LCD Screens: Anycubic Photon vs Elegoo Mars
LCD screens are one of the “consumable” components of resin printers. No matter how careful you are with the screen, eventually it will start to burn out. Accidents, such as dropping the build plate on the screen, can also cause severe enough damage as to warrant replacing the screen.
This article outlines the differences between the Anycubic Photon screen and Elegoo Mars screen, and provides instructions for assembling the Elegoo Mars screen for use with the Anycubic Photon.
On this page:
Comparison Shopping
A branded Anycubic Photon screen runs about $70 on Amazon, or $50 via the Anycubic website (if it’s in stock).
While searching, I stumbled across a recommendation for using the Elegoo Mars screen instead (Amazon link). All points seemed to indicate that it’s an identical screen, with one extra piece that adapts it to the circuit board inside the Photon. It’s also significantly cheaper!
Reviews on Amazon corroborated this theory, including photo documentation (below). So I decided to take a chance and try it for myself.
Unboxing the Elegoo Screen
The Elegoo Mars screen comes in a heavy cardboard box with foam padding on the inside. I’ve already removed the shrink wrap, but if you look closely near the bottom of this photo you can see the adhesive dot that holds the top flap of the box closed:
Here, I have sliced open the adhesive dot and opened the cover flap of the box:
Mad props to Elegoo for including a conspicuous link to the instructions for installing the screen in their machine (and also indicating which screen is in the box). The screen and other components are tucked into a custom cutout inside the foam, with a protective topper to keep everything from rattling around. So far, I’m impressed with the efficiency and functionality of the packaging.
When you lift up the foam cover, this is what you’ll find:
A full breakdown of the parts list is below:
2K LCD screen
Adapter
Self-adhesive ribbon tape for securing the adapter to the LCD screen cable
Double-sided adhesive strips for affixing the screen to the printer
Screen Comparison
Placed side-by-side, the screens are nearly identical:
The Elegoo screen in the photo above still has the protective plastic film on the screen, and it has several air bubbles trapped underneath. Don’t mind those; they’ll go away when the protective film is removed.
The biggest difference between the two screens is the presence of the adapter strip, already affixed to the Photon screen at the bottom of the photo. Additionally, the Elegoo screen has a strip of heavy ribbon tape running along the length of the cable. I assume this is to provide a bit of extra reinforcement, since the cable by itself can feel awfully delicate.
If you carefully peel away the black tape holding the adapter and cable together on the Photon screen, you can see that the adapter that comes with the Elegoo screen is identical (except for the serial number printed on the Photon adapter):
Adapter Installation
The most important thing to keep in mind when attaching the adapter to the Elegoo screen cable is the orientation of the adapter. Take note of the “notch” in the adapter, circled in the photo below (Photon screen on the left, unattached Elegoo adapter on the right):
Step one is to snap the cable on the Elegoo screen to the port on the adapter. Keep in mind the orientation of the adapter strip, as noted above.
Take the ribbon tape that came with the Elegoo screen and remove the backing to expose the adhesive. Carefully press the top half on to the adapter, covering the connection between the port and the screen cable.
Turn the whole assembly over and fold the rest of the tape over onto the adapter and carefully press it in place.
With the tape in place, this will prevent the screen cable and adapter from accidentally coming apart.
The whole screen and adapter assembly can now be installed into the Anycubic Photon as normal.