Get Started Resin Printing With the HALOT-X1

If you enjoy 3D printing with filament and are interested in something new, resin printing is a great option. There are some definite challenges–resin is notoriously messy and has more safety issues to think about. But the HALOT-X1 from PioCreat is a solid way to solve a few of the older issues and get started.

If you’re completely new to the idea, resin printing involves a vat of liquid resin and a plate. (Some printers lower the plate into the vat, others, including the HALOT-X1, raise the vat up to the plate.) It flashes a UV light to harden the resin one layer at a time to build your print object. So instead of putting down one layer at a time of plastic from heated filament, you’re hardening one layer at a time of liquid resin. 

The result is incredibly smooth prints. And if you like to print multiples of something–say, jewelry or minis for painting–resin prints multiples on the same plate at basically the same time as one, unlike an FDM printer where each one has to be printed individually. It’s been great for cosplay needs, printing things like custom buttons and uniform pieces. For example, I printed the shoulder rank stripes for my Orville costume on an earlier resin printer.

The HALOT-X1 is a very beginner‑friendly resin 3D printer with high detail and a lot of automation, making it easy for you to get started. It arrives pretty much assembled–you just need to attach the resin vat. There’s not a lot in the way of an instruction manual, but for the most part, using it is pretty straightforward, and there’s a decent number of users online as well as in Creality’s Discord, which is always helpful when you’re starting with a new device or hobby.

Specs

• Unit dimensions: 344 x 331 x 434 mm
• Build plate: 211.68 x 118.37 x 200 mm
• Layer thickness: 0.01-0.2mm
• Price: $599 ($469 as of this post)
• Info sheet

If you’ve been around 3d printing for a while, you may be familiar with Creality’s printers. PioCreat3D is a newer brand founded by one of the creators of Creality, and the desktop resin printers from the HALOT series have been separated from Creality into PioCreat3D. 

Leveling

One of the biggest challenges with resin printers can be leveling the bed. With some resin printers, the recommended method for leveling involves a paper test, in which you want a piece paper to be held just tightly enough. Not an exact science, to be sure. The self-leveling feature of the HALOT-X1 is a huge win and massive time saver in comparison. It’s also super stable. I haven’t had any trouble with banding in prints.

Auto Feed Unit (AFU)

A second super useful feature is an optional add-on called the Auto Feed Unit, which can top off the vat as you go and put the unused resin at the end of a print back in the bottle. One of the most annoying things when printing large resin pieces is the vat running low. The AFU reduces your chances of a failed print from running out of resin (and helps with your post-print cleanup). And while you still need to clean the vat at the end of your printing session, the AFU is a great way to get a head start. The AFU can also use RFID recognition on Piocreat’s resin to automatically recognize and handle resins, including warming.

Resolution

The HALOT-X1 boasts “16k” printing. What does resolution mean in this context? You might understand it in printing on paper or on your television, but 3D printing adds another dimension. Resin printers generally offer the highest resolution, which you can think of in terms of smoothness and detail. In resin printing, the accuracy of that extra dimension, the z-axis, is important. The HALOT-X1 claims z-axis accuracy of 0.01mm.

Another important aspect, more than what number a printer claims in front of a “k” for its resolution, is the pixel size. The X1 is at 14×19µm. What does that mean for you as a beginner? Take a look at these test prints and see if they are sufficient for what you want to print!

Test prints

For a start, I ran Garage Science’s Resin Printer Torture Test. It checks for the ability to print very thin pieces, overhangs, spacing, and in general all the bits that could go wrong with a print. The HALOT-X1 did really well. One of the cones snapped off pretty quickly, but I’m pretty sure because of my handling, not because of the print itself. The narrowest pillar warped, as did the spacing in some of of the gap areas. But overall, a smooth first print.

Here you can see the warped pillar, but also the very fine horizontal hole details in the rear piece:

Next I tried some very thin, geometric earrings. The thickness is not 100% consistent throughout the design, but this is definitely the kind of piece where a resin printer excels. The flaws are only noticeable upon very close examination. Of course, if you want to print for fine detail rather than aesthetics, you have some different concerns, which can be challenging to address in any 3D printing, and particularly in resin, depending on the level of precision you’re seeking. Different brands and colors of resin may have varying levels of shrinkage, and exposure time can have an effect as well. I did not try adjusting any settings to perfect these earrings, so it may well be that with some experimentation, I could clean up the imperfections.

Finally, a larger print: a Klein bottle vase. It’s smooth. No failed spaces.

A close-up:

My favorite feature: Twist-to-release

With previous resin printers, I’m always a little nervous about trying to pop a print off of the plate. The HALOT-X1 solves this with a quick-release build plate. Instead of aggressively scraping at your print with a spatula, you twist the handles on the build plate a bit to pop the model off.

Problems with resin printing

Again, if you’re new to resin printing, there’s a bit of a learning curve in terms of safety, as well as finishing prints.

Liquid resin is a hazardous chemical. You can find plenty of forum posts that say, “I never use PPE, and I’m fine!”, but you can also find plenty of people who never wore gloves and were fine until they weren’t. You must wear gloves and work in a well-ventilated area or otherwise mitigate fumes. There are lower-VOC, lower-odor resins, but I’ve yet to find one that doesn’t have an aroma at all. Spills are messy, sticky, and require thorough cleanup with isopropyl alcohol. Absolutely do not put your printer on your favorite piece of furniture, especially unprotected!

The HALOT‑X1 is no exception to these rules for all resin printers. You still need gloves, eye protection, ventilation, and a clear workflow for washing and curing prints. It does have some features that help compared to some other printers: the hinged top cover means you don’t have to find a spot for a separate UV shield, and the quick-release vat latch makes draining and cleaning the vat much easier. Built‑in air filtration and smarter resin management help reduce the smell and chance of spills, but that’s still not zero.

While it’s outside the scope of this review, before you buy your first resin printer, you should also look into what’s required for curing prints. FDM prints are generally good to go straight off the plate–not so for resin prints, which must be designed with drainage in mind (for thicker prints) and UV-cured after printing.

Where to buy

You can pick up the HALOT-X1 from the Creality store, usually $599, currently on sale for $469. 

GeekMom was provided with a unit for review.