Question 1

Hi , what is the difference between the phrozen sonic mega 8k and the peopoly phenom l?

Accepted Answer

First of all, as of May 18th, 2023, neither the manufacturer, nor its distributor Matterhackers, have the Peopoly Phenom L available for sale. We are not aware if the machine was discontinued, or if there is simply no stock available. It might be the former given how long this model has had a "Sold Out" status on both websites, but check with the manufacturer.

To summarize, here're the main differences and similarities:

1. Build Volume: The Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K has a print volume of 330 x 185 x 400 mm, while the Peopoly Phenom L has a larger print volume of 346 x 194 x 400mm.

2. Resolution. The Sonic Mega 8K has a lower XY resolution of 43 microns compared to the Phenom L, which has an XY resolution of 90 microns. In the world of resin 3D printing, the lower the resolution, the better! The reason for this is the Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K is using an 8K LCD screen as its light source, while the Peopoly Phenom L is only using a 4K screen.

With 8K you will obtain a finer level of detail on your prints, 8K prints are smoother and more crisp.

To show you the difference between the 8K screen and the 4K screen, please check out the photos below:

– A Jewelry Ring printed with 4K and 8K resolution: https://ibb.co/2YGP2p6

– A Miniature printed with 4K and 8K resolution: https://ibb.co/qJKHrz1

Here's a good article that covers the XY resolution in more depth: https://www.chitubox.com/en/article/support/indepth/technology/32

3. Print Speed. The Sonic Mega 8K has a maximum printing speed of 70mm/hr. The printing speed for the Phenom L is not provided, but it is assumed to be slower due to the larger build volume.

4. Bed-Leveling. The Sonic Mega 8K comes with a building plate which was calibrated at the factory before it was shipped. Assuming there was no shipping damage, once you take your device out of the box, you’re ready to begin printing. The bed-leveling system for the Phenom L is not specified.

5. Motion system. Both machines are equipped with Dual Linear Rails as their motion system, ensuring minimum to no wobbling when printing large objects.

6. Build Plate. Both machines come w/ flat building plates. The Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K comes with a build plate which has perforated holes, while the Peopoly Phenom L doesn't have perforated holes.

This is a matter of personal preference, some prefer one over the other.

Advantages of the perforated build plate: usually when printing on a resin 3D printer for the first couple of hours there is no way to see if the model is glued to the platform or not - this can only be determined by the sound of the model peeling off the film in the tub. In our video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibLfhBBfwE8) you can see almost immediately that some of the holes remained closed and no resin dripped from them, which means that the model is firmly glued to the platform. Given the volumes of resin you're spending on large-format prints, knowing that your print is properly stuck to the build plate from the beginning can save you a lot of time, and put your mind at ease.

On the other hand, there are some disadvantages:

1) Cleaning the holes is more difficult than a cleaning a completely flat surface. With that being said, we have a workflow that has worked great for many customers. See this post and video from Hadrien Leleu: 
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Phrozen3DPENG/permalink/1999008093597681/ 
2) Holes being visible on the bottom of the printout. This can be mitigated by printing on top of supports and by polishing/painting the print.

7. Third-Party Materials: Both printers support third-party materials (405 nm UV Resin)

8. Slicer: Both printers recommend the use of ChiTuBox as the slicer.

9. Connectivity: Both printers have USB and Ethernet connectivity options, but do NOT support Wi-Fi.

10. LCD: both use Monochromatic LCDs which tend to last 2,000+ hours of printing time.

Question 2

How fast does it print?

Accepted Answer

This can be made much faster if you change the settings in your print.

Question 3

I'm comparing the phrozen sonic mega 8k to the anycubic m3 max. which one is better?

Accepted Answer

Here is a comparison between the Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K and the Anycubic Photon M3 Max:

1. Build Volume
- Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K: 330 x 185 x 400 mm
- Anycubic Photon M3 Max: 298 x 164 x 300 mm

The Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K offers a larger build volume compared to the M3 Max.

2. LCD Resolution
- Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K: 7680 x 4320 pixels (8K)
- Anycubic Photon M3 Max: 6480 x 3600 pixels (7K)

The Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K has a higher LCD resolution than the M3 Max.

3. XY Resolution
- Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K: 43 microns
- Anycubic Photon M3 Max: 46 microns

The Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K offers a slightly finer XY resolution. The lower the XY resolution, the better, if you need prints with fine details. More on this here: https://www.chitubox.com/en/article/support/indepth/technology/32

But the difference would be negligible for most users.

4. Auto-Filling Mechanism
The Anycubic Photon M3 Max is using an auto-fill mechanism to supply the resin to the vat. While this can be a great convenience feature, its efficacy depends on the reliability of this mechanism. Some users reported the mechanism failing, and resin overfilling the plate, which then caused resin to leak onto the printer and the LCD screen, making the printer inoperable.

