Anycubic, a widely known 3D printer producer, has lately introduced the launch of their new entry-level resin printer, the Anycubic Photon Mono 2. This thrilling new printer is about to interchange the Photon Mono 4k mannequin, which has been a extremely popular printer because it launched in 2021.
The Photon Mono 2 presents an array of improved options in comparison with its predecessor, together with the next decision display screen, bigger construct quantity, laser-engraved construct plate, and Anycubic’s new enhanced LighTurbo Know-how. These upgrades promise customers with even higher efficiency and print high quality than earlier than.
Anycubic’s new LighTurbo Know-how can also be an thrilling addition to the Photon Mono 2. Which not solely offers a secure and uniform parallel gentle supply but in addition fixes the grid patterns that appeared on the Photon Mono 4K.
However do all these on-paper upgrades translate into a greater printing expertise, and the way does it stack up in opposition to the best 3D printers (opens in new tab) available on the market? We’re going to dive deeper into the brand new options of the Photon Mono 2 and discover how these upgrades translate to real-world printing outcomes.
Anycubic Photon Mono 2: Setup & design
Picture 1 of 5
- Straightforward to setup.
- Basic design, up to date with blue cowl.
Establishing the Anycubic Photon Mono 2 is an easy and simple course of, as with earlier Photon printers from Anycubic. To get began, you’ll need to take away every little thing from the packaging, together with the packing foam and protecting coverings from the display screen and resin vat. After getting accomplished this, you may set up and stage the construct platform, which is a fast and simple course of.
What’s within the field?
Photon Mono 2 printer
Blue UV Cowl
Printing platform
Resin vat
Energy provide
Steel spatula
Plastic spatula
USB drive
Gloves x 3 pairs
Resin filters x3
Display protector
Consumer guide
Hex wrenches
Leveling paper
To stage the construct platform, loosen the 4 screws on the platform after which residence the mattress utilizing a bit of normal printer paper to set the mattress stage. As soon as the mattress is stage, you may barely tighten the screws whereas holding the mattress down. After getting accomplished this step, you may press Z=0 on the display screen, and the print platform will stand up, permitting you to put in the resin vat and begin your first print.
Total, the setup course of for the Photon Mono 2 is designed to be easy and user-friendly, making it a great choice for freshmen who’re new to resin printing. Nevertheless, even skilled customers will admire the convenience of use and fast setup time that this printer presents.
Picture 1 of 4
In relation to design, the Anycubic Photon Mono 2 sticks with the basic Anycubic formulation by that includes a smooth black base. Nevertheless, as a substitute of the yellow UV cowl that was current on the previous Mono 4K, the Mono 2 has a blue-style lid that’s harking back to the duvet on the Anycubic Photon D2 DLP printer. We fairly like this transformation – it provides it a singular look in comparison with its predecessor and customarily seems fairly fashionable and trendy.
You will discover the USB port on the aspect of the machine, whereas the facility swap is positioned on the again. The entrance is dominated by the two.8″ shade contact display screen, which is used to regulate the printer.
Total, the Anycubic Photon Mono 2 is each fashionable and useful, with a concentrate on user-friendliness and ease of use. Whether or not you’re a seasoned resin printing skilled or a newcomer to the world of 3D printing, the Mono 2’s design is certain to impress.
Anycubic Photon Mono 2: Specs & options
- 2.8″ shade contact display screen controls
- Auto-levelling
- No WiFi
The Mono 2’s 2.8-inch shade touchscreen incorporates a easy, easy-to-follow menu system that’s much like the one on the Mono 4K. This makes it simple for customers to navigate by way of the printer’s settings and choices, and to get began with their first print shortly and simply.
Key specs
Printing know-how: MSLA
Construct quantity: 143 x 89 x 165 mm 6.5 x 5.6 x 3.5 inches
Print decision: 4K (4098 x 2560 px) 34 microns
Mild supply: Anycubic LighTurbo 2.0
Construct Platform: Laser engraved
Touchscreen: 2.8 inch TFT
Display dimension: Â 6.6 inch
Resin: Customary, water-washable, ABS-like
Connectivity: USB
Dimensions: 15.3 x 9.04 x 9.25 inches
Underneath the hood, the lighting system has been improved due to an upgraded LighTurbo matrix which has extra uniform protection, serving to to remove layer strains and grid strains. The top result’s smoother prints with fewer imperfections.
As we have come to anticipate from Anycubic printers (and resin printers typically lately), the Mono 2 comes with auto-levelling that makes it tremendous simple to setup and use.
As a less expensive, entry-level printer, the Anycubic Photon Mono 2 does not have any WiFi capabilities, so you are going to must switch recordsdata to the printer by way of the included USB drive. This course of is easy sufficient.
There aren’t actually any further bells or whistles value mentioning past that. This can be a easy, newbie pleasant printer in any case.
Anycubic Photon Mono 2: Print high quality & pace
All of our check prints have been produced utilizing similar slicer settings, and we encountered no adhesion issues in any respect. We used Anycubic Water Wash+ resin in addition to Chitu Techniques Conjure Ridged resin for the prints.Â
The slicer was adjusted to the urged parameters with a layer top of 0.05 mm, and the publicity time was diminished from 2.5 seconds to 2.2 seconds for every layer with the water wash resin and 4.4 seconds publicity for the Conjure Ridged resin.
Picture 1 of 5
The primary mannequin we selected to print was the Xenomorph bust from the favored Fotis Mint assortment. This mannequin was in two items: the bust itself and the bottom it sits on. Utilizing Anycubic Waterwash+ resin, the mannequin got here out incredible. The sharper 4K display screen actually made the small print pop. There have been no adhesion points or any issues with any of the components or helps.
