TheAnycubic Photon M3 Premiumoffers an improved print resolution with two air purifiers to combat those pesky toxic resin odors.
Still, there’s much more to consider with a 3D printer beyond the headline resolution.
As the premium entry in the Photon series, does the M3 Premium deliver elsewhere?
But this printer stands apart with its larger size.
At the first removal from its shipping box, you’ll notice there’s some heft to it.
This resin 3D printer weighs 19kg (just shy of 41 pounds).
Other familiar design elements also play into how the M3 Premium operates.
The laser-engraved checkered build-plate returns to provide improved adhesion and eliminate the need for any sanding.
This comes alongside dual Anycubic AirPure units that can be installed directly into the printer.
For USB connectivity, Anycubic has decided to place it on the right side.
The M3 Premium feature a 10.1" 8K monochrome LCD screen with 28.5m (microns) accuracy.
As a trade-off, the potential print speed slightly suffers at around 95mm per hour.
a a Beyond these, the M3 Premium uses Anycubics LighTurbo 2.0 light source.
This provides better light uniformity of over 90% to reduce the chance of light straying.
So for those looking for sharper-looking prints, the improved light source helps here.
A small screen protector kit is also included to prevent accidental resin spills on the screen.
However, getting a perfect bubble-free finish can prove challenging.
Prior to installation, remove each purifier’s top, which protects the carbon filter.
Once powered on, youll see a distinctive LED light behind the anti-UV cover.
In terms of operation, Anycubic notes that it can achieve around 80% odor removal within 10 minutes.
You’ll still want to routinely change the activated carbon filters within Anycubic’s recommended 3-6 month window.
Both purifiers also run nearly inaudibly, so there’s no additional noise during the printing process.
A recent firmware update solved my only real complaint with the system.
The newer nFEP is more durable resulting in an extended lifespan compared to other printers.
The 1.35-liter resin vat of the M3 Premium also boasts a 60% improved capacity.
Unfortunately, at the time of testing with the appropriate firmware update, connectivity issues still occurred.
As a result, I couldn’t test the wireless printing feature.
For those that do multiple prints back-to-back, this doesn’t change your operating process much.
However, if you’re more of an occasional printer, the additional focus on cleaning may prove inconvenient.
When preparing files to print, the M3 Premium uses Photon Workshop.
This provided more flexibility when working with delicate model pieces, especially during the support removal.
As a secondary metric, I reprinted familiar models to look for discernable quality differences.
In both of these cases, there were small upgrades discernable among the overall increased sharpness of the models.
Should You Buy the Anycubic Photon M3 Premium?
But the resolution upgrade of the M3 Premium might not be worth it for all.
The printing process is reliable, albeit slower, while printing at more conservative parameters.
There are very few criticisms that I can offer, and it does what it sets out to.
