The Anycubic Photon S SLA 3D Printer 3D printer is not a traditional filament printer, but it is a 3D printer that can produce highly-detailed models. It is compact and has a small footprint. The ANYCUBIC Photon S is available at a reasonable price, too. This makes it perfect for personal use and for those who need to do work in fine detail. Let’s take a look at what it can do.
ANYCUBIC Photon S Technical Specifications
- Max Print Size: 115mm x 65mm x 155mm (4.5” x 2.5” x 6.1”)
- File Format: Proprietary Photon S Software
- Supported Filament Types: 405nm photosensitive resin, plant-based
- Filament Diameter: N/A
- Printer Speed: 20mm/hour
- Extruders: One
- Extruder Diameter: 0.4mm
- Printing Plate: Heated
Design and Features
The ANYCUBIC Photon S is a resin-based LCD 3D printer that produces excellent models that are suitable for many purposes, including some professional uses. The printer uses special plant-based ANYCUBIC resin. The ANYCUBIC headquarters is located in Shenzhen, China and began in 2015. The Photon S is an upgrade from the original ANYCUBIC Photon. It quickly became one of the most popular printers on the market. The reason for this is its low price for the quality of work that it produces.
In general, a printer that uses resin produces higher resolution prints, but it also takes longer and cannot produce prints as quickly as filament printers. The new version of this printer has an all-aluminum fuselage and acrylic cover. The Photon S is not only an improvement over the old model; it is a significant improvement.
The redesign has a new control board, firmware, and case. The supported file formats have changed, too. All of the mechanical parts are durable metal, but the case is plastic. This gives it a cheaper appearance, but it also reduces the weight of the unit. One of the more significant upgrades is a dual guide system for the z-axis that makes it much more stable than the original. The UV is more powerful, which means shorter exposure times and shorter print time. This makes the most difference when performing longer prints or creating larger objects. You can upgrade to an even more powerful UV and shorten the print time even more.
The printer has an air filtration system that includes dual fans to reduce odors, but it still produces a considerable odor. The carbon filtration system reduces the odor somewhat. Resin printers tend to produce more odor than filament printers. The unit has quiet operation during print cycles.
The Photon S uses the ANYCUBIC slicer, but it can also support ChiTuBox. The Photon S uses its proprietary file format. The printer only works with the .photon format, which reduces its compatibility with other platforms. The slicer for printing with resin is different from slicing for an FDM printer. This is the reason for the type of file. FDM files will not work on printers that use resin.
It will work with Mac, Linux and Windows systems, but you must download their software first. A lack of cross-compatibility is one of the main downsides of this printer. Also, the slicer software is basic and does not have all the functionality of professional printers.
Printing
Print quality and resolution are where the ANYCUBIC Photon S resin printer stands out. Major upgrades from the previous model were mainly to improve print quality and print speed. The dual z-axis guide helps to create a smooth surface and allows for a more intricate design. This printer is capable of printing in layers that are thinner than 10 microns. The results are detailed enough that some dental offices use it for modeling.
This photo 3d printer is quiet while in a print cycle. In terms of speed, you have to consider the resolution of the model. This printer has a high resolution, which naturally takes more time than a low-resolution print. For its resolution, the speed of the printer is quite good. The addition of the higher wattage UV bulb helps the speed of the printer by decreasing the amount of time it takes between layers. Of course, the high-resolution prints take longer than the lower ones in terms of the overall time. It is a fast printer compared to other printers that can produce similar levels of resolution.
This model produces excellent quality prints, but working with ANYCUBIC resin can be tricky. Here are a few suggestions when using this printer that will make it a bit easier:
- Get a box of latex gloves because the resin is sticky and messy.
- Get an extra pack of filters. Paint filters will work.
- Print a funnel from Thingiverse to reduce spills.
- Keep 95 percent Isopropyl Alcohol on hand to clean up.
- Get a mask due to odors.
- Keep plenty of paper towels on hand.
- Shake the resin well before use.
Even though this 3D resin printer produces high-resolution prints, it has a relatively small print surface, which limits the size of print that you can do. As long as you wish to create smaller items, this is an excellent printer.
Packing and Assembly
The 3D printer comes snugly packed in an ANYCUBIC box. Extra care was given to ensure it is protected from damage. The unit itself comes packaged in styrofoam, and it comes with plenty of additional Styrofoam pieces to protect the moving parts and components such as the LCD.
This printer is small in size and does not take up much space on the desk or table. It is 230mm x 200mm x 400mm (9” x 7.9” x 15.7”), and it only weighs 19.4 pounds. It is portable and fits into small spaces. However, the resin can be messy, so give it a little bit of space.
One of the features that users like about the Photon S is that it is easy to set up and level right out of the box. Leveling the build plate takes the most time because it has to be precise, but the system has a straightforward program that goes through it one step at a time. It is finicky about the leveling, but once you get it right, the first few prints are perfect. It is a forgiving machine, once you get it set up correctly. Another one of its advantages is that it is consistent from piece to piece once it is set up. It is a stable and reliable machine.
One thing to remember is that this is not an FDM printer. If you are used to printing with FDM, then this machine will have a huge learning curve. Cleanliness and preventing clogs is a big part of successful printing with this, and any other, resin printer. For instance, make sure to clean your resin vat. Hardened particles of resin can easily ruin your print. Make sure to clean the unit thoroughly between each print. Cured resin left from a previous copy has the potential to damage the printer.
If you are used to an FDM printer, this printer is quite different. It comes almost fully assembled, and the instructions are clear. It only takes about 10 minutes to assemble and begin the leveling process. The leveling process was easy, but the unit does not have the auto-leveling capability. Assembly and set up for the first print is relatively quick and easy. It is ready for the first print in about an hour after unboxing the printer.
Support
The support staff for this printer responds quickly and is knowledgeable about the product. They are quite helpful and able to explain things easily. There is a YouTube channel dedicated to this printer, which is a wonderful resource for information, instructions and print ideas.
ANYCUBIC Photon S Pros & Cons
Here are the key advantages and disadvantages of the ANYCUBIC resin printer.
ANYCUBIC Photon S Pros
- Excellent, high-detail prints
- Lightweight and has a small footprint
- Reasonably priced
- Consistent print quality
- Easy setup and leveling
- Mechanical parts made from sturdy metal
- Smooth operation makes excellent prints
- Quiet when printing
ANYCUBIC Photon S Cons
- Small print area
- Slicing software is only very basic
- Models can be difficult to remove from the plate
Verdict
If you are used to FDM printing, resin printing might take some time to get used to at first. Once you do, the results are amazing in terms of print resolution and detail. This is an easy printer to use that produces excellent results. It is easy to set up and get ready for the first print. One of the main disadvantages is that it uses proprietary slicing software, and it is not compatible with different file formats. This also limits the number of available objects that are ready for print. Software is available that can convert other file types to .photon files, so there is some room for expansion. Overall, the ANYCUBIC Photon S 3D printer is a highly-recommended resin printer for anyone who wants to do smaller prints with a high amount of detail.
Last update on 2024-11-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
