After years of prints filament, the time has come to convert to resin and how best to proceed if not talking about it in the Elegoo Mars Pro 2 review? So, for the first time ever, I had to deal with the resin printing, a whole new process for me, but definitely interesting from every point of view. How difficult was it to approach this printer? What were the results? Will they have satisfied us or not? Small spoiler? We were blown away by the beauty and from the details of the print. Elegoo Mars Pro 2 has excellent features and most importantly, it is easy to use, even for those who are not too familiar with this type of technology.
So, if you are interested in resin 3D printing and if you want to know more about the new arrival of the Elegoo house, follow us in our review.
ELEGOO Mars 2 Pro Mono MSLA stampante 3D MSLA UV ...
- 【Fast printing and less maintenance】 Mars 2 Pro comes with a 6,08 inch resolution monochrome LCD ...
- 【Exceptional and ultra-precise prints】 All-new light source structure provides UV light output ...
- 【Robust build quality】 CNC machined aluminum body makes Mars 2 Pro a very formidable machine ....
Elegoo Mars Pro 2 review: small, but extraordinary
Before going into the details of the our review of the Elegoo Mars Pro 2, let's take a brief look at its composition and shape. The printer is basically made up of a few pieces: a solid base that contains the LED display for the emission of UV rays, A small tub with film where to introduce the resin, one metal base which is the sliding plate and a lid with gasket. The printer is not particularly large or bulky, quite the contrary. Of course, the size of the prints will not be huge, but remember that you can print everything in several parts and assemble them together.
If it still isn't clear to you, let's talk about a resin print. This means that the liquid product in the tank lower and then solidified subsequently with i UV rays. A similar process, but opposite to filament printing where the model is created with material deposition from above.
Inside the package, in addition to the printed, we find gloves, mask, replacement films for the bathtub, spatula in plastic and metal, key USB, nippers, Allen screws and screws and filters for the recovery of the resin.
How hard is it to get started?
Getting started with the Elegoo Mars Pro 2 was really easy and I'll tell you about it in the course of the review. Although it was the my first experience with a 3D printer resin, (although I had already printed many times with the filament) I didn't have any difficulties. The process starts with a fairly simple initial setup that is well explained in the manual. Basically we have to calibrate the distances and the perpendicularities of plate and base. To do this, just follow the instructions and after a few minutes we will be completely ready to start.
If you want to try your hand immediately to get an idea of the printing, you can start by starting the predefined templates that you find in the supplied key. Well, once calibrated the plate, equip yourself with gloves, mask and resin. Pour the contents into the container at the base, insert the key and go to print.
Once finished, remove the print base, being careful not to let the resin drip on the ground e tilt it using the appropriate tool. This will allow all the excess resin to flow out, which you can reuse for the next print. To do this, use the filter in the package and pour the resin into the package. Using the filter is very important because residues of solidified resin may be left in the base.
How to handle the prints?
After printing with our beautiful Elegoo Mars Pro 2, the time has come treat our prints in order to be able to exhibit them with pride. Once the print is finished, it is it is necessary to wear a mask, gloves and shovel to be able to touch our models. We remember, in fact, that the resin is toxic and it is best to handle everything with care. If a drop of the same should fall on the skin, however, do not be alarmed: simply run to rinse the contact point with plenty of water and maybe with alcohol and you will have no problems.
Well, once removed the printer cover, remove the plate with your creations and start the washing of prints. If you have chosen a water-based resin, simply immerse your prints in a jar of water, rinse them and then wash them further with running water. AND It is important that you remove all resin residues excess liquid.
In case you have taken a common resin, however, it will be necessary wash it with alcohol. The best is that isopropyl, but, given the price, you can alternatively use that 99% denatured. The first thing to do is then dip the prints into an alcohol container, let them soak for a while, and then rinse them with more alcohol. You can also help yourself with small spatulas, but be careful that the resin is still fresh and you risk leaving scratches on your models.
We harden our prints
To finish the treatment of our prints, it is necessary to harden them well. To do this we can use the dedicated UV lamp. In this case it will be sufficient to introduce the product inside and leave it for an indicative time of 15-20 minutes. Also on the Elegoo website, you will find the product dedicated to rinsing and hardening.
If though you do not have of the official product you can proceed building a home-made one or by using the largest source of UV rays, the sun. In the first case, you just need to take a metal container and a coil of UV lights. Insert them inside your box and that's it. In case you do not want to spend money or do not want to try your hand at this DIY creation, you can safely expose the figurines to sunlight. Its rays, in fact, emit UV light, although in a less concentrated way, for this reason the exposure time will be slightly longer.
