Thanks for watching! 3 important things... 1 - Here is the printer I used: www.uniformation3d.com?sca_ref=5309662.D3ug7xsqPK 2 - Go follow Fauxhammer right now: www.youtube.com/@FauxHammer 3- You're awesome, you're important, and I hope you're having a great day.
I'd never encourage that, I say so in the video @@valeforedark ... But also Uniformation sent me more gear for this video than GW has ever sent me after making 240 videos on their products 😅
I am happy you went into detail about the health and safety aspects of this. A lot of people ignore that and have no idea of the dangers of breathing in resin day in day out. But, I feel the pricing at the end of this video is a little misleading. It's over £1000 (1300 USD) to get everything you used in this video - the 3 machines they sent you are £992.21 and that's before you have bought resin and other things you'll need for the clean-up process. I am sure it is worth it, the prints look great, but it's certainly a lot more than the price you said at the end of the video.
I mean, I was pretty obviously just comparing the printer prices. I speak about the costs of other items, and the general 3d printing hobby throughout the video.@@idontwanttopickone
for those watching, water washable resin dosen't mean the water used to wash is safe and can be flushed or rinsed away - u still have to treat it as contaminated and dispose of it correctly. just a small but crucial point, since it's not always made apparant.
Oh man I totally forgot about that aspect of it. (I don't own a printer, but was thinking about it). It's another advantage fdm has over uv resin printers I suppose
Good point! And isopropil alcohol evaporate faster than water, so it is easier to dispose an empty container with resin leftovers inside, rather than liters of contaminated water
@@Pesso86 I pour the waste water into old paint cans, put them in a closed box on my shed roof till they evaporate down to the resin. label clearly and drop them off at the tip on the hazardous table. Easy
@@andywang7875 other than the advantage of absolutely crappy results you get with FDM, you mean? 😂 (I'm talking about the specific use case of printing minis, to be clear)
@@pgabrieli you're supposed to use FDMs as glorified injection moulds when printing miniatures. You get perfect results that way, admittedly you do need to make your own moulds for this but worth it for the results you get
Your honesty is why you're my favourite hobby channel. Highlighting both the good and the bad, with 3D printing in particular, I feel people gloss over the safety issues a little, or they have setups that allow for better ventilation or separation from the rest of their home so it's not an issue. I've got respiratory problems and even using my airbrush with protection gives me anxiety. So the fact you straight up show how the air quality changes in this video is really valuable to someone like me. That and I think spilling resin on my carpet would implode my soul so I'm happy to leave it to others 😅
I work in a garage shop, wear a mask (respirator), and gloves when working with the resins. We also have a vent exhaust system that pulls stuff out, and two giant air purifiers. I also have to pay to dispose of my IPA and chemicals that i use, and lot of folks don't follow those rules.
Stick it inside one of those cheap weed grow tents, cheap fan and ducting from hardware store into a bit of polystyrene that you put into the window gap so you can close it.
Thanks for the honest review including the toxic vapors. That had been my main concern about whether or not to try 3d printing myself. I currently don't have a dedicate, safe space for it.
@@MidwinterMinis Id be curious to know how the VOC sensor would react if you had used water instead of the odorless spirits. Any chance you would use water instead at a later date and give an update on the impact?
I've studied chemistry, so I feel pretty confident in what I'm going to tell you: I haven't used my 3D printer for almost 4 years, because the last places I lived simply didn't have a space I could safely use. If you live alone and have a well ventilated bathroom, you're gonna be pretty safe, if you only leave it running when you're out and the windows are open. The methylated spirits aren't that big of a problem, if you leave the windows open while working with them and keep them tightly sealed otherwise. Personally, I prefer Isopropyl Alcohol, since it is less volatile and less toxic than even pure alcohol. What I would be concerned about is the fumes from the resin while printing, since the exact composition of the resin is seldom disclosed by the manufacturer and can cause allergies. It's probably still safer than having an FDM printer without a proper filter system at home, since those will put a lot of particles in the air that definitely aren't healthy and that your body may not even be able to get rid of. So, with all that, you need to decide what's best in your situation.
@@miguelengelhardt4687 Resin certainly isn't safer than FDM printing. FDM typically uses PETG or PLA plastics that are both organic plastics and biodegradable. They are non-toxic and can be broken down by the body if inhaled. Using ABS with an FDM printer would be toxic, however. Resin is many many times more toxic and irritating to the skin. Let alone needing to be cleaned with IPA or other solvents which can exasperate / amplify it's toxicity when inhaled. This is the primary reason I've avoided buying a resin printer as I cannot create a proper ventilation environment which would require a vent hood and an air exchanger that leads to the outside. You must also wear a proper VOC intended respirator or you are really asking for trouble.
watching you remove prints from the build plate without removing the plate from the machine drove me insane. Talk about the hardest possible way to retrieve your prints. With that said I am glad you have now found an appreciation of the 3d print!
Also bits of cured resin can fall into the tank and damage the membrane when printing or cause the printer to not even print at all until bits are removed.
@@mangg3328 at least with this printer I assume he thought the fancy mechanism to attach it was meant to be set and forgotten about rather than removed/ tampered with all the time. Just started printing and I was convinced at first that removing the build plate would ruin all my leveling that I went through previously
@@MidwinterMinisremember it's best to remove supports from the item before curing. Placing them in warm water (not hot) for a few minutes really let's the supports fall off. Best thing to know is the right printer makes everything so much easier. Get your area set up, develop your process, get good at supporting your own items and print, print then print some more. Soon you'll be among those of us that laugh when people say 3d printing is hard or messy etc... I think the ultra sonic cleaner is over kill. Any of the wash n cure stations will serve the purpose just fine and they have an air tight seal. So there's no need to constantly break everthing down just to set it up when next needed. I have a Egloo Saturn 8k and have never been more satisfied. I imagine I'll get many more years out of it before considering an upgrade.
Few remarks: 1. You should wear mask when handling resin and spirits/alcohol, even though you have the air cleaner, as well as handling uncured and wet prints. 2. It is easier to take the print plate from the printer and remove the models on some kind tray 3. For ease of use I'd say Lychee slicer is much better than Chitubox 4. Increasing size of prints with supports already in stl may not always work
@@jc7997aj Been awhile since I used Lychee with my Mars, but I believe you just need to make sure you export the slices to the right format when using Lychee with an elgoo printer.
When I started 3D printing, I was for minis. And not to fine a point on it, D&D style minis. I grew up on D&D and 3D printing then painting my own was like Charlie & the Chocolate Factory. Then of course came all the cosplay and everything else. But my first printers were resin, solely for the detail! Resin remains my go to, I say I print 80/20 resin to FDM. The mess and effort, worth it to me, solely for that detail. I live alone, I am home-bound disabled, my apartment is basically my 3D printing & painting studio that I happen to live in. The majority of room is taken with machines, workbench, painting area and so on. While the kitchen & bedroom is where I live. Many may shake their heads at this, go ahead, but this is my zen. This is what brings joy and zen to me. This is what helps me forget, at least for moments, the pain I endure all day.
The goal in life is happiness. If you enjoy printing and painting minis, then be glad you found a hobby. Many adults fail to entertain themselves and become grumpy depressed individuals. So congrats, nothing wrong with a room full of machines if you like that. Only the former will disapprove.
Your old Anycubic did sterling service for my school Warhammer club and when I upgraded it went to a group of schools in Scotland where it is still going strong. Feels like Old World will cause a few massed ranks converts to 3D printing.
Just want to point out that the methylated spirits itself is the VOC your detector is picking up (you get enough evaporation at room temperature for alot to be in the air). Methylated spirits vapor isn't too hazardous unless you're going to spend hours huffing it, opening the window to let it ventilate was a good way to help deal with it. Also, just keeping some kind of lid closed over the containers when you're not actively using the solution for the rinse/clean will help reduce the amount evaporating into the room 👍
My mate and I gifted ourselves an Elegoo Mars 4 (6k) for christmas. After the initial setup and some massive pains leveling the thing, it's now standing in his boiler room, where it's a) always nice and cozy and b) noone's usually in there. The amount of awesome nurgly armour bits to put on his Knights almost single-handedly reinvigorated his love for the Death Guard (and to a larger extent the hobby). To this day I still think your "Landrussy" is one of the most awesome Nurgle vehicle videos I've seen here, but for someone not as confident in his/her sculpting, printing seems like a real godsend for individualising your army.
I really like the idea that you can create or re-create miniatures with 3d printing. I agree with all of the health concerns , especially with children and pets around. One thing I have noticed is that some people have started setting up "mom and pop" 3d printing businesses which let you supply the files for them to print, and that may be the way to go, like maybe a few people in every local community have their own 3d printer set up, or hobby shops have their own 3d printing service, and people use those services for alternative supplies of minis instead of getting their own printers.
