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What is an LCD Printer?

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Updated February 3, 2023

If you are new to the world of physical printing, you may wonder what is an LCD printer. Some of the best printers, after all, are 3D printers, and LCD printing is a popular subtype. It uses resin and UV light to create a printed object. So what exactly is LCD printing, and what are some advantages of this printing method? Keep reading to find out.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

LCD technology is not just for TVs and computer monitors, as LCD panels are used in 3D printers, just like DLP (digital light processing) printers.
These panels create UV light that, in turn, directs and forms liquid resin from a resin tank to create 3D objects.
LCD printers are known for making high-quality prints quickly when compared to other 3D printing technologies, as they create an entire layer at once.

Before learning about DLP printing and LCD printing, it is helpful to understand the basics of 3D printing. These printers build 3D objects out of various materials if you are learning the definition of resin 3D printing. They extrude the material via a nozzle onto a print bed, creating the model layer by layer, even if you are still learning what MSLA 3D printing is. The object starts on the bottom of a print bed as it is being built.

Insider Tip

The major downside here is that multiple LCD panels can get expensive, so this type of printer is not exactly budget-friendly.

What is an LCD 3D Printer?

LCD printers are a type of resin printer, as they use an array of UV LCDs as the primary source of light. These lights emanate from flat LCD panels and shine directly against the surface of the building area. The light acts as a focused laser beam, more or less, making this a highly desirable type of 3D printing, even among resin-based models.

Benefits of LCD Printing

LCD printers are extremely popular, even when compared to other resin-type 3D printers. Here are some of the reasons why.

Print Quality

LCD printers are known the world over for creating detailed objects of a higher-than-average quality when compared to many other printer types. The print quality here is extraordinarily high, especially when compared to budget-friendly DLP machines. This means that you can rest easy knowing your finalized prints will be excellently made, with durable form factors that should take a licking and keep ticking.

STAT: An application for the first patent for RP technology was filed by Dr. Kodama in Japan in the month of May 1980. This set off a series of innovations that spurred a race to get 3D printing technology right. (source)

Great for Large Items

LCD printers move quickly, relatively speaking, and are commonly used to print out large components for use in a variety of industries and fields of interest. The accuracy on display here also furthers the benefit when printing out larger-than-average items. Of course, we are talking about continuous items printing all in one go, so you will be limited by the size of your printer, the size of the enclosure, and the maximum size of printed objects.

LCD 3D Printer FAQs

How do I choose a high-quality LCD 3D printer?

This depends on what you are looking for, the cost of resin layers, the general cost of photosensitive resin, and any must-have features on your list.

What are the advantages of DLP compared to LCD?

DLP printers are much cheaper, which is always a boon for hobbyists. However, budget-friendly DLP printers made by, say, Texas Instruments lack some of the features found with standard LCD printers with an LCD screen or mono-LCD screen.

Why choose LCD or DLP technologies?

These 3D systems and 3D printing techniques use resin vats, and these micromirror devices are known for making high-quality prints quickly, as they can make entire layers in one go. Filament printers cannot do this due to thermal resistance.

References:

Lawrence Bonk

Lawrence Bonk is a copywriter with a decade of experience in the tech space, with columns appearing in Engadget, Huffington Post and CBS, among others. He has a cat named Cinnamon.