Best 3D printer for jewelry 2023 – our top picks for accessories
A wide selection of models could be considered for the best 3D printer for jewelry as the hobby has become a lot more accessible in recent years. The best 3D printers can easily turn your fabulous designs into detailed jewelry at the click of a button. Experienced and novice jewelry makers simply need a reliable printer that delivers quality prints, so opting for the highest-resolution printer your budget can afford is a good place to start.
In this comprehensive guide, we have compiled a list of the top printers for jewelry. We have also included their pros and cons as well as the factors you should consider when buying a 3D printer.
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Products at a Glance
How to choose the best 3D printer for jewelry
When it comes to choosing the best 3D printer for jewelry, you must consider a number of things. Since a 3D printer can be a costly investment, it is important to make an informed purchase decision.
Here are a number of factors you must consider when buying a 3D printer for jewelry:
Build Volume
For a jewelry-making business, it is important to have a larger build volume on your 3D printer so you can make a bigger quantity of individual parts. A larger build volume allows you to batch-print multiple units at once, offering greater productivity levels.
A large build surface on a resin printer can cure entire layers simultaneously, allowing you to print dozens of models at the same time. So if you produce jewelry models at a frequent run, make sure to get a 3D printer with a large build volume. This way, your production time will be minimal.
Pricing
The next thing you should consider when buying a 3D printer is its price. A decent 3D printer from jewelry starts anywhere from $700 and goes all the way up to $20,000. If you have a small-scale operation, you can get a lesser-priced model.
But if your business is on a larger scale, we recommend getting a professional 3D printer. The more high-end your printer is, the better the print speed, workflow, build volume, and productivity you will get.
Resolution
The resolution of your 3D printer determines the level of detailed jewelry it can produce. Since this is an incredibly important factor for jewelry making, it is important to get a higher-resolution printer.
A high-resolution 3D printer will produce highly accurate, precise, and fine designs with more intricate details and better surface quality. This is all very important when it comes to jewelry making.
What’s more, a high-resolution printer will cause fewer errors and issues during the casting process. As a result, you will end up saving a lot on batch production and prototyping.
For best results, we recommend getting an 8K resolution LCD on an SLA resin printer, and less than 20 microns resolution on a multi-jet printer.
Resin Compatibility
The next important factor you should consider is the printer’s compatibility. Find out if the 3D printer that you are eyeing is compatible with third-party materials. If it is only compatible with the manufacturer’s materials, you should not consider buying it.
An ideal 3D printer should be compatible with 3D-party materials. It should work with castable resins or wax. However, do note that castable resins are more expensive than printing resins. However, they are cheaper to print due to the size of jewelry models that are usually produced.
Software Compatibility and User-Friendliness
When it comes to choosing a 3D printer, you should always consider its user-friendliness. A 3D printer can be pretty complex to use. However, there are many models in the market that are easy to use and have a user-friendly interface.
Make sure to pick a 3D printer that is compatible with your device or computer. You should also test out or at least check its interface before making a purchase.
Precision and Accuracy
When it comes to 3D printing jewelry, precision and accuracy is one of the most important things to consider. Since jewelry making is an intricate business, you need a 3D printer that offers an incredible level of precision, accuracy, and detail.
A high-resolution printer will ensure that your jewelry designs have fine details. So make sure to always consider this when buying a 3D printer for jewelry.
Value for Money
Last but not least, consider the value that a 3D printer offers for the money you pay. While you may find it easier to get cheaper 3D printers, they won’t come with the same level of features and productivity that professional-grade 3D printers do.
Make sure to get a 3D printer that offers high-quality results, fast printing, and a decent set of features while being affordable. This way, you’ll get good value for money and you won’t end up having to replace your printer in a few months.
Best 3D printer for jewelry 2023 – our top picks for accessories
- Great print adhesion through a textured build platform
- Intricate features and details
- High build volume
- Fans on the noisy side
The ANYCUBIC Photon M3 Max is one of the best 3D printers for jewelry. It creates high-quality and precise prints that are ideal for jewelry. It comes with a 7K LCD resolution and 46 micron XY resolution that deliver those intricate details that you see on jewelry.
However, what sets this 3D resin printer apart from the rest is that it has a large build volume. Its 300 x 298 x 164 mm build volume is actually one of the biggest among the 3D resin printers of similar specifications. So you can get high productivity from your printer and produce more units simultaneously. This also makes it really cost-effective.
Additionally, the Photon M3 Max has various features that make it really user-friendly. It has a build surface with laser engraving that offers great adhesion, smart resin filing, print speeds of up to 60-100 mm/h, and high-precision ball screw z-axis rails. This allows you to run an experiment quickly before starting the production of all units.