I'm glad you're up front about the dangers. They're very real. I dove headfirst into resin printing and it was extremely fun and I was able to build a whole army of Traitor Guard out of it, but the fume build-up started causing me severe irritation around my eyes. It can be done safely, but there are probably thousands of people like me who weren't doing it safely. You bringing light to that is important.
i'm pretty sure the vast majority of people who 3d print don't do it safely, at least from what i can tell on fb groups and subreddits dedicated to 3d printing. A lot of people incorrectly believe that if it doesn't smell, it's safe
I watched a video somewhere saying that even if the amount of VOCS were low, it's really the type and particle size that makes a big difference, I was wondering if there's a sensor you can get that gives you that information along with the amount, I also wish there was a safe way to print in a room with no windows (hard to run a vent tube outside), I've heard of people doing a similar vent tube setup but running it into a big carbon filter like the ones people use in home grow tents for weed smells, it would be interesting to see if those actually absorb most of the VOCs and none of the vents or tubing leaks air.
Thank you! A real 'how do I do and keep this' video. I've been wanting one for years, but don't have the space (storage and safety) and don't need MORE backlog of things to paint/ accomplish. Like an airbrush, it's a tool (that takes a significant amount of space, like you said), but not a needed asset. Great in a pinch for your channel though, should you need that missing weapon or shoulder pad, but not needed, just a luxury. Hope you keep at it as you can and find uses.
If anything it’s a massive success in resin technology that the major VOC production stems from spirits and not the resin itself (at least for the most part) given that it’s well protected and filtered inside the printer. Water washing would fix my largest issue at that point!
Besides the issues you've mentioned, the major thing that keeps me from actually using my printer is doing supports. It's long, tedious, and if done wrong causes failed prints that you only discover many hours later when the printer is finally finished.
Curious what you'd be printing that isn't already supported, at least in terms of tabletop hobby stuff. I almost never print something that isn't already supported. When I do, I try Auto-Supports. Dennys Wang has some videos of how to take Auto-Supports, give them a look, add a couple if needed, and be done with it much faster than full manual supports.
For what it’s worth, while it’s not perfect, Chitubox’s auto-supports very rarely let me down, particularly if you double check them and add some manual supports while needed. I’m not sure if every slicer has that as an option, though.
Support's are only one of the three factors you have to be really ONTOP off that make 3D printing a hobby. See more below on what they are. Something you have to be prepared to invest you leisure time in for free for what ever returns you feel are equitable for that investment. 1) Settings appropriate for your resin i.e. dialled in. 2) Temperature/environment control. 3) Supports or purchased supported models. If you omit or fail on any of them your just courting trouble because all 3 are undisputable points of failure and the worst part is you can't always just at a glance go OHHHH they happened because of 2) or 1) or 2) & 3) caused it. Unlike painting with the wrong paint or using plastic glue on your resin model and going ohh yes that's my mistake 3D printing is still full of variables that can't be trouble shot by any one but the owner/consumer. Anyone who says it's easy is either lieing or has an established technical background that's offsetting much of the trouble. Be it from understand modelling or engineering and chemistry etc etc etc.
All the creators I subscribe to provide pre-supported files. I wouldn't support creators or buy files from them if they didn't. You do get some variation in quality of these, but the more successful ones have this down pretty well now.
Getting Fauxhammer in, very nice - and I didn't realise he lives around the corner from me! I'll be sure to drop by with a thousand 3D printing questions. Also Jay was referenced, yay! EoB is awesome.
Took it up in one of the later lockdown of 2020. It's been great for both miniatures and useful little tools. I think being an engineer did help jumping into it without hiccoughs. It's also nice to become the goto guy in your player group providing cool bloodbowl teams and things.
i recently got the anycubic mono m5s, truly a beast of a printer, its been tough getting it running but it has revolutionised my hobby ability - im a 3D design student so ive been creating my own models!
Seconded on Once In A Six Side. He recently put out a video going into more detail on setting up a 3D printer, the pitfalls that can happen, and how to deal with them.
@@TheSonOfRyan He made exactly one video responding to Play On's vid on 3d printing, where he was like "I don't know how much I agree with this sentiment". And then talked about his own experiences with 3d printing. That's not harassment. I don't even know how you came to that conclusion.
@@TheSonOfRyan he doesn’t make knock-offs, he shows an incredible insight into the design process and interviews the creators of a lot of STLs, and shows the failures and why they happen. He does ‘nothing but attack Play On Tabletop’ by making exactly one video pointing out why he disagrees on a few things, and frankly, I’d trust his experience a lot more than there’s. But harassing them with one whole video where he didn’t harass them…? Despicable stuff, honestly. You seem a bit irrationally obsessed with hating this guy. He’s just a really good 3D-printing channel, dude, and he doesn’t make content often, but when he does it’s consistently interesting to learn from.
I so very much appreciate your honesty, level headed explanations, and candid opinion about potential hazards and necessity of resin printing. So many "getting into 3d printing" videos feel misleading, because of course you're going to have a positive opinion after getting handed a $900 printer, hundreds of dollars of post processing equipment, and a professional person on-hand to walk you through the process and solve for your unique problems, all for free.
Started with an Anycubic Photon M3 a few months ago. I've had less than a handful of failures and most of those were my fault as I put something too close to something else on the build plate. In that case the both items kinda merged so they were unusable. The other items on the plate printed fine though. I didn't print any calibration stuff...just used the recommended settings from the website. I've even mixed different resins that people said will "be unpredictable" and even those parts printed fine. I do print in my garage so the VOCs aren't an issue.
My wife jusy got me a Phrozen Mighty 8k for my birthday and I am very excited to try. Also a bit nervous because I have struggled plenty to learn on my FDM printer. Thanks for doing this!!!
Great to see your perspective on the 3D printing trend and great to see Fauxhammer on the channel, what a great dude! I think the point you raise at the end of the video (spoilers I guess) about space, toxins and investment price are always what has prevented me from getting into 3D printing myself. It has never primarily been about the definition of models or ease of use of the machines though that does play a part. The fact is most people are hobbying out of the corner of a room or in a room they use for other things like home office or bedroom, 3D printing does require a dedicated ventilated (i.e not a cupboard) separate work space, hard to tout something as the budget solution to Warhammer when you need that to safely get to grips with it. But that's just my two cents, I have loved seeing the technology improve and it will continue to do so exponentially I'm sure, I look forward to printing a new liver in 2066. Great stuff guys!
If you ever do tests on water washing I'd love to see a video (or even just read a write up) on what you found out. I also don't love being around that much open spirit, and this seems super cool.
3D is great, but it is a whole other hobby/job on its own. They have really improved these last 2 years and I don't just mean in quality but ease of use. After helping me to relearn how to write (yes, I am serious) they allowed me to get back into the wargaming hobby since my hand movement is not what it was.
Ey up Guy, I used to have my printer set up in the basement, but the smell it produced was quite strong. Even now, if I bring the isopropyl alcohol I use for cleaning indoors for daft reasons of mad science, the odour is quite noticeable. My solution was to relocate my printer to my outdoor shed, which isn’t airtight but can be locked. It’s not as convenient as having it indoors or in a hobby room, but it keeps me from being affected by VOCs. My printer is a bit older and doesn’t come with a built-in heater, which is crucial in the UK and for printers located outside the house. So, I had to improvise a heating solution, which thankfully works. Your printer, however, should be ready to use without any modifications!
Exactly what I'm planning to do! I'm going to make myself a work shed (for other reasons) this summer and put the 3d printer in there. It's going to be heated and insulated since I'm in Canada and it gets pretty cold even in the summer during the night. Even with my over the top safety setup in my house for 3d printing (grow tent, two filter ducts to outside + bathroom fans in each, soldering filter fan etc) it,s still very unhealthy, so I don't see any other option than printing outside
What with having bought one just before Christmas after a couple of comments on Fauxhammer's video asking various questions and also using that resin too, I feel like this video that shows the process and all the bits in between the steps was perfect for me, almost tailor made. As this is my first video of yours I've seen, I will watch your career with great interest.
I've been considering getting into 3D printing for some time now, and I'm still firmly on the fence between FDM and SLA. On the one hand, there is just no denying the amazing level of detail and perfect, paint-ready prints that come from SLA. But then there's the mess, the PPE, the VOCs, the rinsing/washing, curing, and hazmat disposal when it's all done, which makes SLA a lot less attractive. FDM, on the other hand, is essentially mess-free, arguably more flexible in the kinds of things you can print, with no VOCs (unless using exotic filaments, of course), and doesn't require washing, curing, or PPE to handle the finished product. Of course, the thing you lose with all of that is the insane level of detail that you can get with SLA. FDM has come a long way, and FauxHammer has even addressed FDM printed minis on his channel. They look pretty darned good, but not to the level of SLA. Thus my continued perch on the fence. On the one hand, I'm in love of the detail of SLA. On the other hand, I suspect the mess involved with SLA will eventually make me stop using it. Which just leaves FDM.
