Buying guide
LCD, DLP or MJM: how to choose a jewellery 3D printer
Three technologies, six machines, five resins. What each one is for, the catalogue figures side by side, and the order to make the decision in.
· 9 min read · By Dhyey Mehta
There are three ways to 3D print a jewellery pattern, and the wrong one costs you either detail, daily output or money per gram. This guide sets out what LCD, DLP and MJM each do, the six machines we publish figures for, and the order to make the decision in.
Every number below is the catalogue figure already published on the 3D printer range page. Where the catalogue does not state something, we say so rather than fill the gap.
Why the decision matters more than it used to
Jewellery 3D printing replaced hand-carved masters for most manufacturers. A CAD file becomes a castable pattern overnight, which compresses the design-to-sample cycle from weeks to days and makes it economic to test a design before committing to a rubber mould. That is the real return: not a cheaper master, but a faster answer to "will this sell".
Because the printer sits at stage one of the ten-stage workflow, everything downstream inherits its output. A pattern with the wrong surface finish or the wrong resin shows up as a casting fault four stages later.
The three technologies, plainly
LCD — build volume per rupee
An LCD printer cures a whole layer of resin at once through a masking screen. In our range that is the FOTO 6K and the FOCUS 6K, both with a 197 × 122 × 200 mm build volume and 35 µm XY resolution (5760 × 3600 pixels). The plate is large, so many pieces print together. If your question is "how many rings per plate", LCD is the answer.
DLP — the finest XY detail
A DLP printer projects each layer, and in our range the trade is a smaller plate for a finer minimum layer and, on the S3D-125, the finest XY resolution we publish: 49 µm. All three S3D models reach a 10 µm minimum layer. Filigree, micro-pavé masters and any piece where detail is the binding constraint belong here.
MJM — production wax at volume
Multi-jet modelling deposits wax rather than curing resin. The WaxJet-510 has three printheads, a 15 µm layer, a catalogue-stated dimensional accuracy of ±0.04 mm per 20 mm, and the highest daily output in the range at 300 g. What comes off it is wax, so it drops straight into the investment flow you already run.
The six machines side by side
| Model | Technology | Build volume (mm) | XY resolution | Layer thickness | Capacity per day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FOTO 6K | LCD | 197 × 122 × 200 | 35 µm (5760 × 3600p) | 25–200 µm | 100 g |
| FOCUS 6K | LCD | 197 × 122 × 200 | 35 µm (5760 × 3600p) | 20–200 µm | 150 g |
| S3D-110 | DLP | 110 × 62 × 150 | 65 µm (1920 × 1080p) | 10–100 µm | 60 g |
| S3D-125 | DLP | 125 × 70 × 150 | 49 µm (2560 × 1440p) | 10–100 µm | 50 g |
| S3D-192 | DLP | 192 × 108 × 150 | 70 µm (2712 × 1528p) | 10–100 µm | 110 g |
| WaxJet-510 | MJM | 289 × 218 × 150 | See note | 15 µm | 300 g |
A note on the WaxJet-510: the catalogue prints a resolution triple of 2900 × 2900 × 1700 for it, which is a print-resolution figure rather than a build volume. We reproduce it as printed on the machine page and recommend confirming both against the manufacturer datasheet before procurement.
How to decide, in order
1. Start with what you actually make
Fine filigree and micro-pavé push you towards DLP resolution. Volume production of repeat designs pushes you towards LCD plate size or MJM daily output. Mixed work usually ends up with one LCD or DLP printer for approval models and masters, and an MJM unit only once production wax volume justifies it.
2. Decide whether you will cast the print or mould it
If patterns go straight into investment, you need a direct-castable resin and a printer that handles it well; every model in the range is catalogue-listed as compatible with both DC and NC resins. If you print masters to vulcanise at stage two, a non-castable resin with zero bending — NC Red CWR — matters more than burnout behaviour.
3. Work out grams per day, not pieces
Capacity is published in grams per day: 50 g to 300 g across the range. Weigh a typical wax pattern from your own production and multiply by the patterns you need daily. Then add headroom, because a plate is rarely packed perfectly and layer height choices change the time per build.
