For many 3D printing users, Anycubic is the top tier company for resin printers (not professional grade). Anycubic has performed its magic once again with the Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Pro, a resin printer that achieves perfection on all levels.
Everything this printer has to offer, especially for the price it sells for, makes it the best choice, at least by the time this article was written.
Unboxing
Let’s unbox it step by step and see what’s inside.
As you can see in the photos above, everything is packed perfectly, and even in the event of a heavy drop, it would protect the contents. I also like that all the items are laid out in layers within the printer itself. This means the box is almost the same size as the printer and doesn’t take up much space.
As I opened the package, I was greeted with a smile that cheered me up. It’s a simple detail that can make a big difference.
All the contents of the package are shown in the image below.
But let’s see what these are in a little more detail:
- The Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Pro
- One print platform
- One resin vat
- One WiFi antenna
- A set of four hex keys
- Protective equipment (gloves and masks)
- Five funnels with a filter at their base for emptying the resin into the bottle
- Two scrapers (one plastic for the film and one metal for the platform)
- A screen protector for the print screen
- A paper for leveling the platform
- One USB stick
- An automatic resin refill device
- One air filter
- The power cable
- And finally the manual
Fast installation
The Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Pro comes almost ready to use out of the box. All you have to do are the following steps:
Remove the protective film from the printing screen and carefully place the screen protector on it. The screen protector is not that simple to install and will definitely create some small bubbles. As long as the bubbles are not in the active area of the screen, you don’t need to worry.
After doing this, we can plug the printer in and turn it on. Then we just follow the instructions on the screen.
ATTENTION: Users located in Europe must ensure the power supply is set to 230V and not 115V, which is used for users in America.
Then, screw the platform onto the top of the printer and the resin tank directly onto the screen. These are very simple procedures, both of which are error-free since they snap right onto their bases. The platform fits onto the top of the printer and is tightened with a large hand screw, while the resin tank is secured with two screws (one on the left and one on the right) next to the screen.
That was it! We don’t need to install anything else. We are ready for our first print.
Design
The exterior
The design of the Anycubic Photon Mono M7 follows the same design of the previous models in the series. It has the same shape and similar dimensions. At the front, in the centre, is a 5.1″ IPS touch screen for controlling the printer. Just below it is the On/Off button, and at the bottom is the model designation. The only major difference compared to previous models is that the lid is dark black (tinted), whereas the lids on earlier models were mainly yellow and orange. This change is because the new cover is designed to absorb UV light and protect the resin.
On the back are the port for the automatic resin refill, the WiFi antenna, the power switch, and the power port.
On the left and right there are only the grills for ventilation and on the right is also the USB port.
The interior
Inside the printer, there is a USB port on the back, right next to the spindle. I will explain what this port is for below. The resin tank is secured with screws at the top, which is a drawback compared to some other models that support quick release. Finally, on the back left is a black cube (part of the resin container), which I will also explain below.
The printing platform
The printing platform of the Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Pro is laser-engraved. This helps to hold even the heaviest prints securely due to its textured surface. However, it is easy to remove the prints with the metal scraper. At the top of the platform, we can see the classic slope that allows extra resin to return to the container.
Key features
Now, let’s get to the heart of the matter and see the real power this printer has to offer.
High resolution printing
The highest resolution available on resin printers currently is 14K. The Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Pro features a 10.1-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 14K (13,320 x 5,120). With such a high resolution, even the smallest details are printed with great precision.
LightTurbo 3.0 technology uses a CoB light source system, which is a continuous light source. Combined with Fresnel lenses and reflectors, it achieves light uniformity of over 90%.
Incredible print speed
Print speed is determined by three factors: the print speed setting, the type of resin (whether it supports normal or fast printing), and the layer thickness. Unfortunately, we didn’t have fast resin available, but even with normal resin, the printer is quite fast. Of course, what you lose in speed, you gain in quality, and that’s always standard.
Max speed 130mm per hour with 0.1mm layer using standard resin. Max Speed 170mm per hour with 0.1mm layer using high speed resin. Max Speed 190mm per hour with 0.15mm layer and 220mm per hour with 0.2mm layer using high speed resin
To give an idea of the speed difference, a model that takes 1 hour and 20 minutes with normal speed and standard resin will take 25 minutes with standard resin at fast speed, and less than 20 minutes with fast resin at fast speed. That’s an incredibly big difference.
Automatic resin refill or carbon air filter
As I mentioned above, inside the printer there is a USB port. This port can be used in two ways.
The first use is the automatic resin refill device. It clips into the USB port and has two tubes at the back that connect to the second piece, which looks like a rod attached to a cap which screws onto the resin bottle. The device uses these tubes to draw resin through the metal rods and refill the container as needed.
The only “weird” thing about using this particular device is that you have to completely peel off a section from the back of the cover to thread the tubes through. This is the only way they will fit. Why is this a problem? It creates an issue for the second use of the USB port.
The second use is the air filter, which uses carbon and features a high-efficiency ventilation motor. The cleaning efficiency for VOC (volatile organic compounds) reaches up to 99% from the very first use. It effectively absorbs and filters resin odours, improving the user experience.
The air filter fits right inside the cover. As I mentioned earlier, I was a bit concerned about having to peel off the back of the cover if I wanted to use the autofill. What if I decide to switch back to the filter? Should I reattach it with instant glue? And if I need to remove it again, how will that be done? Personally, I almost always use the air filter, so I haven’t encountered this issue.
Switching between the auto refill and air filter takes only 5 seconds: simply remove one device from the USB port and insert the other. I’d certainly prefer to be able to use both simultaneously, even if it meant making the printer a bit larger.
Other features worth mentioning
Resin preheating
Remember that black box to the left of the resin container? That’s the device that preheats the resin. When the resin is at a temperature of around 30 to 35 degrees Celsius, it is not as thick, allowing the printer to print faster and with more detail.
