Ive had my S4U for a little over a month now. Hands down the best resin printer ive ever used. I reported a bug in the screen uv and res calibration and Elegoo sent me a back up screen just in case it happens again. Awesome product and service.
This has helped me make up my mind, I will be going with the S4U. Mainly for the Tilt vat feature, the Mini Cam (help detect failures faster), and the Wifi. Really the Wifi is a bonus what I'd really like to see is an Ethernet connection where I can connect directly that way. Or maybe there is and I'm just not aware of it? LOL Great Video, thanks again!!
The Saturn 4 Ultra is my first and o my resin printer so I don’t have a good point of comparison, but I love this thing. I still suck at supports and optimizing orientation, but I love the results. And it’s easy.
Been using my S4 ultra since day one release and yet to have any major fails. I had stopped 3D printing for under a year due to pain dialing in resin setting w past printers. This printer got me back in it! Great review of both printers
your videos definitely help me to convince myself to upgrade from my Phrozen 4k to Elegoo S4U. Is definitely a big change and now I can print with amazing details. Thanks for making all the amazing reviews. Keep it up!!!
Got the S4U a month or so ago, and received the elegoo heater 2 days ago. was worried about its efficacy based on reviews but its been great so far at keeping a consistent 25 degrees. Only has a variance of about 10 degrees overnight to overcome so mileage may vary in colder climates. Happiest ive been with a resin printer after 4 years of owning various Anycubic models.
Oh interesting. What are your outside temps overnight. Just so I have a point of reference? I can’t test mine in the cold as we are in summer at the mo
@@FauxHammer 10-15 degrees overnight at the moment, I used to skip printing in the winter months as i'd see failures even during the day if it dropped under 20. printer is in a "nearly" fully enclosed storage area under the house.
Hate to be the bearer of bad news but atm there isn't a wash and cure that fits the s4u yet. FAQ on the xs states you can't use it with plate *For the Saturn 4 series and Jupiter series, you will need to remove the build platform for cleaning, which is different from other compatible models.
@WireHedd glad we're still in time then 😅 Overall it's not a bad set-up, but if you print a lot of bits or multipart regiments it's really practical to be able to hang the full plate in the washer. They keep saying it's in development but if you look at the q&a on the elegoo page... thats been goin on for a while (hoping at least by black friday, having missed summer sales and prime days already lol)
I turned an old washing machine cabinet thing for a kitchen into a heated light proof enclosure, I live in a warmer climate and I use a small space heater in there set to 72F and it has increased the stability of my prints immensely
S4U is looking tempting its using the rocker method that we used for our top-down printers instead of having a wiper (anyone scared of the extra resin needed in VAT... add salt water when your on a budget ) , just got to watch the video compare with the GK Two now and decide ... personally I am a top-down fan but needing a bottom-up for mobility
If I were to pick, I'd go for the ultra. As it stands I can't really set the printer in a place with consistent ventilation so I need one that doesn't fart resin fumes as it prints. I'll stick to my D2 DLP, thank you.
I’m very happy with the S4U. This is my first resin printer and it has been very easy to use. The only con to this printer is the uneven compression in the first layers because it is “self leveling”. This is only an issue when printing miniature bases flat. Anything with a raft and supports prints flawless.
I'm on my 2nd week of printing on my mars 5 ultra. Already gone thru a kilo of resin. My DnD group is thrilled with the first batch of openLOCK dungeon tiles I printed.
For the $100 difference if I could buy either it definitely would be the Ultra. I agree with the heater and I live in Florida where the temp can and does change 20+/-° in a single day. Once I get back on my feet your channel will definitely be the 1st I join on a monthly basis. Thank you so much for the information and truly unbiased opinions.
very informative comparison. both printers seem great and the S4U tilting bed seems to take away half the hassle with calibration but how does that affect printing straight off the build plate and compression issues? The range finder to dial in your resin in my opinion should be a default function nowadays and it takes away so much time in getting exposure settings setup. the biggest thing the puts me of the S4 and S4U (and the mars 5) is that nightmare of a resin trap, the build plate. if i was to consider another elegoo printer (and my 4 MAX has just been fantastic) id go for the Saturn 3. ...A friend who's dressed in leather...