I think 3d printing has a lot of things that could work if you are in the right conditions. I don't a 3d printer and... This video helped out a lot. I'll keep buying 3d printed minis in my local hobby store for now, but if I am able to, I'll buy one and put it in a place where no danger can be presented. Lovely video, thank you for that
Awesome vid, but Guy... the GK2 has a little flat lever above the build plate where it attaches to the Z-shaft. Flip the lid up, flip that flat lever and the plate will come off. You can then pop the prints off without the risk of them falling into the vat. Clean the plate after, then reattach securely and you're good to go. It's also designed to fit into the cleaning machine if you wanted. Also, highly recommend a P3 filter mask and safety goggles. Sometimes print supports will flick around and I've had a few occasions where they'd go into my eye had I not been wearing them. Good luck and enjoy the machine
i use both an FDM and resin printer and work in the room i have them both in. toxic fumes were a huge concern for me. my biggest recommendation is to not rely on filters. they can only take you so far. VENTILATION IS KEY!!! i house my resin printer and wash station inside a fireproof ventilation chamber (kind of like a square tent you put the printer in) and run ducting out of my window. i also have an in-line fan in the ducting to suck and the toxins out better. Since i started using this method my air quality has improved to a point of complete safety. i also run a couple of rechargable carbon filters inside the chamber too but WORD OF WARNING! carbon filters do litte against toxic vapours and mainly just deal with smells i just use them to take away any rsidual smell from the chamber. I also use, gloves, an apron and a filter mask at all times when handling/cleaning prints and any used disposibles like paper towels and so on get bagged and binned in my outside bin. i also often run my prints overnight since i wont be in the room while they work. I've taken a lot of precautions to make it perfectly safe to be in the room while printing but an extra layer of caution will never go amis! That being said, this all sounds like printing is a massive pain, but once you have set up your station properly, as long as you stick to the basic safety principles it becomes a very easy and methodical process that gives you some really cool prints and i do still recommend getting into it. but only if you can do it properly!
I have the exact setup you're describing, but I stopped printing since i found it to be too unhealthy, at least in the house. It doesn't smell at all, but that really doesn't matter since the toxic chemicals don't necessarily smell. I'm going to build myself a work shed next summer and print there instead. Seems to me like the only way to make it perfectly safe is to print outside the house
I for one definitely think 3D printers definitely have a place in the miniature hobby. I personally run 2 FDM printers but am looking at getting a Resin printer to print my own miniatures in the future. Also having 2 young children, the safety side of things is definitely something high on my list to mitigate for my childrens safety. Education is definitely the key for young kids and not hiding the fact that the resin could kill them if they drank it.
3D printing, wargaming, prop making, painting and 3d modelling are by far the best hobbies to get into. You can literally make anything you put your mind to. You want a mini, you can make one from concept to finished mini in 3 days. You want a prop from a video game .. bang. same thing, model, print, paint. best thing ever. My desk is filled with props from Baldur's gate Warframe and Path of exile, Terrain and a hand full of minis I made. Epic and fulfilling as fek. + you can make some money on the side too.
Loved this. I think 3D resin printing is SO COOL, but it's so much to do in a hobby that's already time consuming (maybe that's cuz I"m a slow painter...). Having said that, I love finding 3D prints on Etsy and other sites to snazz up minis or get more.
I recently acquired a printer around Christmas. I've just finished priming my warhound titan and cant wait to keep them coming. I run the Anycubic Photon Mono 2 with 2 air purifiers in with it using the Anycubic Water washable resin and so far its been fantastic with very little issues.
I was in the same doubting place as you are in the video. I slowly got used to having access to the huge community and library of stuff available across the community. It was slow to catch on but wow. There is some truly amazing stuff out there to print, paint, and game with if you learn where to look.
I think your honesty about the downsides of 3D printing is so refreshing, and important. I've had to rethink the whole idea of getting into 3D printing because the only spaces I could use to print in, would be my bedroom or the kitchen. Toxic fumes and resin alongside kitchen counters, food etc, just doesn't seem feasible or advisable, and nor does sleeping with the VOC's. Though my kids are grown up and not at home, visits from my granddaughters also make it a no go. So, without the dreamed of Lottery win and my own studio, it's a nope from me 😂 Great video, thank you. Subscribed )O(
What this video highlights, is that while 3D printing is technically cheaper than buying stuff normally, the money saved is offset by the cost of tedious and (potentially hazardous) work and effort of doing the whole process yourself + needing dedicated space. For some people that is an easy price to pay, but for others (like me) the space to set-up a printer is simply not there and I'd much rather pay extra to have all the tedious work done for me by the company.
Especially if you count the hours put in 3d printing and compare them to your wages. Time is money, and 3d printing requires A LOT of time, making it expensive if you don't have that much free time in a week
Thanks for the detailed explanation and demonstration of the process! I've been thinking about a resin printer for a while and this has been a great and transparent video of the process. Very well made video
air brush, compressor, spray booth, spray booth ventilation solution. Everything associated with a hobby takes up space and can have various, potential, health issues.
For removing the supports, I recommend a hair dryer set to warm, or submerging the mini in warm water to soften them up. They pop off super easy that way, with no worries of them breaking in half, or taking something off with them!
considering how many youtube painters use 3d printers and make it look far too easy its really nice to see someone not gloss over the issues with it. I'm seriously contemplating getting a cheaper anycubic but this has made me think that maybe I'll wait a bit more :)
Awesome video, and I get it. I'm a resin caster, but 3d printer, very interested but intimidated. My daughter gave me a Photon Mono 4k Christmas before last, and it sat in my basement until this last weekend. I'm 4 days into this world and scrubbing TH-cam for advice. Thank you for sharing your experience and perspective.
I'm just happy to see that you found out you can do it. My Mars 3 is doing everything I need it to for now, but it's great to see what the technology has achieved in such a short amount of time.
I've had trouble putting my reluctance to use 3D printing into words before, but something Guy said in this video explained exactly what I have been wanting to tell friends of mine whenever they asked me if I was going to get a 3D printer or not. I'm not into that kind of hobby. For me, the majority of the creativity and joy I get from the modeling side of the hobby is assembling and kitbashing minis, and it's just not the same with 3D modeling different minis to print.
Currently in the process of thinking whether I want to get into 3D printing or not, and genuinely loved your nuanced insight, especially regarding health & safety issues!
I think you did a great job of pointing out the pros and cons, Guy. Fantastic review of the product via demonstration but equally pointing out the magnitude of the process and investment as a whole.
With how cost prohibitive 3d printing is, it gets on my nerves a bit when a hobby channel relies on it to make their content. As always, your honesty is so valuable. In the future it would be cool to see the printer be used in a supplementary way, aiding and improving other projects while not using it as a crutch or while including non-3d printing alternatives. Great video!
A great video and look at a new 3D printer. Now saying that, I don't have the time, money, setup area, or desire to use a 3D printer, but man, that was really enjoyable to watch the process of setup to cured miniatures. It's absolutely amazing to see how far the 3D printing technology has come in such a small timeframe. Thanks for sharing the video, Guy!
Honestly great vid! I started my 3d printing journey just before Christmas it's helped my self along with loads of people in my gaming community just to save money on games we love to play with out the expensive price tag that comes with it
I’m glad you included your air monitor as part of the video and it confirmed somewhat my own experiences over the last few years printing. The resin itself isn’t that bad. It’s the cleaning solutions. I wonder how isopropyl alcohol compares to methylated spirits in regards to VOCs put off. Thanks for sharing!
I'ver got my Uniformation GK this Cristmas and did my first steps into 3D printing with nothing more than some TH-cam videos. I'd say that a GK2 is really easy to use, quite self explanatory and so on. But, as you've aöready said, it's another (big) hobby.
I got into 3D printing about a year ago, though I've never done tabletop games. I love being able to scale up models to create figures rather than minis, though I only scale to around 60mm. I'd say the biggest learning curve was learning to do supports that don't fail but also don't leave a lot of bits to clean up. Supporting a model before printing is probably the biggest drag for me. I've kind of fallen into printing in the warm months out in my garage and painting in the cold months. I do have a Fungoo enclosure for each of my printers. They have fans and hoses so you can run a hose out your window to pump the air in the enclosure directly outside. For those without super nice heated vats, you can get small personal space heaters and a temperature regulator often used in tabletop greenhouses to maintain the temp inside the enclosure. I believe a small heater that fits inside the cover of most 3D printers was recently released as well.
There's another kind of resin printer that's a bit less common but has some hidden bonuses. DLP. The Stereolithograph printers use an LCD screen to make the image. DLP printers use a Directed Laser Projection bouncing off a fixed mirror to accomplish the same thing. The bonus is you never have to replace an LCD, and given how messy resin printers are, you REAALLLYYY don't want to have to replace those. Or the motors...which will gunk up in no time.... so have bearings on hand for that.
