The Anycubic Photon Zero 3D printer is the perfect resin entry point
Source: Windows Central/James Bricknell
Anycubic has always done a good job making affordable 3D printers that work well. The original Photon was my first resin printer and still, to this day, is in use in my workshop. The company always seems to look at how it can make the barrier to entry as small as possible.
With the launch of its newest printer, the Photon Zero, and the companion wash/cure station, Anycubic has lowered the barrier to resin printer entry so low it might as well not be there. Let’s take a look at the Zero and see what the fuss is about.
The cheapest way to start
Anycubic Photon Zero
Bottom line: The Anycubic Photon Zero, coupled with the wash/cure station, is an almost perfect team. Would I like the print bed to be a little bigger? Sure, but it’s not a deal-breaker.
Pros
- Insanely cheap
- Easy to set up
- Excellent quality for the price
- Wash/cure station is a cheap add-on
Cons
- Tiny build area
- Resolution on prints is low
- Build plate doesn’t fit in the wash/cure
What you’ll love about Anycubic Photon Zero
Source: Windows Central/James Bricknell
With the Anycubic wash/cure station, all of your post-processing stress is eliminated.
While the resolution on the Zero is quite low — 480×854 pixels instead of the normal 1440×2560 pixels because the print bed is relatively small and has 16 times antialiasing — the prints still look good. There are some artifacts on some of the prints, the round head of Wekster’s mini Mandalorian, for example, shows pixelation, but it isn’t anything a little light sanding can’t fix. That’s the great thing about resin; even on its worst day it’s easier to clean up than PLA.
Weirdly the prints of Bruni and Aerith from Kijai Design don’t show any of that same artifacts while the Master Chief and Bane from Fotis Mint show plenty of on their curves. Having 16 times antialiasing might help a little, and orientating the print differently might help too, but as I say, it isn’t a huge deal and nothing that can’t be fixed.
This is always going to be the trade-off for a low price, but try finding an FDM printer that can print this kind of quality for less than $200. You won’t be able to.
What you’ll dislike about Anycubic Photon Zero
Source: Windows Central/James Bricknell
The other issue I have with the Zero is how it interacts with the wash/cure station. Even though they are being released at the same time and can also be bundled together, the Zero’s build plate does not attach to the wash/cure station clamp. Instead, you have to scrape the model off of the plate and into the provided basket. This isn’t a big deal but does seem strange when the older Photon and Photon S plates fit perfectly.
The Anycubic Wash/Cure station is a must
Source: Windows Central/James Bricknell
With the Anycubic wash/cure station, all of your post-processing stress is eliminated. You can get fantastic prints, cured to perfection every time.
Source: Windows Central/James Bricknell
I adore the wash/cure station and cannot reccomend it enough. If you make any amount of resin prints, the station will save you massive amounts of time and work. The only thing I wish it had was a mirrored bottom on the turntable to cure the bottom of the print as it spins around, but that is a minor complaint and one I’m going to fix in the next week. For everything else, the cure/wash station is the perfect balance between usability and price. I suggest everyone who resin prints buy one right now.
Should you buy Anycubic Photon Zero 3D printer?
Source: Windows Central/James Bricknell
Another great target audience for this printer would be people who paint board game models. The build plate is big enough to print four or five models that you could paint up as part of your D&D game, or for a train set. The size of the plate may be a hindrance in some instances, but there are plenty of reasons to buy it regardless.
Zero reasons not to buy
Anycubic Photon Zero
Your first printer as arrived
I am amazed that Anycubic has managed to produce a printer this cheap that works so well. It’s a great start to your 3D journey.
Post proccessing perfection
Anycubic wash/cure station
The cure for your printing blues
The Anycubic washing station has become my most used machine in my workshop. You should buy one too; it won’t let you down.
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