It seems like just last month that Elegoo entered the DLP race with its new Mars 4 machine – mostly because it was. Now, the manufacturer is bringing that brand new product line back over to MSLA with the mid-sized Mars 4 Max. Which, of course, is rather confusing.
More than just muddy the waters regarding what curing technology Mars 4 3D printers use, the new naming system also encroaches on the mid-sized volume of the OEM’s Saturn series, changing what was a surprisingly clear convention into murky waters.
Despite the Saturn-esque 195 x 84 x 150 mm build volume and MSLA technology, the Mars 4 Max is aesthetically styled like the smaller DLP Mars 4 — with white markings on its red translucent cover and a textured black base. That’s about where the similarities end, though.
The Mars 4 Max uses a 9.1-inch monochrome LCD display with a 6K resolution (that’s 5760 x 3600 pixels) to cure with a COB+ refractive light source, and uses an anti-aliasing algorithm to create crisp models. Why buy a 6K 3D printer when there are so many 8K 3D printers of a similar screen size on the market — say the $500 Saturn 2 and its 10-inch screen — that surely create better detail? One reason could be that you’re not likely able to tell the difference anyways. Honestly, a drop down in resolution feels like somewhat of a return to sanity in this build volume after a blitz of new high-resolution products on the market with arguably diminishing returns. Even if the naming convention is firmly a departure. Regardless, Elegoo says the technology is capable of producing models with a 34-micron XY accuracy (which is in the high end of detail), has a curing time of 1.5-to-3 seconds per layer, and a printing speed of up to 70 mm per hour.
A return to MSLA means a return to cooling fans for the Mars 4 Max, of which it has two working to tame that light source’s heat. Elegoo has thrown in a carbon filter air purifier, too. The Voxeldance Tango slicer is advertised with the Mars 4 Max, but it’s not clear whether the company is offering a permanent license for the software, an extended trial, or just suggesting you use it with the 3D printer. You’re not locked into it, though, since Elegoo notes that it has made a new open-source sliced file format called “GOO”, for some reason, which is compatible with third-party slicers like ChiTuBox and Lychee.
The Elegoo Mars 4 Max is available to pre-order now for $300 and will ship June 5th, Elegoo says. To get more details, or order one for yourself, visit the Mars 4 Max product page.
You’ve read that; now read these:
License: The text of "Elegoo Launches Mars 4 Max, Which is Not a DLP 3D Printer" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.