The Photon Mono X is large and in charge, delivering on all its promises of fast, precise printing over a huge build area. That's not easy to accomplish, and we commend Anycubic for using quality components in the most important areas. While points were taken off for the occasional DOA unit, the Photon Mono X is otherwise a safe investment for customers of all skill levels.
In-Depth Anycubic Photon Mono X 3D Printer Review
Sick of your SLA printer’s tiny build volume? Anycubic’s largest SLA printer to-date, the Photon Mono X, aims to ease all your frustration. This large SLA printer offers almost twice the build area of lesser machines, but is it worth the price? Did Anycubic hit it out of the park with this printer or did they bite off more than they can chew? We look at all this printer has to offer in today’s Anycubic Photon Mono X review.
Anycubic Photon Mono X Specs
Let’s jump right in to the Photon Mono X’s most important feature, its build volume. Measuring a (relatively) colossal 7.5” x 4.7” x 9.8”, the Photon Mono X’s build area is more reminiscent of an FDM printer than an SLA model. That’s great news for people who are shocked by the limited build volumes of other SLA printers.
To accommodate this larger size, the Photon Mono X uses a 4K monochrome LCD screen. With such high resolution, you lose no precision upgrading to a larger size. Anycubic have also included a powerful UV lighting system which provides strong, even exposure. Best of all, by using monochrome technology, the Photon Mono X is able to print much faster than other SLA printers. Enjoy exposure times as low as 1.5-seconds per layer thanks to this technology.
The Photon Mono X’s all-metal body extends to the resin vat and lower casing. This construction provides a solid, unshakable foundation for your prints, alongside the dual-rail Z-axis supports.
Lastly, the Photon Mono X uses USB connectivity and includes optional WiFi for the Anycubic mobile app. The touchscreen interface remains standard across all Anycubic units, so if you’re familiar with one, you’re familiar with them all.
Anycubic Photon Mono X Pros
Large Build Volume
SLA printers are known for being much more precise but also much smaller than their FDM counterparts. The Photon Mono X, however, doesn’t force you to compromise build volume for model quality. With its 8.9” LCD screen, the Photon Mono X has one of the biggest build areas of any consumer-grade SLA printer. With so much extra space, you can print multiple models or truly large models up to 9.6” tall.
Quality Hardware and Build Construction
With the exception of some quality control issues which we discuss later, the Photon Mono X is a sturdy, well-made machine with excellent components. Of course, the 4K monochrome LCD steals the show, offering both highly precise finishes and blazing-fast print speeds. That’s not all, though. This printer also features an all-metal body, including a metal resin vat. For added stability, the dual-rail Z-axis setup supports the larger print bed, which itself comes pre-sanded for superior adhesion.
Anycubic Photon Mono X Cons
Quality Control and Consistency
When you get a good unit, the Photon Mono X is an excellent machine. Unfortunately, some customers have experienced issues out of the box. These issues range from the vat screws being misaligned, the acrylic cover cracking, and even light bleeding out around the LCD. More people have trouble with the included Anycubic slicing software, and using a 3rd party slicer is highly recommended.
Anycubic are usually pretty good about replacing faulty parts or even entire printers. Still, it’s discouraging to new buyers to receive a faulty machine, especially at this price. Although Anycubic’s other budget printers can get away with these sort of quality control issues, we expect more from a model like the Photon Mono X.
Anycubic Photon Mono X Verdict
Despite reservations about Anycubic’s attention to detail, we still recommend the Photon Mono X. As one of the largest SLA printers on the market, you can’t afford to be too picky. And, when it comes in good working order, the Photon Mono X is a great machine with dependable longevity. We forgive Anycubic for their QC issues this time, but hope they step up their game if they plan to sell more printers in this price range.
