What Does Resolution Mean in 3D Printing?

In 3D printing, resolution generally refers to the degree of detail and precision a printer can achieve when creating an object, but more specifically, it refers to the minimum feature size of the X, Y and Z axes. The XY plane is horizontal, and the Z-axis, which is vertical, refers to layer height. So, resolution in 3D printing should correspond to two numbers: the measurements of the XY plane and the Z-axis. We often think of resolution in terms of images on a screen: i.e., the pixel density of a television, and we know that the smaller the pixel, the higher the resolution. For 3D printing, know that a voxel is the 3D equivalent of a pixel.

Resolution is important because it determines the level of detail in the final product, influencing the aesthetics, functionality and surface quality of a print. However, be careful not to confuse resolution with dimensional accuracy and tolerance. Accuracy refers to a printer’s ability to produce parts with the desired measurements, and tolerance refers to the allowable deviation in the dimensions of a printed object compared to its original design specifications.

An object printed with SLA with four different layer heights (Image credit: Ameralabs)

If you are searching for a high-resolution 3D printer, you should find one that performs well in the X, Y and Z dimensions. Generally, lower numbers mean smaller, more defined details. Keep in mind that resolution is relative to the type of 3D printing technology being used. In this article, we will discuss it relative to FDM and vat photopolymerization.