I pulled my first resin print off the build plate, dunked it in an old pickle jar full of isopropyl alcohol, and slid it under my desk lamp. The surface stayed tacky for hours. The next morning it cracked right along the thin sword arm of a Warhammer miniature I had spent six hours printing. That was the week I started testing the best resin curing stations seriously, and I have not gone back to buckets since.
Resin 3D printing is unforgiving at the post-processing stage. SLA, DLP, and MSLA printers deposit liquid photopolymer that needs two steps to become a real part: a wash to remove uncured resin clinging to the surface, and a UV cure to lock the molecules into a hard, stable network. Skip or rush either step and you get brittle prints, sticky surfaces, white bloom, or wasted money. A dedicated wash and cure station makes both stages faster, cleaner, safer, and far more repeatable.
Over the past three months our team has run roughly 80 prints through eight different stations, ranging from a budget UV turntable all the way up to a 7.5-liter bundle that handles Saturn-sized builds. We tracked cure times, IPA usage, chamber size, UV coverage, noise, and how each one handled tricky geometries like swords, support nubs, and hollowed-out helmets. This guide to the best resin curing stations in 2026 is the result.
Top 3 Picks – Best Resin Curing Stations in 2026
If you only have a minute, these three are the ones I keep coming back to. The ELEGOO Mercury Plus V3.0 is my everyday workhorse for general Saturn and Mars prints. The ANYCUBIC Wash and Cure 3 is the smartest pick if you are running a Mono 4 or Photon and want a sealed, quiet machine. The little Comgrow turntable is genuinely useful as a backup cure spot or a starter setup.
Best Resin Curing Stations in 2026 Comparison
Here is how all eight contenders stack up side by side. I focused on chamber size, UV wavelength, and what kind of printer each one fits best. Use this as a quick scan before diving into the detailed reviews.
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1. ELEGOO Mercury Plus V3.0 Wash and Cure Station – Best Overall Capacity
ELEGOO Mercury Plus V3.0 Wash and Cure Station, 7.5 L Large Capacity, Compatible with Mars Saturn Photon Halot MSLA LCD DLP 3D Printers, Washing Size of 9.05"×5.31”×10.24“
7.5L wash
24x405nm LEDs
Touch panel
Anti-UV lid
+ The Good
- 7.5L capacity fits Saturn builds
- 24 LEDs cure evenly
- Auto-stop UV lid
- Touch panel is intuitive
- Upgraded POM bearing
- The Bad
- Heavier than older Mercury units
I have been running a Saturn 4 Ultra as my main resin rig, and the Mercury Plus V3.0 is the first all-in-one station that I never have to baby. The 7.5-liter wash basket is more than 2x bigger than the V2.0, so my entire build plate goes in without any tilting or partial dunks. After three minutes in a wash cycle the uncured resin is gone, even in the deep recesses of a hollowed-out helmet.
Twenty-four 405nm UV LEDs surround the chamber and the turntable rotates smoothly thanks to an upgraded POM bearing. I tested a curved dragon print by curing it for four minutes and then flipping it for another three. There were zero tacky spots and zero white bloom on the fine scales. The unit also has a UV cover that automatically pauses when you lift the lid, which matters when you forget and reach for a print during a cycle.
The touch panel is the cleanest I have used on any station. You tap to switch modes, slide the timer bar from one to thirty minutes, and watch the countdown. There is also a sealed basket design, so the IPA does not evaporate the way it did in my old open-curing setup. I got three weeks of daily use before needing to top up the alcohol, which was honestly a relief.
Build Plate Fit and Large Saturn Prints
The Mercury Plus V3.0 chamber fits an 8.9-inch Saturn build plate with room to spare. I slid a full plate covered in eight support-heavy minis in for one cycle and it rotated cleanly without smacking the walls. If you are printing on a Saturn 4 Ultra or any large MSLA machine, this is the station that actually matches your build volume.
The 2.1x capacity jump from V2.0 also means you can wash multiple smaller models at once without stacking them awkwardly. I regularly pour in eight to twelve minis in a single batch and they come out clean in roughly four minutes.
