Đánh giá máy in 3D Elegoo Saturn: Khối lượng lớn, chất lượng cao, giá trị lớn

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Là đối thủ lớn hơn của dòng máy in Elegoo Mars, Elegoo Saturn là máy in 3D MSLA bằng nhựa khối lượng lớn đã tìm ra cách để tăng khối lượng bản dựng mà không làm giảm chất lượng bộ phận. Bằng cách tăng cả kích thước và độ phân giải của màn hình Mono LCD che mặt nạ, Elegoo Saturn có thể cung cấp cùng độ phân giải XY của Mars 2 Pro trong khi tăng tổng khối lượng bản dựng.

Một trong những máy in 3D tốt nhất, Saturn gây ấn tượng với tôi về cách thiết lập và sử dụng dễ dàng nhưng tính sẵn có khan hiếm của chiếc máy in thường có giá 500 đô la có thể khiến tôi thất vọng khi tìm kiếm một chiếc để mua.

Thông số kỹ thuật của Elegoo Saturn

Có trong Hộp của Elegoo Saturn

Elegoo Saturn vận chuyển trong một hộp được đóng gói tốt và bao gồm tất cả các phụ kiện bạn cần để bắt đầu in ngay khi máy in ra khỏi hộp. Bao gồm trong hộp phụ kiện là một cái cạp kim loại (để tháo các bộ phận khỏi nền xây dựng), một cái cạp nhựa (để tháo các bộ phận khỏi tấm FEP và khuấy nhựa), một số phễu giấy có lưới thép (để lọc nhựa), dây máy cắt (để tháo vật liệu hỗ trợ), găng tay cao su, và một số bu lông dự phòng lành lặn, chìa khóa Allen và các bộ phận dễ thất lạc khác. Thanh USB đi kèm được tải sẵn bản in thử, ứng dụng máy cắt Chitubox, bản sao kỹ thuật số của hướng dẫn sử dụng và một vài tệp từ trang web lưu trữ mô hình 3D MyMiniFactory .

Thiết kế của Elegoo Saturn

Elegoo đã vận chuyển chiếc Saturn này với nhãn dán’tomshardware.com’dán trên nắp chống tia cực tím, đây là một điểm nhấn thú vị đối với đơn vị đánh giá. Theo như tôi có thể nói, đây là điểm khác biệt duy nhất giữa đơn vị này và một đơn vị bán lẻ thông thường, vì vậy trải nghiệm của tôi với máy in này sẽ tương tự như trải nghiệm của bạn nếu bạn mua trực tiếp từ Elegoo.

Saturn là một máy in 3D MSLA bằng nhựa thông thường sử dụng thùng chứa nhựa, màn hình LCD che, nguồn sáng UV và một trục phong trào. Tôi mất chưa đến năm phút để lắp ráp chiếc máy in này, và phần lớn thời gian đó là tháo xốp và bao bì ra khỏi hộp. Máy in không yêu cầu bất kỳ cụm cơ khí hoặc điện nào và chỉ cần được hiệu chỉnh trước khi in. Quá trình hiệu chuẩn gần như không tốn nhiều công sức (sẽ nói thêm về điều đó ở phần sau) và trải nghiệm bên ngoài cảm thấy nhanh chóng và dễ dàng.

Saturn sử dụng màn hình LCD mặt nạ 8,9 inch với độ phân giải 3840 x 2400, mang lại độ phân giải XY hiệu quả là 0,05mm. Màn hình LCD mặt nạ đi kèm với một cặp nhãn dán bảo vệ trên đó trong quá trình vận chuyển và tôi không gặp vấn đề gì khi gỡ chúng ra trước khi in. Băng bảo vệ màu đen xung quanh màn hình LCD che mặt nạ cần phải được để lại trên máy và sách hướng dẫn sử dụng phải đề cập đến vấn đề này trước tiên để người dùng mới không vô tình tháo nó ra khi tháo các miếng dán còn lại.

