Anycubic is a well-known 3D printing manufacturer. They recently announced their new entry-level printer for resin, the Anycubic Photon Mono 2 This new, exciting printer will replace the Photon Mono 4k printer that has been very popular since its launch in 2021.
The Photon Mono 2 has a number of improvements over its predecessor. These include a higher-resolution screen, enlarged build volume, laser engraved build plate and Anycubic’s enhanced LighTurbo Technology. These upgrades will provide users with better performance and print-quality than ever before.
Anycubic’s new LighTurbo Technology, which is available for the Photon Mono 2, is also a very exciting addition. This not only fixes the grid pattern that appeared on the Photon Mono 4K, but also provides a stable parallel light source.
Do all these improvements on paper translate into an improved printing experience? And how does it compare to the best 3D Printers Opens in a new tab On the market? We’re going to dive deeper into the new features of the Photon Mono 2 and explore how these upgrades translate to real-world printing results.
Anycubic Photon Mono 2: Setup & design
- Simple to set up
- The classic design is updated with a blue cover.
As with the previous Photon printers, setting up the Anycubic Photon Mono 2 follows a straightforward and simple process. You will first need to remove the entire packaging including the packing material and the protective covers from the resin vat and screen. After removing the packaging, you will need to remove all of the protective coverings from the screen and resin vat.
What’s the contents of the box
Photon Mono 2 printer
Blue UV Cover
Printing platform
Resin vat
Power supply
Metal spatula
Plastic spatula
USB Drive
Gloves x 3 pairs
Resin filters x3
Screen protector
User manual
Hex wrenches
The leveling paper
To level the build plate, loosen all four screws and then use a standard piece of printer paper to level the bed. After the bed has been leveled, tighten the screws slightly while holding down the bed. When you are done, you can click Z=0 and the platform will rise, allowing for you to start printing and install the resin.
Photon Mono 2’s setup is easy and straightforward, which makes it the perfect choice for newbies to resin printing. Even experienced users will enjoy the printer’s ease of setup and speed.
The Anycubic Photon Mono 2 follows the Anycubic design formula with a black base. The Mono 2 does not have the yellow UV-coated cover of the previous Mono 4K. Instead, it has a lid in a similar blue color to the Anycubic Photon 2 DLP printer. We quite like this change – it gives it a unique look compared to its predecessor and generally looks quite stylish and modern.
On the side you’ll find a USB port, while on the rear is the power button. The front of the machine is dominated with the 2.8″ touch screen in color, which controls the printer.
The Anycubic Photon Mono 2 is stylish and functional with an emphasis on ease-of-use and user friendliness. The design of the Mono 2 is sure to impress, whether you’re a 3D printing veteran or new to the field.
Anycubic Photon Mono 2: Specs & features
- Color touch screen control 2.8″
- Auto-levelling
- No WiFi
The Mono 2 has a 2.8-inch touchscreen with a menu system similar to that of the Mono 4K. It is easy to navigate the settings and options of the printer and get started quickly with your first print.
Key Specifications
Printing Technology MSLA
Build volume: 143 x 89 x 165 mm 6.5 x 5.6 x 3.5 inches
Print resolution: 4K (4098 by 2560 pixels) 34 microns
Light source: Anycubic LighTurbo 2.0
Build Platform Laser engraved
Touchscreen: 2.8-inch TFT
Screen size: 6.6 Inch
Resin: Standard, water-washable, ABS-like
Connectivity: USB
Dimensions: 15.3 x 9 x 9.25 in
A new LighTurbo matrix, which provides a uniform distribution of light, has improved the lighting system. This helps eliminate grid and layer lines. This results in smoother prints and fewer imperfections.
The Mono 2 is equipped with automatic leveling, which makes it easy to set up and use.
Because the Anycubic Photon Mono 2 printer is an entry level printer with a lower price tag, it does not have WiFi capability. This means you will have to send files via USB to the printer. The process is easy.
It’s not worth mentioning any other bells and whistles. It’s a very simple printer, suitable for beginners.
Anycubic Photon Mono 2: Print quality & speed
We had no problems with adhesion when we printed all of our prints using the same slicer settings. For the prints, we used Chitu Systems Conjure Ridged and Anycubic Water Wash+ Resin.
The slicer was set to the recommended parameters, with a layer thickness of 0.05mm. Exposure time was reduced to 2.2s for each layer using the water wash resin.
