Resin printers such as Anycubic Photon Mono Vs Elegoo Mars 2 Pro are well-known for printing very detailed results. They are perfect for users aiming to get better and smoother printed models for their items or products. These printers are easy to use, perform well, and still affordable. If you are also opting for the resin-based machine, let’s see which printer works better here.
In this comparison, we are going to talk about:
- Do you need a 3D Printer
- What are Anycubic Photon Mono and Elegoo Mars 2 Pro
- How are the Machine of Anycubic Photon Mono and Elegoo Mars 2 Pro
- How are the Build Capacity of Anycubic Photon Mono and Elegoo Mars 2 Pro
- What are the Features from Anycubic Photon Mono and Elegoo Mars 2 Pro
- What is the Software for Anycubic Photon Mono and Elegoo Mars 2 Pro
- How is the Performance of Anycubic Photon Mono and Elegoo Mars 2 Pro
- Anycubic Photon Mono Vs Elegoo Mars 2 Pro
Resin 3D Printer
As the name suggests, a resin printer is a 3D printer machine working based on this liquid material. Liquid resin is widely used to make plenty of objects, especially those that don’t require much strength but need very detailed results. They are very popular in modeling because the level of details can be a great example of how the product will turn out in manufacturing. They are a similarly convenient machine, just like the filament-based modeling printer.
Filament-based machines like Anycubic i3 Mega Vs Ender 3 Pro are typically cheaper and easy to start with, but the prints often do not come as smooth as the liquid resin-based. How much does a resin 3D printer cost? It varies just like FDM, but they are usually more expensive for the scale. For example, many entry-level machines like Ender 3 Pro can print 220x220x250 mm and cost less than $300, but Elegoo Mars 3 can print 143x90x165 mm costs from $350 to $400.
Many also wonder if resin material is stronger than PLA, which is often used by FDM machines. The answer is no. The resin type used in 3D printing is called photopolymer resin which turns solid when exposed to UV light. This material is not as rigid as the PLA, for example, both resistance to impact and tensile strength. These differences make FDM machines better for people who want to build larger and sturdier items, while resin printers mostly opt for resolution or details.
| Anycubic Photon Mono | Elegoo Mars 2 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
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| Product Dimensions | 8.93 x 8.74 x 15.1 inches | 22.44 x 11.42 x 11.42 inches |
| Shipping Weight | 9.37 Pounds | 13.67 pounds |
| Shop now at Amazon | Check price | Check price |
About Anycubic Photon Mono and Elegoo Mars 2 Pro
If your goal is to produce detailed items or small parts for a more significant project, the resin 3D printer can be a great solution. Many people choose this machine when printing complex objects such as a model of their favorite characters from a board game, animation, games, etc. This type of work requires precision and incredible detail, so a resin printer is necessary. Unlike the FDM variant, there are not as many options regarding the alternative and models from the companies.
However, there are still many to consider based on the capacity and budget, such as Anycubic Photon Mono and Elegoo Mars 2 Pro. Anycubic Photon Mono is an MSLA resin printer boasting a high-speed printing process for your highly detailed models. It is currently one of the most popular entry-level machines with decent build volume. Anycubic itself is a well-known name in the home 3D printing market with many entry-level machines like the i3 Mega FDM printer.
Elegoo Mars 2 Pro is very similar to Photon Mono. This machine is designed for beginners and new users interested in additive manufacturing. It is currently more expensive than Photon Mono, so is the Elegoo Mars 2 Pro worth it? We think it is a very promising machine with good performance. It also comes with some valuable features that will ease the printing process. The Anycubic Photon Mono and Elegoo Mars 2 Pro seem to use the same technology for the printing process.
The Mars 2 Pro is another variant of the Mars line with the highest capacity. The original Mars and Mars Pro are cheaper, but the formers have the same build volume and LCD resolution. This new iteration is meant to upgrade the line and probably make it the new favorite among budget shoppers. Performance-wise the Anycubic Photon Mono and Elegoo Mars 2 Pro are very much the same, fast and reliable. Some minor differences, such as capacity, will probably affect your buying decision.
