Tech Breakdown: Anycubic Photon Mono

Anycubic is a familiar name in the 3D printing industry. With over a dozen plastic and resin based 3D printers developed and released over the years, Anycubic has the experience needed to improve the process and create something new: the Anycubic Photon Mono. With the latest lineup from Anycubic it truly is a holistic experience, as the printing process has been improved and streamlined from the all new 2K monochrome LCD and LED matrix to some helpful maintenance features. And to really spruce up the workflow, the Wash and Cure Station dramatically simplifies the post-processing routine.

Let's break it down-

Monocorome 2K LCD and New LED Matrix

The Anycubic Photon Mono follows in its predecessor’s footsteps and uses MSLA technology (Masked Stereolithography Apparatus) to harden liquid resin into unique shapes, full layers at a time. This is done by using an LCD screen to display cross-sections of the finished 3D print in sequential order to let UV light pass through the LCD from the UV LEDs in the base, hardening the resin. The Mono improves on the functionality by moving away from a traditional RGB LCD to a 2K Monochrome LCD to allow more UV light through to cure each layer faster than ever. Even further, the UV LEDs in the base have been improved to form a matrix of LEDs to fully expose the entire build area, preventing hot and cold spots where light intensity varies. By virtue of allowing more light to pass through the LCD, less energy is being absorbed by it, so its lifespan increases significantly while allowing 3D prints to finish much faster than before.

Helpful Features Abound

Not only have there been improvements in performance, there have been changes made for better daily use and maintenance. The UV-blocking top cover blocks out 99.95% of UV light, protecting both your eyes from the intense UV LED matrix and the uncured resin in the vat of the Photon Mono. Its bright yellow color also makes it really easy to see through the protective cover and see your 3D print progress without having to lift the cover every time you want to check up on it.  For those concerned about someone interacting with the 3D print while the print job is still running, you can enable a safety feature to instantly pause the job when the UV cover is removed. As part of regular maintenance you will need to replace the thin FEP film in the vat when it wears down or gets punctured, to make this process simple and easy, you no longer need to sandwich alternating metal plates and dozens of screws, instead you just unscrew the old bracket and pop in a new to get back up and running with perfect film tension.

Wash and Cure

Using the Anycubic Wash and Cure Station automates and simplifies the inevitable curing process. The wash station has a built in propeller to stir the alcohol while the print sits in the wire basket, or even more conveniently the entire buildplate can be washed with it. Over the course of its cycle the propeller will alternate directions to swirl isopropyl alcohol all around the 3D print. Once its been washed, dried off, and any remaining alcohol evaporated, all you have to do is remove the cleaning container, place the reflective sheet and turntable, and set the cure time to let the 3D print be bathed in UV light to fully harden. It’s a simple addition to the resin 3D printing workflow that keeps the entire manufacturing method in a compact footprint.

If you intend to have a holistic resin 3D printing experience, look no further than the Anycubic Photon Mono and the Wash and Cure Station. And when you’re looking for a low-cost resin to use with your new machine, consider epoxy-free MH Build resin. To learn more and to order your full-fledged resin workstation today, check out our resin printer collection here.