The Mono X2 Photon Mono X, in 2021 we were impressed with its size and resolution. The X2 upgrade is subtle, and if you already own a working Mono X, don’t rush to replace it. But if you’re looking for a quality medium-sized resin printer that doesn’t weigh down your entire desk, the Mono X2 is the one for you.
Don’t let the 4K tag overwhelm you. Mono X2 delivers crisp detail 48 microns smaller than a grain of salt. For comparison, a plastic extrusion FDM printer has an average layer height of 0.2 mm, or 200 microns.
Photon Mono X2 is currently on sale. $309 on Anycubic website (opens in new tab). This is a great bargain for a 4K printer capable of printing large quantities of game minis and artwork that are about 8 inches tall.ready to compete with best resin 3d printer, the X2 features a 9.1-inch monochrome LCD with an improved light source for smoother printing. The build plate is laser etched, which makes it easier for the print to stick, but not so difficult to remove.
Specifications: Anycubic Photon Mono X2
| build volume | 200 x 196 x 122 mm (7.8 x 7.7 x 5 inches) |
| LCD Screen | 9.1 inch monochrome |
| light source | parallel matrix |
| XY axis resolution | 48 microns |
| normal exposure time | 2.5 seconds |
| interface | 3.5 inch touch panel |
| Connectivity | USB type A2.0 |
| machine footprint | 417 x 290 x 260 mm (16.4 x 11.4 x 10.2 inches) |
| machine weight | 7 kg (15.6 lbs) |
What’s in the box: Anycubic Photon Mono X2
Anycubic Photon Mono X2 includes everything you need to start using your printer right out of the box. Includes metal scraper for build plate, plastic scraper for FEP film, large screen protector, paper funnel, disposable gloves, disposable mask, hex wrench set, power cord with adapter, and printed manual.
Also in the box is a USB thumb drive preloaded with Anycubic’s Photon Workshop slicing software, a PDF of the manual, and two pre-sliced test prints.
Print safety with Anycubic Photon Mono X2
Anycubic Photon Mono X2 requires the same safety precautions as any other resin printer. Uncured resin is dangerous and solvents used to clean prints can irritate the skin. Use gloves and safety glasses when injecting resin or handling uncured prints.
Make sure the room where you use the resin printer is well ventilated to avoid smoke inhalation. If you spill or drip resin, clean it up immediately with 99% isopropyl alcohol. Always wipe the printer and bottle after printing to remove any uncured resin smudges. Always keep resin tightly sealed and safely out of reach of pets and children.
Assembling the Anycubic Photon Mono X2
The printer is shipped fully assembled. Simply remove the factory-used LED screen protector and apply the new included screen protector. Screw in the vat, build the plate, and you’re ready to calibrate.
Build plate calibration on Anycubic Photon Mono X2
Like all 3D printers, the Anycubic Photon Mono X2 requires calibration before the first print. Leveling the build plate is super easy, all you need is paper and a hex wrench. Unfortunately there is no good way to tell if the leveling was successful until you start printing.
To level the machine, remove the bat and place the Anycubic-provided piece of paper over the LCD screen. Loosen the four adjustment screws on the sides of the build plate. The build plate should move freely.
Place the build plate on the Z axis and tighten the top knob. Click the tool symbol on the touch screen and move Z. Clicking on the home symbol lowers the Z axis to the glass and automatically stops.
Press the build plate firmly and evenly against the glass. Please tighten the screws.
Click “Z=0” on the touch screen. This sets the Z height. Press Enter to exit the menu.
Then test the UV light. Lift the build plate (move Z) until you can see the LED lights inside the machine.[ツール]in the menu[露出]Press to select an image and flash duration. Press next and you should see the image. If for some reason you do not see the full image, please contact service.
Design of Anycubic Photon Mono X2
Anycubic Photon Mono X2 is a medium sized resin printer with the black and yellow color scheme commonly found in Anycubic resin printers. It’s a bit wider, with a prismatic bonnet and a stylish cutout on the front case. It has a very solid feel, with a nice metal butt and dual rails on the Z for stable movement.
The Photon Mono X2 is a 4K printer powered by Anycubic’s smooth “LighTurbo” system. Since the X2 is a larger printer, it has a slightly wider light source, resulting in a slightly lower resolution of 48 microns. Even this is incredibly sharp, especially considering the average human hair is 70 microns.
The Mono X2 has a 196 x 122 mm – 7.7 x 5 inch – laser-etched build plate with room for numerous game miniatures and nice-sized sculptures. The surface grips the print well and keeps it safe, but it’s not too difficult to scrape off. The top of the plate is sloped enough to allow most of the resin to drain into the vat.
A screen protector for the LED glass is included to cover the glass and protect it from scratches and the dreaded resin drips.
Unlike other FDM printers, Anycubic Photon Mono X2 reads files from a USB stick instead of a microSD card. The port is located on the side where the power switch is located, and is located in a position where the resin is less likely to drip.
