Next, I printed an original NCC-1701 Enterprise barely bigger than my thumb, yet with enough detail to make out individual lines on the hull. The resolution of the printer is greater than that of a 4K TV, despite the LCD measuring just over 7 inches diagonally. It should be no surprise given the resolution of the printer is greater than that of a 4K TV, despite the LCD measuring just over 7 inches diagonally.

The test cube was printed on a perfectly spherical base, its embossed text as good as something I'd expect from a laser printer. Anycubic even includes resin filters, a set of gloves, a scraper to get prints off the bed and masks in the box - though you'll want to upgrade to a proper respirator if you're sensitive to fumes like I am.Īnd that first print? It was crisp and clean and perfect, light-years beyond anything I could ever hope to get from my Prusa MK3S. With the Photon M3, I finished my first test print less than an hour after I took the printer out of the box.

Most of my printing experience is in the FDM world, where it's not uncommon to spend hours fussing and tweaking before you can start to expect consistent prints. The Photon M3 can certainly deliver, but before you get there you have to get the thing set up, a process that Anycubic has thankfully made remarkably easy. Partially failed thanks to too few supports, but those keys that survived look fantastic. (Higher resolution means more detail can come through in prints.) The Mono has a build resolution of 2,560x1,620 pixels the Photon M3 nearly doubles that to 4,098x2,560 pixels. More impressive, though, is the upgrade in resolution. That's far from massive, but it is a nice upgrade over the 16.5x13x8-cm build volume of Anycubic's cheaper Photon Mono. The M3 has a maximum build volume of 18.0x16.3x10.2 centimeters, which means the biggest part you can print would be roughly 7 inches tall, 6 inches wide and 4 inches thick.

While airborne microplastics are a concern with FDM printing, when it comes to SLA printers you're talking about highly volatile fumes from both the resin itself and the large amounts of isopropyl alcohol needed to process the prints.Īnycubic has created a simple workflow to make that process as easy as possible: The new, $299 Anycubic Photon M3 is a high-quality (but still entry-level) model that offers a usable amount of build space and remarkably good prints. You could write a doctoral thesis comparing and contrasting the pros and cons of these technologies, but SLA printers get a bad rap for their tiny build volumes and noxious chemicals. Requires ventilation and extra safety gear.

I see the light tangled on keyboard