The scenario and what we priced
The reader we have in mind prints a handful of 28 mm tabletop miniatures most weeks on a small resin printer. We assume 4 kg of resin a year, or roughly 75 g a week including supports, rafts and failed prints. That figure is our assumption, not a vendor number; replace it with your own once you have a month of use.
Every price below is the US-dollar listing on Anycubic’s official store on 30 October 2026, before tax and shipping. The resin, FEP film and Wash & Cure 3 were shown at a reduced price against a higher crossed-out price, so treat these as sale prices that can change [1][2][3].
Two lines are deliberately left blank: isopropyl alcohol and nitrile gloves. Their prices vary by country and shop, and we will not invent a local figure. The worked table shows where they go so you can add your own.
Consumables and equipment at listed prices
Anycubic Standard Resin V2 was $23.99 per 1 kg bottle, down from $34.99. Its listing says to clean models in a Wash & Cure machine for about 10 minutes using alcohol of 95% or stronger, or a cleaner, lists gloves among the post-processing tools and offers an MSDS download [1].
FEP release film listed as compatible with the Photon Mono 4 Ultra was $15.99 for the default option, against a regular $29.99 [2]. The listing gives no replacement interval and points to Anycubic’s wiki for replacement guidance, so the one purchase a year in our table is an assumption. Check the pack size of the option you choose before ordering.
The Wash & Cure 3 was $89, down from $129. Anycubic lists a 3-litre cleaning basket in a 4-litre bucket, adjustable heights that accommodate build platforms from 5.9 to 7.3 inches, and a curing area of up to 160 by 180 mm [3]. The Photon Mono 4 Ultra was $299 and has a 7-inch screen [4], inside that range.
| Item | Listed price | Notes from the listing |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Resin V2, 1 kg | $23.99 (was $34.99) [1] | Wash in 95%+ alcohol or cleaner; MSDS available |
| FEP film, Photon Mono 4 Ultra | $15.99 default option (regular $29.99) [2] | No replacement interval stated |
| Wash & Cure 3 | $89 (was $129) [3] | 3 L basket, 4 L bucket, 5.9 to 7.3 in platforms |
| Photon Mono 4 Ultra printer | $299 [4] | 7-inch screen; printer only |
Year one versus year two
The table assumes 4 kg of resin a year bought as single bottles, one FEP film purchase a year, and no spare vat or build plate. The alcohol and gloves rows are for you to fill in. Year two keeps the same usage and drops the printer and the wash station.
- A heavier user at 8 kg a year pays $191.92 for eight single bottles at the listed price [1], which pushes year two to about $208 before alcohol and gloves.
- A lighter user at 2 kg a year pays $47.98 for resin [1], so the film, alcohol and gloves become a larger share of the bill.
| Line | Year one | Year two |
|---|---|---|
| Photon Mono 4 Ultra [4] | $299.00 | – |
| Wash & Cure 3 [3] | $89.00 | – |
| Standard Resin V2, 4 kg [1] | $95.96 | $95.96 |
| FEP film, one purchase [2] | $15.99 | $15.99 |
| Subtotal from listed prices | $499.95 | $111.95 |
| Isopropyl alcohol, 95% or stronger | Your local price | Your local price |
| Nitrile gloves | Your local price | Your local price |
| Hazardous-waste disposal | Your local cost, if any | Your local cost, if any |
Gloves, alcohol and disposal are recurring, not optional
Anycubic lists gloves among the tools for post-processing Standard Resin V2 and points to the product’s MSDS for safety information [1]. Budget gloves for every washing and support-removal session.
Formlabs’ safety page for its wash station describes the same pattern for alcohol washing: resin may cause skin irritation or an allergic skin reaction, isopropyl alcohol is flammable, containers should be kept closed and away from children, and users should wear protective gloves, work in a well-ventilated area and follow the solvent’s safety data sheet and local authorities on disposal [5].
That disposal step is the cost most first-time buyers miss. Used alcohol carries uncured resin, so plan a route through your local hazardous-waste service before you buy the printer, not after the first full wash bucket.
How this compares with a first FDM year
Our first-year FDM budget priced a light-use Bambu A1 mini set-up with a spare plate, a spare hotend and 6 kg of PLA at about $318, or about $403 with a filament dryer. The resin set-up above is about $500 before alcohol and gloves, so resin costs roughly $100 to $180 more in year one for a comparable hobby budget.
Per model, resin can still be cheap. If a miniature with supports uses 10 g of resin (our assumption), Standard Resin V2 at $23.99 per kilogram puts the resin at about 24 cents [1]. The difference is that resin adds fixed yearly lines, film, gloves and alcohol, that do not shrink much when you print less.
Who should skip resin on cost grounds alone
Resin makes sense on cost if you print small, detailed models often enough that the fixed lines are spread over many parts. Anycubic also recommends using Standard Resin V2 above 20 °C [1], so a cold garage or shed adds either a heating cost or more failed prints.
- Skip resin if you have no well-ventilated space for washing with alcohol [5].
- Skip resin if you cannot store flammable isopropyl alcohol safely, closed and away from children [5].
- Skip resin if you cannot dispose of used alcohol and resin waste through a local hazardous-waste route [5].
- Skip resin if you print only a few models a month; the film, gloves and alcohol lines stay roughly the same while the resin line shrinks [1][2].
Questions before you decide
What alcohol does Anycubic specify for washing Standard Resin V2?
Anycubic’s listing says to clean models in its Wash & Cure machine for about 10 minutes using alcohol of 95% or stronger, or a cleaner, and lists gloves among the post-processing tools.
How often do I need to replace FEP film?
Anycubic’s FEP film listing does not state a replacement interval and points to its wiki for replacement guidance. Our model budgets one $15.99 purchase a year; replace film sooner if it is scratched, clouded or punctured.
Is isopropyl alcohol safe to keep at home for resin washing?
Formlabs warns that isopropyl alcohol is flammable, says to keep containers closed and out of the reach of children, wear gloves and work in a well-ventilated area, and to follow the safety data sheet and local authorities for disposal.
Will the Wash & Cure 3 fit my printer’s build plate?
Anycubic says the Wash & Cure 3’s adjustable height accommodates build platforms from 5.9 to 7.3 inches, with a 3-litre basket and a curing area of up to 160 by 180 mm. The Photon Mono 4 Ultra has a 7-inch screen, inside that range.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- Anycubic store: Standard Resin V2 Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Anycubic store: FEP film Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Anycubic store: Wash & Cure 3 Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Anycubic store: Photon Mono 4 Ultra Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Formlabs Support: Safety with Form Wash Accessed 30 Oct 2026
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