My experience is with the 3 Ultra, but Lychee works flawlessly with the WiFi. Very rarely I'll get an error, but if I just restart Lychee it works on the second try every time, and that only takes a few seconds to restart the program and reload the slice file.
Based on your various videos (and some others) on the Saturn 4 Ultra - I'm about to buy one - for me, the speed of printing is the biggest draw over other models, because I usually print during the day (work hours), so if I can turn prints around 3x faster than my Mars 3 Pro, well, I'll be one happy bunny!
Another great video once again. I am learning so much and still undecided but in no rush to jump into this hobby. Sign Off was fantastic, I love those friends.
I bought two saturn 4 ultras, the drip trays are rubbish, so instead I cut out two Silicone mats and then used silicone sealant to attach to the build tray , works a treat any drips go on the silicone skirt as it were and just wipes away, it has not affected the machines tilt function at all . its something Elegoo should have done in the first place I feel. great video btw.
Luckily, my "resin room" is actually super consistent temperature-wise, so in a sense I don't need anything extra. But that changes if I ever move my printers to a different spot, or just moving at all. I actually got the regular Saturn 4 and I'm having a blast with it. This was mostly made due to having a way to print sponsorgift mini's for an event I'm organizing, and it was kind of last minute due to personal circumstances. So I just mostly wanted a good reliable printer that emits the results I want w/o too much fuss. My verdict ultimately, however, is that as someone who's also quite nutty about this kind of tech (and the ability to model and art of course helps with that), I'm very likely to get both, and by extension, use both. Either way, the regular Saturn 4 has already been very kind to me so far.
I was going for a m5s pro but after seeing these videos, I think I'd go for a S4U just because I'm a total beginner when it comes to resin, I'm all about letting the machines do the heavy lifting with print quality rather than spend lots of time post processing
Thanks for the review. The screen of my saturn 3 ultra just got a big crack as per elegoos warranty the screen only has a warranty of three month so i will buy a new printer. I have a question: Did the Sasturn 4 Ultra still has usb slots for the elegoo air purifier ? I really liked this with the saturn 3 ultra. Thanks in advance for the answer.
ACF last forever for me. Must be instalation issue or a bad film. I once poked my ACF with a knife when I trimmed the edges and I didnt realize it went through and it failed catastrophically on my Saturn 3. I paint my stuff so I am not worried about the horizontal lines because a they disappear with a primer layer. Because I have a bunch of ACF left over from the Saturn 3, I replaced the film on my Saturn 4 with it and it is still going strong after about a month of printing every day with no signs of stopping. I check it between prints with the finger method and there are no bumps or tears.
A few months before i knew about the S4U I bought an SU3. grabbed the S4U based on features alone. The S4U is a beast and it has been cranking out great prints. The only fails I've had are strictly due to chitubox being buggy af. I tried to set up the s3 to get more prints done and couldn't get a single print to adhere to the plate. Spent hours cleaning my vat, releveling, and trouble shooting. Most trouble ive had from a 3d printer ive run. Back in the box it went. I would sell it and buy a second s4u if I could.
I'm honestly surprised that it's still priced reasonably for something that brings an improvement to the 24 micron class. Might look at it or the successor after I move to a place with more space for additional printers next spring.
