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Hello everyone!

I am slowly getting back into modelling and painting models again! Have gotten a new collection started up and have been getting more interested in 3D printing. There are a lot of really cool companies offering 3d models that you can print at home. Yet I have very little knowledge outside of basic mechanics in this new field.

My goal is to buy a 3D printer sometime in August when I have a better understanding of my funds and how my industry will stabilize (or not) with the recent shut downs in CA. So this seems the perfect time to do some research. I am hoping to get a printer around the $300 dollar range. So I figured I would ask the community here if they would be able and willing to share their knowledge on the subject. Here are a few questions I have.

1) What should I be looking for in a printer that will mostly be building miniatures, ideally with a second purpose to assist in simple jewelry work for my partner.

2) Is it possible to get a 3D printer under $300 dollars that is able to produce quality miniatures, or is it better to save up for a more expensive piece of machinery?

3) Do I want to work with Resin or not? What is the main difference?

4) What program would I need to run a 3D Printer? I have a fairly nice laptop. I would need a program that could read downloaded/bought files, as well as scan objects I found? Is that possible, or going to run me a hefty tab?

Sorry if these are super noob questions! I have been doing my research but there is a lot to take in.
Thank you!

You will get lots of advice and far longer replies that I'm about to give, but in brief;

The anycubic photon is a great, low cost printer for printing minis. Honestly, get your settings right and you won't be able to tell the difference between a print and a bought model. You can print jewellery on it too, the demo vid has them printing rings. You want resin as you can print in much thinner layers than an fdm machine, meaning smoother and crisper details.
You don't need a particularly good pc, I use a cheap old dell laptop to download files and run the slicer software and all works fine. The slicer software may vary depending on what machine you get, but they are similar and straightforward enough, especially with resin printers.

Hope you have fun if you get one. Absolutely love mine, and really glad I took the plunge.