Choosing a small resin printer - comparison
So I murdered my 3D printer a few days ago. The resin vat got stuck to the LCD screen somehow and I ripped it right off.
Very Sad
It was an older Elegoo Mars printer and up to now I managed to repair it when it broke. However the old type RGB screens this printer use are getting more difficult to get recently and I think it may be a right time to search for a new one.
The resin printer market changed quite a bit since I went shopping last time, so I think a small research will be needed before deciding on a particular model.
I have found a few resin printers comparisons online, but a lot of them like to take their time and tell a longer story. I want my comparison to be more to the point and easy to check quickly.
I was using my printer mostly for miniature printing, so I don't need a big printing volume. I am also on a rather tight budget for now. That's why larger printers like Elegoo Saturn and some more expensive ones are not included in the list.
Most of the prices are taken from manufacturers website and they may be different for different regions.
I won't be bothering with including information on design/looks in my comparison. I don't care much how the printer looks myself, it will probably be smeared with resin stains in a few weeks anyway.
I also included one new DLP printer from Elegoo, which is really cheap for DLP, but still about twice as much as the rest of them. DLP use different method to expose resin to uv light. There's no LCD screen there. It produces sharper prints.
| Elego Mars 2 Pro | Elegoo Mars 3 Pro | Elegoo Mars 4 Max | Anycubic Photon M2 | Anycubic Photon M3 | Voxelab Proxima | Elegoo Mars 4 DLP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Technology | LCD | LCD | LCD | LCD | LCD | LCD | DLP |
| Build Volume | 129 x 80 x 160mm | 143mm x 89.6mm x 175mm | 195.84 x 122.4 x 150mm | 165 x 89 x 143 mm | 163 x 102 x 180mm | 130 x 76 x 155mm | 132.8 x 74.7 x 150mm |
| LCD Resolution | 2K | 4098 x 2560 px | 5760x3600 | 4096 x 2560 | 4098 x 2560 | 4K | - |
| LCD Size | 6.08-inch Mono | 6.6-inch Mono | 9.1-inch Mono | 6.6-inch Mono | 7.6-inch | ? | - |
| XY Axis Resolution | 0.05mm | .035mm | .034mm | .034mm | .040mm | .050mm | .052mm |
| Connectivity | USB | USB | USB | USB-A 2.0 | USB-A 2.0 | USB | USB |
| Speed | 30-50mm/h | 30-50mm/h | up to 70mm/hr | ≤ 50mm/hr. 50mm/hr | ≤ 50 mm 50mm/hr | 25mm/h | up to 70mm/hr |
| Screen Protection | ? | tempered glass | tempered glass | anti scratch film | anti scratch film | ? | tempered glass |
| Air Filter | Built-in active carbon | USB-powered air purifier | USB-powered air purifier | no | no | no | USB-powered air purifier |
| Price | $145 | $250 | $300 | $200 | $240 | $100 | $500 |
Are there any 3D printers that I missed, do you have any experience with any of the printers above, let me know!
Thank you for your time!
Patreon All my 3D files are available for my patrons.
My Mini Factory Separate models can be purchased here.
Thingiverse Here you can download some of my free models.
Nooo amigo ¿Es una pieza que ya no se produce o consigue? Espero que puedas repararla de alguna manera y sino es el caso que consigas otras para poder continuar. En el peor de los casos podrías llegar a vender la que no funciona como repuestos como para recuperar algo y solventar la compra de una nueva maquina.
Yeah. It is not a total disaster. I was going to buy a new one anyway. The newer resin printers are a lot faster than the one I have. It is a good reason to upgrade. Maybe I'll try to sell the parts, doubt anyone will want them as they look pretty worn off. Maybe some of them will fit the new printer. I'll have to wait and see.