3D printing is getting more common today that you can find plenty of affordable machines to start the hobby with. Depending on what you want to achieve, Elegoo Mars Pro Vs Anycubic Photon Mono are two ideal machines for printing small objects and detailed printing for various purposes. The two are working really well while being straightforward. If you are eyeing these printers, wondering which will be the better option, see below about what they can offer and whether they fit in your application.
In this article, we are going to give you information about:
- What are SLA 3D Printers
- What are Elegoo Mars Pro and Anycubic Photon Mono
- How are the Design of Elegoo Mars Pro and Anycubic Photon Mono
- How are the Build Volume of Elegoo Mars Pro and Anycubic Photon Mono
- How are the Plate Levelling on Elegoo Mars Pro and Anycubic Photon Mono
- How are the Performance of Elegoo Mars Pro and Anycubic Photon Mono
- Elegoo Mars Pro Vs Anycubic Photon Mono
SLA 3D Printers
Additive manufacturing may sound unfamiliar for most people but this technology is actually very useful even on the smallest scale like home level production. It is a method to create a three-dimensional object or item based on a digital design. The material used can vary greatly depending on the machine and what the product is meant for. In most cases they are like plastic which can be either used as decoration or fully functional items such as surgical instruments in healthcare facilities.
The potential of additive manufacturing is huge and the method is slowly getting more common as well with more and more people getting interested or seeing the same benefit over the machine. We call this 3D printing and as the name suggests, they can make three-dimensional objects, right in your house or work space with fairly little effort. One of the technologies used here is called SLA or Stereolitography which is a form of vat polymerization printing or by solidifying a liquid material.
The technology is credited to Charles Hull with patents in 1986, the method is now improved so much in the market with lots of machines and continues to get better every time. SLA is not the most famous type of additive manufacturing method however since the place is still held by FDM or Fused Deposition Modeling. The common arguments that set them apart besides the mechanism is the use of material itself where SLA uses resin and more often said to offer better resolution.
The latter is what makes this printer an alternative for FDM and for users who are aiming for the greatest details. The reason is because they can print layers that are less than 50 microns thick which FDM is measured in the hundreds of microns on the rougher side. What often puts some people off when it comes to buying or using SLA printers is probably the mess it is to work with since the material is liquid and we need to treat it as well after printing is done.
Not mentioning the fumes which is quite annoying too if the sealing and filter are not working properly. Besides SLA, you will find DLP and MSLA as well on the machine’s option and they are very similar to each other but different on what light source is used to cure the resin. SLA is using laser, DLP is using projector, and MSLA is similar to DLP but only uses LCD screen with UV blacklight so no projectors here and still allowing the entire layers to be cured simultaneously.
| Elegoo Mars Pro | Anycubic Photon Mono | |
|---|---|---|
  |   |
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| Product Dimensions | 22.3 x 11.2 x 11.2 inches | 21 x 12 x 11.75 inches |
| Shipping Weight | 18.9 Pounds | 13.8 Pounds |
| Best offer | Check price | Check price |
About Elegoo Mars Pro and Anycubic Photon Mono
Both FDM and SLA/MSLA/DLP have their own pros and cons so it is best to shop or choose based on what you need or what you want to print. If you are here then it means resin 3D printers will be the better option, especially if details and smooth surface are must but, do keep in mind that resin printers are usually small so in comparison we will have limitations about the form factor of the products we can make.
While not as popular as FDM machines such as Artillery Genius Vs Ender 3 V2, the option for resin printers are quite a lot as well. If this is your first 3D machine or even resin printer so you don’t have any favorite brand yet, going for the popular and mainstream options can actually help so much by reducing time and making sure you get a reliable product. Among those companies selling 3D printers, Elegoo and Anycubic are two famous choices to consider.
These brands carry some of the most popular resin printers currently such as Elegoo Mars Pro and Anycubic Photon Mono. Elegoo Mars has long been the favorite of many and the new iteration just improves what was loved on the original machine by adding some upgrades; not exactly creating a new machine but still justify the slight difference in price point. It is pretty easy to start with as well but not perfect. In comparison, they are at a similar price point and still very affordable.
As for Photon Mono, this variant is probably the lowest option from the catalog of the same line. We are familiar with Photon which is now available as Photon Mono X and Mono SE as well as Mono. The highlight of this machine is the 2K LCD and the claim that it can print fast. If an easy to use and straightforward machine is what you look for then any of these options will be a great buy.
Elegoo Mars Pro and Anycubic Photon Mono Design
Before checking what Elegoo Mars Pro and Anycubic Photon Mono can offer, let’s see the machine first. One of our favorite points of resin printers is there is less assembling to do even for products at the lower cost level. In the box, these printers are already assembled; what you have to install are usually the building plate, housing if they are separated from the main construction, as well as the vat itself. All parts are included but the resin material.
As you can see, these printers are using a cover housing which is removable from the printer. The housing is made of plastic and is transparent so you can see the object while being printed. The vat that comes with these machines are also thick and you can’t see the material while being cured. In addition, they are using touch sensitive screens with USB ports located at the front of Mars Pro and Photon Mono located at the side of the machine.
Elegoo Mars Pro and Anycubic Photon Mono Volume
Now for the most important part, let’s see what Elegoo Mars Pro and Anycubic Photon Mono can offer. Just like when buying an FDM printer, you need to know the build volume of this printer and they are pretty similar to each other with a form factor at 120 by 68 by 155mm while on the other hand the latter is 130 by 80 by 165mm so the Mono is actually slightly larger if you need to build something that require more volume.
One aspect we cannot miss is the resolution or the screen resolution used to cure the resin. This screen is important as it affects the details of your object later and in this part both of them are also using the same screen of 2560 x 1440 and 2560 x 1680 2K screen for a resolution that can go from 0.047mm and 0.051mm respectively. In addition, their speed is also pretty fast with a claimed curing process from 24mm per hour compared to 50mm per hour.
Elegoo Mars Pro and Anycubic Photon Mono Build Plate
Just like almost if not all 3D printers, one of the most annoying parts is plate levelling and we have to install the building plate for both Elegoo Mars Pro and Anycubic Photon Mono as well. Some machines may already install the plate from the manufacturer but there is often a need for manual adjustment. It may take some time, we need to remove the vat before loosening the build plate. The process is the same by lowering the plate and using a sheet of paper to cover the LCD.
Make sure to push the plate as we tighten the screw to ensure the level or so it won’t wobble once fully leveled. Compared to FDM, this is not as time consuming but it is wise to see some videos on how to level a resin printer plate.
Elegoo Mars Pro and Anycubic Photon Mono Performance
Lastly on the performance, Elegoo Mars Pro and Anycubic Photon Mono are just as good. They are surely fast yet in comparison the Mono is faster. The result is more of how we tweak the software and make support for the printed objects so they can be properly printed while sticking on the bed. From the quality we are satisfied with how the objects turn out, they are smooth with plenty of details to look for. Some tweak on the machine probably includes oiling the Z axis for smoother movement.
Elegoo Mars Pro vs Anycubic Photon Mono
Both of them are good options based on what you want to achieve from the machine. They are also comparably affordable with satisfying results. Using 2K LCD you can get plenty of details from these machines but the Mono is actually faster than Pro. Personally we don’t have any issue about speed but the Mono is also slightly larger in comparison. Bed levelling can be annoying but none of them are stressful.
Conclusion
You can go amazing with any of them depending on which meets the budget. Personally we prefer Photon Mono which is not only faster but also larger. From the price point they are similarly affordable as well.