Elegoo 3D Printers: Resin and FDM from One Brand

Elegoo is the one major 3D printer brand that competes seriously in both resin and FDM. Their Mars and Saturn resin printers are the most popular resin machines for hobbyists worldwide. Their Centauri Carbon FDM lineup offers enclosed CoreXY printing with carbon fiber capability at prices that undercut the competition. This page covers five machines: three resin printers for detail work, two enclosed FDM printers for functional prints and multi-color projects.

Resin printing note: MSLA resin printers require liquid photopolymer resin, nitrile gloves, eye protection, and ventilation. The wash and cure step after printing is mandatory. If this is your first resin printer, budget for a wash and cure station (the Elegoo Mercury series, ~$60 to $200) alongside the printer itself.

Resin Printers: Mars and Saturn Series

MSLA resin printing uses a UV-masked LCD to cure photopolymer resin into layers. The result is surface detail and resolution that FDM cannot match. Layer lines are effectively invisible. XY resolution is measured in microns. These machines are the go-to for miniatures, figurines, jewelry, collector pieces, and anything where surface finish matters more than build volume or material strength.

Mars 5 Ultra

From $269+

The compact 9K resin entry. The Mars 5 Ultra packs 18-micron XY resolution, tilt release printing at up to 150mm/h, auto-leveling, an AI camera, and Wi-Fi into a desktop machine that fits on any shelf. Build volume is 153 x 78 x 165mm. Small by FDM standards, but more than sufficient for 28mm miniatures, busts, coins, jewelry, and fine detail work. The auto-leveling removes the calibration step that made older resin printers frustrating for beginners. A resin vat sensor alerts you if resin runs low mid-print. For anyone stepping into resin for the first time, this is the right starting point.

Key Specs

Build Volume	153 x 78 x 165mm
LCD	7-inch 9K Mono (8520 x 4320px)
XY Resolution	18 microns (0.018mm)
Print Speed	Up to 150mm/h (tilt release)
Auto-Leveling	Yes, tool-free
Camera	AI monitoring, time-lapse
Connectivity	USB, Wi-Fi
Starts From	$269+

Best For

First-time resin users. Miniature painters printing 28mm figures, busts, and accessories. Anyone who wants resin detail in a compact desktop footprint.

Not Ideal For

Prints over 153mm in any dimension. Anything that needs material strength or flexibility. Step up to the Saturn 4 Ultra for more build volume.

Saturn 4 Ultra

From $399+

The medium-format resin workhorse. The Saturn 4 Ultra scales up to a 218 x 122 x 220mm build volume on a 10-inch 12K mono LCD. Same 150mm/h tilt release speed as the Mars 5 Ultra, same auto-leveling and AI camera, but the larger plate changes what you can print in one piece. Full busts, helmet pieces, large prop sections, and full armies of miniatures all become more practical. The COB Fresnel collimating lens improves UV distribution across the larger plate for more consistent layer curing edge to edge.

This is the machine most serious hobby makers buy once they outgrow the Mars or know they will print larger subjects regularly.

Key Specs

Build Volume	218 x 122 x 220mm
LCD	10-inch 12K Mono
Print Speed	Up to 150mm/h (tilt release)
Light Source	COB + Fresnel collimating lens
Auto-Leveling	Yes, intelligent mechanical sensor
Camera	AI monitoring, power-loss resume
Connectivity	USB, Wi-Fi
Starts From	$399+

Best For

Makers who print full busts, larger miniatures, helmet sections, or run batch production of multiple smaller figures. Anyone who needs more than the Mars 5 Ultra’s 153mm plate.

Not Ideal For

Anyone who wants the absolute best XY resolution available. The 16K variant adds the heated vat and higher resolution for $100 more.

Saturn 4 Ultra 16K

From $499+

The resin flagship. The Saturn 4 Ultra 16K adds two meaningful upgrades over the standard 4 Ultra: 16K resolution (vs 12K) and a smart heated resin vat. The heated vat keeps resin at a steady 30°C, which matters in two ways. First, cold resin becomes more viscous and produces inconsistent layers or failed prints, especially in winter or unheated spaces. Second, consistent resin temperature means more predictable layer times and fewer failures on long prints. The 14 x 19 micron XY pixel size produces detail at a level that requires a magnifier to fully appreciate.

For serious miniature painters, collector figure artists, and anyone where surface quality is the non-negotiable priority, the 16K is worth the extra $100 over the standard Saturn 4 Ultra.

Key Specs

Build Volume	212 x 118 x 220mm
LCD	10-inch 16K Mono
XY Resolution	14 x 19 microns (industry-leading)
Print Speed	Up to 150mm/h (tilt release)
Heated Vat	Yes, maintains resin at 30°C for consistent prints
Auto-Leveling	Yes, with AI camera monitoring
Connectivity	USB, Wi-Fi
Starts From	$499+

Best For

Professional-grade miniature work. Collector figures and bust sculptures where every surface detail counts. Cold or variable-temperature environments where a heated vat prevents resin consistency issues.

Not Ideal For

Beginners. The Mars 5 Ultra at $269 is the better starting point. The 16K difference is real but requires proper support setup and dialed exposure settings to take advantage of it.

FDM Printers: Centauri Carbon Series

FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) prints with plastic filament rather than resin. No PPE required, no wash and cure step, far larger build volumes, and material options from basic PLA through engineering-grade carbon fiber composites. Elegoo’s Centauri Carbon machines are fully enclosed CoreXY printers built for speed, carbon fiber capability, and optional multi-color printing.