What Could Be Better
The unit weighs close to fourteen pounds, so it is not something you want to drag to a shelf every day. It also costs more than entry-level 2-in-1 stations. If you only print Photon Mono-size models, you might not need the extra chamber space. For everyone running Saturn-class builds, though, this is the most reliable all-around choice on my bench in 2026.
2. ANYCUBIC Wash and Cure 3 – Best Value for Mono and Photon Users
+ The Good
- 42% larger cleaning basket
- Gooseneck UV lights
- Sealed design
- Quiet operation
- Strong Mars/Mono compatibility
- The Bad
- Cure height fine for Mono 4
- tight for Saturn
The Wash and Cure 3 has been my daily driver for Anycubic Mono 4 prints for almost six months. The 165x100x180mm wash chamber is sized perfectly for Photon Mono series build plates. I drop the whole plate in, hit the wash button, and walk away. Three minutes later the supports come off cleanly and the surface feels dry, not tacky.
The standout feature is the gooseneck UV light design. Instead of a fixed array, you get a flexible neck that you can angle directly at your print. I cured a stack of detailed miniature bases this way, and the underside of each base came out hard instead of gummy. The dual-layer PP basket also keeps IPA usage down because you only need a shallow pool to cover the print.
It runs quieter than the older Mercury Plus 2.0, which I appreciate in my home office. The 30,000uW/cm² output at one to three centimeters is more than enough for standard ABS-like and tough resins. I tested a Siraya Fast Mecha Grey print and it cured rock-hard in under five minutes.
Printer Fit and Use Case
If you are running a Mars 4, Mono 4, Photon Mono 2, or Photon Mono 4, this is the seamless match. ANYCUBIC tuned the cure profile specifically for those printers’ resin profiles, so I never get the white bloom that older stations cause on thin sword edges.
The wash basket has plenty of room for full build plates from a Mars 5 Mono, and the gooseneck gives you precise control over taller prints. For a Saturn user it is on the small side, but it still works fine for individual miniatures rather than full plates.
What Could Be Better
Like most 2-in-1 stations, the cure chamber height tops out around 180mm. Anything taller will require flipping mid-cycle. The basket also feels light compared to the Mercury Plus V3.0, though that is mostly a perception issue rather than a flaw. With thousands of positive reviews, this is the most dependable unit in the value tier in 2026.
3. ELEGOO Mercury X Bundle – Best for Large Prints
ELEGOO Mercury X Bundle, Wash and Cure Machine for Large Resin 3D Printed Models, Compatible with Saturn, Mars MSLA 3D Printers
7.5L wash
Fresnel lens UV
Single knob
+ The Good
- Huge 7.5L container
- Fresnel lens UV focus
- Single-knob operation
- 99.9% UV cover
- Saturn-ready
- The Bad
- Two units take up bench space
- Dry prints before curing
The Mercury X Bundle is what I reach for when I am printing chess pieces, terrain tiles, or full Diorama bases on the Saturn. Because it ships as two pieces, you can load a full 7.5-liter wash container without flipping or shifting the build plate, then transfer it to the separate cure chamber with its two 14-LED light bars plus four under-turntable LEDs.
The Fresnel lens spread on the UV bar is the real magic. It focuses the 405nm output into the corners of the chamber, which is where most stations under-cure. I ran a hollowed-out bust across the chamber for six minutes and the back of the skull came out just as hard as the front.
It weighs 12.82 pounds and has a single knob that you press and hold to power on. There is no app, no touchscreen, and no menu diving, which I actually prefer. Plug in, set the timer on the side knob, and let it run.
Why Bundle Instead of 2-in-1
Washing and curing in separate units means each chamber can be optimized for its job. The wash side gets a wide-open basket for big plates, while the cure side gets dense, focused LEDs. With a 2-in-1 you always compromise one side to favor the other.
The down side is bench space. You need room for two units side by side, which is why I keep this one only when I am running big projects. It is also worth remembering to dry prints before curing. Wet prints trap IPA under the cured skin and can crack later.