Here’s the user's review: https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R51CVL4XQLYIT/

The Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K has a large enough build plate and doesn’t need an auto-fill mechanism. So its workflow is simple and reliable.

5. Reliability
As of May 18, 2023, there are multiple reports of certain parts going out of function within several months.

Here are some examples:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R37PGQ3043BPKH/
https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R10SS4I5OGKY5U/
https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R182HFXD7MPFIV/

This may be due to the quality of the parts used. We don’t have a large enough sample to generalize, but based on the anecdotal evidence we have being a reseller for both brands, the hardware malfunctions are less frequent on the Phrozen machines.

6. Frame Dimensions, Weight
- Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K: 400 x 470 x 680 mm, 35 kg
- Anycubic Photon M3 Max: 400 x 408 x 596 mm, 21 kg

The Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K has a sturdier frame to prevent wobbling.

7. Z-Axis Accuracy
- Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K: 0.00125 mm
- Anycubic Photon M3 Max: 0.01000 mm

The Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K has a more precise Z-axis accuracy. One of the reasons: Phrozen has a dual lead screw for the Z axis, while the Photon has single lead screw.

8. Support

- Anycubic's support is based in China, and operates via an online ticketing system. 
- Phrozen's support is based in Taiwan, and operates through an online ticketing system. In addition, Phrozen builds a network of local resellers. Top3DShop is a CA-based reseller, you can reach out to us over the phone or email, and we will be glad to assist you without you having to wait for the manufacturer's support to wake up. In addition, we stock many (though not all) parts (for example, LCDs, FEPs), and can ship them with a 3-7 business days lead time, not in 2-4 weeks.

9. Min. Layer Height
- Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K: 10 microns
- Anycubic Photon M3 Max: 10 microns

Both printers have the same minimum layer height.

10. Layer Cure Time
- Both printers have a layer cure time of 1-3 seconds.

11. Plate Leveling
- Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K: Factory-leveled
- Anycubic Photon M3 Max: Manual

The Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K comes factory-leveled, while the Anycubic Photon M3 Max requires manual leveling during setup.

12. Connectivity
- Both printers offer USB connectivity, but Phrozen also supports Ethernet.

13. Materials
- Both printers use 405 nm UV resin, and are NOT limited to a particular brand of resin.

14. Market Price (USD)

As of May 18th, 2023, the Phrozen Sonic Mega 8K is priced at $2,599, while the Anycubic Photon M3 Max is priced at $1,099 on Amazon.

Question 4

Is this the mega 8k from phrozen? what is the warranty?

Accepted Answer

This is the official Sonic Mega 8K from Phrozen! You can check this page: https://phrozen3d.com/pages/find-a-reseller (or search "Phrozen Resellers" in Google, in case Phrozen changes the URL by the time you read this, and the link above doesn't work).

Top 3D Shop is one of the two authorized distributors for Phrozen in the United States.

The warranty policy is summarized on this page: https://phrozen3d.com/pages/warranty-policy

As of May 18th, 2023, the following is a good summary of the Warranty Policy (check the link above for the most up-to-date information):

The warranty provided by Phrozen Tech applies exclusively to the original purchaser of Phrozen products, including hardware, software, and firmware. It is not transferrable to other owners. To be eligible, proof of purchase is required and all warranty terms and conditions must be followed.

Covered under the warranty are defects resulting from faulty materials or manufacturing. However, consumable parts, for example, resin, and FEP/PFA film are not included.

The warranty does not cover damage from human factors, misuse, misinstallation, external causes, non-compliance with instructions, unauthorized alterations or services, operations not following recommendations, unauthorized third-party part usage, or purchases from unauthorized sellers or secondhand sales.

Warranty periods begin on the delivery date and vary by part:

1. Mono-LCD*: 3 months
2. LED Module: 12 months
3. Building Plate: 12 months
Z-axis: 12 months
Resin Vat: 12 months
Main Body: 12 months
FEP/PFA film: No warranty

*Unless damaged due to the user's misuse, for example, if a user damaged the FEP Film with a scraper, resulting in resin leaking on the LCD, this wouldn't be covered under warranty.

Color	Black
Enclosure Material	Resin, Metal
Printing Technology	MSLA
Compatible Material	Resin, Metal
Connectivity Technology	USB, Ethernet
Operating System	macOS 10.12 Sierra, Windows 7, Windows 10
Power Consumption	250 Watts
Compatible Devices	Laptop, Personal Computer
File Format	STL
Item Weight	35 Kilograms
Item Dimensions D x W x H	7.1"D x 18.5"W x 26.8"H

Best MSLA Large Format Resin 3D Printer Sonic Mega 8K V2. Build Volume 330 x 185 x 400 mm, LCD 8K (7680 x 4320) Resolution. Great for Professional & Home Use, Miniatures, Dental & Jewelry.

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