The Elegoo Saturn 3D printer offers unparalleled performance, size, and usability. The Elegoo Saturn is unrestricted by the limits of the majority of standard-sized resin-based 3D printers thanks to its huge build volume. A 4K monochrome LCD panel produces exceptional fine details with high print quality and extraordinary precision. Additionally, quick print speeds for a reasonable balance of quality and quantity are made possible by layer curing durations of 1.5–2 seconds. The Elegoo Saturn can produce numerous minis in one batch while also producing large, wide items thanks to its enormous build volume. ..
Design
This Saturn 3D printer was shipped by Elegoo with a sticker on the UV-resistant lid, which was a thoughtful addition for a review unit. As far as we can determine, this is the only distinction between this unit and a standard retail unit, therefore if you buy this printer directly from Elegoo, your experience with it should be comparable to ours. The Saturn is a standard resin 3D printer that makes use of a resin vat, a masking LCD, a UV light source, and one axis of motion. ..
We printed a test image on a standard 3D printer and found that the Saturn’s masking LCD print quality was excellent. The resolution was .05mm, which is much higher than any other masking LCD we’ve used. We also found that the print speed was very fast, which is great for large prints.
To prevent a new user from unintentionally removing it while removing the rest of the stickers, the manual makes sure to specifically note that the black protective tape surrounding the masking LCD must be left on the device. The resin vat on the Saturn is locked into position quickly and consistently thanks to four bolts that protrude from the bottom and serve as locating posts. The fact that resin vats typically rest with the delicate FEP film flush against the surface they are laid down on makes this one of our biggest cleaning challenges.
The four posts on the corners of the Saturn’s vat keep the FEP film slightly elevated during cleaning, eliminating the worry of resin spilling if it is overfilled. This feature shows that Elegoo has given some thought to users who frequently change vats or drain and replace resin, along with the spout that is molded into the vat.
Elegoo Saturn review: Features
The Saturn’s 8.9-inch masking LCD has a 4K resolution of 3840 x 2400, giving you an XY resolution of.05mm, or 50 microns. For resin printers, smaller is better in terms of microns because it allows for finer detail, although a difference of three microns will be undetectable to the human eye. If you’ve used a Mars or Mars Pro printer and were pleased with your printouts, there’s a good chance you’ll also be pleased with the Saturn’s print quality.
The protective film that will be on the LCD during shipping must be removed before usage. Be careful not to remove the black tape that encircles the screen, though. The Saturn does not, so be sure to place it where there is good ventilation. The cooling fans can be a bit noisy even without the air filter, but as long as you’re not trying to sell in the same room as it’s running (which we wouldn’t recommend), you won’t hear it behind a closed door.
Elegoo Saturn: The self-leveling build platform makes printing much simpler than on many other printers. Simply loosen the bolts and cover the LCD screen with paper to set it to self-level. After retightening the bolts, you’re ready to begin printing! ..
Elegoo Saturn printer users can download the ChituBox slicing programme to improve prints. The programme is user-friendly and features rich features.
Elegoo Saturn review: Leveling
To ensure that the resin cures uniformly throughout each layer while using an MSLA resin 3D printer, the build platform must be absolutely level with the FEP film. It can be difficult for beginners to level the bed properly, and it can be upsetting when prints fail as a result. Elegoo has solved this issue by employing a special levelling procedure that is quick, easy, and straightforward to complete.
The Elegoo Saturn levelling platform is simple to use and includes step-by-step instructions for leveling. The platform self-leveled and sat flush after releasing the two bolts on the build platform, and covered the masking LCD with the included levelling paper.
We tightened the screws in the prescribed order and raised the build platform after the axis had come to a stop. The Saturn feels almost effortless to set up in comparison to the levelling procedure on a printer like the Longer Orange 10, which uses four screws that must be tightened in a star pattern and have a tendency to shift during tightening.
Print quality and speed
Elegoo manufactures a variety of resin types for its printers, including environmentally friendly and machine-washable options. Anyone who doesn’t want to purchase isopropyl alcohol to remove any remaining resin before printing will benefit most from the water-washable version. However, you are not limited to using Elegoo-branded resin; any 405nm UV curing resin designed for printers will work just fine. also you will check our article on Elegoo Saturn review.
We advise using Grey for the majority of prints, as it provides a level of detail and clarity where other colors may not be able to show off as well.
The printer took 9 hours and 15 minutes to print a model at 0.05mm resolution, despite the fact that many FDM printers would have to sacrifice detail to match that speed.
We created a 3D printer-friendly version of the James Webb space telescope that is much easier to print than the original FDM model. This version is made out of support materials that are pre-approved for 3D printing, so it’s a very easy model to adapt if you have a 3D printer. The time it took to print this model was only 6 hours and 57 minutes, but if we had increased the layer resolution, it would have taken only 2 hours and 45 minutes to print.
Elegoo Saturn review: Performance
Elegoo offers a variety of resin types, including “Eco” and “Water Washable,” but we went with the standard opaque black variety. The supplied test files are what we refer to as a “torture test” or bench, a model created to put a printer through its paces with a challenging design. If you’ve never attempted 3D printing before, there’s an obvious problem with these files that reflects negatively on the printer right away. They are exceedingly difficult to remove without harming the model because they are unsupported and built directly onto the construction plate.
If you find that the metal scraper included with the Elegoo Saturn kit is too thick to slide underneath the model, you may have to resort to other methods. One option would be to manually add supports to ChituBox after loading the file there, in order to raise it off of the build plate. ..
Another option is to purchase a razor window scraper that can slip underneath the build, or you can gently expand the plastic where the print is stuck by pouring boiling hot water over it, which will make it easier to remove. A FlexPlate system, a thin magnetic cover for the build plate that thanks to its flexibility enables simple removal of stuck prints, is something we would have loved to see.
Elegoo’s 3D printing service is available on a variety of websites, but it should have incorporated something similar into the Saturn design. Despite the challenges of removal, the benchmark prints were successful, with none of the model’s components printing incorrectly. ..
We ran a test print of a goblin figurine alongside other benchmarks to see how much detail the Saturn could pick up on a smaller scale, and we were pleasantly surprised by how small you can go. The loincloth is so thin that light can pass through it, but despite its thinness, it printed without snapping and every detail was captured.
Price and availability
Elegoo is currently selling the Saturn for $249.99, which is a great price for a 3D printer that has all the features of more expensive printers. The only downside is that the warranty is only 12 months, which means you’ll need to be careful to keep your printer in good condition and replace parts as needed. ..
Conclusion
The Elegoo Saturn is a low-cost 3D printer that has a large build volume. It is well-known for its affordability and its respectable build capacity. Additionally, the company has expanded its presence in the market for low-cost LCD printers with the release of the Elegoo Saturn.