Photon Mono M7

Note: I will not go into a comparison between FDM and Resin 3D printing for this review.Pros:Simple set upIntuitive menuHigh quality printsEntry level friendlyVery high tolerancesConsistentCons:Protection of the LCD screenMishap clean upQuirks:Touch screen controls are slightly offBackground:I am an engineer and I have been designing components to work with 3D printing and 3D printing since 2012. This is my first resin 3D printer after a history with FDM and designing a SLS 3D printer for printing nylon. I originally chose to purchase a 3D printer with the intent to print custom connectors for robotics applications, small components with high tolerances, prototypes, small scale production, and a few figurines.Detailed Review:The setup is very simple with all tools provided and little room for error following simple instructions which when combined with the intuitive menu that gives you a preview of the print makes this an excellent choice for someone getting into 3D printing or switching over to FDM. I was incredibly surprised with the precision of the prints, the amount of details, and the final processed measurements. The quality of the print has actually required me to model more components such as threads, cogs, and gears rather than use someone else’s model due to fitment. (Those models will still work fine for most hobby applications but for precision applications with limited slippage or precise alignment it is better to design to your machine) It is important to note that I find that the cover does an excellent job at keeping the smell of resin out of the room, but it is highly recommended that you keep any open resin in a well ventilated area and use an appropriate mask if you will be around it for a long period of time such as a cull cleaning of the vat. I have been printing non-stop to test if the performance degrades and have found no issues as long as I ensure that the build plate is clean and there isn’t anything stuck to the FEP.An inspection of the device (from an engineering perspective) revealed a potential issue with how the LCD screen protected. The LCD itself appears to be protected by a layer of glass that is recessed from the aluminum plate. While this protects from being scraped by the vat, it could cause some issues cleaning if resin were to end up on the glass or surrounding aluminum. Glancing at other printers in the price range, it appears that all of the competition will have the same potential issue if Resin is spilled. As long as you are careful with the vat and research and test if you decide to replace the FEP, you shouldn’t run into any issues. One quirk I have noticed is that the touch screen controls appear to be slightly out of calibration making it easier to fat thumb things. I don’t know if that quirk is on all units or just mine but it is still easy to use and a stylus with a smaller effective area than your finger is fool proof (I still use my finger).Conclusion:Overall I am incredibly happy with this unit and would recommend that anyone looking into getting into 3D printing especially that of figurines.Potential users:As with all precision devices and machines, you should always research before attempting something new and maintain your machine. So get out there and find forums and youtube videos on how to get the best prints and take care of the printer.For the fellow engineers:Your selection of resin is very important for the durability of your parts. Print in place objects such as bearings are very difficult to cure as they typically have high tolerances in enclosed places where it is difficult for you to get UV light to do a full cure.

I have been printing for a little while now and had the opportunity to pick up the Anycubic Photon Mono and jumped at it. Anycubic makes some really great resins and I decided to give their printer a shot. I have a Creality LD002R that I started on and will be making some comparisons where I can. For frame of reference - the LD002R is a great machine - but the Photon Mono would be more in direct competition with the LD002H model.Out the gates there are some things I love and some things I am not so fond of. First the good.Good:1: I love how quiet this thing is. Compared to my Creality, the Photon Mono is next to SILENT. Very quiet.It is quicker than my other printers - compared to the LD002R it prints at about 50% faster speeds. It prints at about 20% faster than my LD002H. From what I have read it comes down to light intensity of the UV cure lamp. Its brighter and that results in faster speeds for more accurate prints.2: Accurate: This machine gives beautiful quality miniatures (my principal use) with very little issue. One thing I do need to stress here is that this is not a great machine for a stock standard beginner.It does require a little bit of experience and knowledge in how to use your software. I went from using Chitubox with my Creality, to using Blender, Windows 3D, and Lychee slicer. If there are issues with the STL models you download it will create issues with your print. These three programs will help you find them and fix them.You will also need to know how to set up your supports. For how fast this printer prints, you will have loads of print failures if you don't have a firm understanding of how to set your supports. I recommend looking at all online resources here.You will also need to make sure you program the software correctly to interface with your printer AND YOUR RESIN combo. You can get really great speeds out of this machine if you set up your software correctly. I stress this is a SOFTWARE and not a printer issue. The printer is great, but the wrong settings will have you cursing the day you purchased your machine...and I guarantee you will find the issue with your resin or printer settings in your slicer software or because of a artifact issue in the print.Bad: (these are more preference things than any true issues with the machine)1: The lid needs to be completely set on the machine for it to work. If the lid is off even a small amount it will result in the print not proceeding. While this is a great safety and exposure feature, it is a small annoyance if you have any little bit of something on the lid base causing it to not make a full connection.2: The FEP: This is actually a big deal for me. In the picture you can see that the FEP is a full solid assembly. You cannot replace the sheet using the tools given. The FEP is pressed into a frame - making it resilient but if you are careless and set it down and get a deformity or hole in the FEP, the replacement is $35 and when I have tons of replacement sheets on hand for my other machines - its just a hassle to have a specialized FEP that you either have to keep on hand or purchase a third-party part to use your existing FEP sheets. I ended up purchasing the Sovol 3D Resin vat that fits nicely and comes with nice silicone covers for when they are not in use.That all being said, the Resin vat is a great design, comes with a pour spout corner that is very useful for straining resin back into your bottle.As to the other things that come in the package, I was not surprised to see the traditional stuff, the Allen wrenches, the resin strainers etc. What I was impressed by were the masks, gloves and super sturdy wooden handled scraper. everything else I have ever received have been plastic handled or small, but this was a solid piece of kit to have.Overall - this is a solid, well built machine that I will use for a long time. I recommend the Sovol Resin vat and either flex build plates or roughing up the original build plate with a bit of steel wool. 4.5/5