Elegoo Mars Resin Tank Options

Goo-Goo for Vats

Elegoo Mars' resin tanks play a big role in how well your prints turn out
Elegoo Mars' resin tanks play a big role in how well your prints turn out (Source: James Bricknell via Windows Central)

The Elegoo Mars rose to fame as a budget LCD 3D printer that churns out high-quality prints. It consistently gets good reviews from makers who use resin printers as an alternative to FDM 3D printing. Photocuring 3D printers, like the Elegoo Mars, use UV light to harden specific areas of liquid resin in the 3D design. In the case of the Mars, the light is projected through a mask of LCD pixels.

As with any LCD, DLP, or SLA printer, the Elegoo Mars’ resin tanks play a crucial role in the 3D printing process. The tanks are what hold the material that your 3D print will be constructed from. Since your raw material is liquid and not solid filament, resin tanks are crucial to keeping the printing material in top condition.

Elegoo offers two types of tanks: metal and plastic. Your choice of resin tank dictates the quality of your Elegoo prints, so it’s important to know the difference between their plastic and metal offerings. As you might imagine, the plastic tanks are a bit cheaper, at about $40 for a pack of two, while metal tanks will set you back about $50 for a pack of two.

In this article, we’ll be going into detail for both types so that you can make an informed decision. But first, we’ll give you a few reasons why you might want a few extra tanks on hand when you’re printing.

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Elegoo Mars Resin Tank Options

Benefits of Extra Tanks

Having an extra resin tank is a good way to easily switch between resin colors
Having an extra resin tank is a good way to easily switch between resin colors (Source: 3D Bazaar)

There are several reasons it’s handy to have an extra resin tank or two. Here’s how it helps keep your prints pristine and your process effective:

  • Quality of prints: Keeping different types and colors of resin completely separate from each other is critical. Uncontaminated resins mean prints with a lower chance of flaws, resulting in a homogeneous texture. This decreases the likelihood of the print developing any weak spots.
  • Print speed: Having an extra vat on hand lets you swap it into your Elegoo when the first one gets dirty. You’ll be ready to print another batch immediately without having to factor in cleaning times between switching resins.
  • Reduction of waste: Elegoo’s extra resin vats come with lids that convert them into excellent storage containers. So when you’re done with a print that has residual resin, you can simply cover it and store it for later. There’s no need to throw unused resin away (which you shouldn’t do unless it’s cured) or pour it into another container. You also don’t need to clean the vat immediately to make sure you still have a vat to print with.

Now that we know why you’d want to buy additional resin vats, let’s take a closer look at your two options, starting with plastic.

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Elegoo Mars Resin Tank Options

Plastic

The plastic resin tanks come with pre-installed FEP film
The plastic resin tanks come with pre-installed FEP film (Source: Elegoo via Twitter)

One type of resin tank that Elegoo Mars offers is plastic. These tanks are good to use if you tend to 3D print objects that have large bases. The plastic tanks specifically come with a couple of features that make it easier to get their bottom inner surfaces completely clean, which is more difficult with metal tanks.

Features

  • Replaceable bottoms: You can replace the bottom panel of Elegoo’s plastic resin vats if they get too difficult to clean well. The plastic ones can get a little tricky to clean because the material’s relatively porous, so you’ll more than likely need to replace the bottom panels before you need to replace the whole vat.
  • Pre-installed FEP film: FEP film is a thin covering that makes the vat less prone to scratches, especially when going through a rigorous cleaning process. It is easier (and cheaper) to replace than the whole vat.
  • Compatible with other photocuring 3D printers: Elegoo’s plastic replacement vats can also fit Anycubic Photon, Photon S, and Epax X1 3D printers, which is handy if you need to work with any of them.
Elegoo Mars Plastic Resin Tanks (Pack of 2)
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Elegoo Mars FEP Release Film
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Elegoo Mars Resin Tank Options

Metal

You can buy metal replacement resin tanks just like your Elegoo Mars' original one
You can buy metal replacement resin tanks just like your Elegoo Mars' original one (Source: 3DJake)

Elegoo Mars’ metal resin tanks generally have a longer life than the plastic ones but need slightly more care. They are great for UV photocuring 3D printing that uses a lot of different colors because their smooth surfaces make it easy to spot-clean any leftover resin.

Features

  • Identical to original vat: If the vat that came with your original Elegoo Mars has been damaged, or you want an extra of the original tank, the metal replacement vats are the same as what comes with the printer.
  • Easier cleanup: Compared to the plastic ones, the metal vats are more straightforward to clean because they aren’t as porous. There’s less of a chance for the accumulation of tiny deposits of resin, which are difficult to spot, much less scrub away.
  • More prone to scratches: Although they’re easier to clean, the metal Elegoo vats are a bit more delicate when it comes to scrapers and pointy objects. Sharp-edged tools can scratch up the metal surfaces, so it’s recommended to thoroughly soak them before cleaning.
  • Compatible with other resin printers: Like the plastic tanks, Elegoo’s metal vats are compatible with Anycubic Photon, Photon S, and Epax X1 printers.
Elegoo Mars Metal Resin Tanks (Pack of 2)
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Elegoo Mars Resin Tank Options

The Bottom Line

You'll be happy to have a few extra tanks in your printing setup
You'll be happy to have a few extra tanks in your printing setup (Source: Stephan via Drucktipps3D)

Both the plastic and metal resin tank options give you an easy way to upgrade your Elegoo Mars 3D printer. Whether you need a way to keep your resins from mixing or to give your original vat a chance to get clean, you’ll be glad to have the extra help. 

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Lead image source: KnowTechie

License: The text of "Elegoo Mars Resin Tank: Which Vat to Buy?" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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