Thank you for the great,critical and most importand honest review. I've been meaning to buy a resin printer for a while and have been eyeing the GK2 as I live in an area where winters can get pretty cold but was waiting on black friday for a sale. When I saw your best resin printer of 2024 video with the gk3 announchement I decided to wait and see if these were a good upgrade to get instead. But this solidified my choice on the GK2 so I got that one instead with the washing curing bundle (using your code) as I want to print slightly bigger figures and the other upgrades don't appeal to me. Keep up the great work.
Another excellent review. We can always trust you to do critical but fair reviews. The other resin printer reviewers you have mentioned unfortunately can't be trusted as they can't seem to offer an unbiased opinion. I follow them too for context. I guess what I'm saying is you do a great job, don't change your approach.
Thanks mate i really appreciate your support. though in fairness, I have watched all of their videos on this just now and I stand side-to-side with every single one of them. Though I haven't seen @GroundEffected's video yet, but his is more for just fun anyway, which he is clear about...
Not sure if you remb me from a previous vid as you get a lot of comments but I came back to say I was actually one of the giveaway winners and I’m excited as they have actual parts that can be replace rather then the whole printer having to be replaced etc. I just see more benefits but I def understand what you say by you expected more cause they came out so STRONG with the gktwo. 🤣❤️🙏🏽 I’m just exited to start this new journey I’ve been wanting to do. And blessed to have even a slick of chance of winning of course . Truly appreciate ALL your videos as I sat and watch and compared so many.
Great review as always! Thank you for covering the details and information we actually care about, and being honest about the pros and cons. Too many reviewers out there these days whose “reviews” just sound like a marketing overview.
I own a GKtwo and have been incredibly happy with it. I haven't had to level it a at all in the past 1½ years, and it's just incredibly consistent. If I have fail, it's 99% guaranteed to be user error. When I look at the new printers, I don't see anything wrong with them.. But I don't see anything new and big enough here to even consider upgrading. If the pump was completely clean, pressurized AND could bubble the resin to keep it mixed in the bottle, and if it had features related to pressure sensing, then PERHAPS I'd consider it. But considering how I use my printer, I just don't see any value gain with any of the 3 new printers. It's a shame really, because I expected a lot more from Uniformation. Especially because they don't spit out a new printer several time a year, like some other brands do.
I think that’s the key point… it’s not bed. But they set a high bar for themselves with the 2. Failed tk realise why it was better. And failed tk hit that level they set in the gk3
One thing to note that the upgrade screen for the GKTwo is no longer available. I've contacted uniformation for info but I haven't heard back from them yet.
I'm actually keen to hear what you think here, I currently have an old Photon Mono X and am considering upgrading to a unifrmation GK machine. As someone who doesn't already own a uniformation printer, would you recommend going to the GK3 for me, or would you say to rather buy a GKTwo?
Just a few hours too late to watch this live. Brilliant unbiased review yet again Ross. Ive got to say I'm shocked by the lack of progress made over the GKTWO, which caused me a lot of stress trying to choose between that & the Reflex RS.. I'm so glad i made the choice i did though, especially since the GKTWO is no longer being made. I had my worries id bought wrongly when these printers were launched but i can see I made the right choice for myself. Great review as always & dont let the doubters drag you down 💪👍
I just used one of your discount code to pre-oder my new GK3 , thanks for such comprehensive review and the few dollars discount 👍👍, you are the man!!! keep up your amazing work
In addition to everything you've said about the usefulness of a pressure sensor and its unsuitability for so-called "auto" leveling, from 23:59 onwards (which I agree with 100%) there's another decisive element that you didn't tell here, but that you've detailed in your previous review of the Anycubic M7 Max (at the 8min35s mark in that video): the fact that the pressure sensor can also be used for "dynamic lift height" i.e. detecting whether the film has actually detached or not from the printed part, so that the printer stops lifting and starts retracting immediately regardless of the TSMC settings made by the user in the slicer, saving considerable time in the end. A smoking gun feature in my opinion, and a great way to speed up big format printers despite the larger film area to pull and resin volume to push against (which is Uniformation's excuse for the slow print speed of the GK3 Ultra). QED.
The fact that they told you these were production machines initially, pretty much sets the tone for the rest of the video. I'm not in the market for a new printer, but if I was, this would be disqualifying for me for their entire brand having not experienced the greatness of the GKTwo. Either they misspoke or they really think this level of production is customer ready (kapton tape?!). Hope it's the former and the actual production machine will be much more finished.
They have acknowledged a lot of this this week, and I expect we will see some changes in the final units. I can't say what though. Pretty sure the power button will be moved.
@@FauxHammer but is that really enough? i think they dropped the ball hard, and i cancled my ultra preeorder, i had hoped the gk3 pro would be more "pro" and have preasure sense and so on... but.. now i wait to see if there is a chance heygears will send to denmark sometime soon..
I got a GK2 about a week before the 3 was announced and this makes me glad I got it when I did. I'll just pick up some spare parts and hope a worthy GK4 comes round before my 2 goes.
Bought saturn 3 ultra half a year ago and its been a blast using it i've used up about 6 liters of resin to this day with maybe 3 or 4 failures wchich were errors on my part
Thank you for the review. :) Seems like it isn't a bad printer, but I'm definitely happier with my GKTwo over these. Maybe I'll be back for the GkFour :D Maybe with the lead screw and the proper release liner. :D
Thanks for the review Ross. I almost kicked my self when I got my second GKtwo a few weeks ago and then the GKthree was announced but seems I made the right choice. Although I'll probably get one in a year or so.
Why, oh, why doesn’t UniFormation (or the other mayor brands), bring the top TH-camrs like Fauxhammer and J3Tech and Dennys Wang into their new product focus groups (which they obviously don’t actually have), signing an NDA, so they these companies can avoid or reduce the probability of making new 3D printers with so many basic problems and/or poor design choices year after year???
I’ve offered. I’ve even told them what the response would be to certain elements during development when I’ve heard about them. I even told them not to release the 12k upgrade for the GKTWO And here we are…
I have 5 GKTwo printers in my little print garden... And they are fantastic. I was concerned when Uniformation said they will continue to provide part support for the next 1-2 years. But maybe longer... ( I don't exactly know what that means). I have never had an LCD screen fail on me. My first 1 year old UI screen finally had an issue and they are shipping me a new one. The build plate size probably wont be a problem for me. (I do production runs) But the heater is the whole deal for me. So I'm pretty committed to the brand. You're review has left me with these conclusions: I'll buy the GK3 when it comes to it. I need the power button on the front, so I will make arrangements for this or just install a new switch in the front which will be easier to do with a plastic body vs the old aluminum one. I also like that they slide around. I often need to move them for various reasons and prefer to slide them. I like the flippy front display. I often find myself bending over staring at the UI for whatever reason and if it flipped up, I would stand up straight. (Its funny I was just thinking about this yesterday) I like the higher resolution screens. I'm printing very tiny, very fine parts and can use this feature. I've never had anything wear out on my other than the FEP and screen protector. (I've had all the "things" happen to me too. We all have.) That being said, I will only use the clear FEP. I don't care if it tires faster. I'm printing so much, the FEP will go bad from the usual wear and tear before its "burned up" by the light. I do wish they had the pressure sensor. I leave prints sitting overnight and sometimes I don't notice the small ones in the morning and in my stuper... start something that I should yet. Ultimately, the biggest thing for me is their customer service support over on FB. Its hands down, the best I've ever experienced. Knowing that I can rely on it is extremely important to me and my small business. While I've heard some complaints about folks not getting answers to their emails (You really should go through the FaceBook Group first) I've never had anything but good experiences. So, I think I will be switching to the GK3 when the time comes.... Unless.......... my GKtwo's last so long that I find myself watching your GK4 review ; ) Great Job Ross!
Brilliant! This is one of the best comments I've ever read, You watched my video, my sour opinions and ignored the irrelevant stuff to you and decided on it based on what matters most to you. and yes, I agree they have been great at taking care of people. I'm sure they will do the same here. AS for your power button, you'll be happy to know that we showed them the issue last week at formnext, where we put 3 printers next to each other to simulate a print farm, and showed that we could not turn them off as we could not reach. So they said they will change it!
@@FauxHammer That is fantastic! Thank you for doing that. I'll be making a purchase when I need a 6th printer or one of these GKtwo's dies or they stop supporting it.
In preparation for buying a GKTwo vs GK3, I asked Uniformation how long they had planned on supporting the GKTwo with replacement parts, and they responded "2-3 years [minimum], perhaps even longer!"
@@robertbray7828 Well that is good news. I've recently decided that the smaller build area may be an issue for my production runs...I'm still trying to decide if the higher resolution of the screen will offset that for me. I'll for sure buy one, down the road. If theres a major improvement in the parts I produce or their consistency at least, I may switch over.
@@benkonczal4584 I hear you, the smaller build volume is a head scratcher. I'm currently stuck between the GK3 and the GK3 Pro. I know I want one of them, but I can't decide whether the 385nm wavelength is going to hurt or help. I want the ballscrew the Pro has. I spoke with Liqcreate on their engineering resins and they basically told me while typically their resins perform better at 385 (slightly), there's never been an open material 385nm LCD as far as their rep was aware. They did offer to help me get set up with the resins and basically learn together if I did get the Pro, which I find appealing. Honestly at the price point the $100 difference is negligible.