Its way of operation is unique and may be the only one that works with 100% efficiency. The resin enters a tube on the left side of the vat, is heated, and then returns from the right side. This cycle takes about 10 minutes to complete, allowing the resin to reach the desired temperature.
To be honest, I wasn’t convinced about this particular function until I tried it. I will never print anything again without turning on the resin preheat first.
Of course, there is also a downside in all of this, and that is none other than the placement of this particular device. As mentioned earlier, it is part of the container, which is likely to be removed after each print to empty the excess resin. That’s where the difficulties arise. The placement affects the centre of gravity of the container, which can be a bit awkward. However, I’m not complaining, as the benefits it provides far outweigh this minor drawback.
Auto Leveling
Levelling the printer before each print is a tedious process, especially for anyone who wants to print multiple models.
The Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Pro is designed to eliminate the need for manual levelling. It uses floating platform technology and internal sensors to automatically adjust and ensure consistent print quality, resulting in minimal to zero levelling required.
For me personally, the smart levelling feature of the Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Pro is one of its strongest attributes. I am one of those who find the levelling process incredibly boring each time.
Smart functions
Since we live in 2024 and everything around us is smart devices or devices that use AI, printers are also becoming smarter. The Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Pro includes several smart features designed to simplify printing and reduce failures.
Platform installation status detection Component connection status detection Residue detection in material tank to prevent screen damage Resin remaining amount detection Failed printing detection and sending a notification to cancel or continue printing Resin film lifespan management. Once it reaches 45,000 uses, it notifies the user to be changed
Table of specs
| Build volume | 6.5L |
| Printing volume | 223Χ126Χ230mm |
| Printing speed | 130mm/h, 170mm/h, 190mm/h, 220mm/h |
| Machine levelling | Levelling-free |
| Z-Axis | Type T (Transport Ball Screw) |
| LCD Screen size | 10.1″, 14K (13320 * 5120) |
| Light source | LighTurbo 3.0 (COB+Fresnel Lens) |
| Build platform | Laser-carved Plate |
| Operating screen | 5″ IPS Touch-control |
| Slicing software | Anycubic Slicing, CHITU, Tango |
| Supported materials | Compatible with all types of resin (high speed, water wash, standard, ABS type, plant based, etc.) |
| Machine dimensions | 310Χ315Χ520mm |
| Machine weight | 12,8kg |
Wash and cure of the prints
Of course, after each print, proper washing and curing of the models are essential to bring out their true quality.
First, we wash the figures, and then we either had to switch devices to cure them or, by changing some parts, cure them on the same device. Both methods were quite time-consuming and required our attention until each process was complete. But that’s all in the past. Why? Because Anycubic sent us the ultimate solution: the Anycubic Cure and Wash Max!
Anycubic Cure and Wash Max
Firstly, I must say that, personally, I find this “prints washer” beautiful. It really resembles a mobile washing machine.
Some of the features that make the Anycubic Cure and Wash Max stand out are:
- My first and favourite feature is that it can wash and cure models simultaneously. This means it first washes and then cures the models. In the screen options, you can choose from Auto (which lasts 15.5 minutes and performs both washing and curing), Cure (which only cures the model), Start/Stop, and Reset.
- The device is large, with its internal volume increased by 122% compared to other models, reaching up to 14.9 litres. Models can be up to 30.5cm in height and 2.2kg in weight.
- It uses up to 50% less IPA thanks to its wash technology, which sprays the model from two angles rather than immersing it in IPA. Once the washing is complete, the IPA is concentrated back into the container from which it was drawn. The model is then sprayed with water to remove any IPA residue. The used water is collected in a blue bucket and must be discarded after each use.
Inside the container of the Anycubic Cure and Wash Max, we see two black strips in the upper left and lower right corners. These contain the nozzles that spray the IPA onto the models. In the bottom left corner, the white strip has the UV LEDs used for curing the models.
The two containers that come with the device are connected via their tubes at the back of the device. This is easy to set up because both inlets and tubes are numbered. Fill the container with holes in both lids with IPA, and the other container with water. The second container does not have two holes because the water, after use, is directed to the blue bucket rather than returning to the container.
Overall, I am happy with the machine, although it can be a bit tricky to use at times. For example, after about 20 uses, you should run a wash cycle with just water to clean the inside. Additionally, resin residues should be cleaned from the filters at the bottom of the interior.
What we printed with the Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Pro
To achieve the best results in printing, having the best printer with the highest resolution alone is not enough. The models you print must also be of high quality and properly designed to avoid fails during printing.
For test printing, I used the green Power Ranger and the white Power Ranger models, both incredibly detailed creations by Wick3d. The Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Pro did not disappoint. All the details are clear in the printed pieces. Note that the prints are raw—meaning they are as they came out of the printer after washing and curing, without any sanding or priming.
The details are incredible. It’s clear that the material of the pants differs between the left and right sides. Additionally, the muscles and the way the fabric crumples during movement are crystal clear on the right side of the print.
Verdict
The Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Pro is suitable for both experienced and novice resin users. With its smart controls, printing becomes a breez. Just press a few buttons, and the rest is handled automatically. Your prints will always capture the finest details, thanks to its 14K resolution.
The only negative is that you will end up spending all your money on resin. If you enjoy printing your own figures and each print takes half an hour, you’ll find yourself printing all day.
The Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Pro is sold in the official Anycubic store for $569, approximately €520. The Anycubic Cure and Wash Max is available for $339, around €310.
If resin printing isn’t for you and you find the process complicated, consider the Anycubic Kobra 3 Combo for printing with PLA in various colors.
At this point, I would like to thank Anycubic for providing the review units that made this article possible.