Resin printers are getting more affordable, like Voxelab Proxima Vs Elegoo Saturn. These printers come with decent build volume and are relatively easy to use. They are perfect for new users who want to try printing with resin. They can produce good details, and they also have some crucial differences that may affect your decision. Let’s see what to expect from both printers before deciding the option.
In this comparison, we are going to talk about:
- What is Resin 3D Printer
- What are Voxelab Proxima and Elegoo Saturn
- How is the Printer of Voxelab Proxima and Elegoo Saturn
- How to Setup the Voxelab Proxima and Elegoo Saturn
- How is the Capacity of Voxelab Proxima and Elegoo Saturn
- How is the Resolution of Voxelab Proxima and Elegoo Saturn
- How are the Specs of Voxelab Proxima and Elegoo Saturn
- How is the Performance of Voxelab Proxima and Elegoo Saturn
- Voxelab Proxima Vs Elegoo Saturn
Resin 3D Printer
3D printing is attractive because you can build many things from solid or liquid materials. As long as the item doesn’t have a complicated material, the chance is we can replicate it with a 3D printer. You don’t want to design the product manually. We can download the design from numerous free or paid sources and print it with your machine. The most popular 3D printers are FDM, such as Ender 3, and the other alternative is a resin printer like the Elegoo Mars.
They can produce the same products, but the finished item may look different. Resin printers share some similar and different fundamentals to FDM printers. The most noticeable is their material because resin uses liquid resin, and FDM uses solid filament. The FDM prints the item normally; the nozzle at the bottom slowly goes higher as it deposits molten filament. A resin printer prints upside down because the material is in a vat. You will see the build plate is installed upside down and slowly reveal the item as it goes up.
The material to print with a resin printer is liquid resin, and it is photosensitive, which means it is sensitive to light. Your resin printers come with a dark tinted or full enclosure to protect the filament from another light source. The first type of resin printer is SLA, which uses a laser as the light source. DLP printer comes soon after, and as the name suggests, it uses a similar light source to a projector. The modern resin printer is LCD-based with a UV blacklight to form each layer.
| Voxelab Proxima | Elegoo Saturn | |
|---|---|---|
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| Product Dimensions | 22.05 x 11.73 x 10.79 inches | 14.3 x 11.4 x 24 inches |
| Shipping Weight | 18.43 Pounds | 29.6 pounds |
| Shop now at Amazon | Check price | Check price |
About Voxelab Proxima and Elegoo Saturn
One of the similarities between FDM and resin printers is they produce the item layer by layer. The depositing and curing process takes much time, so we need to be patient. Usually, users can tweak the machine to go faster or slower, but the slow setting is better if you are not in a hurry. Like the setting in your paper printer, a slow process produces better details, and the machine can take its time to perform best. But, some machines like the Delta printer can print faster without affecting the quality.
Like FDM, resin printers will get more expensive as the capacity gets bigger, so it is wise to consider what you want to print and choose accordingly. Some of the best budget resin printers you can buy today are Voxelab Proxima and Elegoo Saturn. These printers are affordable and do a great job at producing beautiful prints. You can print almost anything from liquid resin, including flexible items. Due to the popularity of 3D printing, the material types and qualities also vary.
Before getting into resin printing, the material can be more expensive than the typical filament for FDM. But, to achieve greater detail and smoother, pretty items, sometimes we need to invest more. The Voxelab Proxima and Elegoo Saturn share many features and are similar in performance. You can print the same object using these printers and see a great result with the ideal setting. But, the Saturn is a bigger machine, and it is more expensive.
The main difference between Voxelab Proxima and Elegoo Saturn is the size. A bigger printer like Saturn is always more expensive but necessary if you want to print larger objects. But, if you don’t plan on making medium-sized prints, the Proxima is an excellent value for what it can offer. We are satisfied with the performance, and you can go amazing with any of the two. Read also: Voxelab Proxima Vs Elegoo Mars 2 here.
Voxelab Proxima and Elegoo Saturn Designs
If you usually have to build a budget FDM printer, resin printers will be a good experience because they don’t require much effort. The machines are solid, and the components are far less than FDM, so they look more straightforward. The control panel is usually touch-screen like what you see in Voxelab Proxima and Elegoo Saturn, but they are small. Some people find it hard to read the information on their screens as they are only 3.5 inches.
