High-Detail Miniatures on FDM: The Power of a 0.2mm Nozzle
I recently picked up a new 0.2 mm nozzle for my Bambu Lab X1 Carbon, and the upgrade process couldn’t have been smoother. The swap itself was quick and straightforward, especially with the help of M3DM’s step-by-step video guide, which made the whole process feel effortless.
To kick things off, I decided to print Archen’s Warhammer 40K - Ork Boyz from MakerWorld. It felt like the perfect test model. This model is packed with gritty details, layered textures, what you’d expect from a classic Warhammer sculpt.
I own a resin printer, but it’s been sitting in storage for the past couple of years. As much as I appreciate the incredible detail resin can produce, I’ve never loved the process itself, the mess, the fumes, the constant cleanup. It always felt like more of a chore than it was worth.
That’s why I had high hopes for this nozzle. I was looking for something that could get me close to resin-level detail without all the extra hassle. Honestly, I was blown away. The print quality far exceeded my expectations, delivering sharp details and a smooth finish that genuinely surprised me, all without the headache that usually comes with resin printing.
The model was split into multiple parts, so I decided to begin with the head. It felt like the perfect place to really evaluate the level of detail this nozzle could deliver before committing to the rest of the print.
After seeing the results from that first piece, I went all in and started printing the remaining parts one by one, confident the nozzle could handle the full model.
Not long after finishing the prints, I gave the model a coat of black primer to prep it for painting and really bring out the details.
I’m genuinely impressed with how the final piece turned out. The paint job only took a couple of hours, and from the first print to the finished model, the entire project was wrapped up in a single day, which made the whole experience even more satisfying.
So what do you think?
Comments
You can use your Bluesky account to reply to this post.