Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K In-Depth Review: High-Resolution Resin 3D Printing

Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K In-Depth Review: High-Resolution Resin 3D Printing Hi everyone! This is Top 3D Shop, and in this video, we will tell you about the Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K 3D printer. In just a few years, Phrozen has become one of the leaders in the production of resin 3D printers for almost any task. Today we’d like to talk about the model with the largest printing area and unprecedented resolution in its segment, the Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K 3D printer... As usual, let’s start with the supply package and technical specifications. Owing to its impressive size, the printer comes in a large and heavy box, fully assembled and ready for use. One person might be able to take the printer out of the box and set it up, but that may be challenging, so it is better to get a helping hand since it weighs a hefty 77 lbs (35 kilograms), while its outer dimensions are roughly 15x18x26 inches (400x470x680 mm), so keep that in mind when preparing your workplace... Inside the machine, in addition to the printing platform and the vat already in place, there’s a box with the necessary tools. The package content is quite standard and does not differ from other Phrozen 3D printers: a small user manual guiding through the first start-up procedure and the basic slicer settings, a warranty card, a separate bag containing two handles with screws and an allen key - these need to be screwed to the doors - an 8 gigabyte SanDisk USB flash drive, a small plastic funnel to pour the resin (considering the amount of resin this machine handles, this funnel looks lackluster, but it’s better than nothing), a pair of rubber gloves, a few decorative Phrozen stickers, a plastic scraper for mixing the resin in the vat and a metal scraper to remove the model from the platform. It is better to use a silicone scraper instead of the former in order to prevent the vat film from scratching, while it is also advisable to get a wider scraper and sharpen it well instead of the latter. Lastly, we find two power cables - each for a particular outlet... The machine seemingly features quite an ordinary design for MSLA printers, except for the scope: its printing area is roughly 13x7x16 inches, or 330x185x400 millimeters. That’s even larger than that of many FDM-3D printers. For reference, here’s the Phrozen Mega 8K next to the popular mid-size Elegoo Mars 2 Pro. The difference is striking: it looks like the entire Elegoo Mars could fit in the Mega 8K’s chamber... The calibration of the printer is a little different than what we are used to. Here, the platform is not just fixed with a few screws, but rather engages four locking screws and four fixing ones. We saw a similar system on the Wanhao GR1 printer. The point is, the manufacturer does not expect the user to meddle with the initial calibration at all — the printer is factory-calibrated. But as they say: “better safe than sorry.” Still, we won’t be going through the calibration and checking process for this printer — there is a dedicated video on Phrozen’s YouTube channel describing this procedure... Perhaps the main distinguishing feature of this printer is its huge, 15-inch monochrome LCD panel with 8K, 7680x4320 pixel resolution. With such a diagonal, each pixel is only 43 microns in size. Those are certainly not the smallest pixels for a resin 3D printer, but considering the size, it’s very impressive for modern tech. Besides, the monochrome LCD screen cures layers faster, while its lifespan is much longer compared to RGB panels... Let’s draw conclusions. The Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K is an excellent 3D printer in its class: boasting a huge printing area, monochrome screen with 8K resolution, quite reliable mechanics that can handle really complex tasks, simple, but also functional and stable control board and firmware. What’s missing is air filtration and a heater for the printing area. The drawbacks for the most part are not related to the printer, but rather to the technology of resin printing in general. The Mega 8K is really hard and expensive to work with. You need a lot of resin and consumables, a specially equipped room since you need a lot of space and good ventilation, and a lot of time for the seemingly typical procedures of draining the resin and cleaning the printer. But if you need to print large, detailed models and are willing to put up with the hassle, this printer is definitely for you. With the right approach, it can work around the clock and produce really great quality parts... This is Top 3D Shop with the Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K 3D printer review. Subscribe to our channel, leave comments, and hit the Like button if you’ve enjoyed the video. See you soon!