INTRODUCTION

    Although it's certainly not for everyone 3D printing has come a long way since its introduction roughly 4 decades ago and so today 3D printers are not only smaller in size, faster and easier to use but they also feature larger printing surfaces and can print much higher detail models. Now as many of you are certainly aware the market currently is divided between FDM (fused deposition modeling) and SLA/MSLA (stereolithography/masked stereolithography) 3D printers and since both technologies have different target audiences it all comes down to what you want to print. For example, if you are looking to print large, durable and simple models (low-res) without spending much in the process FDM is the way to go (thermoplastics) whereas for faster printing and more accurate and complex models (hi-res) SLA (photopolymers) is the clear winner. ELEGOO has a rich line of both FDM and SLA 3D printers and today I'll be testing one of their latest models the Mars 4 Ultra SLA 3D Printer.

    Founded in Shenzhen by a dynamic team from top universities in 2015, ELEGOO is a leading tech company specializing in 3D printers and STEM kits. The company has sold millions of products to over 70 countries and regions, and its desktop 3D printers are known for precision, speed, and affordability. In 2023, the company's total sales revenue has exceeded USD 200 million with over 600 employees and nearly 25,000 square meters of office and manufacturing area. With a focus on programming and 3D printing technology, ELEGOO provides unique and smart creation spaces for diverse consumers to enhance personalized experiences.

    The Mars 4 Ultra is a compact MSLA (masked stereolithography) 3D printer that uses UV lighting to selectively cure the resin layer by layer until completion of the desired model. This specific model by ELEGOO comes ready with a 7-inch mono LCD screen featuring 9k (8520x4320 pixels) resolution with 18 microns precision and 1411PPI pixel density. Thanks to its COB light source and Fresnel lens design combination (92% light uniformity) the Mars 4 Ultra can reach speeds of up to 150mm/h (high speed resin) while its 4-Point Leveling System with the laser carved platform (153.36x77.76x165mm build volume) and the Z-axis linear guide rail ensure smooth and accurate models. As expected, the Mars 4 Ultra also features a 4-inch high-definition IPS touch screen, removable resin vat (400ml), 9H hardened tempered glass over the 7-inch mono LCD screen, two USB 2.0 ports (one is for use with the bundled air purifier v2.0), Wi-Fi 2.4G/5G connectivity (antenna included) and height adjustable feet. So, although compact the Mars 4 Ultra looks great on paper so let's check and see if that's really the case.

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

Typically, ELEGOO uses a plain cardboard to ship the Mars 4 Ultra the front of which has their logo and a product drawing.

Contact information about ELEGOO is printed on the right side of the box.

Packing is very good with the printer placed between several pieces of foam which are reinforced by compressed pieces of cardboard.

Inside the box you'll find the Mars 4 Ultra MSL 3D printer, its power adapter and cord, build plate, air purifier v2.0, USB flash drive, two scrapers (metal for the build plate and plastic for the resin vat), leveling card, disposable gloves, disposable masks, several paper funnels, 4 Allen keys, VoxelDance Tango serial key card and the user manual.

THE MARS 4 ULTRA

Just like with the Anycubic Photon Mono M5S the main body of the Mars 4 Ultra also follows the same design so at the base we find the COB light source with the Fresnel lens design, mono LCD screen, touchscreen with a USB 2.0 port and the on/off button at the front and the Z-axis on top.

The 7-inch mono LCD screen comes with a protective film attached to it which you will have to remove.

A USB port is located on the left rear corner as seen above and is the one you'll mount the air purifier v2.0 onto (the Wi-Fi Antenna mount is on the opposite side).

Turning the Mars 4 Ultra around we just find the power port.

PRINTER ASSEMBLY

First order of the day was to remove the film from the 7-inch mono LCD screen as seen above.

Next came mounting the resin vat and the laser carved print plate.

Remember to use the leveling card prior to printing as seen above. Yes you can also level the print plate withour removing the resin vat (whichever way you feel is best, both ways work fine).

This is how the COB UV light source looks when enabled.

After that just attach the air purifier 2.0 and the Wi-Fi Antenna and you're good to go.

I am sure many of you will wonder how the Mars 4 Ultra compares to the Anycubic Photon Mono M5S so i placed them right next to each other exactly for that.

TOUCH DISPLAY MENUS

The Mars 4 Ultra runs a self-test when it's first turn on and well that's a good touch.

From the touchscreen you can adjust exposure time, cure the resin, adjust the Z-axis position, check device information, change the language, perform firmware updates and check printing history.

TESTING METHODOLOGY

    Although this might change later on for now, I decided on using CHITUBOX when testing SLA 3D printers since it supports most models out there and comes recommended by most manufacturers. As for models I will be using 3 different ones, a small Star Trek model provided to me by a good friend of mine and the Deadpool Bust (downloaded from Cults3D / member Eastman) I’ve already been using with FDM 3D printers in two sizes, medium (86x68x122mm) and large (142x112x200mm) to record completion time at 100% speed (the large model might not be compatible with all SLA 3D printers to arrive in the lab in which case only the other 2 will be used). Second thing to test are noise levels and so once again I’ll be using my ExTech HD600 decibel meter placed roughly 30cm away to record the maximum noise coming from the 3D printer while printing. As for the 3rd test with the help of an UPS and two power meters I decided to also record not only the lowest and highest but also the average instant power consumption of the SLA 3D printer in my hands (separate charts with FDM models).

For my tests I used the 8K white smoke resin by ELEGOO as seen above.

Even though I really liked the model quality produced by the Mars 4 Ultra the truth of the matter is that models like the Anycubic Photon Mono M5S can build much larger ones as seen above. This isn't an issue if you don't plan on 3D printing anything as large but if you do the Mars 4 Ultra is clearly not suitable.

Again, print quality is very good and as you can see the model is also slightly smoother compared to those i printed with the Photon Mono M5S (also resin related).

TEST RESULTS

CONCLUSION

    One thing I never did like about SLA 3D printers is the entire post printing procedure. Well to be honest my entire issue is not so much with washing the model (something which can be done automatically if you have the proper equipment) but with cleaning the resin vat and printing plate. That not only takes time, but you’re also required to wear gloves and spend money on 99% isopropyl alcohol for optimal cleaning, not something many will enjoy. Resin cost is also higher compared to filaments, but I doubt this will be a game breaker (besides, MSLA printers usually cost less than FDM ones). The rather small printing surface may also be an issue for some people, although to be fair MSLA printers are primarily used for printing small and highly accurate models, not large ones. When it comes however to print quality, speed and even noise levels and power consumption the Mars 4 Ultra does extremely well and well, for most people this will be the defining factor.

    Retailing currently for USD335.97 inside the USA (Amazon.com) and for 312.59Euros inside the EU (Amazon.de) the Mars 4 Ultra MSLA 3D printer by ELEGOO is priced slightly higher than expected (although you are also getting a purifier in the bundle). Overall, however I was satisfied with it, not just in terms of performance but also features and bundle and that’s why it gets the Golden Award.

PROS

- Build Quality
- 9k Resolution
- Speed (Up To 150mm/h)
- Power Consumption & Noise Levels
- 7” Monochrome Exposure Screen
- 4” Touch Screen
- Air Purifier v2.0
- WiFi 2.4/5G

CONS

- Post Printing (For Some)
- Overall Material Durability
- Build Surface (153.36x77.76x165mm)