3D printed anatomy models for teaching and display
How to get skulls, hearts, bones and organ models 3D printed for a class or a display: where the files come from, labels, materials and what to avoid.
Resin or FDM for a teaching model?
By the Medical 3D Parts editors, The Spool List · Published October 14, 2026
The short answer
Resin printing suits small models where surface detail matters, such as teeth and small bones. FDM suits larger and sturdier models that are handled a lot. Ask the maker which printer and material they plan to use and why. No printing material makes a model safe for the mouth or body: that depends on a validated process, not the material.
Most makers on The Spool List have one of two kinds of printer. Resin (SLA, MSLA or DLP) printers cure liquid resin layer by layer; FDM printers lay down melted plastic filament.
| Resin | FDM | |
|---|---|---|
| Good for | Small, detailed models: teeth, small bones, ear structures | Larger models: skulls, spines, organ sets, display pieces |
| Surface | Smooth, fine detail | Visible layer lines unless sanded |
| Handling | Can be brittle in thin parts | Tough materials such as PETG suit models handled a lot |
| Size | Smaller build area on most machines | Larger build area is common |
Material properties also change with the print itself: Formlabs notes that properties "may vary based on part geometry, print orientation, print settings" [1]. That is why the same file can give different results from two makers.
Steps
- Decide how the model will be used: looked at, handled by students, or shipped to events.
- Note the smallest detail that must be visible.
- Ask for the maker's choice of printer and material in their quote.
- Ask for a test print of the most detailed part before a full set.
What no material can do
A model is not made safe for the mouth or body by choosing a "medical" resin. Formlabs says "It is the manufacturer's responsibility" to determine the biocompatibility of printed parts [1]. PLA also deforms in an autoclave: in a 2023 study, finer PLA parts suffered "major deformations" [2]. Nothing printed through this site is sold as sterile or for body contact.
Get a teaching or display model printed
Post the model free on The Spool List with your file, size and labels. Makers with resin and FDM printers send a price and a lead time, and you choose.
Medical 3D Parts is run by The Spool List Ltd. This button opens our own marketplace, which earns a commission from makers on completed orders. Teaching, display, practice and prototype models only: nothing for use in or on the body.
Sources
- Formlabs: BioMed Clear Resin product page (accessed October 14, 2026)
- Neijhoft et al., Sterilization of PLA after fused filament fabrication 3D printing, Polymers 2023;15(2):369 (accessed October 14, 2026)
Rules are quoted as the sources state them, checked October 14, 2026. They differ by country and change: check the source before relying on them. This page is general information, not medical, dental or legal advice.
Drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above by the Medical 3D Parts editors. Medical 3D Parts is a guide published by The Spool List Ltd. Its buttons lead to The Spool List, our marketplace, which earns a commission from makers on completed orders. Makers are independent people and small workshops, not registered medical device manufacturers or dental laboratories.