Medium resin printers are ideal for those that need that bit of extra printing volume. The printers function exactly the same as the smaller ones and they have a similar level of reliability. The Elegoo Saturn is a reliable pick for a medium resin printer and so is the Saturn S, the new variant.
Since the 'upgrades' of the Saturn S are minor and the price is ~$50 higher, we would recommend sticking with the regular Elegoo Saturn. If you want a printer with more volume, check out the Photon M3 Series or the Saturn 2. If you want some extra XY-resolution and are on a budget, go for one of the smaller resin printers.
Going into 2023, it appears that the original 4K Saturn is being phased out.
Elegoo Saturn
$300
(phased out)
Resolution: 0.05mm (XY) 0.01mm (Z)
8.9" 4k Screen ($80-120)
Print Volume: 192mm (L) 120mm (W) 200mm (H)
Saturn vs Mono X
Elegoo Saturn S
$230
(phasing out)
Resolution: 0.048mm (XY) 0.01mm (Z)
9.1" 4k Screen
Print Volume: 196mm (L) 122mm (W) 210mm (H)
Saturn S vs Saturn
Saturn S and Saturn
- Both printers have aluminum vats by default.
- Antialiasing works on both printers and can be verified through UVTools.
- The Saturn S and Saturn can be used with the Chitubox or Lychee slicers.
- Both Saturns' LCD screens have a pre-installed tempered glass protector.
Saturn S
- The Saturn S gains a ≈3.8% increase in the printing area - 192x120 to 196x122 mm.
- There is an extra 10mm in build height over the regular Saturn.
- The Saturn S has a slight bump in XY resolution, 0.002 mm - 0.05 mm to 0.048 mm.
- The Saturn S replacement screens are not publicly available yet, so if you need one you will have to contact Elegoo.
Photo credits: Elegoo
Specifications
- Release Year: 2022
- Release Price: $450-500
- Assembly: Fully
- Build Volume: 196 x 122 x 210 mm
- XY Resolution: 0.048 mm
- Screen: 9.1" 4K (4098 x 2560)
- LED Intensity: ~2.07 mW/cm
- Compatible Slicers: Lychee, Chitubox, PrusaSlicer (UVtools)
- Power Requirement: 96 W
- Dimensions: 280 x 240 x 446 mm
- Weight: 24 lbs (11 kg)
Elegoo Saturn
- The regular Saturn does not come with Elegoo's "air purifier", which is just a small brick of compressed carbon. This unit is inconsequential since carbon tends to only filter ~40-60% of VOCs (in a 1"+ thick layer). For a primary defense, resin printers should always be placed outside the residence or vented out a window.
- The Elegoo Saturn comes with "FEP1.0" while the Saturn S comes with "FEP2.0". This, along with 'nFEP', is primarily just marketing. Very little difference exists between FEP and PFA - they can be obtained from the manufacturer, supply websites online, amazon, or from distributers like McMaster. The FEP from McMaster is actually US-sourced PFA & is a solid choice.
- The light intensity of the Saturn is 2.07 mW/cm2 at the surface of the LCD screen.
Photo credits: Elegoo
Specifications
- Release Year: 2020
- Release Price: ~$500
- Assembly: Fully
- Build Volume: 192 x 120 x 200 mm
- XY Resolution: 0.05 mm
- Screen: 8.9" 4K (3840x 2400)
- LED Intensity: 2.07 mW/cm
- Compatible Slicers: Lychee, Chitubox, PrusaSlicer (UVtools)
- Power Requirement: 96 W
- Dimensions: 280 x 240 x 446 mm
- Weight: 22 lbs (10 kg)
Final Thoughts
As you can tell, the Saturn S and Saturn are essentially the same printer. It is hard to justify the added cost of the Saturn S with the minor upgrades. However, it appears that the Saturn is being phased out, so we are left with the Saturn S and Saturn 2.
Resin Printer Setup Example
Beyond the printer, you will need to budget for resin and additional supplies. Ideally, the printer will be outside the residence (ie: garage/shed/balcony) but it can be indoors in a separate room if vented out a window.
A grow tent is an affordable enclosure that can both assist in venting the printer and helping to keep the resin warm during winter. Small heaters and a temperature controller can be used to keep the resin at its recommended level.
Photo credits: 4D Filtration
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