Whether you want to learn about SLA resin 3D printers or are considering purchasing the Sonic Mega 8K S, but want to understand more comprehensive information and other people's real-world reviews? Then read on!
This article features popular YouTubers' ultimate reviews of the Sonic Mega 8K S, summarizing what they love about the printer, its pros, cons, and everything in between! But most importantly, should you buy this printer?
Grey Scalp Miniatures and the Sonic Mega 8K S
When Shaun from Grey Scalp Miniatures received his Sonic Mega 8K S, he was incredibly excited! Despite the Sonic Mega 8K S being a large machine, it fit easily into his tent, and the lift-up lid didn't take up as much space as he initially expected.
However, his excitement was accidentally dampened when he encountered a problem he had never experienced before: a print failure due to running out of resin. He never thought this would be an issue - which made him question the true benefit of the Pump & Fill (automatic resin feeder). Now that he has experienced printing with such a large production resin 3D printer, he is convinced that the Pump & Fill add-on is undoubtedly a valuable asset.
Pros and Cons
Based on his tests, he successfully printed a large insect model using slightly more than 2 build plates worth of material, which would have required 10 or 11 build plates on a Sonic Mighty 8K printer. Taking full advantage of the printer, he printed 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, some features certainly caught Shaun's attention more than others. One of them was the metal hook built into 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 was the build plate, which, in his opinion, "felt like magic." When printing, it held the model tightly, but as soon as he touched it lightly with a scraper, the model came off immediately.
He believes that one of the drawbacks is that the printer does not support network connectivity and Wi-Fi. 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, and he just needs to get used to the current situation. Finally, he wished the printer came with a heater.
Is it the right printer for you?
Shaun admits that this is not a machine for everyone. If you sell prints and have a large number of orders with tight deadlines, then it is undoubtedly the perfect 3D printer. After all, managing one printer is easier than managing multiple printers with various different build plate sizes at the same time.
This printer is suitable for printing almost anything, from terrain, props, and even miniature armies. This is extremely useful for his production, where fast printing of many items is important, and most importantly, it would be a game-changer if you own a printing business.
Battle Brother Sam's 1000 Kreigsmen Challenge
To constantly challenge himself, Sam this time tried 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 plate 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 accommodate 164 Kreigsmen models on a single build plate, which is 5 times more than the Sonic Mini 8K S, and only requires about 27 hours of continuous printing.
Considering buying the Sonic Mega 8K S?
For Sam, this printer is a must-have if you are someone who likes to constantly challenge yourself with top-tier projects, or if you are someone who does on-demand printing services.
Personally, he likes that it doesn't have a detachable lid like smaller models, which 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 this green large-format 3D printer is simply a Slim Sonic Mega 8K. However, its lift-up lid 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 is more affordable.
Does VogMan like the Sonic Mega 8K S?
The answer is simple: yes. Geoff loves the new look, and he thinks it's beautiful. The printer comes out of the box with a pre-leveled build plate, and removing the metal door saves a lot of space while reducing costs. The lid is well-designed with sturdy hinges, so not much space above the printer is needed to keep the lid 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 insane speed claims that he has failed to replicate, it's understandable that he considered the Sonic Mega 8K S's speed claims to be just another marketing gimmick.
Geoff also mentioned that most of these companies are developing a new fast-printing resin for 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 usually advertised as a heat-resistant resin, not for its print 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 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 was 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 of the fast print settings are actually better than what 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 has 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 Hobbyist: So Many Miniatures, So Little Time
Jon from Miniature Hobbyist also has some reviews on the Sonic Mega 8K S. In his Sonic Mega 8K S review, he emphasized how big this printer is, and despite being a miniature painter, such a large LCD printer can easily print an entire miniature army in a few hours.
The printer comes pre-calibrated right out of the box, with options for some tests, such as LCD and exposure tests with XP Finder. However, Jon took a big step and started printing directly with a build plate full of 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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