Read our Elegoo Mars 2 Pro review to find out the features, specs, quality of print and other characteristics of the 3D printer.
The Elegoo Mars 2 Pro is a high-quality desktop 3D printer that prints with photopolymer resins. The printer stands out for its high accuracy and fast speed. It also takes up very little space, given its dimensions of 200 x 200 x 410 mm.
Watch the video below for an overview of the Elegoo Mars 2 Pro 3D printer.
Elegoo Mars 2 Pro 2K Review
Let’s get started with the 3D printer.
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The Elegoo Mars 2 Pro comes in a sturdy aluminum construction. This resin 3D printer also features a powerful 2K monochrome LCD with a 2.5 second cure time per layer. Moreover, it has an integrated air filtration unit.
The Mars 2 Pro impresses with its ease of setup and high quality prints. The print volume of the unit is at par with other machines in this price range, such as the Anycubic Photon .
Specifications
Technology | UV Photocuring |
Layer Thickness | 0.01-0.2mm |
Printing Speed | 30-50mm/h |
Z Axis Accuracy | 0.00125mm |
XY Resolution | 0.05mm(1620*2560) |
Build Volume | 5.08in(L)*3.15in(W)*6.30in(H) 129mm(L)*80mm(W)*160mm(H) |
Light Source | UV Integrated Light (wavelength 405nm) |
Languages | Chinese English Japanese Dutch Korean French German Russian Italian Spanish Turkish Portuguese |
Connectivity | USB |
Weight | 13.67lbs(6.2kg) |
Operation | 3.5 Inch Touch Screen |
Power Requirements | 100-240V 50/60Hz |
Printer Dimensions | 7.87in (L)*7.87in (W)*16.14in (H) / 20cm (L)*20cm (W)*41cm (H) |
What’s in the Box?
Unboxing the Elegoo Mars 2 Pro is a bit like opening a nesting doll. Inside the box is the printer, and inside the printer are all the accessories. Almost everything you need is there. These include:
- Resin tank
- Build platform
- Metal scraper
- Plastic scraper
- User Instruction
- 3 pair of gloves
- 10 funnels
- UL Adapter
- U Disk(2 GB)
- Backup Screws
- Sillicone rubber seal
Elegoo includes enough to get you started right away. However, you have to purchase the resin separately.
Elegoo Mars 2 Pro 2K Features
The standout features of this budget resin 3D printer include:
2K Monochrome LCD
The ELEGOO Mars 2 Pro MSLA 3D Printer boasts an impressive 6.08-inch Monochrome LCD with a striking 2K HD resolution. This technological leap offers an extraordinary fourfold increase in lifespan and a twofold enhancement in printing speed when compared to regular RGB LCD 3D printers. Such advancements translate to heightened printing efficiency, superior stability in performance, and substantially reduced maintenance needs.
Multi-language Interface
One of the features of the new operating system running the Mars 2 Pro 2K is its support for 13 distinct languages. The supported languages are English, Chinese, Japanese, Dutch, Korean, French, German, Russian, Italian, Spanish, Turkish, and Portuguese. You can choose the language you prefer during setup.
Built-in Active Carbon
Just like the Mars Pro, the Mars 2 Pro 2K has a built-in activated carbon system. The system absorbs resin fumes during operation. Together with the turbo cooling fan and silicone rubber seal, the carbon system eliminates any irksome odors.
CNC Machined Aluminum
Crafted expertly from CNC machined aluminum, the Mars 2 Pro maintains a robust build quality from the build platform to the resin vat. This construction is durable, and this helps in consistently delivering high quality prints. The underlines of the 3D printer are made of aluminum for longevity and reliability.
COB UV LED Light Source
A worthy upgrade, the COB UV LED light source in the Mars 2 Pro has outstanding heat dissipation capabilities for optimal performance. Its high luminous maintenance rate, uniform light emission, and absence of spots contribute significantly to achieving flawless prints.
Chitu Box Slicer
The ChituBox software has proven invaluable in improving the potential of ELEGOO resin 3D printers. The software does multiple things, from slicing .stl files to adding essential supports. With the latest addition of an 8-times anti-aliasing function, you get an improved printing surface quality.
Construction
The Elegoo Mars 2 Pro looks like a typical resin 3D printer from the outside. It has a tinted UV-resistant acrylic cover, an LCD touch screen on the front and a print platform suspended from a linear Z-axis rail.
However, unlike similar printers in this price range that use a plastic base, the base of the Mars 2 Pro is made of metal. This makes it more stable and reliable.
The resin bath and matrix are supplied with protective stickers applied on them. The stickers are easy to remove; just pull the tab on the red sticker.
The base of the Mars 2 Pro has a recess for positioning the bath flush with the backlight LCD.
The swing arm is a surprisingly useful tool. Some resin usually remains on the top of the build plate after printing, and drips all over the area when removed to separate the printed part. The swivel bracket allows the post-printing platform to be positioned at an angle to allow the resin glass to flow into the bath. I really like this mounting style and hope that in the future it will become standard for other 3D printers of this type.