It was really nice talking to you! I think you are one of the most down to earth person and i really hope, that you can achive what you told me and the other guys. Thank you for helping me out on my decision for my future resinprinter.Cant wait for youre Saturn4 ultra 16k review... I was not expecting you when i was looking for my train but it just adds more sympathy to you. Thank you and i hope you got your flight in time!
Could you also do a review for engineering applications. Like cubes with different sizes, thin and thick walls, different holes, two parts that slide into each other. So it's possible to see the printer error and tolerance. Would be very nice. For me I hoped the uniformations line of Printers would be more affordable, but compatible to formlabs in accuracy.
@@FauxHammer I greatly value your unbiased reviews, Faux. However, as resin printer technology advances and differences become increasingly subtle to the eye, I believe it's worth it to explore more scientific methods of evaluating 'print quality' while keeping it interesting for the average viewer. Visual inspection remains crucial, but it's not sufficient to fully assess the nuances of modern resin printers. Even more so for upcoming printers in the coming years. For instance, the choice between 385nm and 405nm light sources, often overlooked due to imperceptible visual differences, can significantly impact print accuracy and resin choices. Perhaps incorporating some quantitative measurements, such as dimensional precision, could provide valuable insights without sacrificing your review style.
@@Daan87423 yeah, i suppose, as you put it that way. And yes i believe this needs to come in at some point. but it needs to be drip fed. Right now, people are just learning that there is a difference between 385 and 405, when i next review these I intend to figure out a way to show that differenc. The key is, well, this is TH-cam, i need to show it "visually", but i also need to explain it in a simple way to about the haters and their "Yeah-but" atitudes. it;s good advice, and I'm strongly considering it.
Good review. Thanks. I have a GK2 and I'm not looking to upgrade, but if it died for whatever reason, the GK3 would be the first one I looked at. If Uniformation really are reading the comments, pressure censors would make a difference for me. I also do care about the speed of the print. For that reason, if I were buying a printer now, I'd probably be checking out the competition.
Fantastic review! I agree with you on the pressure sensors: no auto fail detection is a non starter for me. Which is a shame because almost every other feature on this printer is either amazing or passable/doesn’t matter to me. Looks like I’ll stick with my phrozen and elegoo for now but will be looking forward to whatever Uniformation brings to the market next
I actually like the colour haha, I kind of like the retro grey. Love your content, I realize the reason for getting it out with the text was to make sure you had time to get to Formnext, I'm a little torn. My gut reaction was that I'd rather reshoot than text even if it delays the video. Anyways had the gut reaction, wanted to share it. Regarding the line cleaning do you find it bothers you much? Sweet feature I do wish my GK2 had (although I still love the GK2). I find these days I'm worrying a lot less about resin residue in my vat, even when I've used clear resins after opaque resins, I haven't found the need to use iso for any cleaning, just wiping has been more than enough. Love your content despite this sounding critical, keep up the good work!
Thanks again Ross for a great review. A company that wants feed back but doesn't accept highly valued advise tells a lot about how hard they are listening. Looks like to many issues to be fixed before going to market is a sure way to lose customers. What put me off - The poor plastic look, the smaller build footprint, the tilt screen with finger print marks and all the other things they need to catch up on.
I very much appreciate this video and taking my first leap into resin printing, I think that I'll wait on the GK series overall. For pricing and features that others have (especially now for the holidays) I think the Anycubic M7 is going to be the one I go with after looking at several other brands.
You talk about the fep film a lot and that the prints aren’t coming out smooth, but you also have to remember it ultimately depends on what you plain to do with the prints, micro scratches on the surface creates a perfect ideal surface to prime and paint, so people painting there printed items wouldn’t mind that at all, where as displaying the finished print without painting might be more preferable with different film. Just a thought and I love all the videos you make it helps me a lot when deciding what printers to get.
I am completely new to 3d printing and have been watching your channel religiously these last few weeks trying to make a decision on a unit. I actually really enjoy your videos since you tell it how it is and don't sugar coat anything. That being said its really odd they would send you a printer, knowing fully well you would do an in depth review of the unit and it basically being incomplete. Tape on the light strip? Correct film not being included with the unit? Different camera on consumer units?
It's like the super intelligent management fired the capable team that made the GKtwo and now they are left in shambles with only the marketing department working.
This video makes me even more happy that I canceled my GKThree preorder and got a HG Reflex instead. I still have my old GKTwo for larger prints, but the Reflex has been my go to ever since.
@@FauxHammer Mostly 1/6 scale figures from Patreon. Overall I'm very happy with it, though the "it just works" software side doesn't quite live up to the hype you and others gave it. I've had plenty of failed prints where the one-click print didn't support well enough, and today I had asked them about remotely starting a print, something their website CLEARLY says you can do, and the response I got back was "no you can't do this because we feel that would compromise print quality" like what?! Like I was willing to buy their resin on the path to "it just works" but saying I can't remote start a print because of it is just plain silly, and now it turns out the it just works itself is more myth than truth. I still do very much like machine, I like the resin handling, and when the software does slice and support a print well, it does produce better prints with less scarring. But the idea that I can just take a model from Patreon, stick it in Blueprint, press One Click Print and get a perfect print every time is bonkers false.
I'm still on the old Saturn. GK2 was tempting, but not better enough to get me spending so soon. If it wasn't for the smaller screen area, the GK3 might have been my next printer. Will probably wait another year.
For my first resin printer, I was really looking forward to buying a GKtwo until I saw they were on a clearance sale and saw your initial video announcing the GK3s. I figured the three's would have a lot more features and match or exceed everything else on the market but, they seem to have fallen short. And to add they are still having issues getting their Ultras out to everyone that preordered which doesn't look great for those that preorder the three and the pro. I honestly don't know if I'll purchase a uniformation product with the GKtwo's end of life, the lack luster three series and the production/shipping issues they still have. Thanks for the honest intial review.
Welcome! please tell me which are the top 3 3d printers, when we are looking for maximum precision and details, for printing small parts. If possible, I would prefer all 3: 1. to have open system to be able to use also other brands of resin. 2. to have the possibility to heat the resin from the vat and also that option of pressure sensitivity 3. is there also a choic e for one who has a light source of 385 nm to be able to work with all types of resin.? Thank you very much!
1. Heygears RS, becaue you can use other brands of resin - see @Greedy3D for hours of evidence of this. 2. GK3/Saturn4/M7 when you replace the ACF with NFEP/Mighty Revo 3. It;s genuinely more about the features of the 4 above than any improvement on quality I think you're probably looking at a GK3 Pro with what;s available right now and your first point suggests you are against Heygears, as many people are
Well, I have done it with my GK Two. It punctured FEP and screen and leaked all over screen and needed to replace it 🤣 Don't know man... GKTwo was really "without compromize". Ok, price was high, but it was worth it. This just doesn't seem like it... Also, good on you mate for taking extra half inch... You go man🤗 As you said it, we were all expecting GKTwo for new generation. They are amazing printers, but so little seperate GKThree from other printers on the market. And, as other companies, they released 2 printers that are so similar that they defeat purpose of eachother and for those of us who already have GKTwo, there really isn't any need to buy new printer to "upgrade"...
Great review Ross I was sat in the fence on this one and Hygears. I think if HG start introducing 3rd party resin profiles they will fly off the shelves. I think for this one I was expecting too much
@@littletedsplayschool2525 One thing I would have liked with the Reflex though was a backdoor to the resin cartridge area in order to make cleanups easier.
And now they're determined to trash that well earned reputation. The GK Three Ultras still haven't shipped and here they are releasing two more printers while existing customers are still waiting. I have tried to cancel my early bird Ultra since the preview you did came out. This unit was due to be shipped in September but still hasn't arrived. I feel like I've been shafted to fund the production of these new units. I was initially told that they would cancel it. Then I received another email saying that actually, they'd misread the order number and my order was shipped on the 22nd (convenient). I've now requested tracking information or proof of shipping because they've provided nothing and haven't heard anything back. Even if it does arrive, I've seen multiple people reporting that their unit arrived damaged. Can't say I've been very impressed with Uniformation as a company at all thus far.
So far on FormNext they told me the PRO will have 385 Wavelength instead of a 405 . 385 makes it much more easy to print clear materials and is probably capable to print the most DLP Materials as DLP Industrial Printers print on 385. I like that feature.
1) When comparing the two tests, it's clear that the print results from the GK3 are sharper and clearer than those from the GK3 Pro, which show bolder edges on everything printed. 2) You mentioned that the comparison test used the same resin type and settings. However, considering the different light sources-405Nm and 385Nm-and the varying films, PFA and TCF/PFCA, wouldn't that imply the printing settings for GK3 Pro should actually be different? 3) After chatting with a local resin manufacturer who tests all the SLA/LCD printers on our market and shares “optimal printing settings” for their resin lineup, I learned that 385Nm light source printers paired with TCF/PCFA film are particularly effective for engineering resins. Why is that? Because engineering resins, which have high density and copolymers, need more intense light source screens than what 405Nm screens provide. Has been stated that when it comes to printing engineering resin types using a 385Nm light source gives you way better reliability and quality compared to a 405Nm one. Just to be clear, that's not my own take, and I haven't tried it out myself yet, but I'm definitely looking forward to giving it a shot!
Uniformation really went from Underdog to being part of a mediocre market. No pressure sensor is a feature that should be included in any printer, especially at that price class and with their (now old) brand image behind them. I wonder though, how the pro will turn out with their new release film and what audience it is supposed to serve.
