As a scale modeler I'm always looking for new tools to use, techniques to learn and models to build. Nowadays 3D printing is quite common, but I don't like the quality of the FDM printers. I was keeping an eye out for DLP printers, but their prices are so enormous, that I was using Shapeways to print for me. But Shapeways's prices are also sky rocketing.

Then I stumbled upon a YouTube review of the AnyCubic Phonton DLP printer. I was sold immediately!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gar2jcRlGTo&t=1s

The printer had got mind blowing print quality. The printer itself only costs around $500 and is incredibly easy to use. Only two small drawbacks where noted: 1. UV resin is quite expensive and 2. the resin would smell soo bad that you can't put the printer in a room you live in.

Calibrating the printer is the only real work and needs to be done accurately or else your prints will fall of the print bed. (happend to me the first try) 🙄

Second attempt gave me this beautifull model of an A-Wing

Although the model looks crisp, the nose was curved upward. I think this is due to it beeing quite thin and beeing exposed to the UV light more intense that the aft of the ship. I decided to rotate the model and print again.

Two nice A-Wings (left is a prototye variant)

I use a UV light too cure the resin so I can sand and paint it.

To show you the detail, I've put up some pictures with some paint on the models

I know there are still some fine lines visible on the noses of the A-Wings, but thats due to the 3D model not beeing entirely flat. Pay attention to the cockpit windows, they do show the print quality. Almost no layering to be seen.

My conlusing:

A perfect printer for home use, when you want to print minatues. The UV resin is brittle though, so it can't be used for items that need to with stand force. ie: mobile phone brackets

Arno

Thanks for the write-up and the pics. I wish I had the time and funds to dive into something like this.

Those look great. Thank you for sharing. I need to get me a missile boat.

Those turned out great! I would love to have one of those printers but I'm really concerned about the smells/fumes since I print out of my basement and have two young kids. How do you deal with the smell? Have the window cracked or print in a garage?

I was concerned about the smell as well, but now I can say that there is hardly any smell. At least not with the resin of AnyCubic. I have a bottle of MonoCure that I need to test when this one is done.

The only smell comes from the isopropanol used for cleaning it all. But again, the smell is about the same as cleaning something with regular cleaning alcohol.

I must admit I do print in the garage with an open window. But I would definitely feel assured to print in the house.

Of course you are using chemicals, so keep that away from children at all times.

Interesting... Thanks for the info. Maybe I can rig up an exhaust fan in the basement window, then it might work.

I had no clue you could already get this quality for this budget! Well done!