I did find the LCD display to be fairly responsive and it did move fast through the menus (a very similar performance to what I saw on the Longer LK5 Pro), but I also need to mention that you can see a live rendition of every layer that’s getting cured, as well as an approximate time until the model is going to be done. You can use it to select the model that you want to print, to adjust the UV power, to move the Z-axis rod, to adjust the exposure, the rising speed, retraction speed and more. On the front of the Photon Mono 4K, there’s a 2.8-inch color TFT touchscreen display which has proven to be very helpful. The build plate is going to be separate in the package and you will need to add it to the support and calibrate it using the provided paper. I really like how Anycubic has added various measurements inside the vat, including a maximum limit, so that you don’t overfill it, therefore risking spilling some resin when the build plate needs to come down.
Since we’re dealing with an MSLA 3D printer, there is a 6.23-inch monochrome screen facing upwards and next to it there are two metallic supports with knobs for fixing the vat into place (which will contain the resin). The good news is that it’s surprisingly quiet, with just that characteristic low-volume squealing noise – since the Anycubic Photon Mono 4K will not end up in your bedroom (a garage is the more likely room), it won’t matter that much how noisy the printer is. This does mean that it should be more silent, but you will still be able to hear the movement of the elevator (Z-axis). The Photon Mono did not have a fan despite having some cut-outs that may suggest otherwise and it seems that the manufacturer has kept the Mono 4K fanless as well. Unlike the more expensive Anycubic models, the top cover needs to be completely removed (it’s not just a lid), but the good news is that the 3D printer does have a sensor which will not allow you to start the printing process unless it detects that you added the cover. So yes, the 4K version is the same as the original Photon Mono in terms of design, which means that there’s a black base and a yellow UV-blocking transparent top cover. In any case, the build volume is not that big 6.5 x 5.2 x 3.1 inches (16.5 x 13.2 x 8.0 cm), but it should be enough for small and medium-sized models (then again, larger models are usually printed in separate parts, so it may still work just fine with the Photon Mono 4K). It’s also not really bedroom-friendly due to the fumes and the risk of contaminating your stuff with uncured resin.
At 15.1 x 8.9 x 8.7 inches (38.3 x 22.7 x 22.2 cm), it won’t occupy that much from your table, but don’t let that fool you, a resin 3D printer will occupy your entire desk with all the accessories needed for cleaning the models afterwards. So, I was immediately surprised by how compact the Anycubic Photon Mono 4K was and how there were no exposed wires or cables. Since I have been using a few inexpensive FDM, I am accustomed to having an open-case design where both the cables and the connectors aren’t really contained (it makes sense since the arm needs to move in certain directions).
#Anycubic photon mono series#
That being said, the Photon Mono series was and still remains suitable for new-comers since these resin 3D printers are not that expensive and, if anything goes wrong, it’s not too difficult to either repair or completely replace the device. And if the price remains roughly the same, then the Anycubic Photon Mono 4K should be a great replacement over the roughly five-year old resin 3D printer. Does this actually matter that much to warrant an entire new device? It does matter because you get more pixels in the same area (as the first Photon printer), so the models should be far more detailed (there is a huge difference between 2K and 4K).