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The resin 3D printer market exploded over the previous couple of years, notably within the client phase because of the proliferation of inexpensive LCD panels for MSLA (masked stereolithography) printers. No firm has launched extra printer fashions on this phase than Anycubic and now they’re again with a model new mannequin. That will help you resolve whether it is best for you, I put the brand new Anycubic Photon M3 printer to the check.
Full disclosure: Anycubic offered me with the Photon M3 for this overview. However, as all the time, this overview is as trustworthy and unbiased as attainable.
The Anycubic Photon M3 is an MSLA resin 3D printer, that means it makes use of an LCD panel to masks the UV gentle that cures the liquid resin. This is identical printing expertise behind most resin printers within the client market, together with most of Anycubic’s different fashions. The variations between fashions largely come all the way down to the UV gentle supply and the specs of the LCD panel.
Sitting squarely in the midst of Anycubic’s catalog, the Photon M3 retails for a sexy $299 on the Anycubic web site or $319 by means of Amazon. Its closest competitor is the ELEGOO Mars 3 ($350 retail), which I’ll put up a overview of quickly. However the Photon M3 has a bigger print quantity and a lower cost than the Mars 3, which ought to make it very interesting to patrons.
Specs
Earlier than we drive into my impressions of the Anycubic Photon M3, let’s check out its fundamental specs:
- LCD Dimension: 7.6″
- LCD Decision: 4K+ (4098 x 2560)
- XY Decision: 40μm
- Layer Peak: 0.01 to 0.15 mm
- Construct Quantity: 180 x 163 x 102 mm (7.1 x 6.4 x 4.0 in.)
- Interface LCD: 2.8″ full-color touchscreen
These specs are all fairly spectacular, particularly at this worth level. The construct quantity could not massive as giant because the pricier Photon Mono X or Photon Mono X 6K, however it’s nonetheless beneficiant for this phase of the market. That, together with the excessive XY decision, makes the Photon M3 good for these trying to print collectible figurines, tabletop minis, and different ornamental gadgets.
Unboxing
As is typical for Anycubic printers, the Photon M3 arrived well-packed and safe in a heavy obligation cardboard field with foam safety. Contained in the field was the printer itself and the usual software package, which features a USB drive, hex keys, scrapers, filters, gloves, and masks. However if you buy this — or every other resin printer — it would be best to buy gloves and masks in bulk.
After unpacking the printer, setup was easy and simple. The one factor it’s important to do earlier than you can begin printing is stage the construct platform. That is a fast and simple course of which takes lower than 3 minutes. After that, you may pour in some resin and begin the check print file included on the USB drive.
The Machine
As has been the case for each different Anycubic printer I’ve examined, the Photon M3 is well-built and durable. Its physique is plastic, however the upright extrusion that helps the Z axis linear rail and the mattress are aluminum.
There’s solely a single linear rail on this machine, however it’s beefy and greater than adequate for a printer of this measurement. The bearings on the carriage present clean, quiet motion. The ball screw is straight and machined properly, that means the one noise you hear when printing is a bit of little bit of stepper motor whine and the cooling followers.
The construct platform attaches to the Z axis within the traditional Anycubic fashion, with 4 leveling screws mating the platform to the locking mechanism. That locking mechanism has a single knob to launch the platform, making it fast and simple to take away the platform.
The Photon M3’s construct platform has a laser-etched floor that aids in print adhesion. It’s a lot much less aggressive than the sq. hatch engraving on the Photon Mono X 6K, however that could be a good factor in my view. Prints adhere properly, however then launch afterwards with out a lot effort.
The two.3″ colour touchscreen interface is responsive and simple to make use of. There aren’t many menus to get misplaced in and it offers you solely what you want. The dimensions is greater than giant sufficient to indicate a transparent preview of your mannequin earlier than printing and related standing info throughout the printing course of. As with different Anycubic fashions, the interface helps you to modify UV energy mid-print in the event you want to take action.
Slicing Software program
Anycubic produces their very own slicing software program referred to as Photon Workshop. It’s fundamental, however akin to the free model of the favored CHITUBOX software program. It doesn’t do computerized half orientation, nevertheless it does present many of the different options that you want, together with:
- Automated help era
- Mannequin hollowing
- Management over all publicity and print settings
- The flexibility to separate giant fashions into smaller components
- Textual content instruments
- Duplicate print arrays
Photon Workshop will likely be adequate for many customers, however superior customers ought to be capable to use different software program as builders add help for the Photon M3. In contrast to some printers from different producers, Photon M3 customers are usually not locked into particular software program. When you’ve got different software program you like, then it is possible for you to to make use of it — assuming its builders implement help.
That stated, I caught to Photon Workshop for all of my checks. It did every part I wanted it to do and I did not really feel the necessity to use anything.
The Prints
For my check prints I used each Anycubic Fundamental resin (in grey) and Siraya Tech Construct resin (additionally grey). I printed each mannequin at the usual 0.05mm layer top, which is what most customers will follow because it offers a very good steadiness of high quality and print time. For settings, I caught to the usual profile in Photon Workshop and that appeared ultimate for each resin sorts.
I began by printing the lattice dice that Anycubic consists of on the USB drive that comes within the software package. As one would anticipate, it turned out nice. If you happen to’ve by no means seen a high-quality resin print, this does an incredible job of illustrating how clean the floor end is and the entire lack of seen layer strains.
From there, I moved on to a handful of different prints, together with a growth board enclosure, a figurine, and a miniature mannequin of the Eye of Sauron tower.
These all turned out properly, with very excessive element and clean surfaces. Utilizing Photon Workshop’s built-in settings, helps held up by means of the printing course of after which got here off simply and cleanly. The few minor flaws I used to be capable of see are attributable to mannequin orientation and help settings.
Conclusions
In most opinions, that is the purpose the place I might inform you what I did not like in regards to the printer and what I believe could be improved. However on this case, I haven’t got something detrimental to say in regards to the Anycubic Photon M3 and I can’t consider something I’d change.
It is a superb printer at a aggressive worth. Anycubic has clearly realized a whole lot of classes over time and so they’ve made probably the most of that information right here. If you happen to’re out there for an MSLA resin 3D printer and do not want a large construct quantity, the Anycubic Photon M3 is a good alternative.
Alongside the Photon M3, Anycubic is releasing the Photon M3 Plus and M3 Max. Keep tuned for extra particulars on these fashions.
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