Elegoo Mars Pro 2 review: print quality
In our Elegoo Mars Pro 2 review, could not miss theanalysis of the prints. We do not want to dwell too much on the lines, but it is right to spend two words. We have printed different objects, from the simplest to the most complex. The level of detail is amazing. Every detail is reproduced with extreme precision. There surface remains very smooth and it almost seems to come from a casting mold. Really phenomenal, nothing to do with the filament prints of a few years ago. Really difficult to perceive the division of the layerson the contrary, in some places there certainly do not seem to be any.
So, to give you an idea of what we are talking about, we leave you a couple of images to give you the idea. Some products had not yet been completely cleaned and finished, but I think you can appreciate all the details.
Designing is also simple with the Elegoo Mars Pro 2
A question that could arise spontaneously by reading the Elegoo Mars Pro 2 review is that relating to the models: "how do i find them and make them ready for printing?"
If you are used to 3D modeling, you can use your favorite software to create a completely customized model. Alternatively, you can buy models on the internet, or make use of free templates, available on sites like Thingiverse. Once you've created or downloaded the 3D model, it's time to put it to print, but how do you do it?
The creation of the actual printing takes place via Chitubox, one slicer available inside the key included in the package. What is a slicer? Put simply it is a program that allows us to make a 3D model compatible with the printer. In addition to turning the file into a printer-readable one, it also allows us to add supports and modify the weight, size, quantity of resin and exposure of the subjects to be printed. Once the models have been transported into the program, the slice started and the result saved, we just need to move the file to the key, insert it into the printer and start printing the desired model.
Il Chitubox software is really very simple to use. It shows us the printer plate (selectable from the settings) and with a few simple moves we can make all the necessary changes. As mentioned the first thing to do is insert the supports, very important to have a good print. We can do it all automatically to the program, or modify them in a personalized way, in order to use less resin. If you are a beginner, I recommend that you choose the automatic option, so that you do not go wrong. We can then make use of the function Hollow, to empty the model and use less resin. Finally we convert the file (with the slice function) and we are ready to print.
What are the differences between the Elegoo Mars Pro 2 and the previous model?
Before we wrap up our Elegoo Mars Pro 2 review, we want to tell you about some differences with the previous model, Elegoo Mars. Although the predecessor is also a great product, the small improvements introduced are worth the purchase of version 2.0. Let's see in detail what changes between the two models. First of all we have alarger print area: with version 2, in fact, we arrive at 130 x 82 mm, compared to 120 x 78 mm of the previous one. Another important point is the display resolution that reaches 2560 x 1650 and this translates into even more precise printing.
Change number two is what the composition of the printing base. Elegoo adds a surface coating that becomes rougher and helps keep models better anchored. Also changes the transparent film at the base of the tank in which to introduce the resin (FEP). The improvement of both sides allows to have a perfect detachment when the base rises, allowing for accurate printing every time.
Another important turning point it concerns the 6,08 ”LCD display for the emission of UV light. It decreases very much the exposition time: now, to allow the solidification of each layer (or layer), only 2 seconds of exposure. This means double, or triple, speed compared to other products on the market.
Finally, thethe last difference is that relating to the air filter, definitely useful also from the point of view of health. The problem of resin printing, in fact, concerns the fumes of the same which are toxic. It is therefore very important to work in a well-ventilated environment. Also, it is best to wear a mask to breathe in the fumes as little as possible. In any case, the activated carbon filter introduced with this new printer helps a lot in cleaning the air.
Elegoo Mars Pro 2 review: do we buy it?
Elegoo Mars Pro 2 is a marvel: our verdict is more than positive. It's about a simple to use, practical and convenient printer, but especially with a crazy level of detail. The cost is not absolutely high: it is sold for approx 300€. The energy consumption it is not excessive, it is a value that goes from 30 to 60 watts per hour, not much if you consider that a very powerful computer is capable of absorbing even 650/700 watt hours (clearly with 100% usage).
In two words the Elegoo Mars Pro 2 is a product that you absolutely cannot miss.
ELEGOO Mars 2 Pro Mono MSLA stampante 3D MSLA UV ...
- 【Fast printing and less maintenance】 Mars 2 Pro comes with a 6,08 inch resolution monochrome LCD ...
- 【Exceptional and ultra-precise prints】 All-new light source structure provides UV light output ...
- 【Robust build quality】 CNC machined aluminum body makes Mars 2 Pro a very formidable machine ....