We chose the Xenomorph Bust from the popular Fotis mint collection as our first model to print. The model came in two pieces, the bust and the base. The model turned out great using Anycubic Waterwash+ Resin. The sharper screen in 4K really brought out the details. The parts and supports were all in good condition. There was no problem with adhesion.
The Anycubic Waterwash+ Resin captured all the fine details in the model. It took 8.5 hours for the bust to be printed, and a similar amount of time to print the base. The Xenomorph has a lot of detail in the body ribs and the uncovered face shows the details normally hidden under the dome.
Once again, we selected the Odin Bust from Fotis. The Photon Mono 2 is able to capture fine detail in this model. Odin’s cloth-cloak detail is impressive. Even the feathers in his raven have been rendered clearly and sharply. We printed again with Anycubic Waterwash+, which produced a very high-quality image.
It took just under 4 hours to print both the base and bust of the Odin model. Overall, we were pleased with the detail produced by the Photon Mono 2 resin and Anycubic Waterwash+.
Next up was the Forest Dragon model by Fotis. The model has intricate details on the head and neck, which makes it a great candidate to test the capabilities of the Photon Mono 2 printer. This print was printed using Anycubic’s HD resin, and the result was truly stunning. The HD resin and upgraded screen allowed us to print a print of exceptional quality.
It took just over 5 and a quarter hours to complete the print. But it was worth the wait. The end result was beautiful, as you can see in the photos.
The Moon Knight bust was our choice for the next test. Eastman makes a lot of models that are great for testing. Printing the bust and base took just over five hours. The quality of the print is excellent.
Moon Knight’s suit cloth is crisp and clear. The 16x anti aliasing (AA), which was used, ensures there are no odd edges or artifacts due to poor or non-existent AA. This model has been printed with Anycubic HD Resin, which ensures all of the printed details are clear and sharp.
The final print of our testing was the Lilith model, which is from the Diablo 4 game. This time we used Chutu Systems Conjure, a rigid resin that is very durable and resistant to breaking, ideal for miniatures in tabletop games or functional parts.
The printer temperature must be between 25 and 30 degrees for this resin to print smoothly. It also requires a longer exposure time, 4.4 seconds, compared to 2.2 seconds for regular resin. The bust and base of this model were completed in only 3 and half hours despite the need for longer exposure times.
The Photon Mono 2 was able to achieve excellent detail, even though the prints produced by strong resins are sometimes not as clear.
Anycubic Photon Mono 2: Price & warranty
- 209 MSRP
- 12-month warranty
Anycubic Photon Mono 2 retails for $209 but the price may vary depending on where it is purchased. Anycubic offers the Mono 2 with a $199 discount. Opens in a new tab at the moment, while Amazon’s lowest price is $289.99 Opens in a new tab As of the date of this writing.
Anycubic provides a 12-month guarantee on its printers, giving users peace of mind. As with most 3D Printers, the consumable parts need to be changed periodically. For example, the FEP sheets used in the resin vat.
These components have a different lifespan depending on how they are used, and how well maintained between prints. In addition, the LCD display itself will degrade as it is used, and may need to replaced after approximately 2000 hours. The warranty will not cover either of these costs.
Should you buy Anycubic Photon Mono 2?
The Anycubic Photon Mono 2 makes a great choice for anyone looking to upgrade their LCD resin printer. The Photon Mono 2 was easy to setup and we had no problems using it.
The models were printed without any problems, and there was no failure to print or adhesion issues. The models were also of exceptional quality, with great detail and sharpness. Our testing has led us to recommend the Anycubic Photon Mono 2 as a reliable, high-quality and affordable 3D Printer.
This 3D printer may not be for you
If the Photon Mono 2 does not meet your needs, there are many other options. The choice of 3D printer ultimately depends on the needs of the individual user. This includes budget, print resolution, volume of prints, ease of use and many other factors.
Anycubic PhotonM3 Premium offers a large build volume and even higher resolution for those looking to increase their building capacity. Opens in a new tab It is the best resin printer available today. It has a MSRP of $719 at the time of writing via Anycubic (opens a new window)You can find it on sale at a lower price.
Anycubic Photon D2 is a DLP printer that can produce prints of even higher quality. Opens in a new tab. The Mono 2 is cheaper, but it produces prints of a higher quality. It is available for $679 through the Anycubic store (opens a new window)Deals regularly reduce the cost of this product to under $500.