Resin printers like Anycubic Photon Mono 4K Vs Mars 3 are the best if you want to print fine details. These printers are capable of delivering excellent print quality and some higher features to enjoy. The capacity is bigger too, compared to similar printers in the price range and if you wonder which to invest in, let’s see which model you want to go with.
In this comparison, we are going to talk about:
- What are 3D Printers Used For
- What are Anycubic Photon Mono 4K and Mars 3
- How are the Machine of Anycubic Photon Mono 4K and Mars 3
- How is the Capacity of Anycubic Photon Mono 4K and Mars 3
- How are the Screen in Anycubic Photon Mono 4K and Mars 3
- How is the Experience with Anycubic Photon Mono 4K and Mars 3
- How are the Printing Performance of Anycubic Photon Mono 4K and Mars 3
- Anycubic Photon Mono 4K Vs Mars 3
The Convenience of 3D Printers
3D printing is not a new thing anymore, but this manufacturing method still has many potentials to unveil, especially for smaller-scale productions and creative people. There are two types of 3D printers, FDM and resin printers. The latter is often chosen for its ability to replicate fine details on a design. On the other hand, FDM is usually more affordable and easy to work with because the material is solid plastic. Both are a great introduction to what a 3D printer can do.
What are 3D printers used for? As the name suggests, they will create a model based on a design that you made or downloaded and fed into the machine. Usually, the machine will have a card reader slot or USB port to put the design in. The machine will then build the model according to your setting, such as layer thickness and printing speed. The filament or resin will be placed or cured per layer until the whole model is created.
We can use a 3D printer to make varying items based on the material. Many use them to model their product before being mass-manufactured or creating the actual product itself. Starting from the model character of your favorite games, phone holder, a clip to seal your snack packet, clothes hanger, prosthetic, and so many more. If you can design them, you can print them as well. Some limitations to note are that we can’t print them if the model has too little or no contact with the bed.
| Anycubic Photon Mono 4K | Elegoo Mars 3 | |
|---|---|---|
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| Product Dimensions | 8.74 x 8.94 x 15.08 inches | 22.44 x 11.02 x 11.81 inches |
| Shipping Weight | 9.35 pounds | 13.67 Pounds |
| Shop now at Amazon | Check price | Check price |
About Anycubic Photon Mono 4K and Mars 3
The 3D manufacturing process is very convenient for everyone to be creative with their products. They are also very affordable, and many printers can cost less than $300, while some are even cheaper. The decision between FDM and resin printers will be highly based on what you want to print, such as the size, speed, or details. If your typical items will be relatively small and have complex details, resin printers such as Anycubic Photon Mono 4K and Mars 3 will be ideal.
The Anycubic and Elegoo brands are pretty popular with their growing list of good printers. They seem to focus on entry-level machines because this segment has been growing rapidly over the years. Many people are more interested in starting their 3D printing hobby or business, and they will need an excellent machine to rely on. You can match the budget with what you want from the machine to find the best choice.
One of the most crucial factors is their build capacity. Anycubic Photon Mono 4K and Mars 3 are suitable for the price point, and they should be enough for various modeling purposes but, the latter is also slightly more expensive. We are always concerned with the price for almost any product, and you will need to pay more for this build capacity, making the Mars 3 from Elegoo the more expensive choice. However, at the core, both machines boast the same technology.
What makes them attractive is the screen because both are already using a 4K resolution. They share so many similarities, including the overall performance and quality prints. We are satisfied with how they work but is the Mars 3 worth the current price point? If you don’t seek the slight bump on the build volume, then Photon Mono 4K will be a wiser choice. It is cheaper, has decent build volume, and works the same way as Mars 3. Read also: Anycubic Photon Mono 4K VS Mono X here.