Ive got a resin 3D printer in mothballs at the moment after moving home, but I wont be unpacking it until I can have a dedicated fume hood in my shed or spare room. Like you said, the idea of these toxic liquids in a residential setting is scary, and in a workplace I would demand PPE and CoSH handling regs / eye wash stations etc. The VoCs arent the scariest bit for me though. The worst case scenario is either vision loss through one careless splash or eye rub, or a gradual bioaccumulation that causes a BPA allergy. BPA is in so many plastic products that it can seriously impqct your quality of life forever, and people trivialise the risks around these materials. I applaud your cautious attitude with this stuff. My brother did away with his resin printer as soon as children and dogs were in the equation for the same reasons.
For the VOC fumes issue, maybe you can use a shower curtain or similar plastic with magnets to create a curtain to wrap your rack in. Then use a flexible hose duct and a small fan to direct the fumes out of your window. Maybe there is a charcoal filter so you don't need to use the duct and window.
Once you get used to the process of 3D printing and managing the toxic chemicals, it does get much better. I was completely put off the first time printing as well. I use wash water and dispose of it either by boiling it or letting it evaporate outside (depending on the weather). I use a fabric printer enclosure and inline vent fan to exhaust the air outside. Both my combo cleaning/curing station and printer fit in the enclosure. Whenever the enclosure is opened, I turn the vent fan to maximum and turn it down during printing with the zipper open a few inches to assist with the negative pressure (flow-through). There are no perceivable odours from the printing with this setup.
Guy, thanks for "Braving the Cold" of 3D printing! This one, I loved so much! In such that yes, I was on the fence about all of this too, but my conclusion was to buy an easy, cheap and simple to use, FDN printer. Sure it is what it is with layer lines, but that can be solved with putty and softening agents, I'm okay with that, but even though as easy as this Photo-printer is, chemicals, is a big issue with me. But watching and showing this, convinced me to goto the FDN instead because Barrier to entry is not a big ask, besides it makes great terrain too! Thanks Guy, this helps a lot!!! Cheers! :)😃
I've gotten the science of resin printing down I think. Got my Lion El Jonson, Azrael, Dreadnought Bastillus, etc files from here and there online, and have already made up for the price of my printer with what I've found. Believe me. It's worth it. My favorite part of printing is making stuff for my buddies and surprising them with nice gifts.
Personally I hate how many people advocate 3D Printing as being the perfect alternative to buying the original kits. There are many reasons why 3D Printing your own models could not be for you. Things like unsuitable workspaces, not enough time or not wanting to buy gear that far outprices the kits you want, these get glossed over almost always when people talk about 3D printing. Not only that, the amount of effort it takes to perfectly set up your printer to get you the results you want or the tedious cleanup work get sweeped under the rug too. Lets also not forget that not every model you want has a free STL to download. Personally as someone who has a 3d printer I advice others to first consider what and how much they want to print and if all the extra work is worth the savings you might have after printing enough. I usually only print big models that are far too expensive, like the Hierophant, and get the regular kits whenever I want them really badly. I just love the assembly process and feel less connected to models I printed.
Agreed. No space, no time, don’t want to work with toxic materials, and I’d rather just buy the models I want. If I want 3D printed models, I will happily pay someone for them.
I fell in the other way. I started with a resin printer, intending to print a few gray D&D minis. Then all the resin printing videos I was watching started to get me recommendations for mini painting, including a few that made it seem approachable enough to try. After a few years of mini painting, I started to crave an outlet to show off my painted minis which led me to wargaming. But wargaming and miniature painting, while major hobbies of mine in their own right, are still ancillary to my first love: 3D Printing.
Great video. I've heard brief mention of some of the concerns before, but this filled out the details. I also have a friend who will print stuff on the rare occasions I want something :)
It seems like a big opportunity for printers to make stuff for hobbyists to buy online. I don't have the space or time to add 3-D printing to my hobby, but I have bought printed minis and love how the technology has advanced.
I honestly love my sonic mighty K. Never had an issue with prints. Changed my love for the hobby. And yes, you have to be very careful. Enjoyed the both sides of the coin video. I couldn't imagine going back.
its very interesting and very much something I can see what you mean. space and a area is one of the reason why I dont have a 3d printer myself. great video
If I may interject here with 3D Printing. I don't think it's designed for people who don't have a proper dedicated space (even outside like a pop up shed, insulated and heated) and I feel it's not worth it for the gamers. The ones who want to play and fight the battles more than any other part. I think it's more for people like myself and people who like to make games / campaigns or sell figures / painted figures. I am a painter, I love painting and I love options and the ability to repaint the same mini with new schemes. I do not play the games so I have no use for those over priced boxes of plastics because they have some kind of special power level for their respective games. So I want to add I never heard of you. So I am subscribing now not only because I am a FauxHammer fan but because I like your mild manor in all of this. This video is relaxing to listen to and the outcome is the best blend of honesty.
You are not alone sir. I like painting minis. Mastering a 3-D printer cuts into precious hobby hours. I have little curious people under foot as well. Keeping a safe and clean workspace at home is always an issue. Great fair review of this hobby tech.
Hey, nice vid, just a quick reminder that the when using water washable resins, the water used for cleaning them becomes contaminated and mist be disposed of safety, not down the drain! Like you I shudder at the idea of thousands of people having to work with these toxic materials at home with little to no industry guidance.
In my personal opinion, if you’re playing at a LGS, that LGS is obligated to having some form of compensation for giving you a place to play at. If you’re dead set on 3D printing, then please still consider supporting your LGS… A box of intercessors now and then. Paints. Brushes.. that kind of stuff.
This is really helpful. The time to learn and print, cost and health issues feel like they are not brought up enough, people often only talk about the end goal of how cheap it is to print things. I want a 3D printer, but don't have the space, I have respiratory issues and my housemate has worse ones, so I feel more sure that I will wait longer. Also good to know I can get a printer like that one that can mitigate the fumes.
Now that you have a good 3d printer and some experience, perhaps the Blackstone Fortress 3d terrain replacement pieces for the card board tiles. Pick a level, print the pieces, paint them, and show them off. Your channel started with BSF, a great way to tie it back in. Great video!
I completely understand your worries. My resin printer is in my garage, on a dedicated workbench. I have an extractor in there, plus I always wear a respirator when using it. I don't have kids. I'd definitely be pretty reluctant to use one inside the house, or without proper extraction or a dedicated area so that I can keep the toxic chemicals away from everything else. Resin printing is really cool, but it's definitely not for everyone.
![[MV] A leap of faith...ความเชื่อใจครั้งสุดท้าย (From "Petrichor the series")](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/U1piZH2CNXA/mqdefault.jpg)
Thanks for watching! 3 important things...
1 - Here is the printer I used: www.uniformation3d.com?sca_ref=5309662.D3ug7xsqPK
2 - Go follow Fauxhammer right now: www.youtube.com/@FauxHammer
3- You're awesome, you're important, and I hope you're having a great day.
I hope you never get sponsored by games workshop. Literally encouraging people to break copyright
I'd never encourage that, I say so in the video @@valeforedark
... But also Uniformation sent me more gear for this video than GW has ever sent me after making 240 videos on their products 😅
I am happy you went into detail about the health and safety aspects of this. A lot of people ignore that and have no idea of the dangers of breathing in resin day in day out. But, I feel the pricing at the end of this video is a little misleading. It's over £1000 (1300 USD) to get everything you used in this video - the 3 machines they sent you are £992.21 and that's before you have bought resin and other things you'll need for the clean-up process. I am sure it is worth it, the prints look great, but it's certainly a lot more than the price you said at the end of the video.
I mean, I was pretty obviously just comparing the printer prices. I speak about the costs of other items, and the general 3d printing hobby throughout the video.@@idontwanttopickone
I'm hoping that more youtubers take the time to showcase proper ppe for printers. Especially resin.
for those watching, water washable resin dosen't mean the water used to wash is safe and can be flushed or rinsed away - u still have to treat it as contaminated and dispose of it correctly. just a small but crucial point, since it's not always made apparant.
Oh man I totally forgot about that aspect of it. (I don't own a printer, but was thinking about it). It's another advantage fdm has over uv resin printers I suppose
Good point! And isopropil alcohol evaporate faster than water, so it is easier to dispose an empty container with resin leftovers inside, rather than liters of contaminated water
@@Pesso86 I pour the waste water into old paint cans, put them in a closed box on my shed roof till they evaporate down to the resin. label clearly and drop them off at the tip on the hazardous table. Easy
@@andywang7875 other than the advantage of absolutely crappy results you get with FDM, you mean? 😂 (I'm talking about the specific use case of printing minis, to be clear)
@@pgabrieli you're supposed to use FDMs as glorified injection moulds when printing miniatures. You get perfect results that way, admittedly you do need to make your own moulds for this but worth it for the results you get
You don't need a 3d printer at home. You need a friend with 3d printer at home. It's the best solution :)
👌
There are enough print on demand services around these days that you don’t even need that.
Absolutely, too bad I'm the friend with the 3d printer at home
Especially for your long term health.
