The first affordable consumer DLP 3D printer

Shenzhen, China – July 15th 2021  —  Anycubic launching Photon Ultra on Kickstarter.

Elevator pitch

Anycubic, the established 3D printer brand known for its high-quality and affordable printers, is coming to Kickstarter with a world premiere: world’s first affordable, high-precision DLP 3D printer for consumers. DLP printers are superior to LCD based 3D printers in printing small and narrow models, but have always been prohibitively expensive, until now. The Photon Ultra features an exclusive debut of Texas Instrument’s latest DLP technology, which brings many advantages to users, such as: low to no maintenance, extremely high-resolution prints, and much lower power consumption. The Photon Ultra is making its worldwide debut on the crowdfunding website Kickstarter, where it will be available at just $399 for the first 100 backers and $499 for normal price. After Kickstarter, Photon Ultra’s price on Amazon will be over $599.

Main benefits of Photon Ultra

High-precision printing

Although the specified resolution of this DLP printer Photon Ultra is rated at 720p, its print quality is even better than that of 2k/4k monochrome LCD screen printers. This is because DLP printers use a different technology to project light compared to LCD printers. DLP printers use a projector that reflects all the light to a pixel via a micromirror, therefore, there is no light convergence, achieving crisper black-white contrasts. LCD printers converge all the light to a pixel, which can cause bumps and shadows on the edge of models. When displaying thin lines and small-size texts, DLP printers are clearer than LCD printers with purer colors and richer layers, resulting in more delicate texture and sharper corners of models.

Longer durability

LCD screens are a consumable, which need to be replaced every 3 to 5 months. The Photon Ultra does not have an LCD screen and the internal projector doesn’t require maintenance for up to 20,000 hours of use. This means the average user saves $600 per year on LCD screen replacements. With a Kickstarter price tag of $399, most people will have saved more money than they spent on the Photon Ultra after just six months of use!

Energy saving

The fact that the Photon Ultra doesn’t require high maintenance LCD screens is already a big step forward in creating an environmentally friendly 3D printer. The machine is also much more energy-efficient, which further improves its impact on the environment. The Photon Ultra DLP printer operates at 40% light efficiency, which is 15 times higher than the 2.5-3% that LCD printers usually operate at. It uses far less energy and is rated at 12W with an average power consumption of 8.5W. The printer consumes between 0.017 – 0.034 kWh to print a 100mm high model,

Whisper quiet printing

Lower power consumption equals less heat, which means the Photon Ultra doesn’t need any cooling fans, making it truly whisper quiet.

Smooth edges

With 16 x anti-aliasing, the edges and corners of prints are smoothed out, reducing layer lines and post-processing time.

Fast print speed

Photon Ultra’s print speed is about 1.5s per layer, comparable to LCD printers like Photon Mono X, whose speed is 1.5 – 2s per layer. Compared to SLA’s point light source printing, its speed is up to 5 times faster.

Wide range of resin options

Photon Ultra has options for adjustable UV power, which makes the printer suitable for use with a wide range of resins, giving users endless possibilities and creative freedom.

Note: Anycubic recommends using DLP-specific resins for the best results.

Better adhesion

The print bed has been laser engraved for enhanced platform adhesion and evenness, ensuring prints have a higher success rate and better stability.

User friendly interface

The Photon Ultra debuts printing settings to be modified directly on the printer via the color touch screen, making it easier to adjust and optimize without a computer.

About Anycubic

Anycubic is a leading company in the 3D printer industry, which specializes in 3D printer R&D, manufacturing and sales. We provide many affordable, high-performance and smart printers for different kinds of customers, consumers, hobbyists, schools and product designers. Since its establishment in 2015, we have been committed to propelling 3D printing technology so as to enable people from all walks of life to unleash their creativity and turn their imagination into reality.

Printing parameters

System: ANYCUBIC Photon Ultra

Operation: 2.8-inch resistive touch screen

Slicing software: ANYCUBIC Photon workshop

Connection mode: USB

Print specifications

Printing technology: DLP (Digital Light Processing)

Light source configuration: Imported UV LED (wavelength 405 nm)

Resolution: 1280 * 720 (720 P)

XY axis precision: 80 um (0.080 mm)

Z axis precision: 0.01 mm

Layer thickness: 0.01 ~ 0.15 mm

Print speed: 1.5S / layer

Rated power: 12 W

Physical parameters

Printers size: 222 mm (L) * 227 mm (W) * 383 mm (H)

Build Volume: 102.4 mm (L) * 57.6 mm (W) * 165mm (H)

Net Weight: ~ 4kg

Price & Crowdfunding details

Anycubic’s Photon Ultra is launching on Kickstarter on September 15th, 2021, where it will be available for pre-order in a worldwide exclusive. We are using crowdfunding to match the innovative spirit of our customers, who are trailblazers in the creative community, always embracing the new. Our campaign will last for approximately one month, offering many benefits, discounts and special promotions to our early supporters. After Kickstarter, backers will be the first in the world to receive their Photon Ultra, and later in the year it will become available via the regular Anycubic distribution channels at a slightly higher price.