Centauri Carbon

From $319+

Elegoo’s enclosed CoreXY FDM machine. 256 x 256 x 256mm, fully enclosed, 500mm/s max speed, and a 350°C all-metal hotend with hardened nozzle for carbon fiber filaments. The Smart Grille system passively regulates chamber temperature through adjustable vents, which keeps conditions stable enough for ABS and ASA without the complexity of active heating. At $319 it’s one of the more affordable enclosed FDM machines that can handle CF-PLA, CF-PETG, ABS, and ASA reliably. Runs via LAN or USB with no cloud dependency.

Key Specs

Build Volume	256 x 256 x 256mm
Architecture	Fully enclosed CoreXY
Max Print Speed	500mm/s
Max Hotend Temp	350°C, all-metal with hardened nozzle
Chamber	Smart Grille passive regulation
Materials	PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, CF-PLA, CF-PETG, TPU
Connectivity	LAN, USB. No cloud dependency.
Starts From	$319+

Best For

Makers who want single-color enclosed FDM with carbon fiber capability at a budget price. Anyone printing ABS and ASA who doesn’t need multi-color output.

Not Ideal For

Anyone who wants multi-color printing. Step up to the Carbon 2 Combo. For demanding PC printing that needs active 60°C chamber heating, the Creality K1C or Bambu P2S are the better choices.

Centauri Carbon 2 Combo

From $449+

The Centauri Carbon with a 4-color filament system included. Same 256 x 256 x 256mm enclosed CoreXY, same 350°C CF capability, same Smart Grille passive chamber. The Combo adds Elegoo’s CFS unit for 4-color printing in a single job. At $449 it sits in a very small category: enclosed FDM with multi-color and CF capability for under $500. No cloud dependency, no account required, runs completely on LAN or USB.

Reviews as of early 2026 rate it as one of the best multi-color FDM values available. The Bambu A1 Mini Combo has better software and ecosystem at a similar price, but the 180mm build volume is a real constraint. The Centauri Carbon 2 Combo gives you the full 256mm cube with 4-color in an enclosed machine. The trade-off vs the Bambu P2S is active vs passive chamber and software maturity.

Key Specs

Build Volume	256 x 256 x 256mm
Architecture	Fully enclosed CoreXY
Max Print Speed	500mm/s
Multi-Color	4-color CFS unit included in Combo
Max Hotend Temp	350°C, hardened nozzle for CF filaments
Chamber	Smart Grille passive regulation
Connectivity	LAN, USB. No cloud dependency.
Starts From	$449+

Best For

Makers who want multi-color enclosed FDM with CF capability at under $500. TCG players printing multi-color deck boxes. Anyone who wants 4-color printing in a self-contained enclosed machine without Bambu pricing.

Not Ideal For

Anyone who needs active chamber heating above passive temperature for demanding PC printing. Makers who want Bambu’s software ecosystem and auto-calibration depth. For those, the Bambu P2S at $549 is the cleaner step up.

Which Elegoo Printer Should You Buy?

Your situation	Recommended	Why
First resin printer. Print miniatures and detail pieces. Compact space.	Mars 5 Ultra	$269. 9K, 18-micron XY, auto-leveling, tilt release. The cleanest entry into resin printing available right now.
Print larger resin pieces. Full busts, batch runs, larger miniatures.	Saturn 4 Ultra	$399. 10-inch 12K, 218mm plate, 150mm/h. The same ease of use as the Mars but significantly more space to work with.
Need the best possible resin detail. Serious miniature painting. Cold workshop.	Saturn 4 Ultra 16K	$499. 16K, 14 x 19 micron XY, heated vat at 30°C. Heated resin and top resolution for consistent, high-quality results every print.
Want enclosed FDM for ABS, ASA, or carbon fiber filaments. Single color.	Centauri Carbon	$319. Enclosed CoreXY, 350°C hardened nozzle, 500mm/s, Smart Grille. The most affordable enclosed CF-capable FDM machine in this guide.
Want enclosed multi-color FDM with CF capability under $500.	Centauri Carbon 2 Combo	$449. 4-color CFS, enclosed, 350°C, 256mm cube. The best multi-color enclosed FDM value in this price bracket as of 2026.
Unsure whether to buy resin or FDM.	Depends on what you print	Detail pieces, miniatures, jewelry: go resin. Deck boxes, functional parts, larger prints, multi-color: go FDM. Both are legitimate and many makers own one of each.
Comparing Elegoo FDM to Bambu Lab at a similar price point.	See the Bambu Guide	Bambu has better software, deeper auto-calibration, and stronger community support. Elegoo wins on price and is the only option at the $319 to $449 range for enclosed multi-color FDM. Full Bambu Lab lineup here.

Where OreKo Sources Its Filament

Every OreKo model is tested with eSUN filaments before the file is published. Their PLA Basic and Matte PLA deliver the consistency we need for reliable settings documentation — temperature, flow, and surface finish stay predictable spool to spool. That predictability is what lets us publish specific settings on each model page with confidence.

eSUN is one of the largest filament manufacturers in the world. Their full range — PLA, PLA+, Matte PLA, PETG, ABS+, TPU, silk, wood fill, and specialty filaments — is available through the eSUN Official Store.

Disclosure: the eSUN link above is an affiliate link. If you purchase through it, we earn a small commission at no cost to you. We only recommend products we use ourselves.