I know you spent 400 on your set up but I find elegoo mars pro 3 was excellent for me as a beginner
Your honesty is why you're my favourite hobby channel. Highlighting both the good and the bad, with 3D printing in particular, I feel people gloss over the safety issues a little, or they have setups that allow for better ventilation or separation from the rest of their home so it's not an issue.
I've got respiratory problems and even using my airbrush with protection gives me anxiety. So the fact you straight up show how the air quality changes in this video is really valuable to someone like me. That and I think spilling resin on my carpet would implode my soul so I'm happy to leave it to others 😅
No worries matey! Thanks for the kind words :)
Dude, the best tip I have is to do it outside.
I’m with you Captain. I definitely noticed a downgrade in my breathing quality when I got my first PHOTON.
I work in a garage shop, wear a mask (respirator), and gloves when working with the resins. We also have a vent exhaust system that pulls stuff out, and two giant air purifiers. I also have to pay to dispose of my IPA and chemicals that i use, and lot of folks don't follow those rules.
Stick it inside one of those cheap weed grow tents, cheap fan and ducting from hardware store into a bit of polystyrene that you put into the window gap so you can close it.
Thanks for the honest review including the toxic vapors. That had been my main concern about whether or not to try 3d printing myself. I currently don't have a dedicate, safe space for it.
No problem mate! Glad you found it useful
@@MidwinterMinis Id be curious to know how the VOC sensor would react if you had used water instead of the odorless spirits. Any chance you would use water instead at a later date and give an update on the impact?
I've studied chemistry, so I feel pretty confident in what I'm going to tell you: I haven't used my 3D printer for almost 4 years, because the last places I lived simply didn't have a space I could safely use. If you live alone and have a well ventilated bathroom, you're gonna be pretty safe, if you only leave it running when you're out and the windows are open.
The methylated spirits aren't that big of a problem, if you leave the windows open while working with them and keep them tightly sealed otherwise. Personally, I prefer Isopropyl Alcohol, since it is less volatile and less toxic than even pure alcohol.
What I would be concerned about is the fumes from the resin while printing, since the exact composition of the resin is seldom disclosed by the manufacturer and can cause allergies.
It's probably still safer than having an FDM printer without a proper filter system at home, since those will put a lot of particles in the air that definitely aren't healthy and that your body may not even be able to get rid of.
So, with all that, you need to decide what's best in your situation.
@@miguelengelhardt4687 Resin certainly isn't safer than FDM printing. FDM typically uses PETG or PLA plastics that are both organic plastics and biodegradable. They are non-toxic and can be broken down by the body if inhaled. Using ABS with an FDM printer would be toxic, however.
Resin is many many times more toxic and irritating to the skin. Let alone needing to be cleaned with IPA or other solvents which can exasperate / amplify it's toxicity when inhaled. This is the primary reason I've avoided buying a resin printer as I cannot create a proper ventilation environment which would require a vent hood and an air exchanger that leads to the outside. You must also wear a proper VOC intended respirator or you are really asking for trouble.
A carbon filter gets rid of VOCs efficiently (the same which are used to grow weed), but it adds some cost to the setup.
watching you remove prints from the build plate without removing the plate from the machine drove me insane. Talk about the hardest possible way to retrieve your prints. With that said I am glad you have now found an appreciation of the 3d print!
Also bits of cured resin can fall into the tank and damage the membrane when printing or cause the printer to not even print at all until bits are removed.
^ this. Why would you not remove the plate? No wonder why you had so many problems with your previous printer 🤣😂
@@mangg3328 at least with this printer I assume he thought the fancy mechanism to attach it was meant to be set and forgotten about rather than removed/ tampered with all the time. Just started printing and I was convinced at first that removing the build plate would ruin all my leveling that I went through previously
You never forget your first carpet resin spill! Looking forward to seeing how well everything else went!
Haha, thanks bud. I honestly think that spot cleaner has been the best financial investment of my life
there is a 1ft x 1ft square of my carpet that is less faded than the rest, thankful for the decision to keep some spare over a decade ago
if at all possible grab one of those mats for a rolling chair and use that on the carpet, its will save you ALOT of pain
I have been resin 3D printing for nearly 3 years and it has been the best thing that I did for my hobby. It can definitely be difficult, though.
Nice! What kind of stuff do you print?
I print all lots of small additions for my Warhammer models as well as miniatures for Dungeons and Dragons.
@@MidwinterMinisremember it's best to remove supports from the item before curing. Placing them in warm water (not hot) for a few minutes really let's the supports fall off.
Best thing to know is the right printer makes everything so much easier. Get your area set up, develop your process, get good at supporting your own items and print, print then print some more. Soon you'll be among those of us that laugh when people say 3d printing is hard or messy etc...
I think the ultra sonic cleaner is over kill. Any of the wash n cure stations will serve the purpose just fine and they have an air tight seal. So there's no need to constantly break everthing down just to set it up when next needed. I have a Egloo Saturn 8k and have never been more satisfied. I imagine I'll get many more years out of it before considering an upgrade.
I hadn't realised temperature made such a difference! Maybe the unheated utility room wasn't the best place, huh...
Thanks for the tips!
Yeah, that was my big take-away too honestly!
Thank you for NOT having a typical TH-camr overreaction! Great video 😊
Few remarks:
1. You should wear mask when handling resin and spirits/alcohol, even though you have the air cleaner, as well as handling uncured and wet prints.
2. It is easier to take the print plate from the printer and remove the models on some kind tray
3. For ease of use I'd say Lychee slicer is much better than Chitubox
4. Increasing size of prints with supports already in stl may not always work
Any idea how to use lychee with egloo printers? I prefer lychee but when I upgraded to the saturn 8K I was forced into chitubox.
So I take it you have HAZMAT training, right?
It doesn't take HAZMAT training to understand resin isn't good for your skin and lungs. Neither is ISP. @@BullScrapPracEff
That's long past. All elegoo printers are simply supported now. @@jc7997aj
@@jc7997aj Been awhile since I used Lychee with my Mars, but I believe you just need to make sure you export the slices to the right format when using Lychee with an elgoo printer.
When I started 3D printing, I was for minis. And not to fine a point on it, D&D style minis. I grew up on D&D and 3D printing then painting my own was like Charlie & the Chocolate Factory. Then of course came all the cosplay and everything else. But my first printers were resin, solely for the detail! Resin remains my go to, I say I print 80/20 resin to FDM. The mess and effort, worth it to me, solely for that detail. I live alone, I am home-bound disabled, my apartment is basically my 3D printing & painting studio that I happen to live in. The majority of room is taken with machines, workbench, painting area and so on. While the kitchen & bedroom is where I live. Many may shake their heads at this, go ahead, but this is my zen. This is what brings joy and zen to me. This is what helps me forget, at least for moments, the pain I endure all day.
The goal in life is happiness. If you enjoy printing and painting minis, then be glad you found a hobby. Many adults fail to entertain themselves and become grumpy depressed individuals. So congrats, nothing wrong with a room full of machines if you like that. Only the former will disapprove.
Good for you!
Your old Anycubic did sterling service for my school Warhammer club and when I upgraded it went to a group of schools in Scotland where it is still going strong. Feels like Old World will cause a few massed ranks converts to 3D printing.
So glad it got a good second / third life!
Just want to point out that the methylated spirits itself is the VOC your detector is picking up (you get enough evaporation at room temperature for alot to be in the air).
Methylated spirits vapor isn't too hazardous unless you're going to spend hours huffing it, opening the window to let it ventilate was a good way to help deal with it.
Also, just keeping some kind of lid closed over the containers when you're not actively using the solution for the rinse/clean will help reduce the amount evaporating into the room 👍
This feels like the most honest and genuine 3D printing review from a real world perspective as a concerned father. Thank you for your honesty.
you have absolutely no idea how convenient this is to see considering I'm getting the last part of my printing setup tomorrow.
My mate and I gifted ourselves an Elegoo Mars 4 (6k) for christmas. After the initial setup and some massive pains leveling the thing, it's now standing in his boiler room, where it's a) always nice and cozy and b) noone's usually in there. The amount of awesome nurgly armour bits to put on his Knights almost single-handedly reinvigorated his love for the Death Guard (and to a larger extent the hobby). To this day I still think your "Landrussy" is one of the most awesome Nurgle vehicle videos I've seen here, but for someone not as confident in his/her sculpting, printing seems like a real godsend for individualising your army.
Landrussy oh my god
@@MidwinterMinisI'm just borrowing the joke from the comments. But I had a similar reaction when I first read that. 😅
I really like the idea that you can create or re-create miniatures with 3d printing. I agree with all of the health concerns , especially with children and pets around. One thing I have noticed is that some people have started setting up "mom and pop" 3d printing businesses which let you supply the files for them to print, and that may be the way to go, like maybe a few people in every local community have their own 3d printer set up, or hobby shops have their own 3d printing service, and people use those services for alternative supplies of minis instead of getting their own printers.
