What Are the Current ELEGOO 3D Printers on the Market?
As 3D printing gets more popular, so do cheaper desktop solutions which allow more and more access to the technology. One such company which has been gaining in popularity for its cheap but reliable printers is ELEGOO. Founded in 2015, and with a name suggesting the idea of a “combiniation of open-source electronics and structures that creates everything,” ELEGOO was created primarily as a way to provide practical kits, including 3D printing, to all who want them.
The company quickly made a name for itself in the world of budget and DIY printers. Though perhaps best known for its LCD (similar to DLP) series, notably the ELEGOO Mars which has often been lauded as an effective budget 3D printer, ELEGOO has a number of offerings including the FDM printer, Neptune. We decided to take a closer look at its 3D printing offerings.
LCD printing is especially useful for extremely detailed prints, such as with figurines (photo credits: ELEGOO)
ELEGOO’s LCD Series
When it comes to ELEGOO 3D printers, the first thing that comes to most peoples’ minds is their LCD series. LCD printing, a photopolymer process, which is often compared to DLP. It’s a resin based process that uses an LCD screen to cure layers. It allows for fast, detailed parts. ELEGOO is so established in LCD 3D printers that it even offers resins and clean and cure machines, ensuring that users can get everything they need from one place.
Mars
The most popular series within ELEGOO’s 3D printers is undoubtedly the Mars series. Starting at just $179, the most basic Mars printer boasts a precision of 0.047mm, with layers of 0.01-0.2mm. It is not the largest printer, as is common with photopolymer machines, but it has a respectable build volume of 4.53in (L) * 2.56in (W) * 5.9in (H). Of course if you are willing to pay a little more, other Elegoo Mars models offer even better statistics. The Elegoo Mars 2 and Pro for example are faster and more precise, you can even find a model with an air purifier.
The ELEGOO Mars 2 Pro (photo credits: ELEGOO)
Currently it is also possible to preorder the latest Mars machine, the 3 Ultra 4K Mono LCD 3D printer. At $300 it’s certainly a lot more expensive than the older models but it may be worth it for those serious about printing as it has even greater printing accuracy and a larger printing size. It also comes with a number of perks such as a one year subscription to Chitubox Pro Slicer and a one year warranty on the whole printer and tool kit.
Saturn
If you want an LCD printer, but the Mars’ technical specifications are not sufficient, you might be interested in the Saturn 3D printer. Though also an LCD machine, the Saturn has a layer printer time of just 1.5-2 seconds, in other words 6-% faster than the Mars Pro. It also is accurate and has a larger building volume than the Mars printers at 7.55in*4.72in*7.87in. According to ELEGOO it also boasts higher accuracy though with easier printing thanks to a double linear guideway structure which enables a steadier motion while printing.
The ELEGOO Saturn is larger than the Mars series (photo credits: ELEGOO)
An FDM Series from ELEGOO: Neptune
However, ELEGOO does not just offer LCD printers, they also have an FDM option through the Neptune printer. FDM printers are the ones that are the most often associated with budget printing as they are often cheaper than photopolymer printers. Though perhaps less established in the FDM market, shown by the fact that unlike resins the company does not offer filaments, ELEGOO now has 3 printers in its Neptune series, similar to the Mars line, with another available for pre-order.
The cheapest of the Neptune printers is the ELEGOO Neptune 2 FDM 3D Printer With Silent Motherboard, available from $180. Though printing speed is understandably slower than with the LCD printers, its build volume is also larger at 8.7 x 8.7 x 9.8″ (220x220x250mm). ELEGOO recently released two new Neptune FDM printers as well. One is the ELEGOO Neptune 2S FDM 3D Printer which has features reducing some of the more common printing failures for FDM, including a special titanium alloy throat pipe to reduce the risk of nozzle blockage and a material break detection switch. The other is the ELEGOO Neptune 2D Independent Dual Extruder FDM 3D Printer. As the name suggests, this printer has dual extruders, allowing users to print with different filaments, including different colors, as well as potentially support materials.
ELEGOO’s Neptune 3D printer (photo credits: ELEGOO)
The latest FDM offering is the ELEGOO Neptune X FDM 3D Printer which is currently available for pre-order. With a larger printing size (220*220*300mm) and a printed hotbed, this FDM 3D printer can be compared to many others on the market. The company notes that it has many of the features of previous Neptune machines, including break detection and material shortage alarms, but it also has new perks including being the first ELEGOO FDM machine to support USB printing. You can find out more about ELEGOO and its 3D printers on the website HERE.
Which ELEGOO 3D printer would you choose? Let us know in a comment below or on our Facebook and Twitter pages. Don’t forget to sign up for our free weekly newsletter, with all the latest news in 3D printing delivered straight to your inbox!