Thùng nhựa trên Saturn sử dụng bốn bu lông nhô ra từ phía dưới để định vị các trụ, giúp khóa thùng vào vị trí một quá trình nhanh chóng và có thể lặp lại. Một trong những vấn đề lớn nhất mà tôi gặp phải khi làm sạch các thùng nhựa là chúng thường nằm với lớp màng FEP mỏng manh đè lên bề mặt chúng được đặt xuống, vì vậy ngay cả một vết sưng nhỏ trên bàn cũng có thể làm móp hoặc biến dạng chúng. Bốn trụ ở các góc của thùng chứa của Saturn giữ cho màng FEP hơi cao trong quá trình làm sạch, đây là một tính năng nhỏ nhưng là một thay đổi đáng hoan nghênh trong thiết kế.

Thùng nhựa cũng có dòng điền tối đa được in ngay trên nó giúp loại bỏ căng thẳng do nhựa có khả năng làm đầy và tràn. Tính năng này, cùng với vòi được đúc vào thùng, cho thấy Elegoo đã suy nghĩ kỹ về nhu cầu của những người dùng thường xuyên thay đổi thùng hoặc xả nước và thay thế nhựa thông.

Không giống như hầu hết các máy in 3D MSLA bằng nhựa sử dụng một đường ray tuyến tính duy nhất cho trục Z, Saturn sử dụng một trục vít có ren và một cặp đường ray tuyến tính để tăng độ ổn định. Saturn có khối lượng xây dựng lớn hơn hầu hết các máy in 3D MSLA, có nghĩa là có nhiều trọng lượng hơn bị treo khỏi nền tảng xây dựng hẫng. Giữa hai đường ray này và giá đỡ được gia công vững chắc cho nền tảng xây dựng, Saturn có thể in mà không làm cong khung nền tảng xây dựng trong quá trình di chuyển của thang máy và tôi rất ấn tượng với độ cứng của hệ thống.

The Saturn uses a USB stick for transferring files to the printer, as well as an Ethernet connection for adding the machine to a network. If you’re interested in using the Saturn as part of a high volume print farm, the ability to network the machine means you can transfer files without the need for an external drive. The two fans on the back of the unit provide airflow for the controller board and UV LED light source, but don’t provide air filtration like the fan in the Elegoo Mars 2 Pro. Despite the lack of air filtration, the Saturn didn’t seem to emit an odor any worse than the Mars 2 Pro during printing, but if you’re concerned about air quality you’ll want to take this into account.

Leveling the Build Platform on Elegoo Saturn

When printing on an MSLA resin 3D printer, you want the build platform to be perfectly level with the FEP film so the resin cures evenly across each layer. This leveling process can be a challenge for beginners and it can be frustrating to have failed prints due to poor bed leveling. Elegoo has addressed this problem by using a unique leveling process that is fast, simple, and easy to complete. The Elegoo Saturn uses a build platform held rigid by two bolts and includes simple step-by-step instructions for the leveling process.

After loosening the two bolts on the build platform and placing the included piece of leveling paper over the masking LCD, I dropped the Z axis to the home position and watched as the build platform self-leveled and sat perfectly flush. Once the axis had come to a rest, I simply tightened the two screws in the order indicated and lifted the build platform up. Compared to the leveling process on a printer like the Longer Orange 10 that uses four screws that need to be tightened in a star pattern and tend to shift during tightening, the Saturn feels almost effortless to set up.

Printing Safety with Elegoo Saturn

The Elegoo Saturn uses 405nm UV resin, a material that you need to handle safely when in an uncured state to avoid injury. The resin can be harmful when making contact with skin, so make sure to wear gloves when pouring, cleaning up, or handling uncured resin. I also make sure I’m wearing gloves when removing the build platform after a print, as the resin tends to pool on top of the platform and can drip off while the platform is being removed.

