Searching for the best photon 3D printer to buy can be overwhelming without professional advice or necessary information. It’s important to gather enough information before making a decision to avoid investing in the wrong product. In this article, we have put together a list of 8 models of photon 3D printers with their detailed reviews based on their features, functionality, price, customer ratings, and overall quality to help you narrow down your choices.
8. LONGER Orange Photon 3D Printers
Here is an entry-level LCD 3D printer comes with the machine preinstalled and easy to setup. It provides speedy prototyping with great precision detail. It also features 24 parallel LED light that offers an improved quality of printing as well as better slicing speed. It is able to slice 100Mb file in one minute which is 3x faster than the outdated FDM printers. Moreover, the touch screen display is packed with user-friendly features making it easier to work with.
Offline printing is also supported, so you can just transfer the printing files from the included 8G TF card. The printer may hear up when printing large files; however, thanks to its temperature warning system, you don’t need to worry about it damaging your printing at all. The printer will automatically shut off when overheating is detected, the printing will be paused and resumed later once the printer is cool down.
Pros:
• Full touchscreen color display
• Entry-level, suitable for beginners
• Sturdy structure
• Comes with an 8G TF card
• Standard printing size
• Affordable
• Easy set-up
Cons:
• Does not comes with resin
• Materials feel cheap
• The touchscreen has low response sensitivity
• The software can be buggy sometimes
7. ANYCUBIC Photon 3D Printers
This 3D printer is made of full metal with CNC structure and steel ball balancing build providing convenience to leveling. It’s equipped with the Fast-slicing software that’s able to slice a 30Mb .stl file in just 1 minute. This printer has an XY resolution of 47 microns with the Z layer height of 10 microns which can deliver a 3D printed model with great details.
Unlike, the FDM type of 3D printer, this LCD printer offers a more efficient and faster speed of printing at 20~30mm/h regardless of the number of models on the build plate. The smart touchscreen is also user-friendly and suitable for beginners as well, which allows you to monitor and preview real-time printing status.
Pros:
• Easy to set up and use
• Sturdy structure build
• High precision and fast printing with 50 LED light sources
• One-year warranty on the machine
• Supports offline printing
• Comes with a bottle of 500ml resin
Cons:
• Small LCD screen
• A bit of a learning curve if you’ve just switched from FDM printer
6. ANYCUBIC Photon 3D Printers
Looking for a user-friendly option? This model is easy to set up as well as user-friendly as it comes preassembled including all the necessary tools to get you started. It’s a great option for those who are new to 3D printing or switching from an FDM printer to an LCD printer. It has a printing build size of 115 x 65 x 165 mm which is a standard medium size. Also, the design of dual rails of the Z-axis ensures that the bed stays stable during the printing process.
Moreover, with the upgraded LED UV lighting, the accuracy and resolution are improved which provides great details in the printing results. The touchscreen display is packed with user-friendly functions offering a superior user experience even for beginners. This printer also features dual air filtration as well which can effectively cut down on the odor.
Pros:
• Easy setup with tools included
• Sanded Aluminum structure, great stability during the printing process
• The power supply is CE certified
• Has a built-in double air filter
• Easy-to-use functions
• Matrix LED UV lighting with 2560*1440 high-resolution screen
• Comes with resin
Cons:
• USB port doesn’t work well
• No instruction manual
• Short lifetime
• The software is flawed
5. Comgrow Creality Ender 3
This printer is built for all levels of users and especially ideal for kids as an introduction to 3D printing and STEM project for them. The surface plate of this printer uses a magnet build that ensures consistent temperature on the plate and also makes it easy to take out the printed model after cooling. Also, the power supply of this printer is UL certified which ensures fast heating but also prevents a sudden power surge and overheating as well. It also features the resume printing function as well.
Moreover, this printer comes with a semi-assembled kit that allows you to gain some basic knowledge about the construction of a 3D printer as you’re assembling it which is a great STEM educational activity.
Pros:
• Improved surface plate providing sufficient and stable heat
• The power supply is UL certified
• Has auto pause and resume printing function in case of a sudden power outage
• Comes with a semi-assembled kit
• Great value for money
Cons:
• Printing speed is rather slow as it’s not the LED type
• Slow customer service
• Flawed bed warping producing less detailed quality
4. PHROZEN Sonic Mini
Packed with features, this model has a build volume of 4.7” x 2.6” x 5.1” with a printing speed of 50mm/hour. The printer adopts the Mono-LCD technology for fast printing which is able to cure Resin in 1 second. The assemble is easy and the functions are easy to operate which allows you to get your printing started in just 5 minutes with 3 clicks.
