3D Printing Miniatures: Tips for Resin and FDM Printers

3D printing miniatures follows the same basic principles as other 3D models, but stereolithography (found in the best resin 3D printers) is often the preferred technology for its ability to capture fine details. FDM printers can also be used, but they require more fine-tuning to achieve the same level of quality.

Miniatures come in various forms, including tabletop figures, historical wargaming pieces, toy soldiers, and more. The process begins by creating a 3D model of the miniature, which is then sent to a slicer program for slicing.

If you’re unfamiliar with 3D modeling, numerous websites offer pre-made miniature designs for download, such as Printables, Thingiverse, Yeggi, and Myminifactory. Many of these models are available for free, making it easy to find a variety of miniatures to 3D print without having to create your own designs from scratch.

Printing Miniatures on an FDM Printer

Tips for 3D printing miniatures

3D Print Figures: General Tips

Using a Resin 3D Printer to Prepare Miniatures

Hollowing Out Miniatures

Exporting Your Files

Printing Miniatures on an FDM Printer In tabletop games, 3D-printed miniatures make the battlefield unique, exciting, and memorable. While detailed minis can enhance the experience, many tabletop gamers don't mind if their props, characters, terrain, or accessories lack intricate features. Therefore, whether you print your miniatures using resin or filament at 0.28 mm layer height, the key to success lies in your slicer settings. These settings will impact the final quality far more than the material you choose, making the process just as important as the printer type.

Tips for 3D printing miniatures Layers : For fine details, use thinner layers when 3D printing miniatures, but be aware that this will increase print time and might lead to issues like layer separation. If detail isn't a priority, increase the layer height to save time without sacrificing too much quality.

Supports : Miniatures with overhangs like upraised tails, wings, or other protruding features will require supports to print correctly. Without them, you risk incomplete or misshapen prints.

Print Speed : Miniatures can often be printed faster than larger models, but balancing speed is key. Going too slow might cause unwanted drafts or stringing, while printing too fast can lead to poor layer adhesion. Slowing down the first layer is essential for creating a strong, stable foundation.

Infill : Choosing the right infill pattern will ensure your miniatures maintain structural integrity without wasting material. For most minis, lightning or zig-zag infill is ideal, offering a good balance of strength and efficiency.

Cooling : Activate cooling in your slicer settings for smoother details and fewer warping issues, especially with materials like PLA. Proper cooling is crucial to avoid melting or deformation in delicate miniature parts.

These adjustments will help you achieve high-quality prints, regardless of printer type.

3D Print Figures: General Tips When setting up your layer height and number of layers, finding a balance between print time and quality is essential. If you're looking to create intricate details—like tiny fingers on a hand or small spaceship parts—use a 0.2-mm nozzle with a 0.15-mm layer height. While this will increase print time significantly, it ensures precise, beautiful results. Additionally, for smoother surfaces when working with thin layers, consider increasing the number of top and bottom layers.

Supports are crucial for successful 3D prints with overhangs or bridges. Let your slicer generate the necessary support structures for extreme overhangs or long bridges. Without these, your print may fail, and delicate parts might not form correctly.

Print speed is another critical factor in achieving quality 3D-printed figurines. Fast speeds can cause issues like blobs, stringing, or even knocking the model off the print bed. To avoid these problems, make sure the print head isn't set too low and adjust retraction speeds to prevent filament from dripping onto your model. For the best results, start slow, especially for the first layer, to create a strong foundation.

Infill settings can optimize material use and extend the life of your 3D-printed figurines. A 20 percent infill is typically sufficient for most projects, but be mindful that certain patterns (like cubic) can increase print time and use extra filament. For larger models or life-size figures, a 30 percent or higher infill might be necessary for added strength.

Cooling is crucial for any FDM 3D printing project using PLA. A cooling fan helps the layers of filament solidify, preventing warping or drooping. Depending on your printer model, upgrading the fan might improve print quality. However, remember that some materials, like ABS or PETG, require little or no cooling.

By adjusting slicer settings such as speed, layer height, supports, and infill, you can significantly improve the quality of your 3D-printed miniatures, figures, and even life-size models. Platforms like Gambody offer optimized 3D printing settings for each model, making it easier to create stunning masterpieces you'll be proud of!

Using a Resin 3D Printer to Prepare Miniatures

After designing your miniature, you need to slice it before sending it to your 3D printer. Not all slicers support resin printers, but you can use dedicated options like the Lychee slicer, which we’ll cover in this tutorial. To slice your miniatures using Lychee, follow these steps:

Visit the Mango3D website’s download section and install the appropriate version for your operating system. Once installed, create an account and add your 3D printer to the software. To add your 3D model, either drag and drop the file into the workspace or go to File > Import 3D File. Hollowing Out Miniatures Hollowing your miniatures reduces resin usage and printing time, saving costs, especially for larger objects. Follow these steps to hollow out your miniatures in the Lychee slicer.

Navigate to the Hollow section on the left sidebar. You’ll find four options: Holes, Hollowing 3D, Hollowing 2D, and Blockers. The Holes option adds holes to the print, Hollowing 3D allows you to hollow the model while viewing the interior, and Hollowing 2D does not show the inside.

Select Hollowing 3D to hollow your model. Adjust the wall thickness in the Thickness section, then click Add/Update. Use the slider on the right to visualize your design and fine-tune the thickness, ensuring it’s at least 2mm. Additionally, you can add holes by clicking on the Holes section, which helps with cleaning after printing. Adjust the diameter and penetration settings to specify the hole size.

Layer Thickness The layer height setting determines the thickness of each cured layer in resin 3D printing, measured in micrometers (μm) or millimeters (mm), typically ranging from about 15μm to 100μm.

When printing miniatures, the appropriate layer height depends on the desired level of detail, the size of the print, and your printer’s capabilities. For small miniatures around 28mm, a low layer height of 10-15μm is essential to capture intricate details. Conversely, larger prints can accommodate a higher layer height, which reduces print time.

Most standard miniatures can be effectively printed at 50μm, the default setting for many resin 3D printers. To adjust the layer height in the Lychee slicer, navigate to the 3D printer section in the top-right corner of the window.

Speed In addition to layer height, speed is another crucial factor to consider in 3D printing. In the Lychee slicer, you can adjust both the lifting and retracting speeds, as well as the Z-axis height. To do this, navigate to the 3D printer section, where you'll find options for setting the lift and retraction speeds. Adjusting these speeds can significantly impact print quality and efficiency, ensuring your miniatures are produced with precision while minimizing potential issues such as layer separation or misalignment. Balancing these settings will help achieve optimal results for your prints.

Support Settings Most miniatures feature delicate parts and complex geometries that necessitate support structures for successful 3D printing. All hanging sections of the design should have supports added in the slicer. In Lychee, you need the pro version to set supports. Follow these steps:

Select Support from the left sidebar. Choose to generate supports manually or automatically. I prefer automatic supports, so I click Generate Automatic Supports. A notification will display the number of supports added. In Chitubox, access supports from the top-right section and click +All to add them automatically. If you hollowed your design, add internal supports to areas prone to collapse by clicking those sections. Not all designs require internal supports.

Exporting Your Files Once you’ve finished setting everything up, go to Export, select Export Slices to File, and save the file after rendering it. This file is now ready to be sent to your 3D printer.

If you’re using Chitubox, first click Slice to process your model. After slicing, you can preview the results using the slider on the right side of the screen. Once you’re satisfied with how it looks, select Save to store the sliced file for printing.

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