Which one you think would be better for a beginner resing printer, Saturn 4 ultra or the uniformation GK2? Thanks for the videos. They are informative and make me wanting to buy a printer.
thanks for another great video man! I still love my saturn 3 ultra, was glad to get rid of my m5s (I think it was a lemon, nothing stuck to the build plate, tried everything - but you hear that often. I didn't get the V2 build plate). is the 8ks still the best small printer? I want to get a small one for expensive resins with some swappable vats. (professional resins)
I went with the S4 Ultra and have put a little over 6kg of resin through it and its still going strong. The film looks in great condition still even tho ive been filling the plate on most prints. The only issue ive had twice is the printer freezing mid print. It did prompt me to resume when i power cycled it (have contacted Elegoo) but so far am really enjoying the printer. The split plate isnt too bad to clean if you dont frequently change resins (like some reviewers 🙂) my larger multi part prints have also fit together really well. im not sure if the tilt mechanism is responsible for the good dimensional accuracy but it definitely makes resin calibration MUCH easier (no need to worrt about lift speeds etc).
I have had 2 issues with my S4U - the Coiled "Phone Cable" behind the lead screen got jammed up and ruined a 12 hour print. And now I have small hairline cracks all over the tempered glass above the LCD. Elegoo was prompt on telling me how to fix the cable issue complete with a PDF, so I assume this is a problem issue. And I can only assume the glass cracking is from the plate pushing against it to "Auto Level". Hope elegoo will get me the replacement glass soon so I can start to print again. At least I have a GK2 as a back up. for now !
Ciao , complimenti per i tuoi video, ho avuto fino a un mese fa' la elegoo Mars Pro , ma ora ho bisogno di passare a una stampante con area più grande e sono combattuto tra la Saturn 3 ultra e la Saturn 4 ultra , mi piacerebbe vedere un confronto per capire cosa prendere e uscire da questo limbo. Grazie
Just found your channel and will subscribe. Looking into a 3D printer and the saturn 4 ultra is at the top of my list. In terms of ease of use (least failed prints, least tinkering, least hassle possible) is the s4ultra the best option? A friend recommends the GK2 (he has a GK3 but its pricey and out of stock).
HeyGears’s is the least hassle. But that’s super expensive and has more limitations . After that, unless you have a heated room to print in. I’d get something with a heater like a GK2. This is easy. But also has some challenges too if you get one that isn’t level for example Saying that’s it is still a touch easier because fewer settings
anycubic photon mono 4k, the 4U is tempting, but the 4 seems solid. any recommendations on good grow tents with vents to use? also, how do you clean the top of the build plate well?? how annoying is it?
iv ran elegoo satrun 2 8k for 2 and half years scince release never once used a heater and i live in yorkshire england and our weathers crazier than a women and my printer has ran for a day at times and no issue from the old myth of you need consistant heat etcc :) but deffo ordering the 4ultra as an upgrade il never steer away from elegoo just want a huge build area so i can do some of my pokemon 1:1 prints
Love the Placebo line at the end. Ultra for me, when I can justify the upgrade properly. Tbh I'll probably be getting the next iteration but that print speed is enticing
@@FauxHammer I was going to respond with a Placebo quote to put said person down, but then I realised I'd already given them too much effort even considering it. You provide an awesome service, as well as being entertaining, and if someone has a problem with you quoting song lyrics, they might need to chill out. I have a friend who might be holding something that could help...
@@robking6975haha, I nearly suggested that to them too!. To be fair they apologised after I explained the source. But I’m also not here to justify what I choose to do in Amsterdam, Vegas or Chicago. I’m here to talk about printers and splint song lyrics.
I bought an S4U yesterday and I don't think this video changed my mind however I really appreciate the effort and information put into this video. At the moment, I have a Mono X and Mono 6X and I'm excited for this printer. Pretty excited for the resin calibration stuff because that will save me a lot of time. Has anyone had any problems adding a flex plate to the printer since it auto calibrates? Are there any tips and tricks out there? Thanks!
@@FauxHammer I keep getting the "foreign object found" error with my build plate. Is there a way to fix this? I just do the "mandatory print" option and it works but I would like to not have to do this.
@@FauxHammer No, it's a brand new FEP. I emptied and cleaned the vat and I just installed it yesterday and have only printed 2 things. There is a reddit forum where people have said this is an issue but there isn't any solutions. If I take off the flex plate, the error goes away.