It also features the ParaLED system to produce superb accurate details. Moreover, it also has a stable thermal mono-LCD that carries a lifetime of more than 2000 hours. PHROZEN Sonic Mini also supports offline printing with just a simple operation on the touch panel.
Pros:
• Comes with aluminum resin
• Easy assembly and operation
• The adopted Mono-LCD has a long lifetime
• Supports offline printing
• Produce great quality prints
• Fast printing
Cons:
• USB port doesn’t work properly
• The printer is mini size so it only supports small size model printing
• Plastic shell structure
• Poor customer service
3. ANYCUBIC UV Curing and Washing Machine
This model is a 2-in-1 machine with a dual-purpose which supports both 3D printing with curing and washing making the operation more efficient. The maximum size for model washing is L115mm x W65mm x H165mm and D140mm x H165mm for curing. The built-in powerful UV LED light set is widely compatible with a range of 3D printers available today. The curing platform is 360-degree rotatable allowing the 3D models to have better exposure to the UV light.
The functions are easy to operate with just a touch on the button with all the modes set clear and easy to understand. This model also features an auto-pause system for safe operations. The UV light will be automatically shut off when the top cover is removed. The machine also comes with a sealed container so that you can store washing liquid for reuse.
Pros:
• Efficient and save cost on buying a single-purpose machine
• Easy operation
• Auto-pause system
• Cleans well without sticky residue
Cons:
• Short preset time
• Require set up
• Poor customer service
2. Houselog Creality Ender-3 V2 3D Printer
With its integrated structure as well as modular design, the power source is concealed inside the machine making it safer to use. The printer is geared with a mute motherboard that offers greater anti-interference ability with more stable and faster performance as well as quiet operation.
Other than these, the printer also features the pause-resume printing function which automatically pauses the operation and resumes after the power-off so you can worry less about the printing failure. This printer supports Mac OS and also Windows XP/7/8/10. However, as this printer adopts FDM modeling technology, the printing time is rather slow and can take up to 1 to 8 hours depending on the complexity and size of the model.
Pros:
• Produce good quality prints
• Good value for money
• Hidden power supply, much safer to use
• New UI update, quick and simple to operate
• Has a toolbox integrated into the body
• Silent operation
Cons:
• Printing may take a long time
• Plastic structure
1. ANYCUBIC Mega-S New Upgrade 3D Printer
Another FDM 3D printer we have here is the Mega-S model from ANYCUBIC. It has a build size of 8.27” x 8.27” x 8.07” with a printing speed of 20-100 mm with Cura, Smplify3D, and Repetier-HOST slicing software. The printer is equipped with a filament sensor that allows auto-pause or auto-resume in case of filament break.
Meanwhile, the ultra base has excellent adhesion offering durability and easy removal of the printed models. It also features a high-quality Titan extruder that works well with flexible filament. Also, the touchscreen display has great responsive sensitivity with user-friendly UI enhancing the user experience for simple operation.
Pros:
• Auto-pause filament sensor
• Suitable for beginners
• Quick assembly, ready out of the box
• Multi-language, full color, and user-friendly UI
• Great value for money
• Produce great quality prints
Cons:
• The fan is a little loud
• Prints small to medium size models
Buying Guide
These are some of the top features you must consider when purchasing a 3D printer.
Size of printed models
To choose the right 3D printer for your project, first, you’ll want to know what object you’ll be printing and what size they’ll be. That way, you can choose a printer that offers the right printing volume.
Functions
If you’re a beginner, less is definitely more. Some machine comes with setting modes that allow you to get your printing started easily with just a touch of a button. However, if you’re enthusiastic and willing to learn more along the way, the model with complex function would also be a great option and you also get to have more control over the printing process.
Warranty and Support
When it comes to the purchase of a tech product, a warranty should never be overlooked, in case any technical issue occurs later unless you’re an expert who knows your way around these tech products, then perhaps you could get a lower price purchase without warranty.
Conclusion
To sum up, there’re 2 types of 3D printers in the list above which are the LCD and FDM models. They have a different printing process, so the printing speed of the two also varies. Nonetheless, both types are great for all levels of users, even beginners. If you’re just getting started in the 3D printing field, you may consider purchasing one of the models mentioned above.