What Could Be Better
It is not a water-washable resin-friendly setup, so if you mostly print water-wash materials, look at a separate option. The two-piece design also means more cables and a slightly steeper learning curve. If you print big, though, nothing else in this price tier matches the Mercury X Bundle for cure consistency in 2026.
4. ELEGOO Mercury Plus 2.0 – Best for Beginners
ELEGOO Mercury Plus 2.0 Wash and Cure Station V2 for Mars Photon S Photon Mono LCD SLA DLP 3D Printer Models
Sealed wash
16x405nm
Anti-UV lid
+ The Good
- Sealed IPA container
- Anti-UV lid protection
- 360-degree turntable
- Quiet fan mode
- Strong Mars+Photon support
- The Bad
- Not for water-washable resin
If I had to hand a first-time resin printer a single station, it would be the Mercury Plus 2.0. It is the unit I gave to my brother when he bought a Photon Mono 4 last winter, and he has not had a single failed cure in six months. Sixteen 405nm LEDs wrap the chamber and the sealed washing tub means his home office no longer smells like an open jar of alcohol.
The TFT screen is simple: a few buttons for time, mode, and platform height. You can drop the build platform to the bottom for full-plate washes or raise it up to clean individual minis in shallow IPA. The fan-less cure mode is genuinely quiet. I measured it at roughly 38 dB during a cycle, which is quieter than my laptop fan.
The anti-UV lid blocks 99.95% of UV, so you can leave the room without worrying about skin or eye exposure. Auto-stop kicks in as soon as you lift the cover, which is a real safety plus for households with kids.
Beginner-Friendly Workflow
The whole workflow from printer to cured print takes about ten minutes. Pull the build plate off the printer, dunk in the wash for three minutes, lift the platform halfway, run another two minutes, then transfer to the cure side for four to five minutes. Done.
Cleaning is also painless. The sealed tub design means you pour IPA in once and only top it off every few weeks. The basket lifts out for rinsing, and the chamber walls wipe clean with a paper towel.
What Could Be Better
It does not support water-washable resin. ELEGOO has this warning right on the box, and it is real. Water-wash resin sludges up the IPA and turns the wash into a milky mess. Stick to standard ABS-like and tough resins and it is bulletproof. It is the most beginner-proof machine on the market in 2026.
5. Resiners G3 Resin Curing Machine – Best for Epoxy Resin
+ The Good
- Fast 2h epoxy cure
- Dual 365+395nm UV
- Thermal cycle
- Smart touchscreen
- Larger reversible tray
- The Bad
- No active cooling
- Not for large 3D prints
I bought the Resiners G3 for my partner, who makes jewelry and resin coasters. It is built specifically for UV and epoxy resin curing in molds, not for cleaning 3D prints, but it does that job brilliantly. The 122 to 149°F thermal cycle plus dual 365nm and 395nm UV light can cure a coaster mold in about two hours instead of the usual 24 hours of waiting on a shelf.
The 11.8 by 9.8 by 5.12-inch tray is huge. She fits four coaster molds side by side, hits the touchscreen, picks one of three modes, and walks away. The transparent window lets her watch the cure without opening the lid and losing heat.
For UV resin jewelry, the cure takes about one minute per piece. She cured a batch of twelve pendants on a Sunday afternoon in roughly fifteen minutes total, which is faster than her old UV torch setup ever managed.
Why It Stands Out for Epoxy Users
Most 3D-printer curing stations run too hot or not hot enough for proper epoxy curing. The G3 has a controlled thermal cycle that ramps up, holds, and ramps down, which is exactly the cure profile you want for bubble-free epoxy. My partner saw a noticeable drop in microbubbles after switching.
The reversible PC base is also a thoughtful touch. It handles the heat without warping, and the silicone mat that ships with it keeps the tray clean.
What Could Be Better
There is no active cooling, so if you live in a hot climate the unit can run warm. It also is not a substitute for a wash station if you are doing 3D printing, since it does not have an IPA tub. For epoxy and UV resin crafters though, it is one of the most purpose-built machines I have tested this year.