I'm glad you're up front about the dangers. They're very real. I dove headfirst into resin printing and it was extremely fun and I was able to build a whole army of Traitor Guard out of it, but the fume build-up started causing me severe irritation around my eyes. It can be done safely, but there are probably thousands of people like me who weren't doing it safely. You bringing light to that is important.
i'm pretty sure the vast majority of people who 3d print don't do it safely, at least from what i can tell on fb groups and subreddits dedicated to 3d printing. A lot of people incorrectly believe that if it doesn't smell, it's safe
I watched a video somewhere saying that even if the amount of VOCS were low, it's really the type and particle size that makes a big difference, I was wondering if there's a sensor you can get that gives you that information along with the amount, I also wish there was a safe way to print in a room with no windows (hard to run a vent tube outside), I've heard of people doing a similar vent tube setup but running it into a big carbon filter like the ones people use in home grow tents for weed smells, it would be interesting to see if those actually absorb most of the VOCs and none of the vents or tubing leaks air.
Thank you! A real 'how do I do and keep this' video.
I've been wanting one for years, but don't have the space (storage and safety) and don't need MORE backlog of things to paint/ accomplish. Like an airbrush, it's a tool (that takes a significant amount of space, like you said), but not a needed asset. Great in a pinch for your channel though, should you need that missing weapon or shoulder pad, but not needed, just a luxury.
Hope you keep at it as you can and find uses.
If anything it’s a massive success in resin technology that the major VOC production stems from spirits and not the resin itself (at least for the most part) given that it’s well protected and filtered inside the printer. Water washing would fix my largest issue at that point!
Besides the issues you've mentioned, the major thing that keeps me from actually using my printer is doing supports. It's long, tedious, and if done wrong causes failed prints that you only discover many hours later when the printer is finally finished.
Curious what you'd be printing that isn't already supported, at least in terms of tabletop hobby stuff.
I almost never print something that isn't already supported. When I do, I try Auto-Supports. Dennys Wang has some videos of how to take Auto-Supports, give them a look, add a couple if needed, and be done with it much faster than full manual supports.
For what it’s worth, while it’s not perfect, Chitubox’s auto-supports very rarely let me down, particularly if you double check them and add some manual supports while needed. I’m not sure if every slicer has that as an option, though.
Support's are only one of the three factors you have to be really ONTOP off that make 3D printing a hobby. See more below on what they are.
Something you have to be prepared to invest you leisure time in for free for what ever returns you feel are equitable for that investment.
1) Settings appropriate for your resin i.e. dialled in.
2) Temperature/environment control.
3) Supports or purchased supported models.
If you omit or fail on any of them your just courting trouble because all 3 are undisputable points of failure and the worst part is you can't always just at a glance go OHHHH they happened because of 2) or 1) or 2) & 3) caused it.
Unlike painting with the wrong paint or using plastic glue on your resin model and going ohh yes that's my mistake 3D printing is still full of variables that can't be trouble shot by any one but the owner/consumer.
Anyone who says it's easy is either lieing or has an established technical background that's offsetting much of the trouble. Be it from understand modelling or engineering and chemistry etc etc etc.
All the creators I subscribe to provide pre-supported files. I wouldn't support creators or buy files from them if they didn't. You do get some variation in quality of these, but the more successful ones have this down pretty well now.
@@Dark0Storm This years Loot Studio stuff just falls out of the supports. Very well done.
Getting Fauxhammer in, very nice - and I didn't realise he lives around the corner from me! I'll be sure to drop by with a thousand 3D printing questions.
Also Jay was referenced, yay! EoB is awesome.
Really loved your objectivity. As usual.
A true tutorial to this side of the hobby.
Warm thanks
Took it up in one of the later lockdown of 2020. It's been great for both miniatures and useful little tools.
I think being an engineer did help jumping into it without hiccoughs.
It's also nice to become the goto guy in your player group providing cool bloodbowl teams and things.
Your honestly is really refreshing to see, generally speaking you / your channel has an amazing attitude!
I appreciate that!
i recently got the anycubic mono m5s, truly a beast of a printer, its been tough getting it running but it has revolutionised my hobby ability - im a 3D design student so ive been creating my own models!
That sounds great, I'm tempted to try to model things as well but... there's only so many hours in the day!
@@MidwinterMinis i’d recommend AutoDesk maya, it’s far more powerful than blender and is super easy to get started in
I just want to say THANK YOU so much for giving an honest and thorough opinion instead of forcing yourself to pick a side on the subject.
for continuing your mini printing journey, I would HIGHLY recommend Once in a Six Side he is the goat for this kind of stuff
Thanks! Just subscribed
Seconded on Once In A Six Side. He recently put out a video going into more detail on setting up a 3D printer, the pitfalls that can happen, and how to deal with them.
You mean that annoying guy who does nothing but make knockoffs and harrass play on tabletop?
@@TheSonOfRyan He made exactly one video responding to Play On's vid on 3d printing, where he was like "I don't know how much I agree with this sentiment". And then talked about his own experiences with 3d printing.
That's not harassment. I don't even know how you came to that conclusion.
@@TheSonOfRyan he doesn’t make knock-offs, he shows an incredible insight into the design process and interviews the creators of a lot of STLs, and shows the failures and why they happen.
He does ‘nothing but attack Play On Tabletop’ by making exactly one video pointing out why he disagrees on a few things, and frankly, I’d trust his experience a lot more than there’s. But harassing them with one whole video where he didn’t harass them…? Despicable stuff, honestly.
You seem a bit irrationally obsessed with hating this guy. He’s just a really good 3D-printing channel, dude, and he doesn’t make content often, but when he does it’s consistently interesting to learn from.
I so very much appreciate your honesty, level headed explanations, and candid opinion about potential hazards and necessity of resin printing. So many "getting into 3d printing" videos feel misleading, because of course you're going to have a positive opinion after getting handed a $900 printer, hundreds of dollars of post processing equipment, and a professional person on-hand to walk you through the process and solve for your unique problems, all for free.
Started with an Anycubic Photon M3 a few months ago. I've had less than a handful of failures and most of those were my fault as I put something too close to something else on the build plate. In that case the both items kinda merged so they were unusable. The other items on the plate printed fine though. I didn't print any calibration stuff...just used the recommended settings from the website. I've even mixed different resins that people said will "be unpredictable" and even those parts printed fine. I do print in my garage so the VOCs aren't an issue.
one of the most in depth and informative videos i've seen to de-mystify resin printing... well done.
My wife jusy got me a Phrozen Mighty 8k for my birthday and I am very excited to try. Also a bit nervous because I have struggled plenty to learn on my FDM printer. Thanks for doing this!!!
Great to see your perspective on the 3D printing trend and great to see Fauxhammer on the channel, what a great dude! I think the point you raise at the end of the video (spoilers I guess) about space, toxins and investment price are always what has prevented me from getting into 3D printing myself. It has never primarily been about the definition of models or ease of use of the machines though that does play a part.
The fact is most people are hobbying out of the corner of a room or in a room they use for other things like home office or bedroom, 3D printing does require a dedicated ventilated (i.e not a cupboard) separate work space, hard to tout something as the budget solution to Warhammer when you need that to safely get to grips with it. But that's just my two cents, I have loved seeing the technology improve and it will continue to do so exponentially I'm sure, I look forward to printing a new liver in 2066. Great stuff guys!
If you ever do tests on water washing I'd love to see a video (or even just read a write up) on what you found out. I also don't love being around that much open spirit, and this seems super cool.
3D is great, but it is a whole other hobby/job on its own. They have really improved these last 2 years and I don't just mean in quality but ease of use. After helping me to relearn how to write (yes, I am serious) they allowed me to get back into the wargaming hobby since my hand movement is not what it was.
Once in a six side has an amazing pre flight check list for printing that's all work checking out
Ey up Guy, I used to have my printer set up in the basement, but the smell it produced was quite strong. Even now, if I bring the isopropyl alcohol I use for cleaning indoors for daft reasons of mad science, the odour is quite noticeable.
My solution was to relocate my printer to my outdoor shed, which isn’t airtight but can be locked. It’s not as convenient as having it indoors or in a hobby room, but it keeps me from being affected by VOCs.
My printer is a bit older and doesn’t come with a built-in heater, which is crucial in the UK and for printers located outside the house. So, I had to improvise a heating solution, which thankfully works. Your printer, however, should be ready to use without any modifications!
Exactly what I'm planning to do! I'm going to make myself a work shed (for other reasons) this summer and put the 3d printer in there. It's going to be heated and insulated since I'm in Canada and it gets pretty cold even in the summer during the night. Even with my over the top safety setup in my house for 3d printing (grow tent, two filter ducts to outside + bathroom fans in each, soldering filter fan etc) it,s still very unhealthy, so I don't see any other option than printing outside
What with having bought one just before Christmas after a couple of comments on Fauxhammer's video asking various questions and also using that resin too, I feel like this video that shows the process and all the bits in between the steps was perfect for me, almost tailor made.
As this is my first video of yours I've seen, I will watch your career with great interest.
