Resin 3D printers are by no means new at this point, and each successive iteration has only improved the technology, opening new avenues for makers. With the Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Max, not only has the technology advanced, but the larger size also offers appealing benefits that could very well justify the $999 price tag. After several weeks of testing this giant, I have to say I’m impressed — even if it does have a couple of quirks worth mentioning.
Before diving into the various features this printer brings to resin 3D printing, it’s worth touching on the most obvious aspect of this new offering: its massive size. Weighing in at a staggering 52 pounds (24 kilograms), the M7 Max isn’t something you’ll want to move around frequently. I’ve got it set up on one of our tables in the back of the CGMagazine offices, and I’m not looking forward to moving it when the time comes.
But with that size comes much more flexibility, with the M7 Max boasting impressive capacity to create anything your heart desires — provided it can be printed with resin. The printer’s build volume is massive, offering dimensions of 298 x 164 x 300 millimetres (11.7 x 6.4 x 11.8 inches). To put that in perspective, the Z and X dimensions actually exceed those of many popular FDM printers, like the Prusa Core One or any Bambu machine. This allows you to print either extraordinarily large single models or, more practically, dozens of smaller items at once.
Looking past the size, the Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Max 3D Printer is a sleek and modern-looking unit. The black-on-black aesthetic gives it a premium appearance, with a UV hood that tilts back with minimal effort. One thoughtful design element I immediately appreciated was the built-in hook for hanging the build plate at an angle, allowing the excess resin to drip back into the vat — a small touch that makes the inherently messy resin printing process slightly more manageable. I would have loved to see a designated spot for the build plate near the vat, but this is the next best thing.
“Looking past the size, the Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Max 3D Printer is a sleek and modern-looking unit.”
Even with the intimidating nature of the M7 Max, getting everything up and running was surprisingly easy, requiring only a few simple steps to get started with printing. The printer arrives almost fully assembled — you just need to remove the LED screen protector used for shipping, then attach the vat and build plate.
Unlike older resin printers that required careful manual levelling, the M7 Max ships factory-levelled. I ran through the levelling process to ensure everything was set up correctly, and even then, it only took about five minutes to make sure everything was ready and you were up and running. I had heard horror stories about getting 3D printers fully set up, and with the size and overall complexity of the Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Max, I was worried. Thankfully, the process was as painless as possible — with the full setup, including adjusting settings, taking only about 30 minutes.
The M7 Max comes with a handy resin pump pre-installed, requiring only the connection of tubes and a data cable before placing it in your resin bottle. I tested this feature a few times during the review process and while it works and does the job well, it honestly felt like more effort than just doing it manually.
Given that the massive vat can hold a full litre of resin, I found it easier to simply pour it in manually rather than troubleshoot the pump system. I did get the pump working, and it performed as expected, but if you want it to draw resin from a bottle, the process feels needlessly complex — especially for something that only takes a few minutes if you’re careful and have a funnel handy.
Once I dove into the many settings and features, I was impressed by how advanced this 3D printer is compared to many older resin models I’ve seen in the past. The M7 Max comes equipped with several premium features that elevate it beyond simply being a larger version of its siblings. The heated vat stands out as particularly useful — it warms the resin to reduce viscosity, allowing for faster printing without sacrificing quality. The heater circulates resin through channels along the vat’s edge, providing a gentle stirring action that helps maintain consistency.
If that weren’t enough, the Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Max is designed to be much smarter than many cheaper offerings on the market. The printer also includes sensors to detect failed prints, low resin levels and even notifies you when it’s time to change the film on your vat — features that help justify the premium price point. Anycubic has paid real attention to the small details, ensuring this is a printer that can tackle complex jobs while making errors and problems far less common throughout the process.
“The Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Max is designed to be much smarter than many cheaper offerings on the market.”
Looking at the screen — which is how a resin 3D printer creates prints from liquid resin — you have a solid 7K resolution display across the massive build area. While the resolution might sound underwhelming in an era where manufacturers constantly chase higher pixel counts, the 46-micron pixel accuracy delivers excellent detail. For perspective, human hair is about 50-120 microns wide (I checked), so the M7 Max’s resolution is more than adequate for most applications. I will touch on the overall print quality in a bit, but I will say I was more than happy with the results, even with simple test prints.
On the connectivity side, the M7 Max includes both USB thumb drive support and Wi-Fi through Anycubic’s phone app and cloud system. The 4.3-inch touchscreen interface is intuitive and well-designed, with large graphics that make navigation straightforward. You can also use the PC software to send prints directly. While I did experience some issues with the cloud service recognizing the printer online, these instances were intermittent, and it worked very well about 90 percent of the time.
With the overall features and specs out of the way, it’s time to finally dive into the print quality — and I have to say, I’m impressed. One might expect some compromise in detail when scaling up to such a large build volume, but the M7 Max delivers surprisingly crisp results.