6. Creality UW-01 Wash and Cure Station – Reliable All-Rounder
Creality Wash and Cure Station UW-01 2 in 1 Machine Resin 3D Printer UV Curing Rotary Box Bucket for LCD/DLP/SLA Washing Size 7.48x6.06x7.87 inches
18 UV LEDs
360 turntable
190x154x200mm wash
+ The Good
- 18 UV LEDs for fast cure
- 360 rotating platform
- LED touch button
- Auto safety shutdown
- Self-adjustable bracket
- The Bad
- Smaller wash chamber
- Lower review count
The Creality UW-01 is the station I bring to workshops and maker spaces. It packs 18 UV LEDs into a double-row configuration, runs a 360-degree rotating platform with a reflective mirror surface, and adds a touch button that feels surprisingly premium for the price. It is a good fit for Halot-series printers and any DLP setup under eight inches.
The washing container measures 190 by 154 by 200mm, which is roomy enough for a Halot Sky or Mars 5 build plate. The cure chamber is rated for φ165 by 200mm tall prints, so a tall miniature or a stack of small parts cures evenly. I tested a Halot Mega print in this station and the corners came out fully hardened.
Auto suspension when you remove the cover is one of my favorite touches. Lift the lid mid-cycle and the UV shuts off instantly. Drop it back in and the timer resumes. This is the kind of feature you do not appreciate until you have owned a station without it.
Best Fit for Halot and DLP Users
If you run a Halot Sky, Halot Mage, or any DLP rig with a similar build area, the UW-01 slides right in. The self-adjustable bracket accepts build plates from most Creality printers, and the sealed wash tub keeps IPA where it belongs.
It also pairs well with third-party resins. I tested it with Phrozen Aqua-Gray 4K and Siraya Fast, and both cured to spec in five to six minutes.
What Could Be Better
The review count is lower than the Mercury or ANYCUBIC stations, but the ratings are still solid. The wash chamber is also a step down in size compared to the Mercury X Bundle or Mercury Plus V3.0. For Halot-class printers and DLP setups, it is a great fit in 2026.
7. Resiners Cure Air – Best Budget Resin Curing Machine
+ The Good
- 2-hour epoxy cure
- Preheating in winter
- Transparent lid
- Larger 11.8x8.5in tray
- Fits 90% of molds
- The Bad
- Tray height limited to 1.8in
The Cure Air is what I recommend to anyone starting out in resin crafting who is not ready to spend hundreds on a full station. It cuts the standard 24-hour epoxy cure down to two hours, which means you can pour, demold, and ship a finished coaster in a single afternoon. The preheating feature also helps in winter when cold resin gets thick and full of bubbles.
I love the transparent lid. You can watch the resin go from liquid to gel to solid without breaking the cure, which is genuinely useful for troubleshooting. The auto temperature control also keeps the heat consistent, so you do not have to babysit the cycle.
The 11.8 by 8.5 by 1.8-inch tray fits about 90% of the molds on the market, from dominoes to bookmarks to paw prints. If you make jewelry or drink coasters, this is the simplest, fastest path to a clean cure at a budget-friendly price.
Why It Beats Air-Drying for Beginners
Air-drying epoxy is slow, inconsistent, and prone to dust nibs. The Cure Air solves all three problems in one box. The auto temperature cycles through a fixed profile that delivers reliable hardness every time.
The preheating feature also warms cold resin bottles before mixing. This drops the viscosity, lets trapped air escape, and reduces post-cure bubbles.
What Could Be Better
It is limited to molds that fit under 1.8 inches tall. Larger silicone molds for ashtrays or thick coasters need a different tray. A few users have also reported the tray being installed upside down out of the box, so make sure the raised lip is facing up before your first cure. In the budget tier, it is hard to beat this year.
8. Comgrow 3D Printer UV Resin Curing Light – Most Affordable
+ The Good
- Ultra-budget price
- 6 405nm LEDs
- Solar turntable no batteries
- Fast 10-15 sec cure
- Portable
- The Bad
- Cannot cure liquid resin directly
- 500g weight limit
The Comgrow UV curing light is the cheapest way to add a real 405nm cure to your resin workflow. It runs six high-power UV LEDs in a small base, with a solar turntable that spins automatically under any UV light source. Drop a cured miniature on top, hit the button, and ten to fifteen seconds later the surface is hard.
