3D printing with resin (stereo lithography) is both a magical and formidable experience. The Saturn 3 Ultra is so good at the magical part that the dreaded part is forgotten. This is easily the best experience we've had with resin 3D printing . The Saturn 3 Ultra is the model to choose if you are looking for this type of 3D printer.
The Saturn 3 Ultra outperforms the Saturn 2 in almost every area. Mechanically, it looks familiar. The only two notable changes are a UV cover that lifts in a cloudy gray color instead of red and a four-point bed adjustment system. The power supply, USB-A port and Wi-Fi antenna have been moved to the side of the machine, which is very convenient.
The Saturn 3's Wi-Fi is usable, but we'd like Elegoo to add more control features. Maybe a temperature gauge and an app to track print progress? For now, all we can do is send the file to print. Useful but limited.
Very fine and detailed 3D resin prints
This situation applies to all resin 3D printers . Indeed, 3D filament printers (FDM) offer applications and cameras to monitor printing remotely. Some even allow you to print directly from the application. More complex, resin printing makes using an application more difficult. An app that gives basic information would help put resin 3D printing on equal footing with its filament-based cousins.
The Ultra also increases the resolution of the monochrome screen from 8 to 12K. If the difference is not noticeable on the large smooth models, it is on the other hand on the small figurines and the models rich in textures. As evidenced by this superb Urban Cthulhu sculpture from Fotis Mint. You can see every fold of the fabric and every tooth of the jacket's zipper.
The 10-inch screen is large enough, as is the print volume of 218.88 x 122.88 x 260 mm. The Saturn is the perfect size for making miniatures for board games. And, thanks to the way resin printers print layers, you can print 15 figures as quickly as printing one.
A very fast resin 3D printer
The Ultra's real improvement over previous versions lies in speed. Resin 3D printing has always been fast. After all, it's basically a light that shines for 1 or 2 seconds per layer. What makes the machines slower is getting the model unstuck without damaging it. The Ultra uses a new type of ACF sheet that allows the model to be peeled off faster and significantly reduces the total print time.
Elegoo claims that with the right resin (its standard Rapid UV resin to be exact), the Saturn 3 Ultra can print at a speed of 150mm/h. That's three times faster than the Saturn 2 and that's blazing fast for a resin printer. We weren't able to print at that speed, but what we did print was much faster than anything we've seen before.
Now we come to the only real downside of the Saturn 3 Ultra: the lid. It may not be the end of the world, but popping lids are the worst. On a smaller machine like the Mars 3, you can get by. But on larger machines like the Saturn, it's just too bulky to be practical. At least one meter of space should be provided above the printer.
Conclusion: our opinion on the Elegoo Saturn 3 Ultra
The Saturn 3 Ultra is our favorite resin printer. It's almost impossible to match the combination of quality and speed it offers for its sub-$500 price. We repeat: if you want to buy a resin 3D printer, this is the one you need. It meets all expectations.
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