Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I'm a 3D printer hobbyist with 2 FDM printers. I needed a printer that could print finer detail. I decided to try the Photon after seeing good YouTube and Amazon reviews. I've had my AnyCubic Photon for ~2 months. I'll share my experience: Pros 1. It makes amazing prints. I'm printing at .05mm and am thrilled with the print quality. It does a great job capturing fine details. 2. Easy to use. The slicer software is basic but works well. So far, the auto support function is reliable. I've had no failed prints due to poor supports. The software is stable on Windows 10. I have the beta version loaded on my Mac but have not used it as much, so cannot comment on its stability. Bed leveling is very fast and easy. I've rarely had to redo it. 3. Solid mechanics. The build plate and resin vat are anodized aluminum. The Z-axis is an acme threaded rod. I have not experienced any Z-axis wobble so far. 4. AnyCubic resin works well with the printer. I mention this because there are a number of 3rd party resins. I have not used any 3rd party resin and cannot offer a comparison. However, Anycubic resins have the recommended exposure/printer settings on the bottle. Using these settings, I've had good printer performance. 5. There's a growing user community. Facebook, Reddit, and GitHub are hosting a number of users who are sharing their successes and trials with the printer. This is very helpful to new and seasoned users. Cons/Cautions 1. My printer shipped with a faulty power supply. AnyCubic support was very responsive. After some troubleshooting, they shipped me a new power supply and UV LED array (just in case that was faulty too). 2. The firmware is buggy. Error messages are cryptic, USB support is hit or miss, and I've experienced 1 random printer issue where the Z-axis and internal fans stopped working. This issue was resolved by a firmware update provided on the GitHub page and by AnyCubic support. 3. The printer uses 2 consumables in addition to UV resin: (1) FEP film and (2) the 2K LCD screen. The FEP film is rugged but you must be careful not to puncture or scratch it. AnyCubic comes with additional FEP film, but it's a consumable that will eventually need replacing. The 2K LED screen is also considered a consumable. The screen is projecting UV images at a high intensity many times over the course of a print. It will eventually lose pixels, dim in intensity, etc. Be advised that this is expected for this technology. I do not know the life expectancy of the LCD. It would be great to have an hours estimate from AnyCubic. 4. AnyCubic support is based in China and operate in a different time zone. So, the turnaround time for email responses can be 12-24 hours. They are very responsive, just not immediate because of the time zone differences. My bottom line so far - the Photon is a good, entry-level UV printer that produces amazing print quality. I've been very impressed with its printing capabilities. I cannot overstate the print quality it produces! However, my printer has experienced minor hardware issues. AnyCubic support has been very helpful in rectifying the issues. That said, my opinion is this printer is great for someone who accepts that low-cost comes with downsides. Users who are expecting a flawless piece of hardware that can work 24/7 with no issues will be disappointed. Like most 3D printing technologies, you should be willing to understand the hardware, software, and the fundamentals of operating the equipment. For example, when I was troubleshooting the power supply issue, AnyCubic asked me to check voltage at various points INSIDE the printer. I know how to do these things and am comfortable doing so. I learned a ton about the printer, specifically it's major electrical subassemblies and their part on the overall system. A low-cost piece of hardware has a higher probability of issues. Dive in! Just dive in aware. I would recommend this printer to most folks. I would also recommend that those who buy it be willing to work through its shortcomings, participate in the AnyCubic Photon communities, partner with AnyCubic tech support as needed, and enjoy the results. I'm including pics of a studio scale Star Wars Y-Wing I'm building. All green parts are from the Photon. 10 stars for print quality (if I could). 4/5 stars overall recognizing there are minor issues to overcome.