Resin printers are popular for being able to deliver detailed and smooth 3D printing results. They are also often smaller in general than FDM but nowadays there are plenty of larger options such as Phrozen Sonic Mighty 4K Vs Anycubic Photon Mono X that are equally affordable and work really well. They are more advanced as well compared to budget SLA printers but, let’s see which of the two will be your better option and why you will like them.
In this comparison, we are going to talk about:
- What are FDM and Resin Printers
- What are Phrozen Sonic Mighty 4K and Anycubic Photon Mono X
- How are the Design of Phrozen Sonic Mighty 4K and Anycubic Photon Mono X
- How are the Capacity of Phrozen Sonic Mighty 4K and Anycubic Photon Mono X
- How are the Screen Size in Phrozen Sonic Mighty 4K and Anycubic Photon Mono X
- How are the Build Plate in Phrozen Sonic Mighty 4K and Anycubic Photon Mono X
- How are the Performance of Phrozen Sonic Mighty 4K and Anycubic Photon Mono X
- Phrozen Sonic Mighty 4K Vs Anycubic Photon Mono X
FDM and Resin Printers
Not that many people are familiar yet with 3D printers but it is much better compared to how things were a decade ago. The market for hobbyist 3D printers is getting crowded and we are happy to have so many choices when buying another machine. But, the selection stays with either FDM or SLA printers because the two are still the most popular systems used today and while there is no single answer about which will be the better choice, we should buy based on our application.
FDM printers such as GEEETECH A10 Vs A20 are the most convenient for most users because they are simpler to use as well. In this machine, you will need a string of filament, usually plastic deposited in a heated extruder and then applied layer by layer on top of its build plate. The thing about FDM printers is they are usually pretty affordable to start with and there are even machines under $100 with very small built volume that you can try to see if the hobby suits you.
They are having another advantage over MSLA or resin printers because you can get a fairly large build volume even on an entry-level machine, making the application more versatile in general. If you have to clean resin printed objects and cure it for further solidifying the model, you don’t have to do this process with FDM printers, unless with removing or sanding some harsh details or support.
Resin printers today are usually MSLA or Masked SLA is LCD based printing instead of using a projector. It is called masked because there is an array of light source and a digital mask above to control which region to print. Similar to FDM the process is done layer by layer in this machine so the model is cured per layer as the platform moves to reveal the cured part. Instead of using a solid material, they are using liquid resin which naturally causes some uncomfortable odor and can be messy to work with.
Being the older technology, resin printing is still seen as the most effective way to 3D print an object which is why it is mostly used in a more professional setting such as dentistry and jewelry. But, the material itself is less flexible than your typical FDM plastic because there are only so many color options. But, on the other hand they carry some specialized material that can be specific for certain application or highly durable heat resistant resins for the commercial purposes.
| Phrozen Sonic Mighty 4K | Anycubic Photon Mono X | |
|---|---|---|
  |   |
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| Product Dimensions | 23 x 15.5 x 15.25 inches | 24.49 x 15.35 x 15.12 inches |
| Shipping Weight | 27 pounds | 34.79 Pounds |
| Best offer | Check price | Check price |
About Phrozen Sonic Mighty 4K and Anycubic Photon Mono X
We are sure you already decide about which printer to go and the resin machine is the most effective in the application. They are typically small however, compared to FDM which is easy on scalability so we may have to put more budget in getting the resin machine that can print at the same capacity as for example Ender 3. But, it is not anymore with companies starting to offer their machines at a larger size to accommodate the type of use.
Unlike when deciding to buy a new computer, apparently there are not that many companies in the market yet, they sure carry more than enough to choose from such as what Phrozen and Anycubic are having in their collection. These brands are no strangers anymore in the ears of hobbyists because the two are very popular. They are not only well-known as a brand you can rely on too in machine collections but also on the level of quality because many people do love their printers due to the overall performance.
For those who need a larger print than what most entry-levels can offer, the Phrozen Sonic Mighty 4K and Anycubic Photon Mono X are two ideal options to consider. Both of them are capable of giving you a pretty large volume, considering the two are resin printers and the technology they use here assure both detail printing as well as fast performance. With a complete solution of good printing quality, fast, and large volume, we do think these machines are suitable for many of us.
