Description
Peopoly Phenom 3D Printer Review
Product Name: Peopoly Phenom 3D Printer
Product Description: Peopoly Phenom is a desktop resin 3D printer that uses MSLA (Masked Stereolithography) technology to produce higher output at a lower cost. With a mix of LCD and LED lights, it cures the liquid resin which results in high-quality prints. The manufacturer also included an LCD-based masking technique to harden the resin faster through a set of elements instead of one-by-one. It weighs 42 kg and comes with a 4.3-inch color touchscreen and ChiTuBox software. In addition, it has a simple and responsive user interface that shows important information such as printing time, the total amount of layers of prints, and the live printing process. And in terms of connectivity, it supports USB and Ethernet, but unfortunately, there is no built-in Wi-Fi for this printer.
Offer price: 1,800 - 2300
Currency: USD
Availability: OnlineOnly
-
Build Quality
-
Performance
-
Features
-
Easy to Use
Summary
With its big and tall structure, easy-to-use interface, and excellent prints, the Peopoly Phenom 3D printer is an amazing printer that costs less than other 3D printers. It uses MSLA technology that helps in speeding up the printing process. And with a wide range of resin materials to use, it gives you more opportunities to create different designs. This printer is best for those who enjoy and comfortable doing little DIY. To sum it up, the Peopoly Phenom 3D printer is a great machine that can battle head-to-head with its competitors.
Pros
Support a wide range of resins
Easy user interface
Smooth, detailed, and high-quality prints
Affordable resin 3D printer
Software compatible with Windows, Mac OSX, and Linux
Cons
Noisy operation
No built-in Wi-Fi
Lack of fill indicator
Delicate liquid resin tub plastic
Sensitive LCD
User Review
( votes)Peopoly Phenom 3D Printer Review
Back in 2017, Peopoly introduces its very first 3D printer called the Moai. It is one of the most affordable SLA-type 3D printers until this Hongkong-based Company created a faster and larger machine known as the Peopoly Phenom 3D printer. Similar to previous models, it is also very affordable and made for all types of businesses. But what makes it stand out from the crowd is its huge build that measures 17.8 x 14.3 x 30.7 inches. Also, the print area is four times bigger than the standard 3D printers at 10.8 x 6.1 x 15.8 inches, which allows you to print larger designs.
The Peopoly Phenom 3d printer is a desktop resin 3D printer that uses MSLA (Masked Stereolithography) technology to produce higher output at a lower cost. With a mix of LCD and LED lights, it cures the liquid resin which results in high-quality prints. It also works faster than other existing and competing SLA (Stereolithography) or DLP (Digital Light Projector) printer even when printing larger objects. In addition, the manufacturer included an LCD-based masking technique to harden the resin faster through a set of elements instead of one-by-one.
Overview
For the Peopoly Phenom 3d printer, the company chose to use MSLA technology over SLA to increase the printing speed. Both technologies use UV light to set photosensitive liquid resin by exposing the layers on its LCD, but the only difference is that through SLA, the laser traces the layer per element while MSLA takes the whole layer. The Phenom has a 12.5-inch 4K LCD screen with a UV-LED panel below and a custom lens in between to equally distribute the light across the built plate. It weighs 42 kg and comes with a 4.3-inch color touchscreen and ChiTuBox software. Also, it has a simple and responsive user interface that shows important information such as printing time, the total amount of layers of prints, and the live printing process. And in terms of connectivity, it supports USB and Ethernet, but unfortunately, there is no built-in Wi-Fi for this printer.
Since exposure to heat for a long time weakens the LCD’s liquid crystals, Peopoly ensures the lens to block infrared heat from the lamps to avoid overheating. And to maintain the LCD screen’s low temperature, the printer has a fan array and heat sink along with a deft resin that helps in lowering the curing time per layer. Lastly, maintaining the resin vat full helps in cooling the LCD during the printing process.
Key Specifications
- Masked Stereolithography (MSLA) technology
- ChiTuBox software
- 5-inch 4K LCD panel
- 72 microns XY resolution
- 8 kg resin vat
- 3-inch color touchscreen
- 8 x 6.1 x 15.8 inches print area
- 8 x 14.3 x 30.7 inches dimensions
- 42 kg of weight
- USB and Ethernet connectivity
- Compatible with Windows, Mac OSX, and Linux
Design
The Peopoly Phenom 3d printer uses a combination of an LCD screen and a UV LED where a grid of LEDs sits under the print bed and shines through the LED screen. Overall, the design has a simple yet unconventional approach when printing and doesn’t require any complicated setup. If you see that the LCD screen is clear, then the UV light passes through, which means the resin is now solidified. But when it is unclear, this indicates that the light is blocked and the layer of resin remains liquid. Then, the cycle repeats from liquid resin to solid until a layer-by-layer print is done.
