Phrozen Sonic Mini 4k

[timwatson]

After 3 days I have finally figured it out. I just finished up a few MORE test prints.

The issue is the LCD screen isn’t the same thickness in the front as it is the back. In the front it sits ~.43-.45mm proud of the base of the machine. In the back it sits .33-.35mm proud of the machine base. That’s a difference of .1 - .12mm from front to back (or 4 .03mm layers). That’s really big when you’re printing .03mm layer heights. That means when the build plate is hitting and touching the front of the screen leaving little room for resin there is .1mm in the back. There is hardly even a chance for a print to attach itself to the plate when it’s so far away.

So when the z-axis homes it hits the higher front part of the screen and the whole z-tower pushes backwards. Which means that there is not flex in the bracket that holds the nut. So z hits the front of the screen can’t go any further and then looks like it pushes down to the back because it has space to move there.

Currently I have the deflection from .5mm down to only .1mm and 10 second bottom layer times YAY!
I will say Chris the details are really nice in n scale. I printed my switch stand and ALL the wood grain is there now.it’s really going to be wonderful.

I will take more pics and post but I made progress tonight.

The fix is to add a strip of kapton tape to the front of the machine that matches the edge of the screen to the tape. For me it was about 8 layers of tape at front. 5 layers of tape at the back. The idea to get the vat and fep parallel to the screen. Right now it’s not.

[Chris333]

I can understand how the unlevel sceen wouldn't be ideal, but you level the print head to the screen. If the screen is not level it shouldn't matter because the print head is set to it.

[Chris333]

Wel wait if you are saying the vat and FEP aren't level with the sceen. That could be a problem and sounds like what a lot of people on FB say is wrong as well.

I saw a shipping update for their Mighty and someone asked why people who buy at a store get theirs before people who order direct.

I was trying to ask for an update on the mini, but saw that comments were turned off. 

Looks like I have a month wait.

[timwatson]

Wel wait if you are saying the vat and FEP aren't level with the sceen. That could be a problem and sounds like what a lot of people on FB say is wrong as well.

I saw a shipping update for their Mighty and someone asked why people who buy at a store get theirs before people who order direct.

I was trying to ask for an update on the mini, but saw that comments were turned off. 

Looks like I have a month wait.

Yeh you've got it now. The space between the vat fep and the screen makes a wedge that grows as it goes toward the back of the machine. The fep/screen touches in the front and as you move back it doesn't touch and has a gap at the back. z-axis squishes the screen and keeps going to fill the back space shifting the z-axis tower backwards.

[Chris333]

Tim,  Besides all the mods have you been able to get a good print yet?

[Ian MacMillan]

Following, as I am looking to upgrade to this unit.

[timwatson]

Tim,  Besides all the mods have you been able to get a good print yet?

I have, but I've honestly been trying to get a square dimensional print first. You know get a 20mm cube to be 20mm on all sides basically. For whatever reason that's been challenging.
My 40mm cube and my 20mm cubes have been .2xmm too big which seems oddly coincidental but it's not a scaling issue because one should be .2 and the other should be .4.


Looking forward to some others working through this  with me but the build quality of the printer "looks great" but structurally it's pretty weak. That z-axis lean is driving me nuts.

[timwatson]

These are some quick pics of the results. The detail is much better than the photon but I feel like its taken much more work to get a similar result.
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This woodgrain is smaller than the ridges on my finger print.

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[timwatson]

OK I have one more picture that sums up the difference between the Phrozen Sonic mini 4k and my OG Photon.


This is my Hon30 flex track I have been working on. Same exact file, same exact resin combo. BIGGG difference.




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Above track is Phrozen Sonic Mini 4k
Below is OG Photon

[Erock482]

Thats impressive, whats the print time comparison? as well as what settings are you running in the new unit?

Another question, what software do you draw in? the Wood grain is impressive and I'd like to know how you did that

[Chris333]

Is that printed standing up or flat?

[wazzou]

I may be in the minority but I think the grain in the ties looks more realistic in the Photon print.
The tie plates are much sharper in the Phrozen print, no doubt, but I think the wood grain is a little over cooked.

[Maletrain]

I agree with Wazzou about the wood grain on the ties.  But, I think that can be toned down with the Phrozen now that it can print much sharper details.  The tie plate corners are a good test of the sharpness capabilities.  Finer grain for the ties would make a real win for the Phrozen.

[Lemosteam]

Agree on the tie plates, but the tie ends look kinda blobby to me.

Also I think the woddgrain depth may be necessary.  Would the track paint hide that detail on the photon print?

[wcfn100]

Agree on the tie plates, but the tie ends look kinda blobby to me.

Better than some injection molded ties.

Jason