I have been looking to upgrade my wash n cure system, I currently have the Original Anycubic wash n cure station, which works fine but most of my prints are now done by my Mono X's, the build plate is too big for the wash n cure, necesitating removal of the print from the build plate for washing. The Anycubic Large format wash n cure, like the original model is an all in one unit retailing for approx £200. Being an honorary Scotsman (and almost a Yorkshireman as well), baulked a little at the price, so carried out a search for an alternative and found the Elegoo Mercury X bundle, there are two bundle versions the X & XS - the XS comes with UV protective glasses and a hand held curing wand. I opted for the X version, check online for the best price, I just bought mine for £152 direct from Elegoo - two days ago it was on offer for £141 So what do you get So what do you get This is not an All in one solution, with seperate Wash and Curing Stations - I like this, yes it uses up more desk space, but not really, as my Anycubic wash tank sits beside the the stattion when in cure mode. The power supply has a spliter, and powers both machines - probably my only complaint about the system. Some assembly of the cure station is required - basically the two light strips need fitting - takes longer to unpack than to secure in place. The unit has two vertical strips and another small strip under the table. The table is clear, with bumps on its surface. I have found these work well stopping the models from moving. It also can be removed far easier than my Anycubic system. The table also rotates far slower than the anycubic - approx 45 sec per rev of the build plate. The wash station has a Stepped 7 litre Cleaning Container, the step is locate the support bracket for the printer build plates. long side supports upto 9 inch build plates, short side will supprt the original Photon build plates. There is also a wash basket supplied for washing loose parts. The wash station appears to spin faster than the Anycubic model. As a side bar I tried my anycubic wash tank on the Mercury wash base - I just had to center the tank on the base and it worked - not that that is going to be useful as the Anycubic suspends its basket &/or build plate bracket from the stations rear stantion, so no method of keeping the basket off the blades. Control for both units is identical To switch On / Off press and hold in the central knobs button To operate Press central button, rotate the knob to set the wash or cure time, press central button to start. Time is incremented in 30 second steps for each unit, and counts down as it runs. The wash station will change spin direction at the mid point. I am very impressed with this unit, so much so I purchased two additional cleaning containers, downside is they don't come with a bracket or basket. Currently I'm converting an area in the shed to become my permanent print area, the printers being in a heated fume cupboard, the washing area on a pull out shelf beneath the printers, with its own air extraction, the cure station on the bench opposite - now I hear you all saying "but Paul, the power cable won't reach" , however the powers that be have authourised the purchase of a second system - boy the chemical smell must be bad . Paul
