LCD vs DLP 3D Printer: Which One is Better?

One of the most popular forms of 3D printing is Resin printing. Why? This technology enhances the print’s accuracy while minimizing costs that other 3D printing does not. It is not only cost-effective but also ever-evolving, with changing trends and improving technology over the years. 

Resin 3D printing is quite popular as it enhances the print’s accuracy while minimizing the cost of printing parts. As time passes, the technology associated with 3D printing keeps improving, and that’s where the rise of LCD vs. DLP 3D printers comes in. 

Things are only improving for the industry, from higher-definition models, advanced resin materials, and enhanced software to 3D printing techniques. In the modern day, 3D printing technology works with vat polymerization technology. In this technology, 3D objects are created by curing resin through a specialized technique. 

Light sources then cure this resin to produce our desired results. Three main types of technologies are used in 3D printing: LCD printing, DLP printing, and SLA printing. 

Today, we’re covering the two most popular types, DLP and LCD. So, what are the differences between them, and which is better? Let’s find out.

DLP 3D Printing: A Professional Solution

One of the most popular forms of 3D printing is DLP printing. It stands for Digital light processing and uses a light projector to do its magic, which means curing the resin. It works uniquely. But how exactly? You see, on a DLP printer, images are flashed on the vat’s bottom, which ends up printing a precise and high-quality product.

But how exactly does it work? Unlike LCD 3D printing, DLP 3D printing involves using a Digital Micromirror Device, which completely controls where the light is displayed. 

Voxels are equivalent to pixels for 3D printing technology and are one of the key terms associated with DLP 3D printing. Now, let’s talk about how the DLP 3D printing works.

How Does it Work?

DLP is most commonly used in professional fields or for producing industry-grade materials. It is an incredible technology professionals have used in 3D printers to create high-quality models and prop production. Here are the strengths and weaknesses of DLP printing. 

Pros & Cons of DLP 

Unlike LCD, which is fixed in terms of its pixels, DLP produces high resolution by emitting light only where it is necessary. This allows you to scale the resolution according to your requirements.

Another huge benefit that DLP printing has over LCD is its lifespan. Due to the more innovative approach, it lasts ten times longer than a regular LCD. 

Moving to the cons of DLP, it can cause distorted pixels on the edges since the light coming from the DLP project must expand from a small to a large area. When it comes to consistency, it might not be the best.

LCD in 3D Printing

LCD 3D printing is the most common method for enthusiasts who love to create awesome products. In essence, LCD 3D printing works similarly to a DLP printer. For example, just like DLP, it flashes all the layers in the resin tank. 

However, where LCD differs is that the ultraviolet light that comes here comes from many small LEDs. These LEDs then shine through the LCD screen, which is not the case within DLP 3D printing.

In this type of technology, the screen acts almost like a mask. Hence, it will display pixels only when they’re needed while blocking out all the other pixels that are not needed. 

LCD 3D printing is the most popular form of printing, and companies like Chitu Systems have some of the most diverse screens you can use for our dedicated 3D printers. 

How Does it Work?

In the 3D printing industry, LCD is the most common type. Hobbyists consider it the best way of 3D printing because it is competitively priced and offers much better results than our regular and traditional methods.

While 

Pros & Cons of LCD 

The two main common factors of an LCD printer’s quality are that it solely depends on the LCD density and the size of the printer. In other words, the more pixels it has, the better print you will get; the fewer pixels it has, the poorer the quality will be.

It just works like any other computer screen. Now, we are seeing the rise of many 6K LCD screens and even 12K in some cases, providing a stellar experience for 3D printing enthusiasts. The most common resolution is a 4K resolution LCD, ideal for creating high-quality prints. A unique aspect that puts a LCD 3D printer ahead of a DLP is its cost-effectiveness. 

But if we talk about the cons, LCD printers can bleed through the edges and solidify resin even where you don’t want it to. That happens because it uses UV LEDs in an array as a light source. So, if you are looking for precision, DLP is the way to go.

Which One is Better?

But now, we have the big question: Which one is better? To sum it up, both DLP and LCD printers work in a similar way with small differences that become big ultimately. If you’re looking for great results, an awesome precision, and want to create high-quality prints, then go for a DLP 3D printer. 

On the other hand, if your focus is affordability and requires larger prints, LCD printing is a better option. To sum up, DLP would be better if you want to make things like jewelry, dental models, props, and other items like these. However, if you want to print slightly larger objects, LCD printing takes the cake. 

Choose Chitu System’s LCD Screens

And if you’re looking for the best LCD screen replacements for your 3D printer, then check out the massive catalog of Chitu System’s screen replacements. They provide some of the most diverse range of LCDs, from 2K resolution to 6K resolution.