Just like the original Mars Pro, the Mars 2 Pro uses a front USB port to transfer files via a flash drive . A bright 3.5-inch color LCD touchscreen allows you to easily navigate all printer settings. The LCD is the only interface between you and the printer. Therefore, screen responsiveness is important when calibrating the platform and choosing a part to print.
The wiring inside Mars 2 Pro is clean and professional. All terminal blocks are securely fastened. The USB connector located on the front of the device is additionally secured with glue.
One of the benefits of the Mars 2 Pro is the built-in air filter, which visible to the left of the power switch in the picture above. This filter pulls air out from under the cover and filters it before pulling it out. This air filter is handy for 3D printing makers who are sensitive to the smell of photopolymer resin.
Calibrating the Elegoo Mars 2 Pro
The Mars 2 Pro Print Platform to the bracket uses a spring-loaded ball and socket design that allows the platform to contact the LCD screen without pressure or damage.
Elegoo has standardized this type of platform across its entire line of printers, including the Elegoo Saturn, one of the best budget resin 3D printers.
Following the instructions in the manual, I placed a sheet of paper over the screen to protect it and set clearance. I then loosened two bolts on the platform mount and lowered it until the build plate was aligned over the LCD.
It is difficult to overestimate the simplicity of this solution; the printer practically calibrates itself. You only need to tighten two bolts after the platform is aligned.
Safety When Printing with Elegoo Mars 2 Pro
Photopolymer resin can irritate skin and mucous membranes. Therefore, make sure you wear gloves when pouring, cleaning, or handling uncured resin.
You should also use the Mars 2 Pro in a well-ventilated area to minimize the risk of inhaling the vapors. Any contamination with resin must be removed with isopropyl alcohol. Containers with resins must be tightly closed during storage.
The Mars 2 Pro print bed has sloped surfaces to allow resin to drain off the edges during printing. This makes cleaning easier and saves more of the leftover resin for later use.
Thanks to this shape and tiltable bracket (for draining resin from the platform after printing), cleaning the platform on Mars 2 Pro is significantly easier than on most other resin 3D printers.
Printing Samples
Do not print the supplied test file on the Elegoo Mars 2 Pro. If you’ve already read our Elegoo Saturn review , then you know why .
Resin hardened during printing is not malleable. The hard and rigid block of this material, printed on a solid metal platform, is also very difficult to remove. This can damage the printed part itself, or even the surface of the platform.
The test model file that comes with the Elegoo Mars 2 Pro is the same one that comes with the Saturn, i.e., a pair of chess rooks. Both of these rooks are modeled so that they are printed directly on the platform, without rafting and supports. Therefore, they hold to the printbed tightly.
For test prints, use self-prepared models with a thin raft that can be bent and easily detached from the platform.
Preparing Files for Printing Using Chitubox
The Elegoo Mars 2 Pro comes with a Chitubox slicer to prepare your models for printing. Chitubox uses a simplified interface that is convenient for novice users. In addition, the program has enough features to satisfy experienced users who need more granular control.
Chitubox is designed as a complete solution for 3D printing with resin. The slicer has features such as customization of model infill, creation of supports and drainage holes.
Chitubox includes a profile for the Mars 2 Pr. Its settings deserve a closer look.
With a 2.5 second layer exposure time made possible by a monochrome LCD, Mars 2 Pro outperforms traditional resin LCD 3D printers such as the Creality LD-002R , which take up to 9 seconds to cure.
When printing models with thousands of layers, the extra seconds from each layer add up to additional printing hours.
I wanted to test a hollow model with a lot of surface detail. Therefore, I used Printed Obsession’s Doom Guy as a test piece.
This model was designed as a solid mesh. I used Chitubox to process it, add drain holes and an auto-generated support structure. Chitubox made this process quick and easy. It took about 10 minutes to process the model.
The model was printed by Elegoo Standard Resin Clear Green and came out great on the first try. The Chitubox-designed support structure held the model on the platform with no problem. On the same note, the 2K LCD screen accurately reproduced all the details present in the 3D model.
After a quick rinse in 99% isopropyl alcohol, I was able to easily separate the supports from the model and rinse off excess resin from the inside and outside.
The print time for this model was just over 8 and a half hours.
The resulting print, after the final exposure in the UV curing chamber, looks very good. There are practically no footprints from the supports. Also, the height of 0.05 mm made the layers invisible to the naked eye. Without magnification, I could only make out the “steps” at the very top of the helmet and on the shoulder pads.
The 2K sensor does not offer the same ultra-high XY resolution as the 4K screen on the Phrozen Sonic Mini 4K. However, it will be very difficult for you to see the difference with the naked eye.
For reference, the Sonic Mini 4K has an XY resolution of 0.035mm, as opposed to an XY resolution of 0.05mm on the Mars 2 Pro. The difference of 0.015 mm is approximately equal to the size of a white blood cell and is less than a quarter of the average width of a human hair (about 0.01 mm).
Elegoo Mars 2 Pro Vs Elegoo Mars Pro
Elegoo Mars 2 Pro is in many ways similar in appearance and function to its predecessor, the Mars Pro .
