Any Elegoo Mars 4 DLP Users?

[reinhardtjh]

Just curious if any TRW members use or know someone using the Elegoo Mars 4 DLP 3D printer and their opinion on the printer..  There are appear to be a number of the Anycubic D2 DLP printer users here, but nobody has been mentioning the Elegoo version.  Since the Anycubic D2 is apparently permanently retired with no similar replacement in sight, that leaves the Elegoo as the only other DLP option - assuming the really do return to production as indicated by the Elegoo site.

[garethashenden]

Yes, I have one. It’s good, but I think it could be even better if I fine tuned some settings, but I’m not sure how. The print quality is noticeably crisper than my Anycubic Mono 4K, but I can’t compare it to more modern printers.

[Scottl]

Nothing posted on TRW from a DLP printer exceeds what comes from my Saturn 16k that cost $350 US.

Having said that,  Marketplace is full of printers.  I just found 2 DLP printers in the Calgary area so I expect your area will have them too.

[Rasputen]

I like mine but it is the only 3D printer I have ever owned.  My one gripe is some of the FEP fasteners had the internal hex already rounded off from the factory.  I'm going to replace them with torx screws the next time I put a new piece of FEP film in.  I have not tried the Elegoo slicer, I went straight to Chitubox.  Any layer lines or rendering issues I have had have been due to me figuring out how to work with Chitubox, and orienting the model to the best angles.

[bbussey]

I have one but I've never used it, it's still in the box.  I only opened it to confirm it was a DLP because the markings on the box don't indicate that. I got it as insurance for my first AnyCubic D2 when I was on a fruitless mission to secure a second D2.  I've since acquired two additional D2s secondhand so the Mars remains as insurance for now.

[kiwi_bnsf]

I too am now looking at purchasing one of these Elegoo Mars 4 DLP printers.

My AnyCubic D2 has randomly started shutting off its UV light part way through prints. I have ruled out slicer and settings and I have gone to extreme lengths to ensure good cool airflow around the printer. It just randomly stops exposure (even with a manual 30 sec exposure). Everything points to an intermittent hardware failure 

It's so annoying — because the DLP resin and the prints from the D2 are astonishingly better than my old Mono 6K. They better defined and more structurally sound. I can even successfully and repeatably print 0.2mm pipe work.

@bbussey have you ever experienced the UV light shutting down (but the print engine still running as if everything is fine)?

[Lemosteam]

I like mine but it is the only 3D printer I have ever owned.  My one gripe is some of the FEP fasteners had the internal hex already rounded off from the factory.  I'm going to replace them with torx screws the next time I put a new piece of FEP film in.  I have not tried the Elegoo slicer, I went straight to Chitubox.  Any layer lines or rendering issues I have had have been due to me figuring out how to work with Chitubox, and orienting the model to the best angles.

Ok, I had to replace my first FEP last month. It is not the same as you might think. The FEP you buy for these is pre molded into the FEP frame. All you do is swap the new FEP in and tighten the screws. No hole cutting, no trimming, no drum tightening, nothing but swap replacement.

I bought a pack of four from Amazon for dirt. Pull off the old, toss it, clean the frame and reinstall the new FEP, done.  I was pleasantly surprised compared to my mono FEP replacement, no, I was ECSTATIC.

ILL,SAY IT AGAIN the biggest advantage to DLP is no LCD to ruin with resin which would have been the case on my old machine with this FEP failure (my fault). Just a sheet of glass under that FEP that can be cleaned perfectly with no worry of damage.

@Rasputen, Ace hardware sells the exact screws in Stainless. Buy a set of Wiha ball style Allen drivers too. No more strippie.

[bbussey]

@bbussey have you ever experienced the UV light shutting down (but the print engine still running as if everything is fine)?

No, first I’ve heard of it.

[Chris333]

No idea if it is actually available, but the Mars 4 DLP is on their website for $229.

https://us.elegoo.com/collections/mars-series/products/elegoo-mars-4-dlp-resin-3d-printer

[pmpexpress]

No idea if it is actually available, but the Mars 4 DLP is on their website for $229.

https://us.elegoo.com/collections/mars-series/products/elegoo-mars-4-dlp-resin-3d-printer

The Elegoo Mars 4 DLP printers have been in stock and available for purchase on Amazon for the past three weeks or so.

[reinhardtjh]

No idea if it is actually available, but the Mars 4 DLP is on their website for $229.

https://us.elegoo.com/collections/mars-series/products/elegoo-mars-4-dlp-resin-3d-printer

Interesting, they were marked as a pre-order price ($229) with stock due March 31st.  They must have arrived sooner than expected.  I noticed Amazon  started listing them as available ( only xx left hurry!) a couple weeks ago but had thought maybe they were NOS that had been found since the numbers were limited.  It got down as far as 10 left before I stopped paying attention.  The Amazon price is higher than the Elegoo price - $256 vs $229

[bbussey]

At least Elegoo wised up and realized there is a market for their printer and the technology.  AnyCubic has yet to come around.

[reinhardtjh]

I ordered one this morning before I left for work.  An  impulse buy for sure, but hopefully they work as well as the AnyCubic.  It's already been shipped and is "on the way" but the tracking with YunExpress says "Ready for Receive" at 19:30:11 which is too late for West Coast as I would expect and probably is East Coast since I"m in Texas.  Transit is noted as "US -> US" but I have doubts.

[pmpexpress]

The Amazon price is higher than the Elegoo price - $256 vs $229

FBA (Fulfillment By Amazon) products that are sold through an Elegoo Official US Amazon store, the uptick in price is to cover the costs associated with selling items that are warehoused and shipped by Amazon.

Aside from the fact that it is much easier to deal with mis-shipped and/or defective products and/or returns through Amazon, extended product warranties are not offered by Elegoo.

Some buyers elect to consummate their purchases through Amazon and buy an optional Asurion, LLC three to four year Office Equipment Protection Plan.

As the Anycubic D2 and the Elegoo Mars 4 DLP 3D printers incorporate the same, relatively rare and expensive, consumer grade Texas Instruments DLPC1438 Digital Controller, given that replacement parts for the innards of either of the aforementioned printers appear to be an unobtainium, having an extended product warranty and/or backup units on hand appear to be very prudent moves.

Given that the Anycubic D2 and the Elegoo Mars 4 DLP are nearly identical in raw specifications, aside from the fact that the D2 has apparently been discontinued, with a much lower current street price (i.e., $229.00 - $259.99 versus the original $679.00 retail price of a D2), the Mars 4 DLP is quite a bargain.

[Chris333]

I thought the D2 was all plastic?