The mannequin took 8.5 hours to print each the bust and the bottom, and the Anycubic Waterwash+ resin did an awesome job capturing all the small print of the mannequin. The Xenomorph mannequin has a ton of particulars within the physique ribs, and the uncovered head reveals the element of the face usually hidden beneath the dome.
Picture 1 of 5
For our subsequent 3D print, we selected the Odin bust from Fotis Mint as soon as once more. This mannequin is a wonderful showcase of the Photon Mono 2’s capabilities by way of capturing effective particulars. The extent of element on Odin’s fabric cloak is really spectacular, and even the feathers on his raven are rendered sharply and clearly. We used the Anycubic Waterwash+ resin once more, which resulted in a high-quality print.Â
The Odin bust is barely smaller than the Xenomorph we printed earlier, and it took simply over 4 hours to print the bust and base of the mannequin. All in all, we have been very happy with the extent of element that the Photon Mono 2 and Anycubic Waterwash+ resin have been capable of produce with the Odin bust print.
Picture 1 of 4
The Forest Dragon mannequin from Fotis was up subsequent. This mannequin boasts intricate element on the neck and head, making it a superb candidate for testing the capabilities of the Photon Mono 2. We opted to make use of Anycubic’s new HD resin for this print, and the outcomes have been actually spectacular. Because of the upgraded display screen and the HD resin, each element was sharp and clear, leading to a high-quality print that exceeded our expectations.Â
It took just below 5 and a half hours to print the mannequin, nevertheless it was properly definitely worth the wait. The ultimate product was beautiful, as may be seen within the accompanying footage.
Picture 1 of 4
For our subsequent check, we selected the Moon Knight bust. This mannequin is from Eastman, who has a ton of nice fashions obtainable in his assortment, and so they have change into a favourite for testing functions. The bust and base of this mannequin took simply over 5 hours to print. Once more, the Photon Mono 2 doesn’t disappoint by way of the standard of the ultimate print.Â
The material of Moon Knight’s go well with is evident and sharp, and the 16x anti-aliasing (AA) does an awesome job of guaranteeing there aren’t any rough-looking edges or any odd artifacts that may consequence from absent or poor AA. This mannequin was printed utilizing Anycubic’s new HD resin, which does an awesome job of guaranteeing all the small print of the printed components are sharp and clear.
Picture 1 of 4
For the ultimate print in our testing, we determined to print one of many new fashions from Fotis Mint: the Lilith mannequin from the upcoming Diablo 4 recreation. This time, we used the Chutu Techniques Conjure inflexible resin, which is designed to be very powerful and immune to breakage, making it ultimate for miniatures for tabletop gaming or useful components.Â
This resin requires the printer’s temperature to be not less than 25 to 30 levels to permit for clean printing, and it additionally requires extra publicity time than common resin, at 4.4 seconds vs. 2.2 for many common resin sorts. Even with the longer publicity occasions wanted this mannequin solely took 3 and a half hours to finish the bust and base.
Although robust resins can typically lead to prints that aren’t as clear as customary resin, the quantity of element that the Photon Mono 2 achieved was wonderful.
Anycubic Photon Mono 2: Value & guarantee
- $209 MSRP
- 12-month guarantee
The Anycubic Photon Mono 2 in all fairness priced with a urged retail value of $209, although that value can range considerably relying on the place you buy it. Anycubic itself is providing the Mono 2 at a slight discount of $199 (opens in new tab) in the mean time, whereas Amazon’s lowest price is $289.99 (opens in new tab) at time of writing.
Anycubic presents a 12-month guarantee on the printer, which may present peace of thoughts to customers. Nevertheless, like most 3D printers, there are consumable elements that have to be changed periodically, such because the FEP sheets for the resin vat.Â
The lifespan of those elements can range, relying on how properly they’re used and maintained between prints. Moreover, the LCD display screen itself will degrade over time with use, and it could have to be changed after about 2000 hours of operation. Neither of those outlays might be coated by the guarantee.
Must you purchase the Anycubic Photon Mono 2?
In the event you’re available in the market for a high-quality LCD resin printer, whether or not you are a newbie or an skilled person trying to increase your capabilities, the Anycubic Photon Mono 2 is a wonderful alternative. We discovered the Photon Mono 2 is simple to arrange and we by no means bumped into any points when utilizing it.Â
All of the fashions we printed turned out flawlessly, with no adhesion issues or failed prints. Moreover, the standard of the printed fashions was distinctive, with wonderful element and sharpness. Primarily based on our testing, we wholeheartedly suggest the Anycubic Photon Mono 2 to anybody in search of an inexpensive, dependable, and high-quality 3D printer.
If this 3D printer is not for you
There are quite a few choices obtainable if the Photon Mono 2 does not meet your particular necessities. Finally, the selection of a 3D printer will depend upon the particular wants of the person, reminiscent of finances, printing decision, construct quantity, and ease of use, amongst different elements.
For these looking for a bigger construct quantity and even larger decision, the Anycubic Photon M3 Premium (opens in new tab) is a wonderful alternative that we rated as the very best 8K resin printer presently obtainable. At time of writing, it has an MSRP of $719 via the Anycubic store (opens in new tab), although it might probably usually be discovered on sale for much less.
In the event you’re in search of even larger high quality prints, then you may also try a few of the DLP printers on the market, together with the Anycubic Photon D2 (opens in new tab). It prices greater than the Mono 2, however the high quality of prints you get is staggering. It has an MSRP of $679 via the Anycubic store (opens in new tab), however offers usually deliver its price beneath $500.
