We’ve been fans of AnyCubic 3D printers since we tried the AnyCubic Photon Mono X and one of their filament/FDM printers, AnyCubic Vyper. Since then, we’ve had a chance to preview AnyCubic Photon Mono X 6K.
The Photon Mono X 6K is the highest resolution version of Mono X’s AnyCubic, a resin printer that uses masked stereolithography to process liquid resins into solid plastic materials. We are excited to witness the extent to which this new high-resolution printer can produce highly detailed prints.
We’ve covered the dangers of rosin printing in the past in our review of AnyCubic Photon Mono X, so we’ll assume you understand the learning curve and cleanup you have. You can expect to print with masked embossing and jump straight to the features of this magical beast.
Table of Contents
What’s in the box?
As with the Mono X, you get a wide range of accessories with the Mono X 6K, including metal and plastic razors/razors, masks, gloves, and all the parts you need to operate the printer.
Assembly and leveling
After unpacking all the accessories, we assembled and leveled the printer. Assembly takes about five minutes, with another five minutes to install the included screen protector. The available screen protectors are a really nice upgrade as it means you won’t accidentally scratch and thus damage the screen. We recommend watching the video on how to install a screen saver as it can be a bit complicated and you only have to do it once. The process is similar to installing a protective film on a smartphone screen.
We noticed that the build instructions do not indicate when to install the screen saver. You should install it before you level the bed or level the bed after you put the protector on the printer. Otherwise, the Z position will be a bit too low.
Leveling the bed is simple – just follow the instructions. As with the Mono X, the touchscreen guides you through everything you need to level the bed quickly. Here are the steps:
- Using the touchscreen, tap Tools And after that Move.
- Using the touchscreen, raise the stand about five or six inches above the screen by touching Arrow up. This process will be faster if you choose 10mm first option.
- Loosen the four screws on the mounting plate and secure it to the printer.
- Place the leveling paper on the curing screen and press Home button.
- Click Home on the touch screen and wait for the printer to stop moving.
- Use one hand to gently press down on the masonry. Construction plate should not move at all. Use your other hand to slowly tighten the four screws.
- Now tap z = 0 and then select enter confirm. The bed will now raise slightly to allow you access to the plastic bin.
That’s all it takes — the printer bed is now flat.
Build volume and print speed
The build mass of the Photon Mono X 6K is almost the same as that of the Photon Mono X. According to AnyCubic’s online specs, the build volume on the 6K version is slightly larger.
6K’s maximum print speed is 33% faster than Mono X, up to 8 cm per hour. Remember, for rosin printers, the time your object takes to print depends entirely on the exposure time and the number and height of layers, not on the amount of cured material per layer.
The new texture bed is amazing
The Photon Mono X 6K comes with a textured bed, which is a clear upgrade over the one that comes with the Photon Mono X. The bed has a real texture. grip. Therefore, it seems less likely that your print will have adhesion problems.
You can see the difference between the bed textures on the Photon Mono X 6K (left) and the Photon Mono X (right) in the image above.
Print accuracy and resolution
Aside from the texture layer, the main difference between the Mono X and the 6K version is the resolution at which the printer prints. While the Mono X has a resolution of 3840 x 2400 pixels, the Photon Mono X 6K has a resolution of 5760 x 3600 pixels. That means AnyCubic Photon Mono X 6K has 125% higher resolution than Mono X printers.
In other words, for each pixel in Mono X, Mono X 6K has 2.5 pixels. That is a significant increase. For example, see AnyCubic’s comparison of prints from a Mono X 6K versus prints from a competitor’s 4K printer above.
Product quality
Printer quality is what you would expect from AnyCubic’s Photon product line. If you look at the Mono X and the Mono X 6K side by side, it’s hard to tell which is the photo. Same button placement, same cap, same awesome dual linear rail system. The nuts and bolts of the machine have not changed much.
It’s the addition of a super high resolution (6K) LCD screen and faster print speeds that make this printer stand out from its predecessors.
Wash & Preserve Your Prints
The process of washing and maintaining your prints is the same on all AnyCubic Photon printers. You can use water or alcohol to wash the print, and the treatment is as enticing as ever. While Wash and Cure Machine Plus makes these processes simple and satisfying, you can wash and process without a machine. Contrary to popular belief, rosin prints will cure outside or in windows on cloudy days.
Final recommendation
If you’re looking for a plastic printer that’s easy to use, quick to assemble, and with unrivaled print quality, look no further. We loved the original Mono X, but if we were to decide which one to buy today, the extra resolution, textures and faster print speeds would make the decision easy.
The Photon Mono X 6K is available to pre-order now for $599. That’s just $100 more than the regular Mono X, which is currently on sale for $499, down from $759.
Optionally, you can add 1KG of turpentine and a Wash and Cure Machine, bringing the total to $838. We really love the Wash and Cure Machine Plus, which makes the whole process faster, easier, and much more enjoyable.
We’re not sure what the price will be like after the pre-order period ends, but we expect it to increase significantly. However, for those of you who are cautious about pre-ordering, we would say that this machine is definitely production ready. Plus, after making your purchase, you’ll have fun discovering all the things you can print with your new 3D printer.
*Sincerely thank you Former Lurker for help in reviewing AnyCubic’s Photon Mono X 6K 3D printer.