Make sure you use the Saturn in a well-ventilated room to minimize the danger from inhaling fumes. Any spills or uncured resin stuck to a surface should be cleaned using 99% Isopropyl Alcohol and the container for the resin should be kept closed and secured when not actively pouring material.

The build platform on the Saturn is designed with a trapezoidal shape that allows uncured resin to dr ip off and prevents it from pooling on the top of platform during printing. Despite this shape, I noticed that resin had a tendency to collect at the very edge of the platform, and I couldn’t help but wonder if a more aggressive angle or a chamfered edge would help to allow more resin to drip back into the vat during printing. This is a relatively minor point, as the majority of resin will drip downwards during printing and cleaning the edge of the build platform doesn’t require much effort.

Printing the Included Test Prints on the Elegoo Saturn

Most 3D printers include a prepared test print as an opportunity for the manufacturer to demonstrate the strengths of their machine. Despite this relatively simple premise, I’ve found that test prints can be a source of frustration for first time users as they have a tendency to have issues that most first-time users won’t be expecting.

Unfortunately, the Elegoo Saturn falls short in this category and my experience with the included test print was really the only major disappointment I had while writing this review. The Saturn includes a test print on the included USB drive called “_Rook_SATURN.ctb” that consists of two chess pieces with fine details on the interior and exterior of the model. This test print completes in a very reasonable 3 hours and 49 minutes, and I was impressed with the fine detail on the models once the print had completed. Unfortunately, this is where things took a bit of a turn.

The build platform on the Saturn has a sandblasted textured finish which helps cured resin adhere during printing and prevents parts from delaminating. When removing a part, a thin raft can be bent (as seen in the picture above), which allows the part to easily detach from the build platform without too much trouble. This is a delicate balance; too thin and the part won’t adhere to the plate, too thick and the part can’t be easily removed. I had no trouble with any of the parts I sliced in Chitubox, but as you’ll see below, the included test print was significantly more difficult to remove.

Once printed, the detail on the rooks was impressive, but the solid base of the model printed directly on to the build plate didn’t present an intuitive method of removal. After using the included metal scraper and attempting to gently pry the parts off, I wondered if this was a common problem or if the Elegoo Water Washable Ceramic Grey resin I was using simply wasn’t compatible with the settings provided. A quick Google search for “Elegoo Saturn Test Part Stuck To Plate” shows that this is not an uncommon problem, with some users resorting to using a rubber mallet to remove the parts from the build plate.

I was eventually able to remove the prints from the bed, but it required significantly more effort than I was comfortable with and resulted in both parts being chipped along the bottom layer. This could have been avoided with a demo model that was suspended from a support structure or simply used a sacrificial raft during printing to prevent such a wide and thick model being printed directly on the build plate. It’s worth noting this was the only time I experienced this issue during this review. The rest of the parts I prepared using Chitubox for printing were easily removed and didn’t require excessive force to remove from the plate.

Preparing Files for Printing with Chitubox

The Elegoo Saturn uses Chitubox for slicing, preparing, and exporting files for 3D printing. Chitubox is a feature-rich program which reduces the need for secondary programs to generate supports, hollow models, or make other changes that would typically require a longer workflow. The general process for preparing a 3D model for resin 3D printing goes like this:

1. Import 3D model
2. Angle model for printing (avoiding wide per-layer cross-sections)
3. Hollow model
4. 4Add drain holes
5. Generate support material 
6. Slicer
7. Delete islands 
8. Export printable file

Chitubox makes this easy, as each step can be accomplished within the software without the need to export the file to various third-party softwares. Chitubox also includes a built-in profile for the Elegoo Saturn which gives good quality results without any tweaking or modifications. I’ve been a fan of Chitubox since I started using it, and the ease-of-use and native support for the Saturn makes it a logical choice.

The profile for the Saturn that is included with Chitubox is what I would consider a good starting point for base settings. The Z resolution of.05mm is high enough to give a good quality print, but not so high as to cause an excessively long print time. The per-layer cure time of 2.5 seconds makes the Saturn a speedy printer when compared to machines with 9 second per-layer cure times like the Creality LD-002R.

