REVIEW – Up to now yr, I’ve made actually 1000’s of components on my resin 3D printers. I’m not an professional, however I’ve a whole lot of real-world expertise. Nonetheless, all of that have was with one model of resin 3D printer. So when the Elegoo Saturn 3 12K resin printer evaluation supply got here alongside, I made a decision to offer one other model a attempt.

What’s it?

The Elegoo Saturn 3 is an MSLA resin 3D printer that includes a 10-inch 12K mono LCD.

What’s within the field?

• Elegoo Saturn 3 12K resin 3D printer
• USB Air Air purifier
• Construct Platform
• Resin Tank
• USB Flash Drive
• Masks
• Gloves
• Funnel
• Spare Screws
• Consumer Handbook
• Energy Adapter
• Software Equipment
• Scraper

{Hardware} specs

Publicity Display: 10-inch 12K mono LCD
Construct Quantity: 218.88×122.88×250mm (8.62×4.84×9.84 inches)
Decision: 11520×5120
XY decision: 19×24 microns
Pace: As much as 70mm/h
Contact Display: Resistive Contact
Z-Axis: Linear Rails
Launch Movie: PFA
File Switch: USB solely
Mild Supply: COB + Fresnel Collimating Lens
Slicing Format: Open-Supply GOO Format
Display Protector: 9H Tempered Glass
Air Air purifier: Supported

Design and options

I’ve two giant 13.6″ 7K resin 3D printers for my manufacturing work. They’re nice for producing many small components on the identical time. Nonetheless, the bigger dimension can be slower because of the must pause to permit the display to chill.

I wished a smaller, sooner printer for prototyping and for after I wanted most print high quality. The Elegoo Saturn 3 12K matches that requirement completely. A lot of my components are smaller than 2×2″ (50x50mm), so after I’m prototyping one thing new, a big construct plate shouldn’t be required.

The Elegoo Saturn 3’s 10-inch 12K mono LCD boasts a surprising decision of 11520×5120 and an XY decision of 19×24µm. With a printing velocity of as much as 70mm/h, the Saturn 3 can be a terrific machine for every part from prototypes to detailed manufacturing fashions.

The construct quantity of 218.88×122.88×250mm (8.62×4.84×9.84 inches) is far bigger than a number of the smaller and cheap resin 3D printers, with out far more expense. I used to be fairly stunned that the 10-inch construct plate seemed a bit smaller than I used to be anticipating as in comparison with my 13.6″ construct plate. Nonetheless, as soon as I considered it, the Saturn 3 can be about 1/3 the worth, making it a terrific deal.

In the case of resin 3D printers, it’s not all concerning the dimension and velocity. There’s additionally the issue of sunshine high quality. The whole means of resin 3D printing revolves round exposing the resin to mild to remedy it. If the sunshine is uneven, the print high quality suffers, or fails. The Elegoo Saturn 3’s COB mild supply and Fresnel collimating lens emit a uniform mild beam with a 5-degree most angle and a uniformity of over 90%. The sunshine-scattering coefficient is inside 0.5%. What does this imply? Extremely correct and constant prints with readability and element. These particulars received’t differ relying on the placement on the construct plate of your mannequin.

One of many huge issues that customers face in relation to resin printing is getting prints to stay to the construct plate. The Saturn 3’s laser-carved construct plate gives wonderful adhesion. Nonetheless, for my purposeful components, I print immediately on the construct plate with out helps, so I added an aftermarket flex plate.

A plug-in air air purifier is provided with the Elegoo Saturn 3. The activated carbon filter claims to purify dangerous odors. Nonetheless, the activated carbon filter I acquired was not within the best form after I acquired it. I’ve different technique of air filtration and use a lower-odor resin, so I’m unsure how properly this filter works.

The construct high quality of the Elegoo Saturn 3 seems to be very good. The rubber toes on the underside of the machine are good and hold the machine from sliding round my desk. I don’t take care of the USB port being on the aspect in direction of the rear of the machine. I want the 3D printer corporations would contemplate how machines are utilized in the actual world in relation to having a USB drive protruding of the aspect of the machine. Being positioned on the aspect, means you want a good quantity of house to see and attain it.

Voxeldance Tango and Chitubox software program are included on the USB drive that’s supplied. I used Chitubox as a result of I’m aware of it, though you need to use different third occasion software program like Lychee Slicer or every other software program that makes use of the open-source GOO slice file format.

The management display on the Saturn 3 is what I’d name “truthful.” It’s a colour touchscreen, nevertheless, the font used isn’t excellent and it solely shows 4 fashions at a time, so when you have a bunch of recordsdata on the USB drive it may be just a little tedious discovering the file you need, particularly since lengthy file names are abbreviated.

The construct plate may be very good. It makes use of a big, straightforward to seize, knob and a sq. mounting gap. The sq. mounting gap means you possibly can flip the plate 90 levels after printing to permit the resin to drip off the print. The one level of contact with the construct plate makes wiping off extra resin after a print very straightforward. The massive screws for locking down the ball joint be sure that you received’t have to fret about stripping the screws by over-tightening.

I like that I can carry, place, and tighten the construct plate with one hand. When carrying gloves, any enchancment that helps with dealing with gadgets may be very welcomed.

The print high quality is unbelievable. I used to be actually impressed at how particulars as small as 0.15mm (0.006″) are razor-sharp.

There are a few issues that I want had been just a little totally different. I’m not a fan of non-hinged lids. Once you’re working with resin, your gloves will little doubt get coated with resin. Eradicating and reinstalling the lid is a messy job when the lid shouldn’t be hinged. On the very least, 3D printer corporations ought to put a deal with on the highest of the lids. It’s a straightforward job as a person modification (which I did), nevertheless, the person expertise could be a lot better with a hinged lid.

I can even level out that I feel corporations also needs to embrace WiFi or no less than a model of the printer with WiFi. Elegoo does with the Saturn 3 Extremely, which along with the Saturn 3 options contains WiFi, a 260mm construct peak as an alternative of 250mm, printing velocity as much as 150mm/h, an IPS capacitive contact display, and a few different small options for a further $100.

What I like

• Packaged properly
• Rubber toes don’t slide
• Excessive-High quality Printing

What I’d change

• A hinged lid would make it simpler to open and shut

Remaining ideas

General, the Elegoo Saturn 3 12K is a superb resin 3D printer. I had no points, and the prints look unbelievable. The flexibility to print extremely small particulars is completely fabulous. The construct high quality appears very nice, and the big knob on the construct plate makes it straightforward to deal with with gloves on. The directions had been straightforward to observe. Should you’re in search of a excessive decision resin 3D printer, this printer could be a terrific selection no matter your expertise stage.

Worth: $399.00
The place to purchase: Elegoo
Supply: The pattern of this product was supplied by Elegoo.