

The build area is decent and is not as limited as the Solus’ – the B9Creator v1.2 actually has the most vertical space out of the 3D printers on this list. Regarding material compatibility, this DLP 3D printer is in the same boat as the Solus, featuring an open material system, which is great if you want to experiment with third-party resins. The manufacturer also offers a good selection of resins, including castable resin, which is built for printing jewelry.

In terms of print quality, the B9Creator v1.2 is superb, with the ability to produce extremely smooth and detailed models. The print speed is good as well, which is another plus, especially if you are going to create custom jewelry for commercial purposes. If you want, you can also check out the jewelry Training Course being offered by the manufacturer.

While definitely not the most affordable 3D printer around, the B9Creator v1.2 is worth the money if you are looking for a 3D printer capable of producing extremely detailed prints. It’s got a decent max build volume and an open material system. In addition, the manufacturer also offers good customer support, which is great for newcomers to resin 3D printing.