For a first test, I used the Ancient Statue model from Loot Studios and prepared it using the default settings in Chitubox without making any modifications. For resin, I used the Elegoo Water Washable Ceramic Grey, which has worked very well for me in the past on the Elegoo Mars 2 Pro. This model used about 28 grams of resin and printed out in just under 4 hours, which seems in line with what I would expect from a Mono LCD 3D printer.

The Water Washable Ceramic Grey resin looked great after printing, and the support structure removal process is simplified by not requiring any isopropyl alcohol or other chemicals to remove the excess resin. A quick soak in a small tub of hot water dissolved the excess resin from the surface of the printer and also softened the support structure. After removing the support structure, I cured the model for a total of two minutes in 30 second increments to prevent it from warping.

It’s worth taking a moment to reflect on the printing process so far before we really look at this model. The steps to create this model are all simple and straight-forward, and a beginner could easily follow along to calibrate the bed, fill the resin vat, and process the file for printing. The resulting print looks sharp and detailed, and even small details like the cracks in the stone of the statue resolve and don’t require any touch-up work. Putting aside the large format nature of the Elegoo Saturn, it’s easy to understand why this machine is in such demand; it’s easy to use, gives good quality results, and the native software doesn’t require tinkering or tweaking.

Print Size Comparison of the Elegoo Mars 2 Pro vs. Elegoo Saturn

The Elegoo Saturn shares many design similarities with the Elegoo Mars 2 Pro, so it makes sense to compare the two 3D printers directly. The Saturn uses a higher resolution masking LCD, but the increased size of the LCD means the XY resolution (pixel size) is.05mm on both machines. This means a part printed on the Mars 2 Pro and Saturn, using the same settings, will result in two parts that should be indistinguishable from one another.

With a retail price of $500, the Saturn offers nearly 3 times the total build volume (280 cubic inches vs. 100 cubic inches) of the Mars 2 Pro, which retails for $330. If you’re interested in throughput and high-volume printing ability, the Saturn is able to produce a large batch of parts at the same resolution as Mars 2 Pro. However, if you’re looking for a higher resolution finished part and aren’t interested in a large build size, a 4K LCD printer like the Phrozen Sonic Mini 4K would be a better choice.

Printing a Large Assembly on the Elegoo Saturn

The large build volume and fast per-layer print time of the Elegoo Saturn make it ideal for printing models that would ordinarily be too large or time-consuming to print on a smaller MSLA resin printer like the Longer Orange 10. To test out the ability of the Saturn to print large models in multiple pieces simultaneously, I loaded up the Olympus Rider model from Loot Studios. This model of a winged Pegasus complete with rider armed with a spear prints in six individual pieces and a single large base.

Unfortunately, the auto-placement feature in Chitubox wasn’t able to automatically place all of these parts on the build platform in order to print them in a single piece. After manually rotating the parts myself, I was able to get everything except the base of the model onto a single tray. This would be an ambitious print under the best of circumstances, as it covered a large portion of the surface area of the build platform and would create a large amount of suction when moving the platform up and down. After slicing, Chitubox generated an estimated build time of 7 hours and 10 minutes as well as a material usage of 128 ml. I wasn’t sure if the Saturn could handle a print this ambitious, but I was eager to see if this hard-to-find machine could live up to its reputation.

The Saturn printed every single part on the build platform without any defects, and I was genuinely surprised and impressed with how easily the Saturn could handle a large and complex build like this. The Elegoo Water Washable resin created a support structure that was easily removed and left minimal pockmarks on the finished model.

After a rinse and cure in the Elegoo Mercury Plus Cure/Wash station, I laid out the parts and assembled the model using DAP RapidFuse CA glue, a favorite of mine for making strong bonds on resin prints like this one. The final result is a finely-detailed print that measures nine inches wide and six and a half inches tall, and it is one of the largest resin MSLA prints I’ve ever made. The 3D model to 3D print process was seamless and easy, and this model earned the Saturn a permanent place on my personal list of all-time favorite 3D printers.