I've been considering getting into 3D printing for some time now, and I'm still firmly on the fence between FDM and SLA. On the one hand, there is just no denying the amazing level of detail and perfect, paint-ready prints that come from SLA. But then there's the mess, the PPE, the VOCs, the rinsing/washing, curing, and hazmat disposal when it's all done, which makes SLA a lot less attractive. FDM, on the other hand, is essentially mess-free, arguably more flexible in the kinds of things you can print, with no VOCs (unless using exotic filaments, of course), and doesn't require washing, curing, or PPE to handle the finished product. Of course, the thing you lose with all of that is the insane level of detail that you can get with SLA. FDM has come a long way, and FauxHammer has even addressed FDM printed minis on his channel. They look pretty darned good, but not to the level of SLA.
Thus my continued perch on the fence. On the one hand, I'm in love of the detail of SLA. On the other hand, I suspect the mess involved with SLA will eventually make me stop using it. Which just leaves FDM.
I think 3d printing has a lot of things that could work if you are in the right conditions. I don't a 3d printer and... This video helped out a lot. I'll keep buying 3d printed minis in my local hobby store for now, but if I am able to, I'll buy one and put it in a place where no danger can be presented.
Lovely video, thank you for that
Awesome vid, but Guy... the GK2 has a little flat lever above the build plate where it attaches to the Z-shaft.
Flip the lid up, flip that flat lever and the plate will come off. You can then pop the prints off without the risk of them falling into the vat.
Clean the plate after, then reattach securely and you're good to go. It's also designed to fit into the cleaning machine if you wanted.
Also, highly recommend a P3 filter mask and safety goggles. Sometimes print supports will flick around and I've had a few occasions where they'd go into my eye had I not been wearing them.
Good luck and enjoy the machine
i use both an FDM and resin printer and work in the room i have them both in. toxic fumes were a huge concern for me. my biggest recommendation is to not rely on filters. they can only take you so far.
VENTILATION IS KEY!!!
i house my resin printer and wash station inside a fireproof ventilation chamber (kind of like a square tent you put the printer in) and run ducting out of my window. i also have an in-line fan in the ducting to suck and the toxins out better. Since i started using this method my air quality has improved to a point of complete safety. i also run a couple of rechargable carbon filters inside the chamber too but WORD OF WARNING! carbon filters do litte against toxic vapours and mainly just deal with smells i just use them to take away any rsidual smell from the chamber.
I also use, gloves, an apron and a filter mask at all times when handling/cleaning prints and any used disposibles like paper towels and so on get bagged and binned in my outside bin. i also often run my prints overnight since i wont be in the room while they work. I've taken a lot of precautions to make it perfectly safe to be in the room while printing but an extra layer of caution will never go amis!
That being said, this all sounds like printing is a massive pain, but once you have set up your station properly, as long as you stick to the basic safety principles it becomes a very easy and methodical process that gives you some really cool prints and i do still recommend getting into it. but only if you can do it properly!
I have the exact setup you're describing, but I stopped printing since i found it to be too unhealthy, at least in the house. It doesn't smell at all, but that really doesn't matter since the toxic chemicals don't necessarily smell. I'm going to build myself a work shed next summer and print there instead. Seems to me like the only way to make it perfectly safe is to print outside the house
I for one definitely think 3D printers definitely have a place in the miniature hobby. I personally run 2 FDM printers but am looking at getting a Resin printer to print my own miniatures in the future. Also having 2 young children, the safety side of things is definitely something high on my list to mitigate for my childrens safety. Education is definitely the key for young kids and not hiding the fact that the resin could kill them if they drank it.
3D printing, wargaming, prop making, painting and 3d modelling are by far the best hobbies to get into.
You can literally make anything you put your mind to.
You want a mini, you can make one from concept to finished mini in 3 days. You want a prop from a video game .. bang. same thing, model, print, paint. best thing ever.
My desk is filled with props from Baldur's gate Warframe and Path of exile, Terrain and a hand full of minis I made. Epic and fulfilling as fek. + you can make some money on the side too.
idk I can think of a long list of better hobbies for myself beside those. They're cool hobbies but definitely not for everyone as they're pretty niche
Loved this. I think 3D resin printing is SO COOL, but it's so much to do in a hobby that's already time consuming (maybe that's cuz I"m a slow painter...). Having said that, I love finding 3D prints on Etsy and other sites to snazz up minis or get more.
I recently acquired a printer around Christmas. I've just finished priming my warhound titan and cant wait to keep them coming. I run the Anycubic Photon Mono 2 with 2 air purifiers in with it using the Anycubic Water washable resin and so far its been fantastic with very little issues.
I was in the same doubting place as you are in the video. I slowly got used to having access to the huge community and library of stuff available across the community. It was slow to catch on but wow. There is some truly amazing stuff out there to print, paint, and game with if you learn where to look.
Thanks for this, its really... REAL and realistic about what I should expect if I tried this myself. 😊
I think your honesty about the downsides of 3D printing is so refreshing, and important. I've had to rethink the whole idea of getting into 3D printing because the only spaces I could use to print in, would be my bedroom or the kitchen. Toxic fumes and resin alongside kitchen counters, food etc, just doesn't seem feasible or advisable, and nor does sleeping with the VOC's.
Though my kids are grown up and not at home, visits from my granddaughters also make it a no go. So, without the dreamed of Lottery win and my own studio, it's a nope from me 😂 Great video, thank you. Subscribed )O(
What this video highlights, is that while 3D printing is technically cheaper than buying stuff normally, the money saved is offset by the cost of tedious and (potentially hazardous) work and effort of doing the whole process yourself + needing dedicated space. For some people that is an easy price to pay, but for others (like me) the space to set-up a printer is simply not there and I'd much rather pay extra to have all the tedious work done for me by the company.
Especially if you count the hours put in 3d printing and compare them to your wages. Time is money, and 3d printing requires A LOT of time, making it expensive if you don't have that much free time in a week
Thanks for the detailed explanation and demonstration of the process! I've been thinking about a resin printer for a while and this has been a great and transparent video of the process. Very well made video
air brush, compressor, spray booth, spray booth ventilation solution. Everything associated with a hobby takes up space and can have various, potential, health issues.
Thorough and honest... I love this video! Happy printing, happy painting, happy playing!
For removing the supports, I recommend a hair dryer set to warm, or submerging the mini in warm water to soften them up. They pop off super easy that way, with no worries of them breaking in half, or taking something off with them!
considering how many youtube painters use 3d printers and make it look far too easy its really nice to see someone not gloss over the issues with it. I'm seriously contemplating getting a cheaper anycubic but this has made me think that maybe I'll wait a bit more :)
There already technically superior printers for cheaper like the anycubic M7.
Awesome video, and I get it. I'm a resin caster, but 3d printer, very interested but intimidated.
My daughter gave me a Photon Mono 4k Christmas before last, and it sat in my basement until this last weekend. I'm 4 days into this world and scrubbing TH-cam for advice. Thank you for sharing your experience and perspective.
I'm just happy to see that you found out you can do it. My Mars 3 is doing everything I need it to for now, but it's great to see what the technology has achieved in such a short amount of time.
Wow, never heard of that printer, but it seems good.
I've had trouble putting my reluctance to use 3D printing into words before, but something Guy said in this video explained exactly what I have been wanting to tell friends of mine whenever they asked me if I was going to get a 3D printer or not. I'm not into that kind of hobby. For me, the majority of the creativity and joy I get from the modeling side of the hobby is assembling and kitbashing minis, and it's just not the same with 3D modeling different minis to print.
Currently in the process of thinking whether I want to get into 3D printing or not, and genuinely loved your nuanced insight, especially regarding health & safety issues!
I think you did a great job of pointing out the pros and cons, Guy. Fantastic review of the product via demonstration but equally pointing out the magnitude of the process and investment as a whole.
With how cost prohibitive 3d printing is, it gets on my nerves a bit when a hobby channel relies on it to make their content. As always, your honesty is so valuable. In the future it would be cool to see the printer be used in a supplementary way, aiding and improving other projects while not using it as a crutch or while including non-3d printing alternatives. Great video!
A great video and look at a new 3D printer. Now saying that, I don't have the time, money, setup area, or desire to use a 3D printer, but man, that was really enjoyable to watch the process of setup to cured miniatures. It's absolutely amazing to see how far the 3D printing technology has come in such a small timeframe. Thanks for sharing the video, Guy!
Honestly great vid! I started my 3d printing journey just before Christmas it's helped my self along with loads of people in my gaming community just to save money on games we love to play with out the expensive price tag that comes with it
I’m glad you included your air monitor as part of the video and it confirmed somewhat my own experiences over the last few years printing. The resin itself isn’t that bad. It’s the cleaning solutions. I wonder how isopropyl alcohol compares to methylated spirits in regards to VOCs put off.
Thanks for sharing!