@@Happilymarrieddadright. So yeah. If you’ve added a flex plate. It will sense the flex plate as the obstruction as it is unable to press down as much as it thinks it should be able to..
I have several original mars1, a mars 1 pro and a mars2. I am thinking of upgrading to a larger printer. The Saturn 4 ultra is very tempting, but I think I will wait for the Saturn 5 ultra.....I am guessing they will of added a heater by then, meaning I will be able to print in the cold months. The only pain is I will have to upgrade my wash stations (I use two, one with dirty ipa, the other with clean ipa.....I find this reduces the amount of ipa I use significantly)
I have 2 S4's that I use almost daily, things are a Beast coming from my Anycubic 6k too. I couldn't justify the extra cost when most of the time I do print while at work or at night for "faster speeds". Havent had a single print faluire either. Roughly 5kg's of resin used between both and still going strong
Hey, Thanks for video! I am really curios about another comparison though, S3U vs S4 I do understand all the benefits of S4U it's a great machine, but I don't really prioritize the speed, less settings and other minor benefits is good too but still i am ok with not having these. And theoretically, if price of S3U and S4 was the same, what would be better bang for buck? (I really love wifi feature and it's huge QoL improvement for me) Once again thank you for your work, watched most of your vids!
Thanks. Well the Saturn 4 also reduces quality as it uses ACF too. But beyond that…. Do you want WiFi (S3U) or autoleveleing that isn’t autoleveling (S4).
@@FauxHammer I guess for me that "autoleveling" is a gimmick, It's not a problem to calibrate bed once in a while (it's not rocket science), but that additional bulkyness with that fat "auto-leveled" bed and complication of cleaning... I am not sure that i see enough merits in this.
Love your reviews. I have just opened my brand new shiny Saturn 4 Ultra. Touch screen does not work. And it maybe worth noting that the software licence for Chitubox is only valid for 93 days. So be warned. I'm now having to box mine back up as I cannot use it due to the screen not working. Really disappointed. I will update once they have replied to me.
Firstly, thanks so much for this, and so many other incredibly informative vids. I’ve been deep-diving into reviews to find exactly the right 3D resin printer. I finally landed on the Saturn 4 Ultra, and I managed to avoid a few pitfalls along the way because of you. What really did it for me was the extra beginner-friendly features of the ultra so there is less I have to worry about. You’ve made a subscriber out of me, so, thanks again! Secondly, I was hoping you might have some recommendations on resin for a beginner? I was going to get some Wargamer (obviously!) for flexible durability for minis; some Phrozen Onyx Rigid Pro410 for rigid durability for props and tools, containers, or useful bobs; and some Phrozen Aqua 8k for ultra-fine detailed display pieces and busts. Thoughts or suggestions? Thanks!
Don't overlook Sunlu abs-like. It's very inexpensive, the print detail once you get it dialed in is very hard to distinguish from phrozen Hyperfine, and it's serviceable for most stuff you would be using for parts. I haven't used their string or tough resins, but I hear they're really good. Never buy phrozen's normal abs-like resin. It's over priced, miss labeled standard resin. Worst stuff I've used. Their abs-like+ specs are only slightly better than the sunlu abs like for about three times the cost of you wait for one of the regular sunlu sales. If you ever need something indestructible liqcrete. It's crazy expensive, it's crazy long exposure times, and it's crazy to have to grab a pair of snips and worry for the snips to separate the cubes from j3dtech's cubes of calibration. They make pretty much the strongest and most durable stuff you're likely to find.
I currently have a saturn 3 ultra and a mars 3 , I love both but the wireless on the s3u is so convenient ( i am a wheelchair user so moving from my pc to my printers is a literal pain) so I would always go for a wireless printer. I also use lychee and it supports the 4 ultra and the wifi system works well wit the s3u and i hope it will for the s4u. losing a load of retract settings is great for beginners but i hope the tilt mechanism doesn't wear and become inaccurate. I agree the lack of a seal/gasket seams to be an oversite. As my 2 printers are doing so well I may skip this generation and wait for the s6u with all the minor improvements incorporated.