Printing Multiple Miniatures Simultaneously on the Elegoo Saturn

One of the key abilities of a large build volume resin MSLA 3D printer like the Elegoo Saturn is the ability to print multiple parts simultaneously. The Saturn is a popular printer for users interested in tabletop gaming, and the large build volume is ideal for printing out multiple miniatures in a single print. Because the print speed is dictated by the number of layers and not the number of miniatures, printing a single miniature or a full build platform full of them takes the same amount of time.

As a test of the printer’s performance, I filled the build platform with some of the enemies from the Loot Studios Ghostly Odyssey release which features a mix of detailed creatures and human 32mm miniatures.

After importing the models into Chitubox, I manually laid them out to prevent the support structure rafts from touching to reduce the overall total surface area of the bottom cross-section. Chitubox handled the slicing of this large tray without breaking a sweat, and I was easily able to fit a mix of models and bases for a total of 12 parts printing simultaneously. Chitubox gave an estimate of 3 hours and 51 minutes, which is an attractive print speed for such a large yield of parts.

The models have a support structure already generated, so after slicing all I had to do was detect and remove the islands (small, unconnected pixels that can cause floating bits of resin) and scroll through the layer view to check for any missing geometry. This is a quick and largely-automated process made possible by the Chitubox app, which I am grateful that Elegoo has internally decided to endorse as opposed to attempting to make their own slicer app which may lack some of this functionality.

As I expected, the print was completed without incident. Because of the large number of support structures, the first hour or so of the print is just hundreds of tiny cylinders (as seen in the Chitubox preview above). Every time the build platform lifted, it sounded like a Velcro strap being removed as each of the tiny support structures delaminated from the FEP sheet with a tiny pop sound. I couldn’t decide whether the sound was reassuring or not, but in the end, I’m grateful for each pop because it meant the printer was working correctly.

The support structures were easy to remove after a quick soak in hot water, and the models all felt like they had been cured enough to be solid. In particular, the swords and wings on the smaller models were easy to free from the support structure, and I wasn’t concerned with them breaking off or shattering during the cleaning.

Even on these 32mm miniatures, the details were crisp and features like the individual feathers on the harpy model resolved well and could be easily distinguished. If you’ve used a printer like the Anycubic Photon Mono or the Elegoo Mars Pro, this level of resolution (.05mm) is directly comparable with what you’re used to, so the big benefit of the Saturn is being able to increase your output without sacrificing quality.  

Bottom Line

The Elegoo Saturn is about as hard to find as a PlayStation 5 right now, and it tends to sell out immediately after each restock at Amazon and the Elegoo official store. After using it for this review, it’s clear to me why the printer is in such high demand: it’s fast, relatively inexpensive, and offers a build volume ideal for printing multiple parts simultaneously. The Saturn regularly sells for over $700 on second-hand sites like eBay, so finding one may prove to be a challenge for the foreseeable future.

I asked Elegoo to comment on the relative scarcity of the Saturn, and they indicated a combination of high demand and rigorous quality control were to blame for the shortages. 

These two printers are too hot sale, so they always sold out. In fact, we have arranged more products for Amazon every week, but it sold out when available. In addition, our company will test the machine before selling, so it costs some time.

The high-yield nature of the Saturn makes it ideal for printing multiple miniatures simultaneously, so there’s no doubt this printer will be a hit among hobbyists who are interested in printing custom miniatures. The large build volume also offers the ability to print large parts in a single print, something that smaller machines like the Creality LD-002R aren’t able to accomplish.

The overall trouble-free printing experience of the Saturn makes it appealing to beginners as well as more advanced users, but the $500 retail price (if you can even find it for that) might be a little high for a first printer. If you’re interested in a lower cost alternative, the Elegoo Mars Pro or the Anycubic Photon Mono both offer a similar printing experience at a lower price point.