They definitely shit the bed with this launch. They had so much goodwill from the GK2 and they have honestly spent it all in my eyes. First off, I was counting on this machine being to me months ago, and I was tempted to cancel it multiple times with the delays and just get another reflex. Then it showed up this past friday with a broken door, and it seems like many of the earliest printers have a build plate misalignment issue which mine is affected by. So now I STILL can't use it and who knows how fast the replacement parts will get to me. On top of that, I was expecting more of an evolution from uniformation - this is basically just a big GK2, down to the external USB WIFI dongle. Not necessarily a bad thing, but things have changed since the GK2... namely, I got 2 heygears printers. The bar has been raised. I'm sure it'll print well, and in the long run I hope I can be just as happy with it as I was with my GK2, even if it's not heygears level. But man all the little things.. the delays, the accidentally CC'ing their entire buyers list, the wash 3 ultra having to replace the bottle nozzles right out of the box because they had a shit design that broke super easy (I don't even want to go further on the wash3 ultra... it... works... kinda? I love the idea, but it's just super wonky. It never seems to know it's finished pumping IPA out of the wash tub and just runs the pump dry for 3+ minutes... that's going to be great for the life of your pump which I'm sure is going to be a nightmare to replace). I just wish they would have gotten their ducks in a row before announcing / releasing this printer. The whole thing feels rushed beyond belief. As a business owner, I understand the challenges that can come up and throw a wrench in your plans but this whole thing just feels like incompetence. To say something nice, I like the curing station. I love that it has a heater - resin prints are stronger if cured at a higher temp, and it saves some time where you don't need to fully blow dry every model as the heater will dry them the last little bit. I wish it opened from the front, and I wish they gave us a touch screen and proper control of the unit. Same with the washing station - give us a touch screen with a UI and let us actually control and choose our own washing procedure. I would love the whole 3 stage cleaning if I could set it up and control it exactly how I want to and use it with the basket. I mean they literally only give us a maximum of 180 seconds clean cycle.. WHY? 180 damn seconds then it forces you to pump the tub out and back in. If we had a touch screen and they actually gave us control of the device we could do longer clean cycles, we could prevent it from pumping out the resin if we want to do multiple batches, like do multiple washes in a row of the "dirty resin" then multiple batches of the "clean resin". Also the fact you have a drip hangar that actually matches the printer volume is awesome.. like, there are quite a few cool ideas here, but I just wish some things were thought through a little more.
Can you opt not to use the resin pump and just do conventional fill? If not, could you maybe feed that back to Uniformation as a needed feature? I HATE resin pumps... if I can just not use it, this will be an immediate purchase?
so first - RE: pressure sensing. Yeah. I did that. Lump the Saturn 2 made an awful noise while it was having it's "this really grinds my gears" moment while I rushed to stop it. Also as someone who probably won't even take his 3D printer out of the closet next spring because I have at least a year, if not 2 (or 3... +) years of model back log to paint, I guess I still would just want a GK2 if I'm going to replace Lump (and take it out back and Office Space it). That's assuming that GK2 hasn't been mothballed and will no longer be available.
I was/am a BIG BIG fan of the GkTwo. Printing with that machine is so easy and effortless. I was ready to upgrade it to the GKThree but seeing the lack of having a pressure sensor, reduced screen size!!! and a plastic casing is a big turn off in my eyes. I will rather turn to Anycubic M7 Max that seems to fit everything that I'm looking for. Thanks for the honest review.
Totally fair, but please just be aware of the lower resolution of that display. It's a great machine, but i just want to make sure I'm not leading anyone into thinking it;s the absolute best for everyone.
My GK2 z-arm rocks back and forth. Something is not secured, but I don't know how to get to it to fix it. Is there a video on removing the housing and / or securing the z-arm?
I never owned the GK2 and was thinking about getting one that the price dropped but it's kind of dated now and, IMO for best value for the money in mid sized is Anycubic M5 and M7 series and the Elegoo Saturn 3 ultra. I own several of these printers and they are great. My m7 max will arrive soon. Can't wait. I really wanted to add the uniformation to my collection but they fell short, for reasons stated in my first comment.
First person to spot it!!!! or at least to comment! in my original draft, it was much more obvious with a follow up "would like an extra half inch"? but i decided to make it more subtle as a treat for those of us properly listening glad you smiled
I have been FDM printing for a while now and my kids are getting into D&D. I have a Bambu Lab A1 Mini and a X1 Carbon, both with AMS. What company is like them? I want to get resin printing at some point. After watching many of your videos it seems like I should wait for the Next Gen of printers. Like they all have good stuff about them but no one combined the best of the major brands to make a go to machine like BL has done in the FDM space.
Well thats a bit of an F. I was expecting more of the gold standard. Im now split between the GK2, M7 Max or something else, and i have no idea what to get while black friday is still on 😢😅
Hey Ross, the shorter wavelength is providing more energy to the resin. In theory, this might make the resin cure faster. Have you found any difference in exposure time between the two printers? Edit: now that i think about it that could be something that is impacting the results you were showing between the 2 peinters in the video
Ross, any idea if Uniformation intends to provide an exposure "R.E.R.F like" test for us GK2 owners? or are we expected to buy the "new" downgraded GK3...... it's one feature that I really like about my AC Mono X6Ks
Great video. Thank you. I am considering to buy an Uniformation GK2, but now I decided I will buy the GK3 (not Pro) Why? Even if I get 0.7inches less in screen size, the price is still a better deal than the GK2. GK2 =€715,70 EUR in comparison GK3 (without Pro) =572,56 EUR that's a great price and that's why I definitely upgrade my old elegoo printer. Thank you for making these videos, this help me a lot.
Thank you so much. Mainly fur understanding the value of this review and making your own decision. Sensible comments like this genuinely improve my faith in humanity!
@@FauxHammer Thanks, you make great videos and I enjoy them much. I am buying the printer because I need one to test my own 3d designs that will be coming in the near future. Thank you very much.
Thank you for another great in-depth review! I know this isnt directly related to the GK 3 or pro, but after this video and seeing the release on these printers im heavily concidering the ultra. I know you say it has a weaker light source that "smoothes" prints, but how much does that actually effect the details on smaller models? Would fur, spikes or spears be rounded on miniatures? would hair be smoothed out? how minimal or extreme? your input would be greatly appreciated. I'll make sure to use your link if I end up purchasing it
no. its something i didn't get explained to me until it was too late. and i have no transparent resin to test it anyway. it;s one of the reasons why this is an "initial" review. There are other reasons. I need to work out a way to "SHOW" the difference, without it being argued "that's just different curing times" or thicker Supports. Lets talk after this goes live, because you seem like you are one of the people that understands the difference and there are things I can't fully discuss until after it's live, in case I leak anything.
@@FauxHammer Luckily it's not rocket science. Lower wavelengths are able to 'penetrate' the resin less, so the curing occurs more on the surface. All things equal, this usually results in better surface details because the lower penetration avoids overcuring unintended resin. Lower wavelengths also carry more energy, resulting in less curing/exposure time (also depends on the absorption spectrum of the resin). I'd be interested in what Heygears has to say about this, given that they choose a 405nm source for the Reflex RS vs. 385nm for the Reflex. Resin choice is probably the biggest influence.
@@Daan87423 Sorry yeah, i get this. what I'm struggling with is working out a way to "show" the difference. How can I fairly show a Transparent test's dimensions on one printer at 405, then show the equivalent printer with 385 and show the sharpness difference. For reasons you will see in the video. yeah, you do need to reduce exposure time on 385 to make it equal terms of XY dimension. But how will that "look" any different to a transparent print on 2 printers where 1 has a stronger lightsource... I've heard for a long time that 385 is better for transparents.... We've all heard it. But I'm yet to see a single example that clearly proves the claim... And even if i do see it. will it be to a degree which is actually noticeable to most users? Is 385 the right choice for hobbyists? If i get a 385 print and a 405 print and both are dialled in perfectly.... for their UV strength based on the wavelength they output... Will we actually see a measureable difference. and at what level? in microns?
@@FauxHammer Yes it will be measurable, but probably unlikely to be visible to the naked eye. For miniatures this makes no sense to even discuss about, it will not matter. For functional parts that are utilizing structures near the resolution of the printer, this will make a difference. Referring to the XP2 validation matrix you showed in the Reflex vs. Reflex RS video (11:20), you can see that the holes on the RS are filled up near the bottom, whereas the Reflex still shows them. Heygears optimizes their exposure settings (that's their selling point), so yeah, there's your difference. It would be interesting to see if you can duplicate these results on the GK3/GK3 Pro, also since you can dial the exposure settings yourself. We are talking about sub 100 micrometer differences, no eye or camera will see the differences. Does it matter then for most resin users? Definitely not. But just to show that the difference is measurable, can I suggest you to get your hands on a digital handheld microscope? I haven't tried transparant printing yet to see the difference, but the fact that the Reflex RS doesn't even support their transparant resin is telling me a lot. I expect that it will result in less clarity.
I'm interested in the pro for one reason: they say it's supposed to make my clear controller buttons clearer than the cloudy finish I have with 405nm screens? So maybe I would not have to post process them with varnish anymore? If this is true, I BUY!
I've currently got a Mars 5 Ultra and I'm on my 3rd build plate as all of them keep failing the paper test. Tempted to get a refund and get the GK3 as a replacement. Hopefully they sort the issues out because at this point, I just want a high-quality, reliable printer.