Yeah WiFi is super handy. And yah I’m also keen to see how the mechanism holds up. Elegoo have said they stress tested it. But I’m taking that with a pinch of salt
When I saw the features of the Saturn 4 Ultra before its release, I thought its price would be over $1,000. Thanks to Elegoo for releasing such a great printer at an awesome price.
I have run over 200 liters through my Saturn 3 Ultra. Replaced the film 3 times and the screen once. Love it. Is it worth upgrading to the 4 or 4 Ultra, really?
@FauxHammer Appreciate that info. I'm going to hold off for now. Now I wonder if the Phrozen Mega 8K VS is worth twice the cost of the 8K S model... After all, your old videos on the previous Saturn's and how to understand XY resolution versus marketing resolution is why I got it. Also, the content is getting more engaging as time goes on. Thank you for your hard work and exceptional content.
Something that caught my attention: the saturn 3 ultra has a ball screw. I assumed this would be carried on to the saturn 4 ultra, but it looks like it has not. If you check the specs for the saturn 3 ultra it has 'z axis accuracy' of 0.01, while the saturn 4 ultra only has 'z axis accuracy' of 0.02. I guess this is related to the type of screw used. It doesn't look like this has a major impact on the print quality - the saturn 4 prints look great. But it is interesting to note. The lack of a gasket on the saturn 4 ultra is a concern for me. I recently made the mistake of moving my saturn 3 ultra to a different bench without emptying the vat. I thought i would be able to carry it steadily enough not to spill anything but I was totally wrong and I had a lot of cleanup to do afterwards. With the saturn 3 it was not a disaster as spilled resin won't get inside the unit. On the saturn 4 ultra though, this could have been catastrophic. Sorry to hear that you don't think much of the elegoo mini heater. I was thinking about getting one. I haven't been able to do any printing over winter.
It’ll be a minimal difference and it really is gonna be down to personal choices if things like resin and type of model. Most people print presupported stuff anyway. So the point it niche
Yes Saturn 3 vs 4 please, including the ultra models. Trying to decide between 3 and 4 ultra at the moment. Main influence is price. Not sure if I care about the print speed that much. 🥴
@@FauxHammer after another 24hrs I decided to opt for the S4 ultra! I wanted the resin exposure calibration feature and it’s only $130 more than a Saturn 3. Seems worth the price difference! Thanks for your reviews! I’m just getting back into resin printing after having a lot of fun 5 years ago with the basic anycubic photon. Super excited to return and learn how much advancement in the tech there has been. Cheers!
Glad you got it… someone else had a go at me for being pro weed! I was just saying an amusing and memorable line from a song. They’re gonna shit next week when I quote down with the Sickness - maybe I’m then pro Covid!
Not yet taken the plunge yet - this is the 2nd time lookign at it Main reasons last time I didn;t press the button were Cost v am I going to use it. / Lack of WIFI / temp variations where this would live. reason 1 still there. Woudl I really use it to make $400+ worth it, it would novently wear off!. Really not sure. Reason2 - WIFI / networking - looks like its getting there! (Horray!) #3 Temp - Live in nothern California. Summer get to over 100 F / Winter drops to close to feezing. This is going in the Garage so will experience full variation - A Vat heater would be so benificial. otherwise I have to concoct some sort of heath robinson setup. Esp as its prob winter when I will be using this. Still looks like its getting there and they are finally taking the feature focust off the resolution one up manship. I think if I could ensure a conssitant resin temp it woudl be worth takign the plundge
How is the build plate handling for a small work area? My saturn 2 has the perfect size to manipulate in a confined area with minimal drips, the saturn 4 build plate looks quite a bit bulkier.
