Whether you want to learn about SLA resin 3D printers or are considering purchasing a Sonic Mega 8K S, but want comprehensive information and reviews from others? Then please read on!
This article features the ultimate review of the Sonic Mega 8K S by popular YouTubers, summarizing what they love about this printer, its advantages, disadvantages, and everything in between! But most importantly, should you buy this printer?
Grey Scalp Miniatures and the Sonic Mega 8K S Problem
When Shaun from Grey Scalp Miniatures received his Sonic Mega 8K S, he was very excited! Although the Sonic Mega 8K S is a large machine, it easily fit into his tent, and the lift-up lid didn't take up as much space as he initially expected.
However, his excitement was inadvertently dampened when he encountered a problem he had never experienced before: failed prints due to running out of resin. He had never thought this would be an issue, which led him to appreciate the true benefits of the Pump & Fill system. Having experienced printing with such a large-volume production resin 3D printer, he is convinced that the Pump & Fill add-on is undoubtedly a valuable asset.
Pros and Cons
According to his tests, he successfully printed a large insect model with slightly more than 2 build plates worth of material, whereas it would have required 10 or 11 build plates on a Sonic Mighty 8K printer. He fully utilized the printer's advantages, printing an entire miniature army in less than 3 hours without even modifying any settings! Shaun believes that once he becomes more familiar with all the settings of this large printer, he can easily achieve faster print speeds and more detailed print results.
After a fair amount of testing, certain features definitely caught Shaun's attention more than others. One of them is the built-in metal hook on the printer. For a build plate of this size, he found the hook to be very beneficial for saving all the excess resin after printing. Another is the build plate, which, in his opinion, "feels like magic." When printing, it adheres firmly to the model, but as soon as he touches it with a scraper, the model detaches instantly.
He believes that one of the drawbacks is that the printer does not support network connectivity and WiFi. Spoiled by the Sonic Mighty 8K, the lack of connectivity and internal storage made him feel bad. Although he mentioned it, there is certainly a simple solution, he just needs to get used to the current situation. Finally, he would prefer the printer to be equipped with a heater.
Is it the right printer for you?
Shuan admits that this isn't a machine for everyone. If you're selling prints and have a large number of orders with tight deadlines, then it's undoubtedly the perfect 3D printer. After all, managing one printer is easier than managing multiple printers with various different build plate sizes simultaneously.
This printer is suitable for printing almost anything, from terrain and props to miniature armies. This is extremely useful for his production, as quickly printing many items is important, and most importantly, if you have a printing business, this will be a game changer.
Battle Brother Sam 1000 Kreigsmen Challenge
To continuously challenge himself, Sam this time attempted to complete 1000 3D printed Kreigsmen models. For this, he will rely on the capabilities of the new Sonic Mega 8K S printer to see how long it takes him to complete the challenge!
How many can fit on the build plate?
Before Sam started using his Sonic Mega 8K S, he tested his other printers to see how many Kreigsmen models could fit on the build plates of various printers. His Sonic Mini 8K S could accommodate 31 models and finished printing in 6.5 hours, while the Sonic Mighty 8K could accommodate 78 models. In his calculations, printing 1000 Kreigsmen with the Sonic Mini 8K S would mean 12,500 minutes or 8 days of non-printing time. Stop printing.
Meanwhile, his Sonic Mega 8K S can easily fit 164 Kreigsmen models on one build plate, 5 times more than the Sonic Mini 8K S, and only takes about 27 hours of continuous printing.
Considering buying the Sonic Mega 8K S?
For Sam, if you're someone who loves to continuously challenge yourself with top-tier projects, or if you're someone who does on-demand printing services, then this printer is a must-buy.
Personally, he likes that it doesn't have a removable cover like smaller models, as this gives him the advantage of convenience in tight spaces. But most importantly, it meets his most important requirements for an excellent 3D printer: ease of use and print quality.
VogMan Tests Sonic Mega 8K S Speed Performance
Similar to Fauxhammer's initial thoughts on the Sonic Mega 8K S, Geoff from VogMan believes that this green large-format 3D printer is a slimmed-down Sonic Mega 8K. However, its hinged cover design is more appealing, and its speed has significantly improved. In terms of resolution, it maintains the 43-micron 8K screen, which, in VOG's words, is "better than any competitor." But most importantly, it's more affordable.
Does VogMan like the Sonic Mega 8K S?
The answer is simple: yes. Geoff loves the new look; he thinks it's beautiful. The printer comes with a pre-leveled print plate out of the box, and removing the metal door saves a lot of space while reducing costs. The cover is well-designed with sturdy hinges, so not much space is needed above the printer to keep the cover open, and it can be held at almost any angle.
Can the Sonic Mega 8K S print as fast as claimed in the launch video?
Like most people, Geoff was skeptical of this claim. With more and more companies touting these crazy speed claims that he's failed to replicate, it's understandable that he viewed the Sonic Mega 8K S speed claim as just another marketing ploy.
Geoff also mentioned that most of these companies are developing a new fast-printing resin to use with these high-speed prints, but he appreciates that Phrozen is using something that has been on the market for a long time – Phrozen TR300 Resin, which is typically advertised as a heat-resistant resin, not for its printing speed.
After getting all the parameter settings, he started printing and was surprised to find that the movement of the print tray was actually quite fast in real life. He successfully completed 1160 layers of printing in 75 minutes, which is 928 layers per hour, higher than the 900 layers/hour claimed in the Sonic Mega 8K S launch video.
But is the print quality as good as the speed? Well, Geoff thinks so. While most speed claims usually come at the expense of quality, he believes that the results from the fast print settings are actually better than what the Aqua 8K resin can achieve at normal speeds.
VogMan's Thoughts on the Sonic Mega 8K S
First, Geoff admits that he really likes the TR300 resin, and he wants to congratulate Phrozen for being the first company to be completely honest about its printing speed. He was surprised to be able to successfully match, and even achieve higher speeds than advertised!
When he had to choose between the Sonic Mega 8K or the Sonic Mega 8K S, he would choose the latter. It's cheaper, requires less space, is easier to move due to its lighter weight, and is more attractive.
In VogMan's words, "I think Phrozen is still the king of Mega printers, and for me, this is now the best of the bunch."
Miniature Hobbyists: So many miniatures, so little time
Jon from Miniature Hobbyist also has some comments on the Sonic Mega 8K S. In his Sonic Mega 8KS review, he emphasized how large this printer is, and despite being a miniature painter, such a large LCD printer can easily print an entire miniature army in just a few hours.
The printer comes pre-calibrated straight out of the box, with options for some tests, such as an LCD test using XP Finder and an exposure test. However, Jon took a big step and immediately started printing with a build plate filled with 70 Spartan models.
He also really likes the built-in drip hanger on the Sonic Mega 8K S. This saves him a lot of resin, allowing him to print more miniature models, and most importantly, it avoids the hassle of resin dripping everywhere when transferring the build plate.
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