Well they are already starting to take orders so I have a feeling that no improvements have been made since this video, so, either they change things before I order or I guess I'll have to see if I can get the MK2 and spare parts asap before this one goes bye bye!
Tested myself, shorter wavelength have significant impact on clear resin. The 385nm will give far superior quality. Printing Ameralabs Town with clear resin (I tested with Resione G217) on Anycubic M7 (it has 405~407.5 nm LED) will give clearly visible Z-bloat inside the checker pattern and top side of the loop.
What do you suggest I print on both machines that will prove this to people visually and not have them argue it’s just different exposure times. I have some ideas. But would like some advice from more experienced people who have tried this?
@FauxHammer The effect is most noticeable at extreme overhangs or worse case when dense support completely fuse into solid chunk. I suggest printing minis like you normally do, find one with many detailed overhangs that go parallel to the build plate. The difference should be very obvious once you compare them side by side. I don't know what exact wavelength the normal GK3 uses, it may be on the shorter end like 400nm which will make the difference less obvious. There will be people arguing that regardless. The best you can do is push as much evidence as you can and hope they actually listened to the context (or that they know how to read exposure test at all).
385 nm will have a shallower penetration depth into the resin and should cure slightly faster than 405 nm, but otherwise there’s no real benefit and is even undesirable for MSLA systems as you start to run into degradation of the polarizing films on the LCD, although you’ll probably ruin the screen some other way well before that’s an issue.
Hello Ross, if you happen to see this comment, as totally biased and personal opinion. What would you say are must haves for a medium size medium range printer in terms of features(type of buildplate, double or simple guide, leadscrew or ballscrew, pressure sense, heated vat, tilting vat). What would you put in your ideal medium range printer and what would you forgo to keep the price acceptable?
Mh what i allways loved at my GK2 was the slightly bigger buildplate compared to other 10 inch printers... :/ Well and btw i started prints with whole tanks still on the build plate 🤣🤣
Hey Ross .. another great review ..... i'm no expert but the gk3 models has taken a stall from doing the gktwo .... but, if i had to chose a gk3/ultra/pro or a heygears rs ... RS would be on my bench for the price.it's bigger and better
@@FauxHammer and with gk2 not being made/not delivered to uk anymore .... looks like i'll be buying the saturn 4 ultra and heater, at christmas (1st printer) .... would of preferred a gk2 .. but, it is what it is hahaha
Exactly what upgrade is this over a GK2? Everything looks basically the same. I still don't understand the need for such a complicated VAT or a heavy/bulky build plate. Both are awful to clean.
I like the Vat, but this is a personal thing. It's great for catching drips and the new side stand is a nice addition. shame you can't close the lid when it's mounted sideways though
@@FauxHammer Like you said a personal thing. I just see no benefit to the VAT design or Build plate design over something like the Saturn 3 Ultra. Simple and easy to clean which is hugely valuable when doing multiple print cycles a day. I don't find spilling an issue with either design, but they both don't poor well.
Great Video, Ross! Like I said to you in Formnext, I'm a SU4 owner and I very disappointed...I need a new printer that shouldn't give me so many troubles, GK2 would be my choice and now? Go to GK3 or keep my mind on GK2?
Depends how much the build plate size means to you to be honest. and you should have more longevity of GK3, it is also at preorder price right now. and you will also need to wait for it longer
@@FauxHammerthanks I’m similar situation I had to return my little mars 5U as it kept freezing. Was assuming I’d get the pro but now it looks like the GK3
Hi @FauxHammer! I'd like to get the GK3+W230+Cure3 bundle via your recommendation link, so you can get the commision, but i have two questions: 1. When I click on link in description of your video, it takes me to the uniformation main page - will it work, when I choose what I want from there? I mean if you still get the commission? 2. How can I be sure if I get the right voltage and the power cords? When you want to buy W230 separately it ask you if you want the 110V or 220V. I don't see that option, when it comes to the bundle.
13:14 Your XP-Finder is not properly dialed-in for the GK3 Pro and is clearly over-exposed, as you said. You can't just use the same exact settings for the two machines when one has a PFA film while the other has an ACF, and the UV COB light sources produce not only different wavelengths, but also that of the GK3 Pro is (I think, just a guess for now) more powerful. As a consequence, your subsequent tests (like inserting the sword or the beer cylinder in the jug of the cones of calibration V3) logically fail on the Pro.
Yeah that’s fair, I hadn’t really noticed at the time and when I conflate them with my eyes, they looked spot on. Will test again with this new film when I can.
I am even more confused on whether i go with a GK2 or GK3 now.. I only have experience with my Anycubic Ultra but the print plate is too small for the figures i want to print, so i need an upgrade. I would like the GK2 build plate size, but i really do like some of the improvements to the design of the GK3, especially the topper being easy to take off and holding thing for the build plate! But i don't know if i should just go with the slightly cheaper GK2 and wait a few years for more improvements.. I live in an apartment, and i print in the living room, right now we have a plant growing tent with ventilation that we can pop out the window for when we print, but it is not big enough for the way the GK2 opens the topper.. So we would either have to get completely rid of that tent and connect the ventilation conversion directly to the machine, or get the GK3 where we can still use the tent contraption 🤔
I think there will be some changes to the retail GK3 models which improve it a bit. but the screen size and resolution will remain the same. It's still a solid printer as I said. But I miss the pressure sensing features because I'm a regular dumbass and the screen size bother's me. @BattleBrotherSam showed this better than me when comparing the GK3 plate to the GK2 with minis on the plate, and you can fit so many more on the Two! I think, if you already have models. download chitubox and create a custom printer with these dimensions, and see if it bothers you enough?
I don’t usually comment on things but I am shocked at this review. For a company known for so many practical upgrades that set their printers apart it seems like such a misstep when they had all the feedback to nail this model and control the market for years. That on top of the timing of releasing this printer for you to review so unfinished and still in development seemed like a huge mistake. Especially knowing how honest you are with your content. Not only does it seem like there is hardly any innovation but it rather seems like a downgrade from the GK2 in some ways. I was confident that I was going to be purchasing this printer as it would have all the features I need instead of the majority of the market having only 3/4 of the features but now I think I will just end up pulling the trigger on a Black Friday deal from another company. As always fantastic content and thank you for being so incredibly genuine in your reviews.
Thank you for the great,critical and most importand honest review. I've been meaning to buy a resin printer for a while and have been eyeing the GK2 as I live in an area where winters can get pretty cold but was waiting on black friday for a sale. When I saw your best resin printer of 2024 video with the gk3 announchement I decided to wait and see if these were a good upgrade to get instead. But this solidified my choice on the GK2 so I got that one instead with the washing curing bundle (using your code) as I want to print slightly bigger figures and the other upgrades don't appeal to me.
Keep up the great work.
Another excellent review. We can always trust you to do critical but fair reviews. The other resin printer reviewers you have mentioned unfortunately can't be trusted as they can't seem to offer an unbiased opinion. I follow them too for context. I guess what I'm saying is you do a great job, don't change your approach.
Thanks mate i really appreciate your support. though in fairness, I have watched all of their videos on this just now and I stand side-to-side with every single one of them. Though I haven't seen @GroundEffected's video yet, but his is more for just fun anyway, which he is clear about...
I'm so glad I didn't order the GK3. Thanks for the great review. Much respect for your honest and unbiased review.
Not sure if you remb me from a previous vid as you get a lot of comments but I came back to say I was actually one of the giveaway winners and I’m excited as they have actual parts that can be replace rather then the whole printer having to be replaced etc. I just see more benefits but I def understand what you say by you expected more cause they came out so STRONG with the gktwo. 🤣❤️🙏🏽 I’m just exited to start this new journey I’ve been wanting to do. And blessed to have even a slick of chance of winning of course . Truly appreciate ALL your videos as I sat and watch and compared so many.
Great review as always! Thank you for covering the details and information we actually care about, and being honest about the pros and cons. Too many reviewers out there these days whose “reviews” just sound like a marketing overview.
I appreciate that! But all the guys who reviewed this so far have been equally as honest. I have watched all of their reviews and stand by them
I own a GKtwo and have been incredibly happy with it. I haven't had to level it a at all in the past 1½ years, and it's just incredibly consistent.
If I have fail, it's 99% guaranteed to be user error.
When I look at the new printers, I don't see anything wrong with them.. But I don't see anything new and big enough here to even consider upgrading. If the pump was completely clean, pressurized AND could bubble the resin to keep it mixed in the bottle, and if it had features related to pressure sensing, then PERHAPS I'd consider it.
But considering how I use my printer, I just don't see any value gain with any of the 3 new printers. It's a shame really, because I expected a lot more from Uniformation. Especially because they don't spit out a new printer several time a year, like some other brands do.
I think that’s the key point… it’s not bed. But they set a high bar for themselves with the 2. Failed tk realise why it was better. And failed tk hit that level they set in the gk3
One thing to note that the upgrade screen for the GKTwo is no longer available. I've contacted uniformation for info but I haven't heard back from them yet.
I'm actually keen to hear what you think here, I currently have an old Photon Mono X and am considering upgrading to a unifrmation GK machine. As someone who doesn't already own a uniformation printer, would you recommend going to the GK3 for me, or would you say to rather buy a GKTwo?