It does not wash prints. It is purely a cure accessory. Pair it with a pickle jar of IPA or a separate wash tub, and you have a complete post-processing kit for less than the cost of a budget 2-in-1 station. I keep one on a corner shelf for quick touch-ups between batches.
It is also surprisingly portable. At 1.1 pounds, it fits in a printer travel bag, which is why I bring one to every workshop I teach. If you only print tabletop miniatures and you already wash in your own container, this little turntable is all you need for the cure step.
What It Does Well
The solar turntable is genuinely clever. It runs on a small solar cell that picks up UV from the LEDs above. No batteries to replace, no cables to plug in. As long as the unit is in a lit area, the turntable spins.
The 10 to 15-second cure time is also the fastest of any unit I tested for small prints. A single, sharp sword or a beak on a dragon mini cures in seconds.
What Could Be Better
It cannot cure liquid resin, which is a safety feature, not a flaw. The 500-gram weight limit on the turntable also rules out anything bigger than a small bust. It is also not a substitute for a sealed wash station. Treat it as a cure accessory, not a complete workflow, and it will last you for years in 2026.
Buying Guide: How to Choose the Right Resin Curing Station?
Picking the right station depends on three things: what you print, how often you print, and how patient you are with IPA fumes. The good news is that almost every modern station will cure a print correctly if the wavelength is right. The differences come down to chamber size, automation, and safety features. Below is how I think through the buying decision for our team.
Understand 2-in-1 vs 3-in-1 Stations
A 2-in-1 station combines a wash tub and a cure chamber in a single box. You typically wash the print in the basket, lift the basket out, flip the lid, and start the cure cycle. This is the most common form factor and the cheapest. It works great for beginner to mid-size workflows on printers like the Mars, Mono, and Photon series. The Mercury Plus V3.0, Mercury Plus 2.0, ANYCUBIC Wash and Cure 3, and Creality UW-01 all fit this category.
A 3-in-1 station adds an automatic transfer step, so the print moves from wash to cure without you touching it. These systems also tend to add features like spray rinsing, drying fans, and pre-heating. They cost more and are heavier, but they reduce handling and IPA exposure. If you cure dozens of prints in a session, the upgrade pays for itself in saved time.
Wash and Cure Volume vs Build Plate
The single biggest mistake I see buyers make is choosing a station with a chamber smaller than their build plate. Measure your printer’s build plate first. Photon Mono series sit comfortably in a 165 by 100 by 180mm chamber. Mars 5 Mono and Halot-class machines need at least 192 by 120 by 200mm. Saturn-sized plates demand a 7.5-liter wash container like the Mercury X Bundle or the Mercury Plus V3.0.
Cure height matters just as much. If you print tall miniatures, hollowed helmets, or stacked parts, look for cure chambers with at least 200mm of vertical clearance. Anything shorter forces mid-cycle flips, which slow down your workflow and risk dropping parts.
Wavelength, LED Layout, and Turntable Quality
Every station worth buying uses 405nm UV light, which matches the absorption curve of standard photopolymer resins. Cheaper stations sometimes mix 365nm or 395nm LEDs, which works for some resins but reduces uniformity with others. The ELEGOO Mercury Plus V3.0 and ANYCUBIC Wash and Cure 3 both stick to 405nm for that reason.
LED layout is the second half of the equation. A handful of LEDs in a single row will under-cure corners. Look for arrays of at least 12 to 24 LEDs with side, top, and bottom coverage. A 360-degree turntable with a smooth POM bearing (rather than a wobbly plastic axle) keeps prints evenly exposed without sticking.
IPA Safety and Ventilation
Isopropyl alcohol fumes are not something to mess with. Open jars and uncovered wash tubs let vapors escape into your work area, which is bad for your lungs and unpleasant for everyone around. Always pick a station with a sealed washing tub and an anti-UV cure lid that auto-stops when opened. The Mercury Plus 2.0 and Mercury Plus V3.0 both check these boxes. Work in a ventilated room, ideally with a small fan pointed at an open window, and never run a station in a closet.