Got my 4 ultra off the back of the 1st video, solid peace of kit! Just out of interest Ross, I also got the GK3 during your promo, how well did that promo go from your point of view? Cheers my man
@@timstoth4271 forgive me, but have you even watched the video? I’m happy to support people. But you watching the video is kind of the least effort I would kindly request from your side before providing specific advice. Otherwise I’m kinda just repeating myself. Was there a part that was unclear? I’ll be happy to clarify.
@@FauxHammer I've watched both videos plus the latest comparing the two printers quite a few times BUT I wasn't writing every comment down on an A4 pad hence the question
@@timstoth4271 again. Please Forgive me. I did not want to assume but needed to ask. Because I am wondering why you are asking which I would recommend. Because I really depends on you.. if you want a cheap high quality printer. I’d recommend the 4, unless you can find a Staden 3 cheaper. In which case get one of those If you want all the extra features and are willing to pay for them. Get the Ultra. But then you may be after specifics. Which one can do antialiasing better. Which one is faster, which one has WiFi. Perhaps the gap in the side of the ultra will not work for you and is too much risk. So I’d need to know more about you and what you want in order to make a direct recommendation. That’s why I’d asked if you’d watched. I recommend both. But without understanding what you want. I could just as easily recommend neither.
Not mentioning the cost of the printers was not a bug….its a new feature ! To be honest, an at the “time of filming” disclaimer would be very helpful. Great video tho !
Well. I did show the current prices. But here’s the issue. I’ve done that before. And as soon as people see it. It draws their eye to the release date of the video and even a month after the release treat it as outdated and click away
@@stevekay6895yeah I believe so. I saw the video grow then suddenly drop. As I looked at the anyalytkcs it started growing from the point I mentioned the prices and got loads of comments ta telling me my prices are wrong and I should make a new video that’s up to date.. A month later. The price went back up and has changed several times since
@@stevekay6895nah they wouldn’t. You do you. And it either works or doesn’t. It’s a lot of numbers and luck to grow a channel. I don’t make excuses. I just say it how it is.
ive had my S4U for a few days and getting nothing but failed print after failed print and there's a shit tonne of people on reddit and discord reporting the same thing. My issues have persisted after multiple test increasing exposure times and attempted calibrations.... 😭
It's probably an uneven bed and Elegoo have been shit at explaining this to anyone. Check out Greedy 3d's video on the Mrs 5 Ultra for an idea of how to level it
no need to shout, It's too subjective, I've done it before and i get far too many "yeah but (resin,layer-height,temperature,wait times)" comments to consider even inviting such pointless discourse again.. But please consider the Ultra as about 3x faster than the normal.
G'day m8...i would like to see the differance between an older 4k over the newer 8K+ advertised resolutions.....i ask as i bought a new Nova3d Whale 2, 4K 8.9in screen in january of 2023 and im still very much a noob. Any vids on this i would be very interested in. I'm Partially disabled and 3d printing has helped save me, but i could only afford my resin printer as it was very cheap and the last one in Australia. Big Cheers From A M8 Downunder🙃
Honestly. Quality difference between them is likely to be of small significance. But printers with a few usability enhancements are coming now Youd be best off watching videos for a few modern machines
Thanks. Speed is much harder to dial in than just comparing them like that. You need to gradually increase speed in small increments and multiple prints to see a difference, and then do I compare the Saturn 4 with the ACF it comes with or do I swap it fir OFA to maintain quality. I get that would be valuable but it’s beyond the scope of what I have time to do unfortunately
@FauxHammer yeah that's the hard part is time. I think its hard since a lot of claim behind speed of 2x to 3x faster but does that really translate to increase in speed?
You might as well pay the extra $100 for the speed upgrade of the Ultra vs the Non Ultra due to its Tilting Bed the WiFi is just a Plus at that point. its Only $419 total from elegoo that crazy I paid that for my Mars 3 !
I have a Saturn 4 and love it. Does great prints. The one big let down is the build plate. Whoever designed this thing deserves a kick square in the nuts. It is so hard to clean properly and the handle is not great to hole. Can be very easy to drop. But having said that, I would buy it again,
