Anycubic Photon Mono M5s Pro test: Filigree models on demand

Anycubic has launched a new 3D printer, the Photon Mono M5s Pro. The upgraded resin printer now features a 10.1-inch 14K HD screen and is said to offer unparalleled printing precision. With an air heater and an air purification system, the Anycubic Photon Mono M5s Pro ensures smoother prints and improved efficiency compared to its predecessor.

How does the 3D printer perform in everyday use and how detailed are the printed models? We find out in the following test.

Technical data

HongKong Anycubic Technology Co.,LTD Anycubic Photon Mono M5s Pro

HongKong Anycubic Technology Co.,LTD Anycubic Photon Mono M5s Pro

$ 479.00

$ 479.00

in stock

Buy now* Anycubic

Scope of delivery

• smiling face in foam
• Air heater with air purification function against resin odor
• numerous aids included

First of all, the Anycubic Photon Mono M5s Pro comes with a generous scope of delivery. The 3D printer comes in an attractive cardboard box with cut foam elements on the sides. There is also a nice surprise when you unpack it: A smiling face is incorporated into the top foam element.

In addition to the 3D printer itself, numerous accessories are also included in the scope of delivery. These include several tools, protective gloves, two different spatulas, protective foils, a surgical mask and a USB stick with several test print models. A new addition is an air heater with air purification function, which is designed to counteract the odor of resin printers in particular. The package is rounded off with a corresponding build platform, a resin tray, two power cables and several paper resin filters.

Setup & commissioning

• simple assembly
• initial start and adjustment of the Z-axis is necessary before assembly
• Protective film cannot be applied practically bubble-free

Assembling the Anycubic Photon Mono M5s Pro is easy, so you can start printing quickly. To make the process easier, the printer should be started once at the beginning and the Z-axis should be adjusted significantly upwards to avoid space problems.

First of all, the display’s transport protection film must be removed and the enclosed display protection film applied as bubble-free as possible. To avoid larger air bubbles, you can use the enclosed spatula. However, it should be noted that there is a small elevation at the edge of the display, which means that the film cannot be applied completely without air bubbles, at least at the edges. The resin tray is then mounted and fixed in place using one screw on each short side. The next step is to insert the build plate and attach it to the top with another screw. The Anycubic Photon Mono M5s Pro is now ready for its first use and ready for the first resin filling.

Design & processing

• high-quality materials such as metal and aluminum
• precise alignment of the components
• stable Z-axis with linear guides

The housing

The Anycubic Photon Mono M5s Pro looks very similar to its predecessor, the M5. The base is made of metal and the plate, including the framed screen, is made of aluminum. There are a total of four holes around the screen, which allow precise alignment of the small feet on the resin base. As far as the Z-axis is concerned, this forms the rear metal frame with generously dimensioned linear guides. In the lower part of this axis there is a mechanical limit switch that allows automatic positioning of the Z-axis. A large adjusting screw holds the laser-engraved pressure plate firmly in place and the plate can even be completely unscrewed if necessary. Four further screws are responsible for adjustment.

The large touchscreen on the front of the printer is relevant for control. A USB port is located on the right-hand side of the housing at the very back. However, depending on how the Anycubic Photon Mono M5s Pro is set up, this can be a nuisance, which is why it would be advisable to move the USB port to the front of the future model. The main element has an octagonal shape, which is continued by the cover made of yellow UV-resistant acrylic glass. The metal resin tray is aligned and screwed onto the base plate using small raised sections. It holds just under one liter of resin, has a pouring opening and internal scaling.

The air heater with air purification function

To the left of the Z-axis is a marking for the air heater with air purification function. Its housing is made of white plastic, with an LCD display to show the temperature and four operating buttons on the front of the appliance. A slot at the back provides access to the activated charcoal filter, which can be changed as required. Double-sided adhesive tape is provided on the underside for mounting on the 3D printer. Power is supplied via a separate power supply unit and cable, which is routed through an opening in the cover.

Connection, operation & software

• WLAN module and USB port for print data transfer
• sluggish display response, firmer pressure required
• Use of the app or 3D slicer software for optimum operation

The Anycubic Photon Mono M5s Pro is equipped with a Wi-Fi module and a USB port. Both variants enable the transfer of print models to the 3D printer. Once the Wi-Fi connection is active, the device can also be monitored via the Anycubic app. Although it is possible to handle the entire printing process via the printer display on the front, the range of functions is very limited at this point. It is noticeable that the display reacts somewhat sluggishly, which means you have to press harder on it with your finger. Optimal operation requires either the manufacturer’s own smartphone app or 3D slicer software.

