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 ready to switch the Photon Mono 4k mannequin, which has been a very fashionable printer because it launched in 2021.
The Photon Mono 2 affords an array of improved options in comparison with its predecessor, together with a better decision display screen, bigger construct quantity, laser-engraved construct plate, and Anycubic’s new enhanced LighTurbo Expertise. These upgrades promise customers with even higher efficiency and print high quality than earlier than.
Anycubic’s new LighTurbo Expertise can be an thrilling addition to the Photon Mono 2. Which not solely offers a secure and uniform parallel gentle supply but additionally 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 one of 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
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- Simple to setup.
- Traditional design, up to date with blue cowl.
Organising the Anycubic Photon Mono 2 is a straightforward and easy course of, as with earlier Photon printers from Anycubic. To get began, you’ll need to take away every thing from the packaging, together with the packing foam and protecting coverings from the display screen and resin vat. After getting carried out this, you possibly can set up and degree the construct platform, which is a fast and straightforward course of.
What’s within the field?
Photon Mono 2 printer
Blue UV Cowl
Printing platform
Resin vat
Energy provide
Metallic spatula
Plastic spatula
USB drive
Gloves x 3 pairs
Resin filters x3
Display screen protector
Consumer guide
Hex wrenches
Leveling paper
To degree the construct platform, loosen the 4 screws on the platform after which house the mattress utilizing a bit of ordinary printer paper to set the mattress degree. As soon as the mattress is degree, you possibly can barely tighten the screws whereas holding the mattress down. After getting accomplished this step, you possibly can 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.
General, the setup course of for the Photon Mono 2 is designed to be easy and user-friendly, making it a great choice for inexperienced persons who’re new to resin printing. Nevertheless, even skilled customers will admire the benefit of use and fast setup time that this printer affords.
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In relation to design, the Anycubic Photon Mono 2 sticks with the basic Anycubic components 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 quilt on the Anycubic Photon D2 DLP printer. We fairly like this alteration – it offers it a singular look in comparison with its predecessor and usually appears fairly fashionable and fashionable.
You will discover the USB port on the facet of the machine, whereas the ability swap is situated on the again. The entrance is dominated by the two.8″ coloration contact display screen, which is used to regulate the printer.
General, the Anycubic Photon Mono 2 is each fashionable and purposeful, with a deal with 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 bound to impress.
Anycubic Photon Mono 2: Specs & options
- 2.8″ coloration contact display screen controls
- Auto-levelling
- No WiFi
The Mono 2’s 2.8-inch coloration touchscreen includes 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 means of the printer’s settings and choices, and to get began with their first print shortly and simply.
Key specs
Printing expertise: 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 screen measurement: 6.6 inch
Resin: Normal, 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 because of 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 usually today), 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 would 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 spite of everything.
Anycubic Photon Mono 2: Print high quality & pace
All of our take a look at prints had been produced utilizing equivalent 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.
The slicer was adjusted to the prompt parameters with a layer peak of 0.05 mm, and the publicity time was lowered 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.
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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 implausible. The sharper 4K display screen actually made the main points pop. There have been no adhesion points or any issues with any of the elements or helps.
The mannequin took 8.5 hours to print each the bust and the bottom, and the Anycubic Waterwash+ resin did a fantastic job capturing all the main points of the mannequin. The Xenomorph mannequin has a ton of particulars within the physique ribs, and the uncovered head exhibits the element of the face usually hidden beneath the dome.
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For our subsequent 3D print, we selected the Odin bust from Fotis Mint as soon as once more. This mannequin is a superb showcase of the Photon Mono 2’s capabilities by way of capturing wonderful particulars. The extent of element on Odin’s material cloak is actually 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.
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 had been very happy with the extent of element that the Photon Mono 2 and Anycubic Waterwash+ resin had been capable of produce with the Odin bust print.
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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 had been actually spectacular. Due to the upgraded display screen and the HD resin, each element was sharp and clear, leading to a high-quality print that exceeded our expectations.
It took slightly below 5 and a half hours to print the mannequin, but it surely was properly definitely worth the wait. The ultimate product was gorgeous, as might be seen within the accompanying photos.
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For our subsequent take a look at, 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 grow to be 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.
The material of Moon Knight’s swimsuit is evident and sharp, and the 16x anti-aliasing (AA) does a fantastic job of making certain there are not any rough-looking edges or any odd artifacts that may end result from absent or poor AA. This mannequin was printed utilizing Anycubic’s new HD resin, which does a fantastic job of making certain all the main points of the printed elements are sharp and clear.
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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 robust and proof against breakage, making it excellent for miniatures for tabletop gaming or purposeful elements.
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 varieties. Even with the longer publicity occasions wanted this mannequin solely took 3 and a half hours to finish the bust and base.
Regardless that sturdy resins can typically end in prints that aren’t as clear as commonplace resin, the quantity of element that the Photon Mono 2 achieved was wonderful.
Anycubic Photon Mono 2: Worth & guarantee
- $209 MSRP
- 12-month guarantee
The Anycubic Photon Mono 2 within reason priced with a prompt 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 low cost of $199 (opens in new tab) in the intervening time, whereas Amazon’s lowest value is $289.99 (opens in new tab) at time of writing.
Anycubic affords a 12-month guarantee on the printer, which might present peace of thoughts to customers. Nevertheless, like most 3D printers, there are consumable parts that must be changed periodically, such because the FEP sheets for the resin vat.
The lifespan of those parts 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 might must 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?
For those who’re out there for a high-quality LCD resin printer, whether or not you are a newbie or an skilled consumer trying to increase your capabilities, the Anycubic Photon Mono 2 is a superb alternative. We discovered the Photon Mono 2 is straightforward to arrange and we by no means bumped into any points when utilizing it.
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 searching for an reasonably priced, 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 would not meet your particular necessities. In the end, the selection of a 3D printer will rely upon the particular wants of the consumer, reminiscent of finances, printing decision, construct quantity, and ease of use, amongst different components.
For these in search of a bigger construct quantity and even larger decision, the Anycubic Photon M3 Premium (opens in new tab) is a superb alternative that we rated as one of the best 8K resin printer at the moment obtainable. At time of writing, it has an MSRP of $719 by way of the Anycubic retailer (opens in new tab), although it may possibly typically be discovered on sale for much less.
For those who’re searching for even larger high quality prints, then you too can take a look at 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 by way of the Anycubic retailer (opens in new tab), however offers commonly deliver its value below $500.