The Saturn is a larger printer, so we wonder why the printer’s display is still relatively small. The material you can use to fill the vat is a standard 405nm UV resin. The printer cover is similarly plastic, and there is no handle to hold it when removing or attaching the cover again. It will be nice for some companies to start to incorporate small handles for convenience. The dimension of Saturn is 11 x 9.4 x 17.5 inches, while Proxima is 9 x 7.8 x 16 inches.
Voxelab Proxima and Elegoo Saturn Setup
Setup is crucial both on FDM and resin printers to achieve successful prints. Start by attaching the build plate on the Z-axis and level the bed without the vat. If you already have the vat installed, we can remove it first because we will use paper to determine the distance. Some machines have an automatic leveling feature, but we will need to do it manually in Proxima. The Saturn has a semi-automatic leveling which means the system assists it, but the steps are very similar.
Ensure that the build plate is loose enough to wiggle while leveling. Close the gap between plate and screen but leave enough room for the paper to slide. Tighten the screws that secure your build plate slowly until they are firm enough to keep the plate at the same position. Depending on the printing intensity, we may need to level the bed again in the future. We notice when installing the bed that Saturn uses a dual-rail Z-axis to support its larger build plate while Proxima uses a single rail.
Voxelab Proxima and Elegoo Saturn Capacity
One of the most important things when buying a 3D printer is considering the capacity because not everyone will use the machine for the same purpose. Measure the type of item you want to make and decide the machine to buy. The main difference between Voxelab Proxima and Elegoo Saturn is the capacity because Saturn is larger. The Saturn can print up to 192 x 120 x 200 mm, while the Proxima is only 130 x 82 x 155 mm. The difference is noticeable if you plan on making bigger prints.
Voxelab Proxima and Elegoo Saturn Resolution
The resolution is another critical part to consider, especially in resin printers. Because they use a screen to cure each layer, the resolution can translate into details and finish. The higher the resolution, the better the details. Both Voxelab Proxima and Elegoo Saturn have similar XY resolution, 50 microns or 0.05mm. But, the screen size is different because Saturn is bigger, so it uses a 6-inch 3840 x 2400 screen; the Proxima uses a smaller 2560 x 1620 screen.
Voxelab Proxima and Elegoo Saturn Specs
The overall specs of Voxelab Proxima and Elegoo Saturn are similar. The layer height is 25 microns for Proxima, which should yield a good result, but Saturn can go even thinner at 10 microns. Depending on what you want to print, the difference may not be visible with naked eyes. Both printers use a mono screen to increase printing speed. The print speed of Saturn is 30mm/h, the same as Proxima. While they are not the fastest resin printers, they are faster than printers that use RGB screens.
Voxelab Proxima and Elegoo Saturn Performance
Resin printers are fascinating because the material is different from FDM. They build the item from liquid material by curing it with light. The process takes time since the printer has to do it for each layer. The Voxelab Proxima and Elegoo Saturn are fast machines for their size and price. They are not surprisingly outstanding, but we also don’t find any issue that makes them unreliable. The test prints with these machines are satisfying, and the experience is excellent.
The Saturn can go as low as 10 microns which is fantastic if you want the best-looking prints. From naked eyes, the difference between 10 and 50 microns is not easy to find, so it may depend on how you see the results. Speed is relatively fast but don’t expect them to finish printing in just a few minutes.
Voxelab Proxima Vs Elegoo Saturn
3D printing can be fun with a reliable machine. The Voxelab Proxima and Elegoo Saturn are ideal for budget shoppers who want to print highly detailed and achieve a smooth print surface. The main difference between these printers is capacity and layer thickness. The most important is capacity because you can’t build larger items with a small printer, but not everyone needs a larger printer, so it is subjective. The performance is similar, and they are equally fast for a resin printer.
Conclusion
The decision is yours because we may have a different plan for this printer. We recommend Proxima if this is your first resin printer and Saturn if you need the extra capacity. Both printers will work well with the proper setting and are satisfying to use.