Smartphone app

Once you have created an account and added the Anycubic Photon Mono M5s Pro to the Anyubic app, you can also use it to install future firmware updates. Users also have a live view of the current print job and receive a notification as soon as printing is complete. If necessary, printing processes can also be restarted, the current process paused or separate 3D printer settings adjusted. Numerous models from other users are presented in a separate tab. Here you can gather inspiration and either save the model or print it directly.

Manufacturer’s own 3D slicer software

The Anycubic Photon Workshop software can be used to create 3D models on the PC or to open and edit existing .STL/.OBJ files from the Internet. The overlay of the 3D slicer software is quite clearly structured and when the application is started for the first time, the user is guided through a so-called Beginner’s Guide, which briefly and concisely highlights the basic functions. However, it should be mentioned that at the time of testing, the software was only available in English and Chinese. If you are initially overwhelmed by the range of functions or the language, you can now find numerous tutorials on YouTube.

In the software, the selected 3D model can be cut, moved, scaled and rotated as required. In addition, supports can be added manually using the support function or, alternatively, this part can be calculated automatically by the software. Although the settings themselves offer few options to choose from, the specific print settings of the device model can be defined in a separate printer menu. Here we can fine-tune the Anycubic Photon Mono M5s Pro and adjust both the print resolution and the use of the resin. The final print is prepared using the slice button at the bottom right of the screen and the 3D model is converted into printer language in the background. The various layers can be viewed separately in a separate overview using the slider. The calculated model can also be saved flexibly at this point and the estimated printing time can be viewed.

Practical test

• High print quality for both small and large models
• Easy filling and emptying of the resin tray
• Helpful status display on the touchscreen

In practical tests, the Anycubic Photon Mono M5s Pro proved to be a real printing talent and did not make any major mistakes with small or large models. Pouring the liquid resin into the resin tank is flawless and even after printing, the rest can be easily poured back into the bottle by removing the tank. If you want to make things even easier, you can even use a 3D-printed funnel as an auxiliary tool. The printing speed, especially with high-speed resin, is at a high level. The status display on the touchscreen is also very helpful. Even the air heater with air purification function does a solid job and can quickly heat the print area under the housing to 40 °C at a room temperature of around 20 °C. As far as the printing plate is concerned, however, the negative aspect is that scratches can gradually appear when removing a model with the included spatula if the print model adheres strongly to it.

The quality of the test prints is visually convincing and even small details of a 3D model are reproduced with filigree detail. During the first test print of the small dragon using the Beginner’s Guide of the Anycubic app, it was noticeable that the supports were very wide and massive. However, this could not be further refined in the app. In this case, it was really difficult to fine-tune the print model. All other prints with the Anycubic Photon Workshop software went excellently once the high-speed resin was added to the settings and fewer support structures were used. The fine patterns of the large dragon wings are cleanly worked out and the spines are also clearly recognizable.

Anycubic Photon Mono M5s Pro test: Conclusion

The Anycubic Photon Mono M5s Pro presents itself as an exciting further development of its already strong predecessor, the M5s. Thanks to its generous installation space and outstanding resolution, this printer is suitable for both beginners and experienced users. It is particularly easy to set up, as the improved build plate and resin tray allow for a smooth setup. The stability and protection of the tray is ensured by the metal construction and the small feet. In addition, the Wi-Fi control and integration into the Anycubic Cloud offer the user a high level of convenience by enabling remote control and monitoring of the printer via smartphone or PC. However, it should be noted that the use of both applications requires an account with the manufacturer.

The ability to print both large models and several small objects at the same time underlines the versatility of the Anycubic Photon Mono M5s Pro. The resin tank has a generous volume of just under one liter, allowing long printing times without the need for constant refilling. The high-speed resin option also offers a higher printing speed, which is particularly advantageous in prototyping, while the 14K resolution delivers fine details in all resin types.

The Anycubic Photon Mono M5s Pro is highly recommended due to its attractive price-performance ratio, especially as the price difference to the M5s is very small. However, the running costs for additional resin bottles should be taken into account when making a purchase decision. For frequent users who attach great importance to the post-processing of 3D models, the costs for a washing and cleaning unit should not be ignored. Depending on the model, this can add up to around 100 euros.

HongKong Anycubic Technology Co.,LTD Anycubic Photon Mono M5s Pro

HongKong Anycubic Technology Co.,LTD Anycubic Photon Mono M5s Pro

$ 479.00

$ 479.00

in stock

Buy now* Anycubic