Sonic Mini 8k

[timwatson]

Alright ya'll I just got the sonic Mini 8k. I leveled the build plate (.3mm spacing - or 3 sheets of 80lb printer paper - just like the SM4k). Dropped in some resin and hit print.

Right after the first test print completes, resin drips inside the machine - "I'm thinking, this doesn't bode well" but my SM4k did the same. Phrozen should really fix that.

Resin all over the place ... sigh!
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The results of the test print were very impressive however so I took it in stride. I own a Sonic Mini 4k (heavily modified) so I'll be using that for a comparison.
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This tiniest of towers is .3mm in diameter.

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So you get the sizes we're talking here. The smallest tower (the one in the detail photo) is .3mm diameter.
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I have an nscale "rustic" brick sculpt (think Trains of Texas Wall but in n scale) I had been working on that I wanted to see how it would print. The results speak volumes about what this machine is capable of.
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First impressions:
1. The machine is way better built than the SM4k. You can see it in the photos but it is so much more "robust".
2. It very very LOUD!! The fans sound like you're in a wind tunnel. I had replaced the fans in my SM4k and I am sure I got spoiled by those Noctua fans in there.
3. The peel sound it makes is a satisfying thud and not like something that is being "ripped" from the FEP.
4. It's obvious they learned and corrected the SM8k based on feedback from the SM4k (it's still sad we were the beta testers). I am glad because I stop using companies when the fail to do that.
5. The build plate "feels smaller" because the machine is soo much bigger than the SM4k.
6. The base plate the vat sits on is at least 6mm or more maybe. That was an issue the SM4k had.
7. No movement whatsoever in the z-axis. THANK YOU!!!

If you'd like to torture test any models send them my way (within reason and resin volume).

[timwatson]

I'll be iterating on this design as well with this machine. It's an all 3d printed power chassis and gear set.

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.2modulus gears

[Chris333]

I don't understand the resin drip?  I have had like 1 or 2 single drops in mine and it was from me removing the build plate and I quickly wiped it up.

[JeffB]

Hmmm...  Interesting Tim.  I take it that you were able to purchase this as the "early bird" special that was available late last fall?

The test print looks impressive.  Did you do that on your machine, or is that from a review from someone else?

No plan to buy an 8K machine.  Still have to use my 4K one first, but I am intrigued by them.

Jeff

[timwatson]

I don't understand the resin drip?  I have had like 1 or 2 single drops in mine and it was from me removing the build plate and I quickly wiped it up.

Me either TBH … but its literally happened on both Phrozen machines. So its consistent 🤷 ?? On longer prints, it’s not done it again.

Hmmm...  Interesting Tim.  I take it that you were able to purchase this as the "early bird" special that was available late last fall?

The test print looks impressive.  Did you do that on your machine, or is that from a review from someone else?

No plan to buy an 8K machine.  Still have to use my 4K one first, but I am intrigued by them.

Jeff

Yes this is the early bird shipment. They look to be out until May or April on Amazon orders.
Yes these prints are from my new 8k machine. Its tough to see real world prints from YouTubers unless you can hold them. These are the actual prints. The chassis is from my SM4k though.

The settings except for me speeding things up are stock!

[Chris333]

Longest print I ever did on the 4K was a vertical N scale boxcar.

I told Jeff. I'll wait till my 4K breaks before I buy a 8K or anything else. Even though I want one...

There is a HOn3 modeler on Youtube who claims to have an 8K and even said he printed my Davenport with it. Said he'd send me prints, but is unable to show any photos. Oh well.

[timwatson]

Something else I forgot to mention, the exposure is significantly less than my SM4k as well ... 2s vs. 3s for the same resin.
Meaning the UV source is more powerful.

Also the most impressive is the 7s bottom layers time. That buildplate is crazy sticky!!
These are all good things in my humble opinion. It definitely sets it apart from the old 4k mini.

[Lemosteam]

I have resorted to placing a 1/8 sheet of plywood over the vat (after removing one vat screw) to prevent any drips from falling onto the machine, so I just wipe any drips off of that. 

I had an oopsie moment last month where I lifted the unit on my dandy pivoting tray and bumped something hard enough that the resin splashed like a wave over the front edge of the vat.  Unfortunately that ran down the front and into the control panel LCD.  I had to quickly disassemble that to try to clean it up.  I had to separate the screen from the touch screen membrane as the fluid ran between from capillary action.  UGH.  No functional issues after but an ugly stain-like view in the screen now.  Oh well as long as it works.

Surprising that they did not think to add fluid resistant seals at all the leak points under below the vat.

[timwatson]

I have resorted to placing a 1/8 sheet of plywood over the vat (after removing one vat screw) to prevent any drips from falling onto the machine, so I just wipe any drips off of that. 

I had an oopsie moment last month where I lifted the unit on my dandy pivoting tray and bumped something hard enough that the resin splashed like a wave over the front edge of the vat.  Unfortunately that ran down the front and into the control panel LCD.  I had to quickly disassemble that to try to clean it up.  I had to separate the screen from the touch screen membrane as the fluid ran between from capillary action.  UGH.  No functional issues after but an ugly stain-like view in the screen now.  Oh well as long as it works.

Surprising that they did not think to add fluid resistant seals at all the leak points under below the vat.

The drips happened after the print was done and the lid was still on. It literally dripped from the buildplate to the inside of the orange case (OUTSIDE of the vat area). Nothing was ever removed after the print completed. I came back and resin all over the inside of the case.

[Chris333]

I keep a bunch of Styrofoam plates around. When done printing I put the plate under the build plate while I unscrew it and turn it 90 degrees to drip. I also hold the plate under the build plate any time I'm moving around to keep any drips off the machine. The one or 2 drips I did have were due to me not the machine.

Tim, Would be nice to see the same exact print on the 4K and 8K just to see if it is earth shattering 

[timwatson]

I have resorted to placing a 1/8 sheet of plywood over the vat (after removing one vat screw) to prevent any drips from falling onto the machine, so I just wipe any drips off of that. 

That's a good tip. I'm curious though why you wouldn't let it drip back into the vat?

[timwatson]

I keep a bunch of Styrofoam plates around. When done printing I put the plate under the build plate while I unscrew it and turn it 90 degrees to drip. I also hold the plate under the build plate any time I'm moving around to keep any drips off the machine. The one or 2 drips I did have were due to me not the machine.

Ah a traveling drip catcher. That's good. That's prob what John (@Lemosteam) was saying too and I was too dense to catch it. I use these silicon dog feeding mats currently under the work area that I really like. They're cheap and they work well.

Tim, Would be nice to see the same exact print on the 4K and 8K just to see if it is earth shattering 

Yup I am gonna do one of your models maybe that davenport orrr .... You think the Brookville one @Chris333 ?
Right now I am working to speed things up. I just confirmed I can still update firmware. I just added folder support for this machine as well.

[Lemosteam]

That's a good tip. I'm curious though why you wouldn't let it drip back into the vat?

Oh, I let it drain for a while first.  I only get a couple little drips, but it also protects for when I remove the build plate, which always extends beyond the vat during removal.

[Chris333]

Well the Brookville would be small and save resin    But just anything that is the same model to compare 35 vs. 22 microns.

[bbussey]

I installed a magnetic build plate which makes it much easier and more neat to remove the prints. No dripping outside of the vat perimeter, no struggling to remove the prints from the build plate. A slight flex of the spring steel breaks the vacuum suction and the prints simply slide off.