Hi everyone, I was wondering has there been any printer on the market which can print full-color and high details (layer thickness<50microns) which is aimed to print miniatures? If yes please let me know, if not, any opinions on how soon a printer of this level may be developed onto the market? Is it most likely to be using FDM, SLA or powder technology? Thank you everyone!
Yes, there are such printers!
They’re powder printers based on the 3DP process, in which the printer spreads a layer of gypsum powder and binds it with (colored) liquid binders. I don’t know many specifics, so maybe someone else could describe it in more detail. What I do know is that they are capable of printing extraordinarily detailed colored models, and many people do in fact use them to print miniature figurines, but they cost much more than consumer FFF printers and are mostly inaccessible to individuals.
What a time to be alive.
-Karl Zhao
There are printers that are capable of printing full color and with a fairly high resolution, as the post mentions above. The only line of printers known to print in full color at the moment are not really consumer grade as they are quite expensive to maintain and operate. The Projet printers (660 and 850) could meet your needs if you outsource them- the finest resolution offered would be 100 microns. I know HP and Apple are in the works of creating their own types of color powder printers that would be suitable for the consumer grade, though nothing has been released yet.
Best of luck with your miniatures!
-Helen
NRI
If you don’t mind spending a bit of money, try this one from Stratasys. Amazing capability. The ability to mix colors is great.
Disclaimer: I am not a Stratasys employee or customer. Just a collector of interesting data bits.
Thank you RCole, what is the model you are talking about?
The only one currently on the market is the polyjet printers from Stratasys and 3D systems, but both are considered professional level printers with high cost. The details are amazing though. Printing in the area of 16 to 28 micron layers. I’m not sure of the resolution for the powder printers though.