You can use this printer with any filament. However, for best results, we recommend pairing it with Anycubic DLP Craftsman Resin. This resin is ideal for jewelry prototyping and has a much shorter exposure time. What’s more, it offers reduced shrinkage.
- 8K, Highest Resolution of 22 Micrometer
- 7.1 inch Mono LCD Screen
- Affordable
- Can sometimes be difficult to remove print
The Phrozen Sonic mini 8K is one of the best small 3D printers, offering 8K 22um. With the smallest possible pixel width, you are going to be able to print some intricate jewelry. Aside from an ultra-high resolution, this enclosed 3D printer also features a linear projection module that goes a long way to help you create sharp 3D models.
The frosted laser-cut building plate allows models to attach firmly onto the plate, however, some users have stated that it can be quite tricky to remove the models once the printing is complete.
- Excellent price to performance
- User friendly and ideal for beginners
- Great support and part availablity
- Lower quality than the two above
The Elegoo Mars 3 comes well recommended for its attractive price. This 3D printer is comparable to the ANYCUBIC, offering quality prints, a user-friendly design, and a powerful COB light source. This model features a built-in carbon filter to tackle those unwanted odors and fumes, making it ideal for the home. All in all, this has a high printing success rate and should be considered for any one on a budget.
- High resolution (34um)
- Double Cooling Fans
- Multiple Print Modes
- No specific cons
Another budget angle here with the ELEGOO Mars 4 MSLA 3D printer. This features a 6K monochrome lCD and can accommodate larger build volume projects than the Mars 3. Yes, this is more expensive but the quality is well worth the asking price.
You can print in static, dynamic, and high-speed mode with the Mars 4, allowing for efficient printing, no matter the project.
Advantages of 3D printing jewelry
As 3D printing continues to reach a wider audience, more and more hobbyists and businesses look to utilize this technology in their endeavors. It feels as though any application can benefit from a 3D printer but jewelry making specifically is gradually picking up steam, so why is this?
Intricate Designs
When it comes to jewelry making, there are very intricate and complex designs involved, that can be next to impossible to make manually. However, a 3D printer can help you execute these intricate geometries quickly.
You can basically create anything that the CAD software can design, having access to millions of designs at once. You can create these designs with absolute perfection, without running into any failed prints.
Faster Production
Let’s face it. Carving wax jewelry by hand takes ages. But when it comes to 3D printing jewelry, you can create hundreds of models in no time. You can easily create an incredibly detailed jewelry model with a 3D printer within a few hours.
What’s more, you can quickly make any necessary changes by altering the digital file and printing a newer version. No need to redo everything from scratch.
Prototyping
A 3D printer also allows quick prototyping. You can easily set stones in 3D-printed models to make sure they fit perfectly. Next, get the customer’s approval and then cast the final piece.
This way, you can have your clients try on 3D-printed models to get a better sense of the final piece before you cast it.
Cost Efficiency
Since 3D printing jewelry does not require many materials, it is quite cost-efficient. Even though castable wax materials can be costlier than regular printing materials, they give you much more mileage from a single batch, cutting your material costs.
Customization
A 3D printer for jewelry also allows you to make your desired customizations to any design. Since the original designs are stored in digital CAD files, you can quickly customize them according to customer requirements.
A 3D printer also allows you to create insanely lightweight designs. You can try out 80% or less fill to create lightweight designs that can be incredibly difficult to execute manually.
Mass Production and Reproduction
In addition to customization, a 3D printer for jewelry also allows you to mass-produce dozens of models in a single run. This way, you can batch-produce jewelry more efficiently.
You can also reproduce old jewelry designs using a 3D printer. Use a 3D scanner to recreate the existing pieces as digital models and then clean them up in the CAD software to print them out.
Is 3D-printed jewelry profitable?
While every business requires the right skill set and business acumen to succeed, the 3D printing jewelry business is a very profitable and growing business. It requires minimum in-house costs and opens up a huge number of opportunities.
Can jewelry be made with a 3D printer?
Yes, there are various ways you can make jewelry with a 3D printer. You can either opt for lost-wax casting or you can 3D print jewelry in polymers, ceramics, precious metals, and non-precious metals.
Our Verdict
3D printing in general is a lot more accessible than it once was so finding the best 3D printer for jewelry specifically has never been easier. As with any tech-related topic, budget always holds quite a lot of sway but rest assured that all of the recommendations here are from highly reputable manufacturers and offer a decent level of reliability.
The Anycubic Photon M3 is a superb option for printing jewelry but we cannot stress how good the Mars 3 model is for those on a strict budget.