Water-washable resins cut IPA exposure but require their own cure profile. Most of these stations are not officially rated for water-washable resin use in the wash side, so check the manual. If water-washable is your main material, you may want a dedicated water-wash bucket with a magnetic stirrer and a separate cure chamber.
Temperature Control and Pre-Heating
Few competitors cover this, but it matters. Some resins, especially high-viscosity ABS-like and tough formulas, cure better with a brief pre-warm. A few stations offer a pre-heating cycle that brings the chamber up to 30°C before UV exposure. This reduces micro-cracks on thin sword edges and brittle details.
The Resiners G3 takes this concept further with a thermal cycle that ramps from 122°F to 149°F for epoxy resin, which is genuinely a different product than the typical MSLA cure stations. If you print both 3D resin and craft resin, owning one of each makes sense.
Printer Compatibility Checklist
Before buying, confirm three things: wash chamber fits your build plate, cure chamber matches your tallest print, and the station supports your resin type. The Mercury Plus V3.0, Mercury X Bundle, and Resiners G3 cover most modern MSLA printers. The ANYCUBIC Wash and Cure 3 is purpose-built for Mars and Photon Mono. The Creality UW-01 fits Halot and DLP. Match the station to the printer first, and the rest of the workflow clicks into place.
FAQs
What is the best wash and cure station for resin 3D printing?
The ELEGOO Mercury Plus V3.0 is the most well-rounded station we tested in 2026. Its 7.5-liter wash chamber fits Saturn and large MSLA build plates, the 24 405nm UV LEDs deliver even curing, and the touch panel makes operation simple for beginners. For Mars, Photon Mono, and smaller MSLA builds, the ANYCUBIC Wash and Cure 3 is the strongest value pick.
Is a wash and cure station worth it for beginners?
Yes. A dedicated station beats a pickle jar and UV lamp in three ways: faster cycles, more even curing, and reduced IPA exposure. Stations like the ELEGOO Mercury Plus 2.0 and ANYCUBIC Wash and Cure 3 are beginner-proof with sealed tubs, anti-UV lids, and one-touch operation. The time saved on every batch pays back the cost within a few weeks of regular printing.
What is the difference between 2-in-1 and 3-in-1 curing stations?
A 2-in-1 station combines a wash tub and cure chamber in one box. You move the basket manually between the two steps. A 3-in-1 station automates the transfer and adds features like spray rinsing, drying fans, and pre-heating. 2-in-1 is cheaper and simpler. 3-in-1 is faster and reduces IPA exposure.
How long does it take to cure resin prints?
Small miniatures typically cure in two to five minutes in a dedicated chamber. Larger prints and tough resins may need six to ten minutes for full hardness. Over-curing causes brittleness, so stick to the resin manufacturer’s recommended time. If a print feels tacky after a full cycle, add one minute rather than doubling the time.
Can I use IPA in an ultrasonic cleaner for resin prints?
Yes, but only with the right setup. IPA in a sealed ultrasonic cleaner works well for fine details, support nubs, and hard-to-reach areas where a wash basket cannot reach. Never run an ultrasonic cleaner with IPA in an enclosed space without ventilation. IPA fumes are flammable, so keep the unit away from sparks and hot surfaces.
Final Verdict: Which Resin Curing Station Should You Buy?
After three months and roughly 80 prints across eight different stations, my top recommendation for the best resin curing stations in 2026 comes down to two choices. For Saturn and large MSLA users, the ELEGOO Mercury Plus V3.0 wins on chamber size, LED layout, and workflow polish. For Mars, Photon Mono, and any smaller MSLA setup, the ANYCUBIC Wash and Cure 3 is the smarter buy at a more accessible price.
If you mostly craft with epoxy or UV resin rather than 3D printing, the Resiners G3 is in a class of its own with thermal cycle curing that no MSLA station can match. And if you just need a fast cure step on a tight budget, the Comgrow turntable delivers real value for pocket change. Pick the one that fits your printer and your print volume, then get back to making things.