Is there a better alternative?

If what you’re after is the most detailed, high-resolution prints for the least amount of money, then look no further. This printer provides an incredible amount of bang for your buck when it comes to resolution and surface finish.

　　However, it’s also worth noting that resin printers aren’t for everyone. Resin is sticky, messy, and a pain in the ass to clean up. You have to soak finished parts in isopropyl alcohol to remove uncured resin, and wear nitrile gloves to avoid touching it directly. In other words, SLA printers are relatively high maintenance, so if you’re averse to post-processing or plan on printing in high volumes, we suggest sticking with FDM.

　　The Photon also isn’t the best choice if you need to print big, or even medium-sized objects. For that, we recommend spending your money on an FDM printer like the Monoprice Maker Select Plus, which boasts a far larger build envelope, but still costs less than $500.

　　

How long will it last?

For the most part, there aren’t very many components on this machine that are likely to wear out — aside from the nonstick FEP sheets on the bottom of the resin vat, which you’ll have to replace regularly anyway. The Photon doesn’t have a lot of moving parts, so as long as you keep the threaded rod oiled up and are diligent about maintaining the resin vat, it’ll likely last for years to come.

　　

Should you buy it?

Hell yeah you should. There are a lot of ways to spend $500, and this is one of the best ones we can think of.