Topic: Anycubic Mono X
So a finally made the decision to sell my Formlabs Form 1+ and get the new Anycubic Photon Mono X.
Since I already have the original Photon, and have been very please with it, I had been waiting for the new printer, and for the software to cacth up with each other. I'm a fan of ChiTu Box, and up until just 2 weeks ago, the only software option was the Photon Workshop, which is OK, but not the same as ChiTu.
Now with the release of v.1.8.0 Beta, the Mono X is finally supported by Chitu, so I pulled the trigger and bout one. I got mine through 3D Printers Online Store since they were offering free shipping. I placed the order on 1/13, and it was delivered today. Very good service.
I have yet to print anything with it, but here are my first impressions so far:
This thing is huge and heavy. My bathroom scale says its 25lbs. It's very nicely built, it has dual linear rail carriages and a multi start lead screw. The lead screw movements are very smooth and very quiet. The top surface of the printer is machined aluminum.
The build platform is large, solid aluminum and has 4 screws for leveling adjustments. The vat is all aluminum, has some type of protruding bumpers at the bottom that notch into 2 holes in the top surface to locate the vat over the screen. It's held in place with 2 thumb screws. Under the vat is the 9" LCD panel. More on that below.
The main body of the printer has a 3.5" color LCD on the front for controlling the printer, a USB port on the right side as well as a power switch and DC in port. Power is supplied via a 24V @ 6A PSU. This printer can be used by putting the sliced model on the USB thumb drive and printing from there, but it also has WiFi connectivity, and the model can be uploaded directly from the computer. Personally I prefer the USB method.
Last but not least the cover over this beast a a heavy removable lid made from 3/16" thick yellow plexiglass, 14" tall. I would have preferred a hinged lid, bit this is not objectionable either.
Other than the obvious difference in print volume 120 x 68 x 150mm (Photon) vs. 192 x 120 x 245mm (Mono X), the one major difference is the new LCD technology.
A new generation of MSLA printers started cropping up last year that use a monochrome LCD panel. This is such a printer. The 2 major advantages of this new type of LCD are the extended life span, and the faster print times.
The 4K monochrome LCD has no color filters, an improved polarizer and faster transmission, which let it pass more of the UV light than the RGB color panels do. That translates directly into faster print times. Below are screen shots of the same model sliced for both the Photon and the Mono X. Take a look at the print time difference:
Photon: 7hrs. 10min.
Mono X: 2hrs. 48min.
So now to the only negative. The package the printer came in was very well made and supported the printer fine, but after I took everything out, I noticed some pretty pronounced scratches on the bottom side of the FEP film. I'm sure it will print OK in that area, but the quality of the print may suffer a bit there, and show some artifacting. I started a support ticket and we'll see how they respond.
Well, that's it for now.
PS. Here is a photo of the build platforms showing the difference between the photon and the Mono X.
SD3 printer w/too many mods, Printrbot Simple Maker Ed., FormLabs Form 1+
AnyCubic Photon, Shining 3D EinScan-S & Atlas 3D scanners...
...and too much time on my hands.