Navigating the menus on the color touch screen is easy as there are only three submenus: Print, System and Tools.[印刷]The menu shows thumbnails of all models on the USB stick. The system is for selecting the language and displaying the information required for the service. The tool moves the Z axis, tests the LEDs, and levels the bed.
Slicer compatible with Anycubic Photon Mono X2
Anycubic Photon Mono X2 ships with a copy of Photon Workshop V3, a custom slicer. The slicer is much improved and I had no problems using it. Support can be added both automatically and manually. It also has very easy-to-use tools for hollowing out models and adding drainage holes, so you can save resin.
Mono X2 is also supported by Lychee Slicer, but there is no Chitubox profile at the time of this writing.
Washing and curing prints
Before viewing a print, you should: Clean with isopropyl alcohol and cure with UV light.. I like to hand wash my prints in a container of 95% isopropyl alcohol for 30 seconds, then in detergent he rinses off for 2 minutes. Anycubic cleaning and curing (opens in new tab)It is sold separately and retails for $219 on Anycubic.com.
Dry the print completely with a cold hair dryer. Any IPA left on the print will turn white. You can also let the prints air dry out of the sun.
The support is soft and easy to remove before it hardens. Cut the supports with side cutters and use tweezers to remove stubborn supports. Always wear gloves when handling uncured prints.
Then place the print in the UV curing station for 15 minutes or outdoors in bright sunlight for a few hours.
IPA should never be flushed down the drain, especially after it has been contaminated with uncured resin. Instead, use it until the resin is dirty, then leave the container open to let it evaporate. Leftover sludge can be UV or sun cured before being discarded.
Supports should also be cured before discarding.
Sample print with Anycubic Photon Mono X2
The first print you should always run is an exposure test print and Anycubic provided a very helpful test. This is a special pre-sliced file called RERF (Resin Exposure Range Finder) on a USB stick, containing 8 nearly identical models. Each model is numbered 1-8. The first model prints with the default exposure, the others print 0.25 seconds longer each. This will give you a good range of exposure settings from 1.5 to 3.25 seconds using the default of his 1.5 seconds for a 1st edition test print.
Each test print is numbered so you can remove it, wash it and cure it before making a decision. All the settings with the Anycubic Water Based Resin looked pretty good, so I decided to stick with the 2.5 second exposure.
Miniatures are fine with the X2. He was able to mount eight of the MZ4250’s little warriors (including one reclining at a steep angle) onto his build plate. Anycubic gray water washable resin was used for a crisp finish with great detail. I washed it with alcohol so it’s a little shiny, but that’s what I have in my wash and cure station. Water washable resin cleans under tap water, but it is still toxic to wildlife and should not be flushed down the sink. Washing it with water gives it a flat finish, but it still leaves a gallon or so of nasty water that needs to be disposed of like any household chemical.
The model took 4 hours and 11 minutes to print with an exposure of 2.5 seconds per layer.
Anycubic sent that sample high clear resin (opens in new tab) Test results with the Photon Mono X2 were incredible. Resin is as transparent as glass if handled correctly. It needs to be cleaned, applied thinly with high transparency resin and cured. Repainting resin on an articulated dragon is no easy task, but the result is well worth it.
The X2 is large enough to fit a life size dragon, so there is no need to reduce the size of this print. I printed it flat on the plate I built and removed it very carefully by tapping the scraper along the edge. High Clear takes a little longer to print and requires a 4 second layer exposure. Still, I was able to print at a speed of 3 hours and 23 minutes.
I ran a 100 mm tall model of Lance Reddick as Commander Zavala. High Speed Navy at Siraya Institute of Technology (opens in new tab) resin. It took 8 hours and 31 minutes with an exposure time of 2.5 seconds. This model has very fine details such as letters that are difficult to read without a magnifying glass on the back. This was made as a tribute to Mr. Reddick, who was honored in-game by Destiny players after his passing in March. It is open to the public for free for fans on CG Trader.
His forehead had a small scratch from a layer line because the print had been slanted 45 degrees in the printer. It’s only 0.5 mm wide and almost unrecognizable without magnification.
Conclusion
Anycubic Photon Mono X2 strikes a perfect balance between size, resolution and value. The build size is generous without being cumbersome, there is enough resolution to create impressive models, and the retail price is affordable at $429.
The Mono X2 is very easy to use, so I think it’s a good entry point for beginners who don’t want to start with a small machine. It’s also a very reasonable upgrade for someone whose small desktop his printer has become addicted to, but who isn’t ready to invest more in a super-resolution printer.
If you want a larger printer with even higher resolution, check out the $649 Phrozen Sonic Mighty 8K with a 10-inch LCD screen and 28-micron resolution. Also, if you want to save money, the previous generation Anycubic Photon Mono X is still in stock and retails for $299 at the time of this writing. However, if you want a good combination of value and output quality, the Photon Mono X2 can’t be beat.
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