4. Then, and only then, compare resolution figures
Resolution sells printers, but it only decides the purchase when detail is genuinely the constraint. A 35 µm LCD is finer than most cast pieces will ever show after polishing. Buy the 49 µm DLP because your work needs it, not because the number is smaller.
Resins: two families, one rule
| Resin | Family | Catalogue characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| DC Black | Direct castable | Low shrinkage, good surface finish, high accuracy, low viscosity, low curing time, opaque colour |
| DC Yellow | Direct castable | Low shrinkage, good surface finish, high accuracy, low viscosity, highly consistent printing; for DLP 405 nm |
| DC Green | Direct castable | Low shrinkage, good surface finish, high accuracy, low curing time, opaque colour; for DLP 405 nm |
| NC Red | Non castable | Low shrinkage, bright colours, high accuracy |
| NC Red CWR | Non castable | Good surface finish, high accuracy, low curing time, zero bending |
The rule: DC goes into the flask, NC never does. The most common casting complaint we trace back to stage one is a non-castable pattern that was burned out anyway. Full details are on the resin range page.
What the catalogue does not tell you
Power requirements, resin consumption per gram of finished pattern, post-cure times and software are not published in our catalogue for these machines, so they are not on this site. They are confirmed in writing on your quotation. If a figure matters to your decision, ask for the datasheet rather than inferring it from a competitor's.
A quick decision summary
| If this is you… | Start with |
|---|---|
| Many pieces per plate, cost per gram matters most | FOTO 6K |
| Already on LCD, need more grams per day | FOCUS 6K |
| Detail work at modest volume, smallest footprint | S3D-110 |
| Filigree and micro-pavé masters, finest resolution | S3D-125 |
| DLP layer control on a large plate | S3D-192 |
| Production wax at volume, accuracy across a run | WaxJet-510 |
Compare the whole range, or send us a typical CAD file and your monthly pattern count and we will tell you which machine fits — send an enquiry or call +91 98216 12340.
Answers
Related questions
Which 3D printing technology is best for jewellery: LCD, DLP or MJM?
It depends on what you are optimising. LCD (FOTO 6K, FOCUS 6K) gives the largest build volume, 197 × 122 × 200 mm, at 35 µm XY resolution, so it suits batch printing. DLP (S3D series) gives the finest XY resolution, down to 49 µm on the S3D-125, with a 10 µm minimum layer, so it suits filigree and detail. MJM wax jetting (WaxJet-510) gives the highest daily capacity at 300 g and ±0.04 mm per 20 mm accuracy, so it suits production wax at volume.
How much can a jewellery 3D printer produce in a day?
Catalogue-stated daily production capacity is 300 g for the WaxJet-510, 150 g for the FOCUS 6K, 110 g for the S3D-192, 100 g for the FOTO 6K, 60 g for the S3D-110 and 50 g for the S3D-125. Those are catalogue figures at the source's conditions; your real figure depends on part geometry, layer height and how full each plate is.
What is the difference between direct-castable and non-castable resin?
Direct-castable resin (DC Black, DC Yellow, DC Green) is formulated to burn out cleanly in investment, so the printed pattern goes straight into the flask in place of a wax. Non-castable resin (NC Red, NC Red CWR) is for fit checks, client approvals and master models that will be moulded. Printing an approval model in castable resin wastes money; casting a non-castable pattern ruins the flask.
Do I need a 3D printer if I already carve masters by hand?
Not necessarily, but most manufacturers found the design-to-sample cycle was the reason to buy one. A CAD file becomes a castable pattern overnight, which makes it economic to test a design before committing to a rubber mould. If you make one-off pieces and rarely repeat a design, hand carving may still be the right tool.
Where does a 3D printer fit in the factory workflow?
Stage one of ten — designing and moulding — alongside the resin and the laser cutting machine. What comes off the printer either goes to vulcanising and moulding at stage two, or straight to investment at stage five if you are casting the printed pattern directly.