Just a few hours too late to watch this live. Brilliant unbiased review yet again Ross. Ive got to say I'm shocked by the lack of progress made over the GKTWO, which caused me a lot of stress trying to choose between that & the Reflex RS.. I'm so glad i made the choice i did though, especially since the GKTWO is no longer being made. I had my worries id bought wrongly when these printers were launched but i can see I made the right choice for myself. Great review as always & dont let the doubters drag you down 💪👍
I agree 100% with you. After buying the GK2 and my experience with it so far. I was expecting more from the newer versions!!
thanks, that's all it is. we expected more.
Superb, comprehensive review. Great job!
I just used one of your discount code to pre-oder my new GK3 , thanks for such comprehensive review and the few dollars discount 👍👍, you are the man!!! keep up your amazing work
In addition to everything you've said about the usefulness of a pressure sensor and its unsuitability for so-called "auto" leveling, from 23:59 onwards (which I agree with 100%) there's another decisive element that you didn't tell here, but that you've detailed in your previous review of the Anycubic M7 Max (at the 8min35s mark in that video): the fact that the pressure sensor can also be used for "dynamic lift height" i.e. detecting whether the film has actually detached or not from the printed part, so that the printer stops lifting and starts retracting immediately regardless of the TSMC settings made by the user in the slicer, saving considerable time in the end. A smoking gun feature in my opinion, and a great way to speed up big format printers despite the larger film area to pull and resin volume to push against (which is Uniformation's excuse for the slow print speed of the GK3 Ultra). QED.
Yeah I had that in the review initially but cut it down for time. There are many applications.
I'm extremely happy with my Saturn 4 Ultra, thanks to your review.
Glad I could help!
wait till you have to replace the lcd :D
The fact that they told you these were production machines initially, pretty much sets the tone for the rest of the video. I'm not in the market for a new printer, but if I was, this would be disqualifying for me for their entire brand having not experienced the greatness of the GKTwo. Either they misspoke or they really think this level of production is customer ready (kapton tape?!). Hope it's the former and the actual production machine will be much more finished.
They have acknowledged a lot of this this week, and I expect we will see some changes in the final units. I can't say what though. Pretty sure the power button will be moved.
@@FauxHammer but is that really enough? i think they dropped the ball hard, and i cancled my ultra preeorder, i had hoped the gk3 pro would be more "pro" and have preasure sense and so on... but.. now i wait to see if there is a chance heygears will send to denmark sometime soon..
I got a GK2 about a week before the 3 was announced and this makes me glad I got it when I did. I'll just pick up some spare parts and hope a worthy GK4 comes round before my 2 goes.
Yeah. Gk2 is solid.
Great review. Thanks appreciate your time and effort.
Thanks for watching!
Great honest review. Thank you.
This is crazy, the more I read about these new printers, the more I like my Elegoo Saturn 3 ultra…
Especially at a black Friday price
@@azyrael96 I scooped that up so fast when I saw those prices 👁🫦👁. It's the hottest piece of machinery I own now. Hotter than my 🔫 collection.
Bought saturn 3 ultra half a year ago and its been a blast using it i've used up about 6 liters of resin to this day with maybe 3 or 4 failures wchich were errors on my part
can i ask why?
(i've got the gk2 and quite like it but i'm sure i'll be getting something else, at some point, and elegoo's pricing is tempting.)
I bought the same the ultra works great I just wish the wireless worked as good as bambu labs does.
I love you honest reviews. It is why I took the leap and ordered a reflex rs
Thanks mate. Would love to know how you get on with it
Thank you for the review. :) Seems like it isn't a bad printer, but I'm definitely happier with my GKTwo over these. Maybe I'll be back for the GkFour :D Maybe with the lead screw and the proper release liner. :D
Great review! Thanks! Very informative
Feeling genius for my Saturn Ultra 4 with a heated vat band add-on. -20c today all good.
Thanks for the review Ross. I almost kicked my self when I got my second GKtwo a few weeks ago and then the GKthree was announced but seems I made the right choice. Although I'll probably get one in a year or so.
I feel like if rather buy another GKtwo instead of a GKthree
Why, oh, why doesn’t UniFormation (or the other mayor brands), bring the top TH-camrs like Fauxhammer and J3Tech and Dennys Wang into their new product focus groups (which they obviously don’t actually have), signing an NDA, so they these companies can avoid or reduce the probability of making new 3D printers with so many basic problems and/or poor design choices year after year???
I’ve offered. I’ve even told them what the response would be to certain elements during development when I’ve heard about them.
I even told them not to release the 12k upgrade for the GKTWO
And here we are…
@ Geez. Like a parent telling his kid not to touch the hot stove. I guess it’s true (ya can’t fix stupid).
I have 5 GKTwo printers in my little print garden... And they are fantastic. I was concerned when Uniformation said they will continue to provide part support for the next 1-2 years. But maybe longer... ( I don't exactly know what that means). I have never had an LCD screen fail on me. My first 1 year old UI screen finally had an issue and they are shipping me a new one. The build plate size probably wont be a problem for me. (I do production runs) But the heater is the whole deal for me. So I'm pretty committed to the brand.
You're review has left me with these conclusions: I'll buy the GK3 when it comes to it. I need the power button on the front, so I will make arrangements for this or just install a new switch in the front which will be easier to do with a plastic body vs the old aluminum one. I also like that they slide around. I often need to move them for various reasons and prefer to slide them. I like the flippy front display. I often find myself bending over staring at the UI for whatever reason and if it flipped up, I would stand up straight. (Its funny I was just thinking about this yesterday) I like the higher resolution screens. I'm printing very tiny, very fine parts and can use this feature. I've never had anything wear out on my other than the FEP and screen protector. (I've had all the "things" happen to me too. We all have.) That being said, I will only use the clear FEP. I don't care if it tires faster. I'm printing so much, the FEP will go bad from the usual wear and tear before its "burned up" by the light. I do wish they had the pressure sensor. I leave prints sitting overnight and sometimes I don't notice the small ones in the morning and in my stuper... start something that I should yet.
Ultimately, the biggest thing for me is their customer service support over on FB. Its hands down, the best I've ever experienced. Knowing that I can rely on it is extremely important to me and my small business. While I've heard some complaints about folks not getting answers to their emails (You really should go through the FaceBook Group first) I've never had anything but good experiences. So, I think I will be switching to the GK3 when the time comes.... Unless.......... my GKtwo's last so long that I find myself watching your GK4 review ; )
Great Job Ross!
Brilliant! This is one of the best comments I've ever read, You watched my video, my sour opinions and ignored the irrelevant stuff to you and decided on it based on what matters most to you. and yes, I agree they have been great at taking care of people. I'm sure they will do the same here.
AS for your power button, you'll be happy to know that we showed them the issue last week at formnext, where we put 3 printers next to each other to simulate a print farm, and showed that we could not turn them off as we could not reach.
So they said they will change it!
@@FauxHammer That is fantastic! Thank you for doing that. I'll be making a purchase when I need a 6th printer or one of these GKtwo's dies or they stop supporting it.
In preparation for buying a GKTwo vs GK3, I asked Uniformation how long they had planned on supporting the GKTwo with replacement parts, and they responded "2-3 years [minimum], perhaps even longer!"
@@robertbray7828 Well that is good news. I've recently decided that the smaller build area may be an issue for my production runs...I'm still trying to decide if the higher resolution of the screen will offset that for me. I'll for sure buy one, down the road. If theres a major improvement in the parts I produce or their consistency at least, I may switch over.
@@benkonczal4584 I hear you, the smaller build volume is a head scratcher. I'm currently stuck between the GK3 and the GK3 Pro. I know I want one of them, but I can't decide whether the 385nm wavelength is going to hurt or help. I want the ballscrew the Pro has. I spoke with Liqcreate on their engineering resins and they basically told me while typically their resins perform better at 385 (slightly), there's never been an open material 385nm LCD as far as their rep was aware. They did offer to help me get set up with the resins and basically learn together if I did get the Pro, which I find appealing. Honestly at the price point the $100 difference is negligible.
It was really nice talking to you! I think you are one of the most down to earth person and i really hope, that you can achive what you told me and the other guys. Thank you for helping me out on my decision for my future resinprinter.Cant wait for youre Saturn4 ultra 16k review... I was not expecting you when i was looking for my train but it just adds more sympathy to you. Thank you and i hope you got your flight in time!
Thanks Leon, you too. I’ll assume you found your train.
I didn’t fly til the next day. But I was so tired at the end of the show.
Great video. The printer looks really great and I would love one. Do you know by any chance how tall is the gk3 pro with the lid open?
Thanks
Hi Ross, wanted to say hi when i saw you on formnext, but you were busy talking to some other visitors. Interesting to see a youtuber in person :-)
Aww I wish you’d come over and said hi!
Could you also do a review for engineering applications. Like cubes with different sizes, thin and thick walls, different holes, two parts that slide into each other. So it's possible to see the printer error and tolerance. Would be very nice.
For me I hoped the uniformations line of Printers would be more affordable, but compatible to formlabs in accuracy.
I would, but I'm concerned that would completely change the format of my channel.
@@FauxHammer I greatly value your unbiased reviews, Faux. However, as resin printer technology advances and differences become increasingly subtle to the eye, I believe it's worth it to explore more scientific methods of evaluating 'print quality' while keeping it interesting for the average viewer.
