Meet the 3D Printer Anycubic Photon Mono 4K

"Following the example of the Phrozen Sonic Mini 4K and Elegoo Mars 3, Anycubic has finally joined the 4K club by presenting an improved version of its original budget resin 3D printer, Photon Mono."
Photon Mono 4K is essentially the same printer as the Photon Mono. The difference is that the updated version comes with twice the number of pixels. Its 6.23-inch mono LCD offers the same print area of 132 x 80 mm (165 mm along the Z-axis). This new pixel density means a finer resolution on the XY axis of 35 microns. In comparison, the original Mono offers a resolution on the XY axis of 50 microns.
"In addition to having a 4K resolution, the panel is also monochrome. This means that the layer curing time is much faster. Let's take a look at some distinguishing features of the innovative Photon Mono 4K printer."

Characteristics of Photon Mono 4K

More contrast

According to the Anycubic Mono LCD used for the new version of the Photon Mono 4K, it also has a contrast of 400:1, which is said to be 100% better than the original Mono. The increased contrast will display the image in the exposure area with more precise edges and corners, improving print quality. It will also significantly reduce potential residues from 3D printing in the resin vat. 

New source of light

"Besides having a high light transmittance LCD panel (monochrome), one of the critical factors for fast and accurate resin 3D printing is the use of a good light source. What good would the mono screen be if there wasn't enough light to pass through it?"
For Photon Mono 4K Anycubic, a new design of a matrix light source has been developed. It consists of 15 quartz lamps and aims to provide even more uniform UV light transmission. Moreover, the output of UV light is also adjustable. According to Anycubic, the Mono 4K can be adjusted anywhere from 30-100%, allowing it to print resins with varying UV energy requirements and extend the life of the LCD display.

Screen protection

The Photon Mono 4K features a scratch-resistant film to protect the LCD from contamination and resin leakage.

Photon Workshop

The Photon Mono 4K comes with the internally developed slicer by Anycubic, Photon Workshop, which offers some interesting features, including the ability to add text to your print and 8x anti-aliasing - a graphical setting for smoothing the appearance of jagged edges. In comparison, previous Anycubic Photon printers are compatible with ChiTuBox and Lychee slicers.
"Considering that the parent company of ChiTuBox, CTB-Tech, is taking measures to lock the cutting device to 3D printers using its controllers and firmware, you will likely not be able to use ChiTuBox with Photon Mono 4K. But this would hardly be a problem for you, as Photon Workshop is efficient enough." 

Without the possibility of direct upgrade from Poton Mono to Photon Mono 4K

Owners of the Photon Mono will not be able to upgrade their LCD display to bring their machines in line with the new Photon Mono 4K. The control boards would be incompatible, and the upgrade would be much more labor-intensive than simply replacing the LCD screen. If you want the same functionalities and improvements as the Photon Mono 4K, then the only option is to purchase this 3D printer.

Other features
Fill Level Indicator: The small markings in the resin tank show you how much resin is left.
Safety function for automatic shutdown: The printer will automatically pause if the top cover is removed during printing. You can deactivate this function.

Technical specifications of Photon Mono 4K

General specifications:
Technology: MSLA
Type: Resin
Year: 2021
Assembly: Fully assembled
Manufacturer: Anycubic

Specifications for 3D printing:

Dimensions of the structure: 132 x 80 x 165 mm
Layer height: N/A
XY resolution: 35 microns (3840 x 2400 pixels)
Positioning accuracy on axis Z: N/A
Print speed: <50 mm/h
Bed leveling: Manual
Display: 2.8-inch touchscreen
Third-party materials: Yes
Materials: 405 nm UV resin

Software requirements:

Recommended slicer: Photon Workshop
Operating system: Windows / macOS X / Linux
File types: STL
Connectivity: USB

Size of 3D printer:

Dimensions: 383 x 227 x 222 mm
Weight: 4.3 kg
The Anycubic Photon Mono 4K was released to the market in November 2021. Currently, the 3D printer is available from a number of suppliers and retailers, which means you can easily purchase it and receive it within a few working days. Its price ranges between 500 BGN and 600 BGN, placing it on the list of budget 3D printers.

Here are some similar 3D printers:

3D Printer Anycubic Photon M3 Plus

Anycubic Photon M3 Plus impresses with its large 6K monochrome display, high printing speed, and the new, intelligent resin filling feature.
Main characteristics of Photon M3 Plus
Printer dimensions: 290 x 360 x 475 mm
Dimensional accuracy 34 µm
Print speed up to 100 mm/h
LCD screen with contrast 350:1
Anycubic LightTurbo Matrix LED Pearl Light Source
Intelligent resin filler
Laser engraving printing platform
Film against scratching for LCD screen
Anycubic Photon Workshop – Slicer
5 inch touchscreen
Removable lid

LCD 3D Printer Anycubic Photon Mono

Anycubic Photon Mono has a 6-inch monochrome LCD display. With this new technology, Photon Mono allows for incredible printing speeds, requiring only 1-2 seconds per layer – compared to conventional LCD 3D printers with 7-8 seconds per change.
The monochrome LCD is also thermally stable and has a much longer lifespan than conventional LCD displays. You can print with it for over 2000 hours!
Thanks to the larger LCD display, the Photon Mono also has a slightly larger printing space of 130 x 80 x 165 mm.

LCD 3D Printer Photon Mono X – 4K resolution