Despite its nearly identical appearance, the Mars 2 Pro offers more print volume, a higher resolution screen, and a higher print volume to printer footprint ratio.
Check the table below to see how the two resin 3D printers compare:
Elegoo Mars Pro | Elegoo Mars 2 Pro | |
Matrix resolution | 1440 x 2560 | 1620 x 2560 |
XY pixel size | 0.047 mm | 0.05mm |
Print chamber dimensions | 11.5 x 6.5 x 15 cm | 13 x 8 x 16 cm |
Print volume | 1121 cm³ | 1652 cm³ |
Printer dimensions | 20 x 20 x 41 cm | 20 x 20 x 41 cm |
Printer space | 16 370 cm³ | 16 370 cm³ |
Print volume to machine volume ratio (larger = better) | 6.80% | 10.10% |
The XY accuracy of the Mars Pro is slightly higher (3 microns, which is difficult to measure and impossible to see), but the print volume is approximately 60% of the volume of the Mars 2 Pro.
The slightly higher Z-axis height of the Mars 2 Pro is an advantage. However, an even greater advantage is the increased XY plane, which allows you to print several small parts at the same time.
Print Samples
Bust Stamp
Unlike FDM printers such as the Creality Ender 3 V2 , on resin printers the print time is determined by the number of layers and the exposure time of each layer. This means that printing wide models, even across the entire platform, takes the same amount of time as printing narrow ones, assuming the same height.
To demonstrate this, I printed a bust of Anna from Loot Studios. This model has a wide cross section and uses most of the available print area on the Mars 2 Pro.
This model was already prepared for printing by the author, including the support created. Therefore, I did not need to make any changes.
Take note of the bird on a woman’s hand. This model would be very inconvenient to print on an FDM-3D printer due to the large number of required supports.
Chitubox calculated the print time at 6 hours and 7 minutes.
For this print, I used Elegoo beige resin (which is, unfortunately, out of stock at the time of writing) and the same Chitubox defaults as for the clear green resin. As with the first print, the model’s support structure was printed perfectly and held the model on the platform, preventing deformation and twisting.
After rinsing the model in warm water and scraping off excess resin, I detached the supports effortlessly with little or no residue on the model.
The detailing of the model is excellent. The hair looks like a product obtained by injection molding. The layers are invisible to the naked eye and the texture of the fabric is very realistic.
The Mars 2 Pro did not require calibration before or after this print. I am confident that I can print many more times without any quality deviations.
Printing Miniature Models
Resin 3D printers like the Elegoo Mars 2 Pro are popular in the board game community, and for good reason. The creation of highly detailed miniature models is a challenge for FDM 3D printers due to the small size of the elements. The Mars 2 Pro, on the other hand, creates good quality thumbnails with ease.
Loot Studio’s Ruins print perfectly demonstrates this. This benchtop model of a landscape plot consists of columns, each just under 7mm in diameter.
Despite the small size of the model, the ruins take about three hours to print, due to the height of 53 mm. The texture is clearly visible when previewed in Chitubox. The 0.05mm XY resolution allows the Mars 2 Pro to bring detail to the printed model.
I positioned this model in the center of the platform. However, Chitubox advised that you can print four of these at a time, in the same amount of time as one.
This printing of multiple parts in parallel is ideal for small batch production. Moreover, the robust platform calibration makes such production possible on the Mars 2 Pro.
The easily water-washable photopolymer makes post-processing very easy. I soaked the model in warm water. The water washes away excess resin and softens the supports to remove them as easily as possible.
After soaking, the supports peeled off and left only small pockmarks where they were attached to the model. These traces are almost invisible.
Printing other miniature Loot Studio models produced similar results. The details of the miniatures are clearly delineated. The overall quality of the models is very similar to the results of injection molding.
I used to say that 3D printing was difficult to create models that looked cleaner than what you can find in a toy store. However, the smooth surface of these models indicates that it’s time to drop this comparison.
Elegoo Mars 2 Pro Availability
There are many resin 3D printers available on the market. Therefore, it is difficult for manufacturers to release a machine that stands out.
Elegoo has had a long line of successful printers: Mars , Mars Pro and Saturn , and now the Mars 2 Pro easily takes its rightful place among them. Ease of use, robust construction and high quality components make Elegoo Mars 2 Pro an excellent photopolymer 3D printer for relatively little money.
Elegoo recently announced the Mars 3 Ultra 4K , which will replace the Mars 2 Pro as the flagship of the Mars lineup.
Pros and Cons of Elegoo Mars 2 Pro
With a built-in air filter, easy platform alignment and 0.05mm XY resolution, the Mars 2 Pro does its job well and is no-nonsense.
Let’s look at its pros and cons.
Pros
- Air filtration system
- ChituBox slicer integration
- Fast illumination of each layer
- The print area is above average
- All-metal construction
- Spring loaded self-leveling platform
Cons
- The manufacturer’s suggested test model can cause problems
- Noisy cooling fans
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