Visual inspection remains crucial, but it's not sufficient to fully assess the nuances of modern resin printers. Even more so for upcoming printers in the coming years. For instance, the choice between 385nm and 405nm light sources, often overlooked due to imperceptible visual differences, can significantly impact print accuracy and resin choices. Perhaps incorporating some quantitative measurements, such as dimensional precision, could provide valuable insights without sacrificing your review style.
@@Daan87423 yeah, i suppose, as you put it that way. And yes i believe this needs to come in at some point. but it needs to be drip fed.
Right now, people are just learning that there is a difference between 385 and 405, when i next review these I intend to figure out a way to show that differenc.
The key is, well, this is TH-cam, i need to show it "visually", but i also need to explain it in a simple way to about the haters and their "Yeah-but" atitudes.
it;s good advice, and I'm strongly considering it.
Good review. Thanks. I have a GK2 and I'm not looking to upgrade, but if it died for whatever reason, the GK3 would be the first one I looked at. If Uniformation really are reading the comments, pressure censors would make a difference for me. I also do care about the speed of the print. For that reason, if I were buying a printer now, I'd probably be checking out the competition.
I can't wait to see you paint that 25th anniversary mini!
Fantastic review! I agree with you on the pressure sensors: no auto fail detection is a non starter for me. Which is a shame because almost every other feature on this printer is either amazing or passable/doesn’t matter to me. Looks like I’ll stick with my phrozen and elegoo for now but will be looking forward to whatever Uniformation brings to the market next
So, they drastically dropped the prices for both of these just got a new email showing it! It's junk and they know it!
I actually like the colour haha, I kind of like the retro grey. Love your content, I realize the reason for getting it out with the text was to make sure you had time to get to Formnext, I'm a little torn. My gut reaction was that I'd rather reshoot than text even if it delays the video. Anyways had the gut reaction, wanted to share it. Regarding the line cleaning do you find it bothers you much? Sweet feature I do wish my GK2 had (although I still love the GK2). I find these days I'm worrying a lot less about resin residue in my vat, even when I've used clear resins after opaque resins, I haven't found the need to use iso for any cleaning, just wiping has been more than enough. Love your content despite this sounding critical, keep up the good work!
Thanks again Ross for a great review. A company that wants feed back but doesn't accept highly valued advise tells a lot about how hard they are listening. Looks like to many issues to be fixed before going to market is a sure way to lose customers. What put me off - The poor plastic look, the smaller build footprint, the tilt screen with finger print marks and all the other things they need to catch up on.
21:35 why is the vat moving so much? was it not locked in or does it actually not sit flat?
I very much appreciate this video and taking my first leap into resin printing, I think that I'll wait on the GK series overall. For pricing and features that others have (especially now for the holidays) I think the Anycubic M7 is going to be the one I go with after looking at several other brands.
Get a GK2 if you can! I have two of them and they are workhorses! Far superior to my $3,500 Form 2
You talk about the fep film a lot and that the prints aren’t coming out smooth, but you also have to remember it ultimately depends on what you plain to do with the prints, micro scratches on the surface creates a perfect ideal surface to prime and paint, so people painting there printed items wouldn’t mind that at all, where as displaying the finished print without painting might be more preferable with different film. Just a thought and I love all the videos you make it helps me a lot when deciding what printers to get.
I am completely new to 3d printing and have been watching your channel religiously these last few weeks trying to make a decision on a unit. I actually really enjoy your videos since you tell it how it is and don't sugar coat anything.
That being said its really odd they would send you a printer, knowing fully well you would do an in depth review of the unit and it basically being incomplete. Tape on the light strip? Correct film not being included with the unit? Different camera on consumer units?
I'm literally writing a video now to talk about this.
It's like the super intelligent management fired the capable team that made the GKtwo and now they are left in shambles with only the marketing department working.
Same people.
I love my GK2 and was hoping for a bit better from Uniformation. The GK3 is more of a GK2 Pro imo though the smaller print plate is a no go for me.
This video makes me even more happy that I canceled my GKThree preorder and got a HG Reflex instead. I still have my old GKTwo for larger prints, but the Reflex has been my go to ever since.
How are you finding it? What do you print?
@@FauxHammer Mostly 1/6 scale figures from Patreon. Overall I'm very happy with it, though the "it just works" software side doesn't quite live up to the hype you and others gave it. I've had plenty of failed prints where the one-click print didn't support well enough, and today I had asked them about remotely starting a print, something their website CLEARLY says you can do, and the response I got back was "no you can't do this because we feel that would compromise print quality" like what?!
Like I was willing to buy their resin on the path to "it just works" but saying I can't remote start a print because of it is just plain silly, and now it turns out the it just works itself is more myth than truth.
I still do very much like machine, I like the resin handling, and when the software does slice and support a print well, it does produce better prints with less scarring. But the idea that I can just take a model from Patreon, stick it in Blueprint, press One Click Print and get a perfect print every time is bonkers false.
Beautiful review as always
Thank you 🤗
that tilting screen is dope. im an fdm guy so i hope they dont go full elegoo and just stay in their lane
I'm still on the old Saturn. GK2 was tempting, but not better enough to get me spending so soon. If it wasn't for the smaller screen area, the GK3 might have been my next printer. Will probably wait another year.
For my first resin printer, I was really looking forward to buying a GKtwo until I saw they were on a clearance sale and saw your initial video announcing the GK3s. I figured the three's would have a lot more features and match or exceed everything else on the market but, they seem to have fallen short. And to add they are still having issues getting their Ultras out to everyone that preordered which doesn't look great for those that preorder the three and the pro. I honestly don't know if I'll purchase a uniformation product with the GKtwo's end of life, the lack luster three series and the production/shipping issues they still have. Thanks for the honest intial review.
I hope they can recover quickly.
Welcome!
please tell me which are the top 3 3d printers, when we are looking for maximum precision and details, for printing small parts.
If possible, I would prefer all 3:
1. to have open system to be able to use also other brands of resin.
2. to have the possibility to heat the resin from the vat and also that option of pressure sensitivity
3. is there also a choic e for one who has a light source of 385 nm to be able to work with all types of resin.?
Thank you very much!
1. Heygears RS, becaue you can use other brands of resin - see @Greedy3D for hours of evidence of this.
2. GK3/Saturn4/M7 when you replace the ACF with NFEP/Mighty Revo
3. It;s genuinely more about the features of the 4 above than any improvement on quality
I think you're probably looking at a GK3 Pro with what;s available right now and your first point suggests you are against Heygears, as many people are
I'm really paying attention to this vid. As I am on the fence between the GK3 and the GK3Pro.
Well, I have done it with my GK Two. It punctured FEP and screen and leaked all over screen and needed to replace it 🤣 Don't know man... GKTwo was really "without compromize". Ok, price was high, but it was worth it. This just doesn't seem like it... Also, good on you mate for taking extra half inch... You go man🤗 As you said it, we were all expecting GKTwo for new generation. They are amazing printers, but so little seperate GKThree from other printers on the market. And, as other companies, they released 2 printers that are so similar that they defeat purpose of eachother and for those of us who already have GKTwo, there really isn't any need to buy new printer to "upgrade"...
Thanks mate. Maybe that no need to upgrade isn’t such a bad thing. Have we plateaued? Not sure. Next year will be interesting.
Great review Ross I was sat in the fence on this one and Hygears. I think if HG start introducing 3rd party resin profiles they will fly off the shelves. I think for this one I was expecting too much
So was I.... (sadface)
@@littletedsplayschool2525 One thing I would have liked with the Reflex though was a backdoor to the resin cartridge area in order to make cleanups easier.
And now they're determined to trash that well earned reputation. The GK Three Ultras still haven't shipped and here they are releasing two more printers while existing customers are still waiting.
I have tried to cancel my early bird Ultra since the preview you did came out. This unit was due to be shipped in September but still hasn't arrived. I feel like I've been shafted to fund the production of these new units. I was initially told that they would cancel it. Then I received another email saying that actually, they'd misread the order number and my order was shipped on the 22nd (convenient). I've now requested tracking information or proof of shipping because they've provided nothing and haven't heard anything back. Even if it does arrive, I've seen multiple people reporting that their unit arrived damaged.
Can't say I've been very impressed with Uniformation as a company at all thus far.
Same here. Ordered on 24th July - still nothing. Any week they say it will be shipped now. I’m pissed and disappointed of what I heard of Uniformation
@mietz I've just complained and requested a refund. All of a sudden I have tracking information and my order is being dispatched...
@ I did the same now and requested a refund. Let’s see what happens :)
They refunded me
I like knowing the build volume.
So far on FormNext they told me the PRO will have 385 Wavelength instead of a 405 . 385 makes it much more easy to print clear materials and is probably capable to print the most DLP Materials as DLP Industrial Printers print on 385. I like that feature.
1) When comparing the two tests, it's clear that the print results from the GK3 are sharper and clearer than those from the GK3 Pro, which show bolder edges on everything printed.
2) You mentioned that the comparison test used the same resin type and settings. However, considering the different light sources-405Nm and 385Nm-and the varying films, PFA and TCF/PFCA, wouldn't that imply the printing settings for GK3 Pro should actually be different?
3) After chatting with a local resin manufacturer who tests all the SLA/LCD printers on our market and shares “optimal printing settings” for their resin lineup, I learned that 385Nm light source printers paired with TCF/PCFA film are particularly effective for engineering resins. Why is that? Because engineering resins, which have high density and copolymers, need more intense light source screens than what 405Nm screens provide. Has been stated that when it comes to printing engineering resin types using a 385Nm light source gives you way better reliability and quality compared to a 405Nm one. Just to be clear, that's not my own take, and I haven't tried it out myself yet, but I'm definitely looking forward to giving it a shot!
