Anycubic Photon

[C855B]

From what I've seen online, the Epax X1 is nearly an Anycubic Photon equivalent, just built a little better.  Same Chitu CBD-Tech motherboard as the Photon which means the same slicer options exist as opposed to the Photon-S proprietary one.

https://epax3d.com/products/epax-printer

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07L2GDBMN

This bullet item on the Epax description is interesting: "* Buy one EPAX X1 printer get 20% off on one LCD screen and one pack of nFEP films." So a spare LCD screen is apparently recommended or at least encouraged? IIRC somebody here (Mark?) had to replace the LCD after a mishap, but this line item makes me think that at least this manufacturer considers the LCD to be a consumable.

[reinhardtjh]

This bullet item on the Epax description is interesting: "* Buy one EPAX X1 printer get 20% off on one LCD screen and one pack of nFEP films." So a spare LCD screen is apparently recommended or at least encouraged? IIRC somebody here (Mark?) had to replace the LCD after a mishap, but this line item makes me think that at least this manufacturer considers the LCD to be a consumable.

They do and from what I've seen, it is.  How long before replacement depends on how much and I think the "duty cycle" you run.  i.e. do you print 24/7 or once every few days.

At the bottom of the X1 page https://epax3d.com/products/epax-x1-dj-uv-lcd-3d-printer-latest-parallel-light-installed-no-resin

Warranty: 

1 year USA warranty for the printer, except the LCD screen, film and accessories.  No warranty for LCD screens and accessories.

Replacement screens are $39 from Epax or #39.99 from Amazon.  Amazon delivers in a day (at least to Fort Worth)

https://epax3d.com/products/genuine-5-5-2560x1440-light-curing-display-for-lcd-3d-printers
https://www.amazon.com/2560x1440-Curing-Display-EPAX-Printer/dp/B07N7SZHBX

[diezmon]

As of end October 2019, the original Photon (Classic) has been discontinued.

Although no official announcements have been made, the Photons now being sold that look like the original Photons with steel bodies and yellow windows are in fact Photon-S variants. They share the same mainboards with the Photon-S and can only print proprietary *.pws files. These are Photons in look only, they are incompatible with the original Photons shipped between October 2017 to end September 2019.

https://github.com/Photonsters/anycubic-photon-docs/blob/master/FAQ.md#as-of-end-october-2019-the-original-photon-classic-has-been-discontinued

so, this? 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/US-ANYCUBIC-SLA-Photon-3D-Printer-UV-Resin-Light-Cure-High-Precision-2-8-TFT/302687541659

[Chris333]

There might still be a few floating around.

PhotonS isn't a bad thing, but say I drew up a model and then used their software to add the supports and slice it. When you save that file it is a .photon file and will not work in the PhotonS. You still have your model, but you need to re-support and slice it.

[diezmon]

There might still be a few floating around.

PhotonS isn't a bad thing, but say I drew up a model and then used their software to add the supports and slice it. When you save that file it is a .photon file and will not work in the PhotonS. You still have your model, but you need to re-support and slice it.

Is there software out there to convert to/from different formats?

[Chris333]

I think the mother board is different.

[Chris333]

I found this about the Photon vs. PhotonS

Dear Photon Users,

We have noticed concerns over the change of the original Photons motherboard and slicer. We apologize that we have worried you and that we have not shared why and how this change will benefit the 3D printing community in a longer run sooner.

First, and foremost, we want to let you know our Photon S started with the same motherboard, firmware, and slicer that you now see in the original Photon. The Photon S has been a market hit and has a proven record of success since it was launched. From our point of view, we are adapting this success and the advanced mode to the original Photon so it can also have some of those same benefits.

Second, the new slicer, Photon Workshop (download link is below) can be saved and used as either .pws or .photon files. It is compatible with all Anycubic Photon printers and resins, as well as third party resins. We will provide you later on with APIs to do even more! Please do not worry at all about your expertise and talents going nowhere with this change. Anycubic is always with you.

Third, we will provide firmware upgrades for our existing Photon users, or in the worst case, new motherboards for free as well. Photon printers sold before cannot be updated any more? Of course, this is not true. Your needs are always on our minds. If you have any questions about updating, please email James at james@anycubic.com.

Finally, with our own developed motherboard and slicer, we intend to significantly accelerate the process to turn your suggestions into updates on our machine on a regular basis. Working with an outside supplier, this process has always been tedious and slow.

Most importantly, here is the beta version of the Photon slicer for your new board or for updates:
 

https://www.anycubic.com/collections/anycubic-photon-3d-printers/products/anycubic-photon-s

Please feel free to download and try the beta version now.

Any feedback or question is highly welcomed at james@anycubic.com.

Thank you for all of your support along the way. We wish you a pleasant printing experience with Anycubic Photon.

Warm regards,
Anycubic team

[Chris333]

And I guess there was a follow-up:

Dear Photon Users,

We apologize again for the confusion and concerns caused. We created this image above to tell you the differences of all 3 resin printers Anycubic offers. Please use it as a reference and find out what you have, and see in what way this post may relate to you.

We have received lots of feedback since the first statement. They are all very much appreciated! As a response to some of your questions:

First, the new firmware V5.0.0 is released. With it, Photon S and the Photon Upgraded (the one with new board and slicer) are compatible with .photon, .photons, .pws files, and most importantly, the current Chitu box slicer too. So please do not worry. We have got you covered.