But, they are not perfect yet and there are also complaints about how they work such as the Anycubic slicer which is not as great as ChituBox and some features may not work as intended. Yet, when it comes to printing results, they are working really well and after getting the setup correct, we can start printing the model without much fuss. The two are comparable and you can go well with any of the two since none are free from minus.
Phrozen Sonic Mighty 4K and Anycubic Photon Mono X Design
As you can see from the sample picture above, they are using the same mechanism in which you have to remove the cover or dome fully from the unit before being able to access the printing room. We did hope it has a fixed housing with a lid so there is no need to remove and reattach it with every printing process. They are also using a similar touch-sensitive control panel at the front and for some reason the USB port can’t be found at the front panel.
At least Anycubic places it at the side of the machine instead of on the back. The material is all sturdy and you don’t have to worry about how well they are made. For the build volume, they are not as massive as we thought since the machine itself is around 280mm x 280mm x 440mm compared to 270mm x 270mm x 470mm. Depending on where you buy the machine, Anycubic usually gives a transparent resin for first printing but it seems you have to buy it separately with Phrozen.
Phrozen Sonic Mighty 4K and Anycubic Photon Mono X Capacity
Now for the most important part, let’s see what Phrozen Sonic Mighty 4K and Anycubic Photon Mono X can offer starting from the capacity itself. The reason why these machines are more expensive is because of the build volume because you can print a model as large as 200mm x 125mm x 220mm compared to the latter at 192mm x 120mm x 245mm. The size should be enough to accommodate various types of applications depending on your work, from just a hobby to professional setup.
Phrozen Sonic Mighty 4K and Anycubic Photon Mono X Screen Size
The next interesting point about these printers is the size of the screen and this is the one installed for curing the model not the one for controlling the printer since the latter is not really impressive. The 4K resolution used by Phrozen Sonic Mighty 4K and Anycubic Photon Mono X boasts the printing resolutions of 53 and 50 microns respectively. This may sound just “good” since there are machines that can achieve 35 microns but, considering the print size as well and the difference between the two are very difficult to see by naked eyes.
As for the printing speed, you don’t have to worry as well because the two are using mono screen which means the curing process will be much faster than with regular screen but, there is quite a difference here where Phrozen is claimed to be working as fast as 80mm/h and the Anycubic at 60mm/h.
Phrozen Sonic Mighty 4K and Anycubic Photon Mono X Building Bed
Next we want to talk about the bed levelling which is done manually just like in most printers but, the issue with Phrozen is actually due to the design. If you see the build plate, it strangely has handles on both sides and don’t get us wrong, this is a great idea to help handling and removing it from the attachment when done printing. We just dislike how it gets in the way of levelling since there are 4 screws to tighten here in order to finish levelling which are all located below the handle.
Phrozen Sonic Mighty 4K and Anycubic Photon Mono X Performance
Lastly, the best slicer for Phrozen Sonic Mighty 4K and Anycubic Photon Mono X is probably ChiTuBox but Photon does have its own slicer which is not the best you can get out there. Most people will probably recommend using the popular slicer instead. In print result, both printers are amazing at creating fast results without scarifying details and this is similar to most 4K machines out there since the technology behind is similar as well. By keeping some features at minimum, we get Mighty at a more affordable price.
Phrozen Sonic Mighty 4K vs Anycubic Photon Mono X
In comparison, the Phrozen Sonic Mighty 4K and Anycubic Photon Mono X are equally good machines that will give you the same level of detail and speed. The difference is mostly on how the machine gives its user the experience. For example Mono X has a larger screen so it is easy to select the menu and it also places the USB port on the side of the machine instead of on the rear like Mighty 4K. Side by side Mighty do have a larger build volume and faster too.
Conclusion
It is best to choose based on which seems to fit you the most but considering the budget and experience, we are willing to trade some of the drawbacks in Mighty 4K for the lesser price and larger build volume.