I need advice n 3D printers, Elegoo Mars 3, Saturn, Saturn S?

[Oldmopars]

I am going to buy a 3D printer this week. Trust me, this is a deep rabbit hole. As I look at these printers and listen to the people on here that have them, it seems size does matter. My first thought was to get the Mars 3 but it has a Printing Size 143×89×175mm/5.62×3.5×6.8in.

However the Elegoo Saturn has a print size of 192x120x200mm / 7.55x4.72x7.87 inches. So, it is much larger and can print a 1/24 scale average sized body flat, would still need to angle for longer bodies, but I think I could do all but really long ones. For example, my 65 Lincoln Continental is 215mm, tilted up it would completely print. Most bodies I checked were under 200mm except full size 1960's cars and they were all under 220mm.

The Mars 3 is cheaper, but smaller. The Saturn is more money, but can print bigger things. If I go with the Mars 3 I can add the washing/curing machine. If I go with the Saturn I will need to just use a plastic tub and build a light box with UV lights (I also get over 300 days of sun where I live, desert). My total budget is $650. 

Then there is the Saturn S with 196x122x210mm / 7.71x4.80x8.26, I could print almost anything I ever wanted on that. However its another $40. 

Mars 3 $350, Saturn $480, Saturn S $520. 

If I go with the Saturn S I can print more parts at one time. I do plan to fill the print area and just put the extra parts in "Stock". 

At this point I am kind of leaning towards the Saturn S. It is the most money, but I would hate to buy the smaller one and then regret not having the space when I want to print something and have to cut it up and print it in 2 parts. 

Any advise you have would be very helpful. 

 

[Oldmopars]

As a follow up to the first question, regular or water clean up resin? Water clean up is $40, regular is $30. However if I use water clean up I would just clean it in the sink or outside garden hose. Regular needs IPA for clean up, and lots of it. 

BIG Question, the smell, the water clean up says low odor, how bad is the regular vs. the water clean up?

Is the water clean up resin suitable for our use? 

Edited March 6, 2022 by Oldmopars

[wayne00]

I don’t know anything about 3D printing!!!
I will just speak of tools in general.

My dad always told me to buy the best I could afford.

don’t try to save money on the front end because you will regret it on the back end.

   Rog?

 

 

 

[peteski]

While I don't own one of those printers., I follow posts (mostly lurk) in the 3D printing section of another forum I participate in.

Here is a thread with some recommendations: https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=53284.0

That 3D printing section of the forum has lots of very useful info. I recommend browsing through the topics.

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?board=45.0

[stinkybritches]

I would say to go with the bigger printer. I bought a Creality Halot One for my first printer. It has a 6 inch screen. I like it but I can't get very much on the build plate. It's just slightly smaller than the Mars 3. Four months after buying the Halot One I ended up buying a Qidi i-Box Mono with an 8.9 inch screen because I needed more print volume. While it's only 2.9 inches longer diagonally, it offers more than twice the print area. A wash and cure station is convenient, but not a necessity. 

As far as resin goes, the water washable is good but brittle. It's also a little harder to clean up before curing. I now only use the non water washable, mostly Siraya Tech Fast, and clean with denatured alcohol. Different resins have different strengths of odor. Also, some printers do a better job of filtering the fumes than others. My Qidi does a better job than my Halot One.

I said all that just to say I would recommend buying the biggest one that fits your budget. Besides, you will probably end up buying the bigger one anyway if you buy the smaller one first. 

[Oldcarfan27]

If you're leaning toward bigger - I would say go for the Saturn S. It's only $40 more than the lesser one and you'll never have to worry about it being too small.

Later on, you won't even think about the $40 and you'll be covered for whatever you make!

[Rick L]

It’s like a boat. You buy one and the next year you want a bigger one.?

[my66s55]

Non of the above. If you want the best printer available at this size, it's this one. https://www.amazon.com/Phrozen-Sonic-Mighty-BUNDLE-Photopolymer/dp/B09824Y63L. All the others are cheap knock offs that cut features that effect the final result. Phrozen leads the market in this price range of 3d printers. The others are copy cats that cut features so they can lower the price while increasing their profit.

[Oldmopars]

55 minutes ago, my66s55 said:

Non of the above. If you want the best printer available at this size, it's this one. https://www.amazon.com/Phrozen-Sonic-Mighty-BUNDLE-Photopolymer/dp/B09824Y63L. All the others are cheap knock offs that cut features that effect the final result. Phrozen leads the market in this price range of 3d printers. The others are copy cats that cut features so they can lower the price while increasing their profit.

Ok, more details please. That is really pushing my budget and I would need more info on what it is going to give me that the others will not. 
I’m not saying I won’t go that route, but I need to know why first. I am new to this. 

[Oldmopars]

After several YouTube videos and review pages, I think I will stick with the Saturn S. The Phrozen has a plastic resin tray, with 2 studs. Hard to get off. The Saturn it's aluminum and easier to remove. It also has feet that stick down for alignment and to protect the tray. 

Phrozen is  a 4 screw system,  Saturn is a ball style. I prefer the ball. 

There were a few other advantages. 

 

 

[MeatMan]

On 3/5/2022 at 8:46 PM, Oldmopars said:

As a follow up to the first question, regular or water clean up resin? Water clean up is $40, regular is $30. However if I use water clean up I would just clean it in the sink or outside garden hose. Regular needs IPA for clean up, and lots of it. 

BIG Question, the smell, the water clean up says low odor, how bad is the regular vs. the water clean up?

Is the water clean up resin suitable for our use? 

Please understand that with water washable resin you should not wash it directly into the drain, as it is toxic to the environment.

Water used for washing resin parts should be cured under sunlight or a UV light until the resin in it solidifies, then you may pour it out.

I drain mine into a juice bottle and set it outside when its above freezing, or use my UV light for when its freezing outside.

I hope everyone that uses water washable resin is doing this!

[iamsuperdan]

Personally, I would look for the largest print area I could get. 

I've been using a Mars 2 Pro for a few months now, and I love it. But a bigger print size would be great.

As it is, to print bodies, I can do a truck body on an angle, but car bodies have to be almost vertical, and even then, the longer bodies won't fit.

 

Print quality on the Mars 2 Pro has been excellent. Definitely enough detail for my needs.

 

 

I've been using water washable resin, as I didn't want to have to keep buying IPA, and then have to dispose of IPA.

 

[kruleworld]

If you're using it for 1/25 scale modeling, get a resin printer (SLA) instead of extruded plastic (FDM) for better detail. I've gone from a Flashforge FDM to a Creality LD-002R

See picture comparison left is FDM, right is SLA.

 

That said, If you want to print whole bodies in 1/25, you'll need a large format FDM with a big enough bed to print a body.

 

Edited March 8, 2022 by kruleworld

[Charlie Lowell]

I have an Elegoo Mars2 Mono that works for me, although I haven't tried printing a body yet. I have printed some nice 1/25 scale parts I designed in Fusion 360 though. I've only used water washable so that I don't have to deal with storing and disposing of used IPA. I've had great results, even though I have nothing to compare it too.

 

[Oldmopars]

Thank you both for the input. I’m pulling the trigger today on an Elegoo Saturn S. With it I should be able to print almost any 1/25 scale car or truck and any parts I want. 
Im going to start with standard resin, as it is the cheapest. Then I will play with others once I know I can make the standard stuff work and the printer is dialed in.