To download the new firmware V5.0.0 for Photon Upgraded, click here.
https://www.anycubic.com/products/anycubic-photon-3d-printer

For Photon S, click here.
https://www.anycubic.com/products/anycubic-photon-s

Second, the latest Photon Workshop (V2.1.17 or above) can be applied to all printers shown above, including the original Photon, without having to change a motherboard. If you have a hard time upgrading, please email James@anycubic.com

To download the latest Photon Workshop, click here.
https://drive.google.com/…/1916Mvl4FlnoG9decjPcBVzLi8…/view…

Third, most commonly-used or self-developed 3rd party tools can be integrated and supported by the new firmware and Photon Workshop. Please do not worry that you can not have support from the community any more. Of course, you can. We are working hard towards more compatibility in the future.

Last but not the least, for you to know what you get when you are buying, the Original Photon or the Photon Upgraded, here is how: if you see “Photon Upgraded” in the product title or on the product page, you are getting the Photon Upgraded (with the new motherboard and new slicer). Otherwise, you will get the original (the old version) Photon. We still have a certain amount of original Photon printers in stock.

Any question or feedback is highly welcomed at James@anycubic.com. Or please message us at Facebook.

Thank you all very much again.

Best regards,
Anycubic team

[CNR5529]

So I just took a chance with upgrading my Photon S to V5.0.0 and installing the latest slicer package. It appears that all the files I had previously created in Chitubox (.photons) can still be read by the machine, and the new .pws format is also able to be read. There are some interesting new features that I hope to test out shortly, such as the anti aliasing, the r_e_r_f exposure testing file to fine tune resin settings, and the "clean up the bottom of the vat easily with one full exposure" function. Hopefully I can share some updated print photos soon... Been working on some fun projects since the machine arrived a few weeks ago!

[reinhardtjh]

I think the mother board is different.

Yes.  The original Photon used a OEM motherboard and is common with the EPAX X1, Elegoo MARS 3D Printer and I think a couple others.  The motherboard in the Photon S is propitiatory to AnyCubic so the same software does not work.  Not that it's a bad thing as far as i can tell.  It's just different so it honked off the Photon community which had been swapping around different slicers/support generators as they felt necessary.  For the Photon S there is only the AnyCubic slicer so if it doesn't work for you for whatever reason, then you're stuck.  As far as I know there isn't a converter between the formats except maybe the new Workshop Software.

And maybe this has all changed with the 5.0.0 firmware and newest version of the Workshop Software mentioned in Chris's post.

[CNR5529]

For the Photon S there is only the AnyCubic slicer so if it doesn't work for you for whatever reason, then you're stuck.  As far as I know there isn't a converter between the formats except maybe the new Workshop Software.

I can confirm that Chitubox V1.5.0 is able to slice files for the Photon S running the original firmware, or the newest V5.0.0 firmware. Apparently, this newest firmware can also read original .photon files too (haven't tested that though). Just dont update to firmware V3.4.1. That version could only read .pws files.

Anti aliasing on the photon s can only be achieved when slicing in photon workshop. That said, the newest photon workshop (V2.1.17) appears to be somewhat buggy. I think I will keep generating supports in Chitubox for the time being and send the stl file to workshop if I need to use anti aliasing.

[CNR5529]

I've been playing with some of the new features unlocked with the V5 firmware update. One really cool new feature is the exposure test, where a torture test file is printed 8 times with different exposure settings all at once, to help you decide what the best settings are for any given resin.

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Now I get to choose what gives the best balance of external and internal detail, dimensional accuracy, etc. Some of the prints left material stuck on the FEP, and this leads right into the next cool feature.

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You can now do a full exposure in the test pattern tool screen with the build plate raised, to make quick work of removing material stuck to the FEP. Anycubic recommends waiting an hour to let any bits of cured resin floating around in the vat sink to the bottom, do this exposure, and peel off all the junk. Works pretty well!

@Mark W, I see what you meant by an endless supply of paint pallets from support material... now we can make large ones too!

[narrowminded]

I've been playing with some of the new features unlocked with the V5 firmware update.

Some of those features do seem to have merit. I can see some of my least favorite things in the world in my future, playing with computer files.

@Mark W, I see what you meant by an endless supply of paint pallets from support material... now we can make large ones too!

Another use for small rafts with support nubs projecting is when laying out on foam using a compass.  Take a 1" or so raft with very short nubs left from the supports (thin supports are best) and on the bottom/ smooth face draw a set of crosshairs running off the edge for alignment.  With a small drill, put a dimple at the center of the crosshairs and then align those crosshairs with the layout lines on your foam and press down.  The raft supports the compass center accurately and without gouging out the hole.  And once the divots are made by the nubs the raft can be repeatedly placed in the exact same spot, registering perfectly by the arbitrary placement of the nubs, and with no damage to the foam.  Also, because the foam doesn't get gouged out at the compass pin the drawn arcs are as accurate as you are with your compass settings.  Try it on a scrap foam piece.  It really works well.

For those of you selling printed parts you could put a description of this on your website and throw a raft or two in each shipment as a "bonus" gift.   No, REALLY!

[rray]

So Chris333 convinced me that the Anycubic Photon is the way to go for starting in 3D printing. Is the consensus that the Photon is the way to go, or should I start with the Photon S?

[Chris333]

Well it was recently announced that the Photon was being discontinued. But it looks like there is still supports.

I'd guess to someone just jumping in that the PhotonS would be better.

Now that I have mine pretty much figured out learning whatever is new on the S model might not be fun.

Does anyone here have a PhotonS?

I've heard the Phrozen Shuffle is a good machine, but might cost a little more.