Anycubic Photon Mono and Elegoo Mars 2 Pro Machine
Like most 3D resin printers, you can see how similar Anycubic Photon Mono and Elegoo Mars 2 Pro are to each other. They are coming in a plastic housing and a fully removable cover from the unit to expose the building room. The vat of Photon Mono is plastic which something to be a complaint about by some people. Personally, we don’t have any issue as long as they are working well, but you can buy another vat if the one comes with the machine failed.
The machines are built for practical use with a USB slot located at the side and front of the printer. Mars 2 Pro is more thoughtful here because the USB is now at the front, so we can easily plug and remove the USB drive. Both come with a color display to show the menu and options of the machine. The small accessories such as scrappers, filters, and masks are included in the box, but none put the sample resin, so make sure to purchase it separately.
Anycubic Photon Mono and Elegoo Mars 2 Pro Capacity
In general, resin 3D printers are smaller than your FDM machines both on the form factor and build volume. Build volume is a crucial aspect to consider when buying a 3D printer because usually, we can’t increase the capacity and have to upgrade to a new machine in the future. The Anycubic Photon Mono and Elegoo Mars 2 Pro are decent for an entry-level machine; they are 130 x 80 x 165 mm compared to 129 x 80 x 160 mm.
In comparison, the Photon Mono can print just a tiny bit taller than Mars 2 Pro, and it is going to print a larger width too. This capacity may look small compared to FDM at the price point, but they should be enough for making smaller models and delicate parts. They won’t be able to print a single massive part, but we can always find a way to use the capacity according to what you will want to use them for.
Anycubic Photon Mono and Elegoo Mars 2 Pro Features
Now let’s see deeper into what the Anycubic Photon Mono and Elegoo Mars 2 Pro can offer for the cost. It is easy to guess that Mars 2 Pro is supposed to be a higher model here but not simultaneously. Both machines use a 2K LCD screen for the curing engine with a similar resolution at the core. Compared to machines with the same screen and smaller plates, the resolution will probably not improve since it means reduced pixel density.
The star of Anycubic Photon Mono and Elegoo Mars 2 Pro are their Mono LCD which is also pretty standard today. This is great to improve the speed of resin 3D printers because back then, this curing method takes too much time, and we want a faster machine-like FDM. Monochrome LCD for masking allows a greater UV light intensity to pass through. The process triggers a reaction causing the liquid photopolymer resin to solidify faster. This technology is helpful to speed up the curing time.
Anycubic Photon Mono and Elegoo Mars 2 Pro Software
As for the operation, the operator of a 3D printer will need to use a slicer of their choice. Elegoo Mars 2 Pro uses ChiTuBox software which is very common and typically user-friendly. It makes the machine easy to start with, and the software also has plenty of automation tools that can do a decent job or make the necessary adjustments. Anycubic has Photon Workshop, which is similar to ChiTuBox. The software has useful features such as adding text to the print and 8x anti-aliasing.
Anycubic Photon Mono and Elegoo Mars 2 Pro Performance
Lastly, for the printing performance, the Anycubic Photon Mono and Elegoo Mars 2 Pro are pretty much good for most people. The level of details and speed are worth noticing and will satisfy users of various applications. The machines’ cores are very similar, so they work the same, including speed and result. They will be faster than many non-Monochrome printers, but it is as expected. We have no complaints on how they work and how the print result comes out.
Anycubic Photon Mono Vs Elegoo Mars 2 Pro
The Anycubic Photon Mono and Elegoo Mars 2 Pro are ideal resin printers to start your hobby or entry to additive manufacturing. Being an entry-level makes them lack many features and extended capacity, but it should be enough for most people to get into the hobby. The main difference is Photon Mono can print a slightly larger model than Mars 2 Pro. They are very much the same at the core with 2K LCD, the same resolution, and the same speed.
The printing experience is good, but the machines will emit odors. The mask seems not to do anything as well, so we highly recommend putting the machine in a well-ventilated room and away from any UV exposure. Dealing with a resin printer is more complicated, but the print will be worth it.
Conclusion
There is no wrong option here, but we recommend the Photon Mono. This printer is currently very affordable has the same performance and core as the other machine. It works well while lacking extensive features, but the most important is that the prints turn out very well.