Unfortunately, the printer’s LCD screen has a high possibility of getting worn out quickly. As estimated, it only takes around 400 hours of printing time before replacing it to avoid the damage from intense UV light. Although it may look like a lot of time, for most businesses, a 24-hour usage is not impossible. Also, the construction might be done excellently but the lack of built-in Wi-Fi is very disappointing. Instead, you need to use wired Ethernet to connect the Phenom to ChiTuBox software.
Setup
Setting up the Peopoly Phenom 3d printer is very easy since the machine comes fully assembled. It is a typical plug-and-play device where you can start printing right away. But to guide you through the whole process, here are some instructions to get started.
- Remove all Styrofoam packaging and take out the parts and accessories inside the printer.
- If needed, slightly clean the LCD or apply some lubricant before installing the resin vat at the bottom.
- Before mounting the print bed, it is important to manually level the plate. To do so, just click the Tool icon on the touchscreen below, then Manual, and click the arrow up until the build plate starts to move up.
- Make sure that the screws are loosened to be able to level it manually. Once done, return the build plate to the Home setting by click again the Tool icon, Manual, and then the image Home. Don’t forget to tighten the screws gently.
- Prepare the printer for printing by calibrating some measurements using the ChiTuBox software.
Features
Mask Stereolithography (MSLA) Technology
One of the main features of the Peopoly Phenom 3d printer that sets it apart from other Peopoly printers is its MSLA technology. The setup is all about the LCD mounted on the LED array to deliver UV light needed in the printing process. Through the use of an LCD light source, it projects layer-by-layer images to form an object with fine details, which is faster than any digital manufacturing. And before you thought about the heat that could affect the print, the manufacturer already found the perfect solution. They included a fan array and heat sink to dissipate the heat during operation.
ChiTuBox Software
As the most popular slicer software for resin 3D printers, ChitTuBox offers great control over the printing setting. This powerful tool offers a simple and user-friendly interface that eases the 3D printing process. It is compatible with operating systems such as Windows, Mac, and Linux and is free. Good thing that the Peopoly Phenom 3d printer pairs up with ChiTu firmware to handle all operations like bed leveling, UV light brightness setting, and stopping print. And through wired Ethernet or USB drive, we can send our print files directly to the printer.
Resin Materials
Another great feature of the Peopoly Phenom 3d printer is its wide variety of resin materials. They might have their resin but it still allows the use of third-party resin. Though you need to make little adjustments in the setting, you can pour any resin you want into the print tray. Commonly, the deft resin is used for fast and easy printing on a larger volume resin printer like the Phenom. But if it is not available, you can always switch to Siraya Tech Fast resin, which has balance strength and hardness for perfect flexibility.
Performance
During our testing, the Peopoly Phenom 3d printer proves to be fairly fast. With UV LED and LCD combines, it can print an entire layer of print at once. It took less than 13 hours for a 4-inch model print to complete. Although it is not the fastest 3D printer, the results show high-quality with natural, smooth, and clean surfaces. The sharp edges and curves are pretty impressive which only requires minimal post-cleaning like washing with alcohol and solidifying using UV light.
On the other hand, the lack of automatic functions of this printer means you need to do everything on your own. From setting up the printer, filling the print tray with resin, to adjusting the print bed level. It also lacks the ability to detect the amount of resin left and doesn’t send a warning or signal. The operation is very noisy due to fans on the side of the case. Not to mention, the stinky smell of chemicals that comes out of the machine. Furthermore, replacing LCD panels every 400 hours of printing time could be burdensome in the long run.
Conclusion
To sum it up, the Peopoly Phenom 3d printer is a great machine. With its big and tall structure, easy-to-use interface, and excellent prints, it is an amazing printer that costs less than other 3D printers. It uses MSLA technology that helps in speeding up the printing process. And with a wide range of resin materials to use, it gives you more opportunities to create different designs. This printer is best for those who enjoy and comfortable doing little DIY. Although, you might need to compensate for its loud fan noise and the smell of chemicals. Nevertheless, this is an incredible resin 3D printer that can battle head-to-head with its competitors. If unsure this is the right 3d printer for you, check out our 3d printers section where we are sure you will find a 3d printer to suit your needs.