I'ver got my Uniformation GK this Cristmas and did my first steps into 3D printing with nothing more than some TH-cam videos. I'd say that a GK2 is really easy to use, quite self explanatory and so on. But, as you've aöready said, it's another (big) hobby.
I got into 3D printing about a year ago, though I've never done tabletop games. I love being able to scale up models to create figures rather than minis, though I only scale to around 60mm. I'd say the biggest learning curve was learning to do supports that don't fail but also don't leave a lot of bits to clean up. Supporting a model before printing is probably the biggest drag for me. I've kind of fallen into printing in the warm months out in my garage and painting in the cold months. I do have a Fungoo enclosure for each of my printers. They have fans and hoses so you can run a hose out your window to pump the air in the enclosure directly outside. For those without super nice heated vats, you can get small personal space heaters and a temperature regulator often used in tabletop greenhouses to maintain the temp inside the enclosure. I believe a small heater that fits inside the cover of most 3D printers was recently released as well.
There's another kind of resin printer that's a bit less common but has some hidden bonuses. DLP. The Stereolithograph printers use an LCD screen to make the image. DLP printers use a Directed Laser Projection bouncing off a fixed mirror to accomplish the same thing. The bonus is you never have to replace an LCD, and given how messy resin printers are, you REAALLLYYY don't want to have to replace those. Or the motors...which will gunk up in no time.... so have bearings on hand for that.
Great video. Also I can see your twins will be into warhammer too..."Daddy, it's a titan!" so cute.
A lot of those extras from that printer are still not a thing for the budget printers (
My kids have those same Halloween pajamas
Ive got a resin 3D printer in mothballs at the moment after moving home, but I wont be unpacking it until I can have a dedicated fume hood in my shed or spare room. Like you said, the idea of these toxic liquids in a residential setting is scary, and in a workplace I would demand PPE and CoSH handling regs / eye wash stations etc. The VoCs arent the scariest bit for me though. The worst case scenario is either vision loss through one careless splash or eye rub, or a gradual bioaccumulation that causes a BPA allergy. BPA is in so many plastic products that it can seriously impqct your quality of life forever, and people trivialise the risks around these materials. I applaud your cautious attitude with this stuff. My brother did away with his resin printer as soon as children and dogs were in the equation for the same reasons.
For the VOC fumes issue, maybe you can use a shower curtain or similar plastic with magnets to create a curtain to wrap your rack in. Then use a flexible hose duct and a small fan to direct the fumes out of your window. Maybe there is a charcoal filter so you don't need to use the duct and window.
My thanks for making this Guy, Hattie, and all the people who make MidwinterMinis possible!
Once you get used to the process of 3D printing and managing the toxic chemicals, it does get much better. I was completely put off the first time printing as well.
I use wash water and dispose of it either by boiling it or letting it evaporate outside (depending on the weather). I use a fabric printer enclosure and inline vent fan to exhaust the air outside. Both my combo cleaning/curing station and printer fit in the enclosure. Whenever the enclosure is opened, I turn the vent fan to maximum and turn it down during printing with the zipper open a few inches to assist with the negative pressure (flow-through). There are no perceivable odours from the printing with this setup.
Guy, thanks for "Braving the Cold" of 3D printing! This one, I loved so much! In such that yes, I was on the fence about all of this too, but my conclusion was to buy an easy, cheap and simple to use, FDN printer. Sure it is what it is with layer lines, but that can be solved with putty and softening agents, I'm okay with that, but even though as easy as this Photo-printer is, chemicals, is a big issue with me.
But watching and showing this, convinced me to goto the FDN instead because Barrier to entry is not a big ask, besides it makes great terrain too! Thanks Guy, this helps a lot!!! Cheers! :)😃
I've gotten the science of resin printing down I think. Got my Lion El Jonson, Azrael, Dreadnought Bastillus, etc files from here and there online, and have already made up for the price of my printer with what I've found. Believe me. It's worth it. My favorite part of printing is making stuff for my buddies and surprising them with nice gifts.
He came down and helped you out? That's badass!
Personally I hate how many people advocate 3D Printing as being the perfect alternative to buying the original kits. There are many reasons why 3D Printing your own models could not be for you. Things like unsuitable workspaces, not enough time or not wanting to buy gear that far outprices the kits you want, these get glossed over almost always when people talk about 3D printing.
Not only that, the amount of effort it takes to perfectly set up your printer to get you the results you want or the tedious cleanup work get sweeped under the rug too. Lets also not forget that not every model you want has a free STL to download.
Personally as someone who has a 3d printer I advice others to first consider what and how much they want to print and if all the extra work is worth the savings you might have after printing enough. I usually only print big models that are far too expensive, like the Hierophant, and get the regular kits whenever I want them really badly. I just love the assembly process and feel less connected to models I printed.
Agreed. No space, no time, don’t want to work with toxic materials, and I’d rather just buy the models I want. If I want 3D printed models, I will happily pay someone for them.
I fell in the other way. I started with a resin printer, intending to print a few gray D&D minis. Then all the resin printing videos I was watching started to get me recommendations for mini painting, including a few that made it seem approachable enough to try. After a few years of mini painting, I started to crave an outlet to show off my painted minis which led me to wargaming. But wargaming and miniature painting, while major hobbies of mine in their own right, are still ancillary to my first love: 3D Printing.
That Space Hulk poster over guy's left shoulder looks great.
I'd really like to see the water washable resin in action.
Great video. I've heard brief mention of some of the concerns before, but this filled out the details. I also have a friend who will print stuff on the rare occasions I want something :)
It seems like a big opportunity for printers to make stuff for hobbyists to buy online. I don't have the space or time to add 3-D printing to my hobby, but I have bought printed minis and love how the technology has advanced.
I honestly love my sonic mighty K. Never had an issue with prints. Changed my love for the hobby. And yes, you have to be very careful. Enjoyed the both sides of the coin video. I couldn't imagine going back.
its very interesting and very much something I can see what you mean. space and a area is one of the reason why I dont have a 3d printer myself. great video
If I may interject here with 3D Printing.
I don't think it's designed for people who don't have a proper dedicated space (even outside like a pop up shed, insulated and heated) and I feel it's not worth it for the gamers. The ones who want to play and fight the battles more than any other part.
I think it's more for people like myself and people who like to make games / campaigns or sell figures / painted figures.
I am a painter, I love painting and I love options and the ability to repaint the same mini with new schemes. I do not play the games so I have no use for those over priced boxes of plastics because they have some kind of special power level for their respective games.
So I want to add I never heard of you. So I am subscribing now not only because I am a FauxHammer fan but because I like your mild manor in all of this. This video is relaxing to listen to and the outcome is the best blend of honesty.
Time to implement that oldest and nobelist British tradition, set it up in the shed.
A new challenger appears: rental accommodation
You are not alone sir. I like painting minis. Mastering a 3-D printer cuts into precious hobby hours. I have little curious people under foot as well. Keeping a safe and clean workspace at home is always an issue. Great fair review of this hobby tech.
Hey, nice vid, just a quick reminder that the when using water washable resins, the water used for cleaning them becomes contaminated and mist be disposed of safety, not down the drain! Like you I shudder at the idea of thousands of people having to work with these toxic materials at home with little to no industry guidance.
Really informative vid!
Thank you!
No one focuses on the safety hazards of 3d printing at home.
In my personal opinion, if you’re playing at a LGS, that LGS is obligated to having some form of compensation for giving you a place to play at.
If you’re dead set on 3D printing, then please still consider supporting your LGS…
A box of intercessors now and then. Paints. Brushes.. that kind of stuff.
This is really helpful. The time to learn and print, cost and health issues feel like they are not brought up enough, people often only talk about the end goal of how cheap it is to print things. I want a 3D printer, but don't have the space, I have respiratory issues and my housemate has worse ones, so I feel more sure that I will wait longer.
Also good to know I can get a printer like that one that can mitigate the fumes.
Now that you have a good 3d printer and some experience, perhaps the Blackstone Fortress 3d terrain replacement pieces for the card board tiles. Pick a level, print the pieces, paint them, and show them off. Your channel started with BSF, a great way to tie it back in. Great video!
I'm in charge of a Formlabs 3L at work. It's the perfect tool for printing minis, never had a failure yet.
Yes. It has been for nearly 2 years now. I have an entire 2000pt retro ork army. I started at 14 lol.
I completely understand your worries. My resin printer is in my garage, on a dedicated workbench. I have an extractor in there, plus I always wear a respirator when using it. I don't have kids.
I'd definitely be pretty reluctant to use one inside the house, or without proper extraction or a dedicated area so that I can keep the toxic chemicals away from everything else.
Resin printing is really cool, but it's definitely not for everyone.
Another day enjoying my Bambu Lab FDM and getting near-resin quality minis for a quarter of the effort needed for a resin
Its a TITAN!! melted my heart ❤❤ btw amazing vid guy got me inspired to learn 3d printing my self😊😊
I jumped into 3D printing this year, live with the risk I print in the garage. Using the Mars 4 it’s awesome!