Anycubic Photon Mono 4K and Mars 3 Machines
If you have had an FDM printer before, chances are they come in parts that need manual assembly. One of the best things about resin printers is they don’t need as many setups out of the box. Mars 3, for example, comes intact with the lid and is covered in a plastic wrapper. The base of this machine is made of plastic, including the dome cover. You will need to attach the build platform and resin vat manually. Both its power button and USB port are located at the front.
It may be a minor inconvenience, but Photon Mono 4K put this USB port on its side, so you will have to put a decent clearance for the machine. The setup for this machine is also the same; it comes with almost everything attached and ready to use. Instead of red, the Mono 4K has a yellow-tinted plastic dome and is square-ish. We notice there is no cooling fan inside the Mono 4K, but the machine doesn’t get warm, so we are unsure how it may affect the longevity.
Anycubic Photon Mono 4K and Mars 3 Capacity
Because we are buying a machine to create something, it is crucial to consider the print size you will be making. Larger machines with larger build capacity will almost always cost higher too, but it doesn’t mean they will work better or create more delicate details. Both Anycubic Photon Mono 4K and Mars 3 are slightly different here, with Photon carrying a noticeably smaller build volume at 132 x 80 x 165 mm while Mars 3 is 143 x 90 x 16 mm.
Anycubic Photon Mono 4K and Mars 3 Screen
If FDM printers can boast printing speed, resin printers can increase the print speed by using monochrome screens. Both Anycubic Photon Mono 4K and Mars 3 are MSLA printers which means they use this screen to cure the resin per layer. Mono screen is known to have a high light permeability, and this light is used to cure the liquid resin. They are also more long-lasting than the RGB screen that many early resin printers are using, and being 4K, they will also deliver high-res printing.
While similarly using a 4K screen, we have to take the screen size and print volume. Usually, the same resolution but bigger screen will result in less pixel density, but this is not the case for Mars 3. This printer uses a 6.6-inch 4098 x 2560 screen that makes it reach 35 microns in XY resolution, the same as Mono 4K with its 3840 x 2400 resolution and 35 microns in XY resolution.
Anycubic Photon Mono 4K and Mars 3 Experience
The setup process for these machines is straightforward, and the crucial part is probably leveling the build platform. The platform is straightforward to attach and secure. You need to slide the plate on the arm and secure the lock using the largest knob at the top. The level flatness is adjusted from two screws on Mars 3 or 4 screws on the Mono 4K. This process may take some time but lowering and increasing the plate on the Z-axis is done from the machine’s menu.
As for the ease of use, we think Anycubic Photon Mono 4K and Mars 3 are very much the same. The screen of Mars 3 is slightly wider, so we can press it easier, especially if you have big fingers. The power buttons and one USB port are also easier to access, and while it is not a big issue, we appreciate the thoughtful design. Like most resin printers, the two will emit resin odor when printing, so placing them in a well-ventilated space is wise.
Anycubic Photon Mono 4K and Mars 3 Performance
As for the performance, the Anycubic Photon Mono 4K and Mars 3 are excellent. The test print comes out well and what we love about resin is they look very smooth that it is difficult to see the layers. There are many resin types to try as well, some of them are not causing as much odor, and if you love printing on clear resin, these machines are also producing excellent results. Support and various settings are necessary, but it is standard for successful printing. Overall we think both printers are very impressive.
Anycubic Photon Mono 4K Vs Mars 3
The Anycubic Photon Mono 4K and Mars 3 are great machines to start your journey on 3D printing. Performance-wise they are amazing, capable of working on fine details, and the results are nearly always perfect. The cost for the machine is different because Mars 3 is a bigger alternative if you need the capacity. This machine is also more convenient with a larger LCD and its power and USB port placed at the front. The ease of use and setup is pretty much the same, similar to most resin printers.
Conclusion
There is no wrong choice here, and you can go fantastic with any of the two. We will recommend Photon Mono 4K if you don’t need the extra bump on build capacity because this machine is cheaper and works impressively. But, if you think the additional capacity will be useful, then Mars 3 will be the wiser choice.