Uniformation really went from Underdog to being part of a mediocre market. No pressure sensor is a feature that should be included in any printer, especially at that price class and with their (now old) brand image behind them. I wonder though, how the pro will turn out with their new release film and what audience it is supposed to serve.
Nice. This video will probably be the one that determines my next printer.
weird to think that the wavelength diffrence is big enough to help reduce bloom. guess I need to look up how big the waves are.
They definitely shit the bed with this launch. They had so much goodwill from the GK2 and they have honestly spent it all in my eyes.
First off, I was counting on this machine being to me months ago, and I was tempted to cancel it multiple times with the delays and just get another reflex. Then it showed up this past friday with a broken door, and it seems like many of the earliest printers have a build plate misalignment issue which mine is affected by. So now I STILL can't use it and who knows how fast the replacement parts will get to me.
On top of that, I was expecting more of an evolution from uniformation - this is basically just a big GK2, down to the external USB WIFI dongle. Not necessarily a bad thing, but things have changed since the GK2... namely, I got 2 heygears printers. The bar has been raised. I'm sure it'll print well, and in the long run I hope I can be just as happy with it as I was with my GK2, even if it's not heygears level.
But man all the little things.. the delays, the accidentally CC'ing their entire buyers list, the wash 3 ultra having to replace the bottle nozzles right out of the box because they had a shit design that broke super easy (I don't even want to go further on the wash3 ultra... it... works... kinda? I love the idea, but it's just super wonky. It never seems to know it's finished pumping IPA out of the wash tub and just runs the pump dry for 3+ minutes... that's going to be great for the life of your pump which I'm sure is going to be a nightmare to replace). I just wish they would have gotten their ducks in a row before announcing / releasing this printer. The whole thing feels rushed beyond belief. As a business owner, I understand the challenges that can come up and throw a wrench in your plans but this whole thing just feels like incompetence.
To say something nice, I like the curing station. I love that it has a heater - resin prints are stronger if cured at a higher temp, and it saves some time where you don't need to fully blow dry every model as the heater will dry them the last little bit. I wish it opened from the front, and I wish they gave us a touch screen and proper control of the unit. Same with the washing station - give us a touch screen with a UI and let us actually control and choose our own washing procedure. I would love the whole 3 stage cleaning if I could set it up and control it exactly how I want to and use it with the basket. I mean they literally only give us a maximum of 180 seconds clean cycle.. WHY? 180 damn seconds then it forces you to pump the tub out and back in. If we had a touch screen and they actually gave us control of the device we could do longer clean cycles, we could prevent it from pumping out the resin if we want to do multiple batches, like do multiple washes in a row of the "dirty resin" then multiple batches of the "clean resin". Also the fact you have a drip hangar that actually matches the printer volume is awesome.. like, there are quite a few cool ideas here, but I just wish some things were thought through a little more.
Soo... We should just get another GK2?
Glad to see the wifi change. I broke the wifi on my GKTwo because the USB got damaged in a move.
Damn! but still definately worth unscrewing this time before a move.
@@FauxHammer For sure but this is a lot less likely to get damaged
@@JohnVanderbeck yeah, fair
Can you opt not to use the resin pump and just do conventional fill? If not, could you maybe feed that back to Uniformation as a needed feature? I HATE resin pumps... if I can just not use it, this will be an immediate purchase?
Yeah, you can not use it. That's what I did, I just turned it off
so first - RE: pressure sensing. Yeah. I did that. Lump the Saturn 2 made an awful noise while it was having it's "this really grinds my gears" moment while I rushed to stop it.
Also as someone who probably won't even take his 3D printer out of the closet next spring because I have at least a year, if not 2 (or 3... +) years of model back log to paint, I guess I still would just want a GK2 if I'm going to replace Lump (and take it out back and Office Space it). That's assuming that GK2 hasn't been mothballed and will no longer be available.
I was/am a BIG BIG fan of the GkTwo. Printing with that machine is so easy and effortless. I was ready to upgrade it to the GKThree but seeing the lack of having a pressure sensor, reduced screen size!!! and a plastic casing is a big turn off in my eyes. I will rather turn to Anycubic M7 Max that seems to fit everything that I'm looking for. Thanks for the honest review.
Totally fair, but please just be aware of the lower resolution of that display. It's a great machine, but i just want to make sure I'm not leading anyone into thinking it;s the absolute best for everyone.
@FauxHammer oh no worries Faux, but in reality I only print at a 50 um layer height so I don't know if that really makes a difference?
@@Mile2112 you wil;l get voxle lines. but antiailising can smooth that out. which will soften the prints a little
My GK2 z-arm rocks back and forth. Something is not secured, but I don't know how to get to it to fix it. Is there a video on removing the housing and / or securing the z-arm?
Thanks
I never owned the GK2 and was thinking about getting one that the price dropped but it's kind of dated now and, IMO for best value for the money in mid sized is Anycubic M5 and M7 series and the Elegoo Saturn 3 ultra. I own several of these printers and they are great. My m7 max will arrive soon. Can't wait. I really wanted to add the uniformation to my collection but they fell short, for reasons stated in my first comment.
"I'd have taken an extra half inch" 😂😂😂
First person to spot it!!!! or at least to comment!
in my original draft, it was much more obvious with a follow up "would like an extra half inch"? but i decided to make it more subtle as a treat for those of us properly listening
glad you smiled
@FauxHammer hey man if there's an innuendo, I'm gonna be right up in there!
Big love my dude keep up the good work
Wish they did not discontinued the GK2 so fast, they need to keep selling it for a few more years or at least till 2026!
I have been FDM printing for a while now and my kids are getting into D&D. I have a Bambu Lab A1 Mini and a X1 Carbon, both with AMS. What company is like them? I want to get resin printing at some point. After watching many of your videos it seems like I should wait for the Next Gen of printers. Like they all have good stuff about them but no one combined the best of the major brands to make a go to machine like BL has done in the FDM space.
Well thats a bit of an F. I was expecting more of the gold standard. Im now split between the GK2, M7 Max or something else, and i have no idea what to get while black friday is still on 😢😅
Hey Ross, the shorter wavelength is providing more energy to the resin. In theory, this might make the resin cure faster. Have you found any difference in exposure time between the two printers?
Edit: now that i think about it that could be something that is impacting the results you were showing between the 2 peinters in the video
Yeah, based on these exposure test. I would need to lower the exposure on the ultra
Ross, any idea if Uniformation intends to provide an exposure "R.E.R.F like" test for us GK2 owners? or are we expected to buy the "new" downgraded GK3...... it's one feature that I really like about my AC Mono X6Ks
I love how they refuse to tell us when these would actually ship
I never noticed that
Sounds like a wait and see if UniFormation improves the issues.
That’s what I’m doing.
Great video. Thank you. I am considering to buy an Uniformation GK2, but now I decided I will buy the GK3 (not Pro) Why?
Even if I get 0.7inches less in screen size, the price is still a better deal than the GK2. GK2 =€715,70 EUR in comparison GK3 (without Pro) =572,56 EUR that's a great price and that's why I definitely upgrade my old elegoo printer. Thank you for making these videos, this help me a lot.
Thank you so much. Mainly fur understanding the value of this review and making your own decision.
Sensible comments like this genuinely improve my faith in humanity!
@@FauxHammer Thanks, you make great videos and I enjoy them much. I am buying the printer because I need one to test my own 3d designs that will be coming in the near future. Thank you very much.
@ thanks so much
Uniformation sent the GK3 & GK3 Pro for you to review with feces stuck to their bed? Was it natural or 3d printed? I have so many questions.
Don’t worry. I have answers!!
Thank you for another great in-depth review! I know this isnt directly related to the GK 3 or pro, but after this video and seeing the release on these printers im heavily concidering the ultra. I know you say it has a weaker light source that "smoothes" prints, but how much does that actually effect the details on smaller models? Would fur, spikes or spears be rounded on miniatures? would hair be smoothed out? how minimal or extreme? your input would be greatly appreciated. I'll make sure to use your link if I end up purchasing it
Will you make cure depth comparison on both printers (405 vs 385nm) on same resins?
no. its something i didn't get explained to me until it was too late. and i have no transparent resin to test it anyway. it;s one of the reasons why this is an "initial" review. There are other reasons.
I need to work out a way to "SHOW" the difference, without it being argued "that's just different curing times" or thicker Supports.
Lets talk after this goes live, because you seem like you are one of the people that understands the difference and there are things I can't fully discuss until after it's live, in case I leak anything.
@@FauxHammer Luckily it's not rocket science. Lower wavelengths are able to 'penetrate' the resin less, so the curing occurs more on the surface. All things equal, this usually results in better surface details because the lower penetration avoids overcuring unintended resin. Lower wavelengths also carry more energy, resulting in less curing/exposure time (also depends on the absorption spectrum of the resin). I'd be interested in what Heygears has to say about this, given that they choose a 405nm source for the Reflex RS vs. 385nm for the Reflex. Resin choice is probably the biggest influence.
@@Daan87423 Sorry yeah, i get this. what I'm struggling with is working out a way to "show" the difference.
How can I fairly show a Transparent test's dimensions on one printer at 405, then show the equivalent printer with 385 and show the sharpness difference.
