<p>The Form 2 will definitely give the best results for your application.</p>

<p>Both the Fortus and the Dimension use <em>FDM</em>, which builds the model up using a bead of molten plastic. Because this bead is typically 0.5mm in diameter, this strongly limits the details you can print.</p>

<p>The Form 2 uses liquid resin, that is cured by scanning it with a laser. This process is called <em>SLA</em>. The laser produces a 0.14mm dot, and so you can produce much finer details. The Form 2 can also use much thinner layers (down to 0.025mm v.s. the 0.178mm of the Fortus) so the models will be much smoother.</p>

<p>To make small miniatures SLA is much more suitable than FDM.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-24T07:34:27.487Z
Thanks! Will the Form 2 have those little ridges around the edges of the model that are distinctive of 3D prints?
André Popovitch
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-24T08:42:09.040Z
Yes, but very much less so than an FDM print.
Tom van der Zanden
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-23T22:08:33.950Z
2017-06-23T22:08:33.950Z
Tom van der Zanden
<p>I would also be curious on how I could get the best results with these printers. I am in a situation where I have cheap access to a:</p>

<p><strong><a href="http://proto3000.com/fortus-250mc.php" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Fortus 250mc</a></strong>, which prints in ABS and has a minimum resolution of 0.007mm (but that can be raised as high as 0.013mm to print faster), and has a "Soluble Support System" which enables printing overhangs. </p>

<p><strong><a href="https://formlabs.com/3d-printers/form-2/?utm_content=main-nav" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Form 2</a></strong>, which prints with Photosensitive Resin, has a resolution of .05mm, and can also print overhangs. </p>

<p><strong>Stratasys Dimension SST1200es</strong>, prints in "ABSplus" (whatever that is), has a resolution of .254 mm, and can indeed print overhangs. As far as I can tell the main advantage of this one over the Fortus is that the supports can be immediately removed after printing and don't need to be dissolved first.</p>

<p>I am okay with processing or finishing the miniatures later so long as it's not <em>too</em> time consuming (such as by running an acetone vapor bath), but I'm curious when I would use each printer and how I could get the most out of both. </p>

<p>P.S. Also the Stratasys is more expensive for me to print on than any of the others so please keep that in mind when answering :)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-23T21:32:46.083Z
The Fortus can print 0.007 *inch* layers, not 0.007 *mm*. The smallest layer height it can do is 0.178mm.
Tom van der Zanden
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-24T07:35:38.233Z
@TomvanderZanden thanks, I thought .007mm seemed a little bit too fine, if that's the case the site I was reading the information from was wrong :)
André Popovitch
<print-quality><abs><post-processing>
Which 3D printer should I use to make custom miniatures for a tabletop game?
André Popovitch
# Which 3D printer should I use to make custom miniatures for a tabletop game?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-06-23)

I would also be curious on how I could get the best results with these printers. I am in a situation where I have cheap access to a:

**[Fortus 250mc](http://proto3000.com/fortus-250mc.php)**, which prints in ABS and has a minimum resolution of 0.007mm (but that can be raised as high as 0.013mm to print faster), and has a "Soluble Support System" which enables printing overhangs.

**[Form 2](https://formlabs.com/3d-printers/form-2/?utm_content=main-nav)**, which prints with Photosensitive Resin, has a resolution of .05mm, and can also print overhangs.

**Stratasys Dimension SST1200es**, prints in "ABSplus" (whatever that is), has a resolution of .254 mm, and can indeed print overhangs. As far as I can tell the main advantage of this one over the Fortus is that the supports can be immediately removed after printing and don't need to be dissolved first.

I am okay with processing or finishing the miniatures later so long as it's not *too* time consuming (such as by running an acetone vapor bath), but I'm curious when I would use each printer and how I could get the most out of both.

P.S. Also the Stratasys is more expensive for me to print on than any of the others so please keep that in mind when answering :)

**Tags:** print-quality, abs, post-processing
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: The Fortus can print 0.007 *inch* layers, not 0.007 *mm*. The smallest layer height it can do is 0.178mm.  
> **username_0**: @TomvanderZanden thanks, I thought .007mm seemed a little bit too fine, if that's the case the site I was reading the information from was wrong :)  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-06-23. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

The Form 2 will definitely give the best results for your application.

Both the Fortus and the Dimension use *FDM*, which builds the model up using a bead of molten plastic. Because this bead is typically 0.5mm in diameter, this strongly limits the details you can print.

The Form 2 uses liquid resin, that is cured by scanning it with a laser. This process is called *SLA*. The laser produces a 0.14mm dot, and so you can produce much finer details. The Form 2 can also use much thinner layers (down to 0.025mm v.s. the 0.178mm of the Fortus) so the models will be much smoother.

To make small miniatures SLA is much more suitable than FDM.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks! Will the Form 2 have those little ridges around the edges of the model that are distinctive of 3D prints?  
> **username_1**: Yes, but very much less so than an FDM print.  

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