Fauxhammer reviews the 8k, the Saturn 2, and M3 Premium to see which is the best for 3D printing miniatures like Warhammer 40k.
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When it comes to printing miniatures like Warhammer 40k, people wonder which 3D printer they should buy. This review will help you decide on these three top-rated printers!
Best 3D Printers For Warhammer 40k Miniatures: Mighty 8k, Saturn 2, & M3 Premium Review
Whether you’re printing minis, busts, or large-scale models, all three could work, but what should you pick? Well, that’s what we’re going to look at today!
Let’s start with the printers’ specs:
Anycubic Photon M3 Specs & Review
Click Here to Get Yours From Amazon | or from Anycubic
- 【8K High Precision】Anycubic Photon M3 Premium is Designed with a 10-inch monochrome LCD screen with a 7680×4320 resolution and an XY-resolution of 28.5μm, respectively 216% and 40% higher than the Photon Mono 4K. The models’ sharp corners and delicate edges are perfectly printed, revealing the beauty of sharper details.
- 【Details Beyond 8K】 Anycubic LightTurbo 2.0 light source of Photon M3 Premium provides the high light uniformity of the COB light source system while eliminating stray light, creating a delicate and smooth model surface.
- 【Fast and Precise】Anycubic 8K resin printer adopt the ball screw double-threaded rods, offering even more lifting structural precision at 0.005 mm, half that of a regular T-shaped rod printer, significantly reducing the layer line effects. The double-threaded rods minimize the lifting resistance of the platform while printing by adopting the rolling friction principle, making the printing speed max up to 95 mm/hr
- 【Large Printing Size】The 3d printing size is 250*220*120 mm (HWD), and the maximum printing volume reaches 6.7L, which provides the creator with more creative space while ensuring printing accuracy.
- 【Upgrade Function】Efficient and replaceable built-in dual activated carbon odor absorption system. And the dual cooling system can remain within 65 ℃, effectively improving the light source’s lifespan.
Elegoo Saturn 2 Specs & Review
Click Here to Get Yours From Amazon| or from Elegoo
- 【10″ 8K Monochrome LCD】 ELEGOO Saturn 2 adopts a 10-inch 8K mono LCD screen with an HD resolution of 7680×4320 and an ultra-fine XY resolution of 28.5 microns, outputting outstandingly detailed 3D models with a cure time of only 1-3s per layer. The scratch-resistant tempered glass above the LCD screen with 9H hardness for better light transmission and protection.
- 【43% Larger than Saturn’s Printing Volume】With a build volume of 219x123x250mm / 8.62×4.84×9.84 inch and a 10″ large mono LCD screen make the prototype size larger and the curing efficiency higher, you can print one larger model or multiple smaller models in a single batch.
- 【Fresnel Collimating Light Source】Fresnel collimating light source consists of 48 highly integrated UV LED lights that work with FCL system Fresnel lens to emit a uniform light beam of 405nm wavelength, excellent printing accuracy, and a more smooth surface finish.
- 【Reliable Printing Performance】The Z-axis is designed with dual linear rails and non-slip hexagon socket leveling screws for ultra-steady & accurate movement and remarkable printing performance. The sandblasted surface build plate provides much stronger adherence, and PFA release liner with easier model removal and less release tension.
- 【Odor-free Printing Environment】The air filtration system with an activated carbon filter can absorb most of the resin odor, creating an odor-free fresh printing environment. Double heat-conducting copper heat tubes with faster heat transfer and better heat dissipation efficiency prolong the service life of 3D printers
Phrozen Mighty 8K Specs & Review
Click Here to Get Yours From Amazon| or from Phrozen
Now, let’s see what he likes and doesn’t like about each printer.
M3 Premium 3d Printer For Warhammer 40k Miniatures Review
Here’s what he likes:
- You can print an entire squad on one plate!
- This is possibly the highest-quality printer out there for a consumer.
- This is a seriously premium printer.
- The screen protector comes pre-installed, so don’t accidentally take it off!
- It has two active carbon filters (make sure you take off the cellophane before using them).
- The Z rod is exceptionally thick and well-made.
- It has wireless built-in, he doesn’t use it, but it is there!
- The auto-bed leveling is straightforward and sets up in seconds.
- It comes with NEFP, which is super helpful on this printer.
- It rarely has failed prints due to how well it’s made.
Now what issues this printer has:
- It is huge and heavy, so you will need some room to use it.
- It comes with a pretty rubbish USB stick.
- The RERF exposure test is kind of confusing, and the instructions are hard to read for this. While you can test 8 at once, it’s hard to figure out what is actually happening.
Elegoo Saturn 2 3d Printer For Warhammer 40k Miniatures Review
Here’s what he likes:
- This has a big build plate, which means you can print out more than a combat patrol on one plate!
- It has excellent resolution, but he can tell the difference between the highest levels of printers and this.
- It has a carbon filter, which cuts down on smells.
- Leveling on this is pretty simple.
- The lid has a vent hole, meaning you can send the smells and such outside!
- You get a ton of extras, like screws, clippers, etc.
- Good print quality.
- Can print everything from small minis to large-scale busts and dioramas.
- It does very well with clear resin.
Now what issues this printer has:
- A general lack of extra features.
- Doesn’t come with a screen protector.
- The build plate is connected to the arm with a ball axis, which can lead to many problems. However, it never really led to any issues yet for him.
- The USB is on the back, and it’s just inconvenient
- The vat is too small; considering this is a big printer, you need more resin!
- The fan is almost always on and gets very annoying over time.
Mighty 8K 3d Printer For Warhammer 40k Miniatures Review
Here’s what he likes:
- Out of box user experience is the best. More akin to a smartphone and not a printer.
- Walks you through everything, including exposure.
- Leveling on this is pretty simple.
- Great resolution.
- Good print quality.
- Can print everything from small minis to large-scale busts and dioramas.
- Big print plate.
- If you’ve never used a printer and are worried about how it works, this is the easiest of all to use by far.
- A Wide Vat
- It has a wifi option via ethernet, configured to your phone
Now what issues this printer has:
- They all have lousy USB sticks
- You get too many notifications for one print but haven’t figured out how to get it to stop sending notifications for the same print.
- It has a webcam to show you your prints when done. However, it doesn’t work very well. Seems like a wasted feature.
- Still can’t print remotely.
So, What Printer Do You Pick?
Honestly, they all print out miniatures to about the same detail, as no one is really sculpting to detail that any of these printers can’t handle. So, it comes down to what you care about the most.
Here’s the rundown:
- The Elegoo 2 is the cheapest and will still print out basically anything out there. It lacks extra features and is a little hard to set up, but it will save you cash.
- The Anycubic Photon M3 has the best quality regarding how the printer is built. It’s not as user-friendly as the Phrozen but will not break on you.
- The Phrozen Mighty 8k has the best user experience by far. If you are worried about how to use a printer, this might be the way to go.
Overall though, just pick one and get printing! As noted above, they will all make awesome miniatures for games like Warhammer r40k and only have a few differences. Be sure to watch the video below for all the highlights!
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After watching this, what printer for 3d printing miniatures like Warhammer 40k will you be picking up?
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About the Author: Travis Pasch
Travis Pasch
Job Title: Head Writer & Editor
Joined: 2019
Socials: @paschbass
Bio: Dark Eldar Dracon and Warhammer 40k hobbyist since the third edition in 1998. He also loves camping because you can only paint so much! He joined the Spikey Bits team in 2019 and has been the main daily writer since 2020.
Maybe one day, he’ll finish converting all his Ad Mech models and turn into a true tech enjoyer, complete with sad and happy robot noises!