For reasons you will see in the video. yeah, you do need to reduce exposure time on 385 to make it equal terms of XY dimension. But how will that "look" any different to a transparent print on 2 printers where 1 has a stronger lightsource...
I've heard for a long time that 385 is better for transparents.... We've all heard it. But I'm yet to see a single example that clearly proves the claim... And even if i do see it. will it be to a degree which is actually noticeable to most users?
Is 385 the right choice for hobbyists?
If i get a 385 print and a 405 print and both are dialled in perfectly.... for their UV strength based on the wavelength they output... Will we actually see a measureable difference. and at what level? in microns?
@@FauxHammer Yes it will be measurable, but probably unlikely to be visible to the naked eye. For miniatures this makes no sense to even discuss about, it will not matter. For functional parts that are utilizing structures near the resolution of the printer, this will make a difference. Referring to the XP2 validation matrix you showed in the Reflex vs. Reflex RS video (11:20), you can see that the holes on the RS are filled up near the bottom, whereas the Reflex still shows them. Heygears optimizes their exposure settings (that's their selling point), so yeah, there's your difference.
It would be interesting to see if you can duplicate these results on the GK3/GK3 Pro, also since you can dial the exposure settings yourself. We are talking about sub 100 micrometer differences, no eye or camera will see the differences. Does it matter then for most resin users? Definitely not. But just to show that the difference is measurable, can I suggest you to get your hands on a digital handheld microscope?
I haven't tried transparant printing yet to see the difference, but the fact that the Reflex RS doesn't even support their transparant resin is telling me a lot. I expect that it will result in less clarity.
The 385nm wavelength should help reduce z-blooming
I'm interested in the pro for one reason: they say it's supposed to make my clear controller buttons clearer than the cloudy finish I have with 405nm screens? So maybe I would not have to post process them with varnish anymore? If this is true, I BUY!
I've currently got a Mars 5 Ultra and I'm on my 3rd build plate as all of them keep failing the paper test.
Tempted to get a refund and get the GK3 as a replacement. Hopefully they sort the issues out because at this point, I just want a high-quality, reliable printer.
Considering the GK3 Ultra, those won't release before 2026 so they'll probably be very outdated by the time they release.
I hope they can pull this back
Im torn between the GK3 Pro and the HeyGears. I want to upgrade my entire resin printing assembly and am indecisive :(
i pre orderd the GK3 ultra cause of your video month ago and still wait for them to delivery since august , will they ever deliver ?
It seems they are having issues. Are you in the Facebook group. The latest updates are in there
@@FauxHammer no i don't use facebook , can you please poste their updates
@@Andreas-3d-drucksorry mate. That’s well beyond their time I have to do this.
So if there's a resin leak the plastic case will be marred.
Probably. But you’ll see it less in light grey…
Well they are already starting to take orders so I have a feeling that no improvements have been made since this video, so, either they change things before I order or I guess I'll have to see if I can get the MK2 and spare parts asap before this one goes bye bye!
Tested myself, shorter wavelength have significant impact on clear resin. The 385nm will give far superior quality.
Printing Ameralabs Town with clear resin (I tested with Resione G217) on Anycubic M7 (it has 405~407.5 nm LED) will give clearly visible Z-bloat inside the checker pattern and top side of the loop.
What do you suggest I print on both machines that will prove this to people visually and not have them argue it’s just different exposure times.
I have some ideas. But would like some advice from more experienced people who have tried this?
@FauxHammer The effect is most noticeable at extreme overhangs or worse case when dense support completely fuse into solid chunk. I suggest printing minis like you normally do, find one with many detailed overhangs that go parallel to the build plate. The difference should be very obvious once you compare them side by side.
I don't know what exact wavelength the normal GK3 uses, it may be on the shorter end like 400nm which will make the difference less obvious.
There will be people arguing that regardless. The best you can do is push as much evidence as you can and hope they actually listened to the context (or that they know how to read exposure test at all).
385 nm will have a shallower penetration depth into the resin and should cure slightly faster than 405 nm, but otherwise there’s no real benefit and is even undesirable for MSLA systems as you start to run into degradation of the polarizing films on the LCD, although you’ll probably ruin the screen some other way well before that’s an issue.
we need a gk3 mini now :D
Hello Ross, if you happen to see this comment, as totally biased and personal opinion.
What would you say are must haves for a medium size medium range printer in terms of features(type of buildplate, double or simple guide, leadscrew or ballscrew, pressure sense, heated vat, tilting vat). What would you put in your ideal medium range printer and what would you forgo to keep the price acceptable?
Mh what i allways loved at my GK2 was the slightly bigger buildplate compared to other 10 inch printers... :/
Well and btw i started prints with whole tanks still on the build plate 🤣🤣
Haha. Yep. I’ve done that too…
Hey Ross .. another great review ..... i'm no expert but the gk3 models has taken a stall from doing the gktwo .... but, if i had to chose a gk3/ultra/pro or a heygears rs ... RS would be on my bench for the price.it's bigger and better
I’m glad this was helpful.
@@FauxHammer and with gk2 not being made/not delivered to uk anymore .... looks like i'll be buying the saturn 4 ultra and heater, at christmas (1st printer) .... would of preferred a gk2 .. but, it is what it is hahaha
Was about to sleep, but lets go!
Just bought the gk2 on sale and I assume I did the right after watching this
Exactly what upgrade is this over a GK2? Everything looks basically the same. I still don't understand the need for such a complicated VAT or a heavy/bulky build plate. Both are awful to clean.
I like the Vat, but this is a personal thing. It's great for catching drips and the new side stand is a nice addition. shame you can't close the lid when it's mounted sideways though
@@FauxHammer Like you said a personal thing. I just see no benefit to the VAT design or Build plate design over something like the Saturn 3 Ultra. Simple and easy to clean which is hugely valuable when doing multiple print cycles a day. I don't find spilling an issue with either design, but they both don't poor well.
The gk3 has a SMALLER build volume then the gk2 😂😂 great job
Yep…
As usually great review but real reason why I'm writing this comment is to let you know I'm a Prusa user.
hehehe - so am I now!
Great Video, Ross! Like I said to you in Formnext, I'm a SU4 owner and I very disappointed...I need a new printer that shouldn't give me so many troubles, GK2 would be my choice and now? Go to GK3 or keep my mind on GK2?
Depends how much the build plate size means to you to be honest. and you should have more longevity of GK3, it is also at preorder price right now. and you will also need to wait for it longer
@@FauxHammerthanks I’m similar situation I had to return my little mars 5U as it kept freezing. Was assuming I’d get the pro but now it looks like the GK3
Hi @FauxHammer!
I'd like to get the GK3+W230+Cure3 bundle via your recommendation link, so you can get the commision, but i have two questions:
1. When I click on link in description of your video, it takes me to the uniformation main page - will it work, when I choose what I want from there? I mean if you still get the commission?
2. How can I be sure if I get the right voltage and the power cords? When you want to buy W230 separately it ask you if you want the 110V or 220V. I don't see that option, when it comes to the bundle.
13:14 Your XP-Finder is not properly dialed-in for the GK3 Pro and is clearly over-exposed, as you said. You can't just use the same exact settings for the two machines when one has a PFA film while the other has an ACF, and the UV COB light sources produce not only different wavelengths, but also that of the GK3 Pro is (I think, just a guess for now) more powerful. As a consequence, your subsequent tests (like inserting the sword or the beer cylinder in the jug of the cones of calibration V3) logically fail on the Pro.
Yeah that’s fair, I hadn’t really noticed at the time and when I conflate them with my eyes, they looked spot on. Will test again with this new film when I can.
I am even more confused on whether i go with a GK2 or GK3 now..
I only have experience with my Anycubic Ultra but the print plate is too small for the figures i want to print, so i need an upgrade.
I would like the GK2 build plate size, but i really do like some of the improvements to the design of the GK3, especially the topper being easy to take off and holding thing for the build plate! But i don't know if i should just go with the slightly cheaper GK2 and wait a few years for more improvements..
I live in an apartment, and i print in the living room, right now we have a plant growing tent with ventilation that we can pop out the window for when we print, but it is not big enough for the way the GK2 opens the topper.. So we would either have to get completely rid of that tent and connect the ventilation conversion directly to the machine, or get the GK3 where we can still use the tent contraption 🤔
I think there will be some changes to the retail GK3 models which improve it a bit. but the screen size and resolution will remain the same.
It's still a solid printer as I said. But I miss the pressure sensing features because I'm a regular dumbass and the screen size bother's me. @BattleBrotherSam showed this better than me when comparing the GK3 plate to the GK2 with minis on the plate, and you can fit so many more on the Two!
I think, if you already have models. download chitubox and create a custom printer with these dimensions, and see if it bothers you enough?
I don’t usually comment on things but I am shocked at this review. For a company known for so many practical upgrades that set their printers apart it seems like such a misstep when they had all the feedback to nail this model and control the market for years. That on top of the timing of releasing this printer for you to review so unfinished and still in development seemed like a huge mistake. Especially knowing how honest you are with your content. Not only does it seem like there is hardly any innovation but it rather seems like a downgrade from the GK2 in some ways. I was confident that I was going to be purchasing this printer as it would have all the features I need instead of the majority of the market having only 3/4 of the features but now I think I will just end up pulling the trigger on a Black Friday deal from another company. As always fantastic content and thank you for being so incredibly genuine in your reviews.
I think they fell in love with the tech and they have reason for including these components but I think those are in contrast to market wants.