The printer offers several print profiles, with two being particularly noteworthy:
- High Speed/Fast Resin: 0.1mm layer height with 3-second exposure
- Normal Speed/Standard Resin: 0.05mm layer height with 2.2-second exposure
Much like the other printers in the M7 range, the M7 Max allows for the use of a high-speed printing mode — and it’s shockingly fast, especially if you’re new to resin 3D printing. The high-speed mode, when paired with Anycubic’s specialized fast resin, can cut print times roughly in half compared to normal mode while still delivering detailed and clean-looking prints. I will say while it is faster, this speed does come at a slight cost, with a reduction in detail and more visible layer lines under close inspection. I don’t think they’re bad by any means, and if you’re painting your miniatures, you won’t lose much — but it’s there, and the tradeoff is worth noting.
During my review process, testing a range of miniatures (most from Loot Studios) revealed the most noticeable differences between the printing modes. The standard or ABS-like resin I used with normal settings produced sharper details in facial features, textures and small elements like scars or clothing. In contrast, the fast resin — while impressively quick — rendered these details somewhat softer and less defined. You can also see more of the layers, resulting in slightly less clean-looking models that, while functional, don’t push the limits of what a resin 3D printer can deliver.
When I tested larger models, I found the difference became less noticeable. A test print of a complex sculpture showed exceptional quality despite its size, with fine details preserved throughout. Even intricate models, like a giant dragon with numerous small elements, came out remarkably well — maintaining various levels of detail I didn’t expect to appear so clearly.
That same dragon showcased how well the M7 Max can produce a larger model composed of various parts that need to fit together. I was initially worried it might not come together properly — concerned that parts wouldn’t fit as intended — but thankfully, the printer delivered well enough to assemble the model and have it looking fantastic. The M7 Max handled this challenging print flawlessly, producing a stunning final result that I was surprised could be done on a home resin printer.
When printing very large objects, I did encounter one issue worth noting: heavier prints can potentially detach from the build plate. While my large sculpture print ultimately succeeded, it showed signs of detachment during printing. The lesson here is to increase the exposure time for the first layers when printing particularly large or heavy models.
I did have some other prints detach during the process. It wasn’t consistent, but I found it was more likely to happen when the model was placed in the middle of the build area, with far fewer issues occurring near the edges or when the model was connected to parts positioned along the edges. A minor issue, but one worth noting for anyone concerned about failed prints.
As I mentioned earlier, the M7 Max uses Anycubic’s PhotonWorkshop slicing software, which provides a great way to manage 3D models and set up new prints. The software works well to organize, place and support models, all within a very easy-to-use interface. In most cases, the default settings produced perfectly adequate support with minimal need for adjustment. The software now properly avoids intersecting support structures with overhanging model elements — a frustrating issue that, I hear, existed in previous versions. For those who prefer alternative slicing software, the M7 Max is also compatible with popular options like Chitubox and Lychee Slicer.
Like any 3D printer, the material used is a key factor in the overall quality of the end product—and that’s equally applicable to the M7 Max. Anycubic’s high-speed resin ($45.99 per 1 kg) is almost double the cost of their regular resin ($23.99 per 1 kg), yet reduces print times by about half. The high-speed formula is reported to be enhanced from early versions, retaining more detail compared to earlier models while keeping its speedy curing. Still, it does result in softer details and slightly more noticeable layer lines than standard resin.
What you are going to be doing with your 3D prints will determine what resin you end up selecting. For the purposes of this review, I tested a variety of ABS-like, standard, and high-speed resins. The average person may not see a lot of difference, yet each has something that can be better suited to particular requirements. When it comes to gaming miniatures and detailed small prints, keep to standard resin and normal print quality.
The additional print time is worth the increased detail in such situations. For bigger models, as well as if you prioritize time, the high-speed resin provides a good compromise. I personally prefer the ABS-like print resin for its marginally tougher, flexible prints, but all the resins I tried with the M7 Max produced good output — all worth showing off to everyone you know.
As with all resin printers, the M7 Max has post-processing requirements that buyers new to the technology may want to keep in mind. Prints must be isopropyl alcohol (or water, in the case of water-wash resin) washed and UV light-cured before they’re really done.
I tested the Anycubic M7 Max with the Anycubic Wash and Cure 3.0 as well, which was a substantial assistance throughout the process. Based on my experience, the 30-second rinse in 95 percent isopropyl alcohol followed by a rinse for two minutes in a washing facility such as the Anycubic Wash and Cure (separately available for $159) gave the most effective result. I also discovered supports are most conveniently removed prior to final curing, as they are softer to the touch and come loose at this point.
Final curing can be done in 5-10 minutes in a UV curing station, alternatively, several hours under bright sunlight. Also, it’s worth mentioning that as wonderful as resin printing is in terms of what it can accomplish, the resin itself is toxic and must be handled carefully. Contaminated IPA must never be rinsed down the drain — rather, let it dry and cure the leftover resin sludge prior to disposal. It’s a chore, sure, but well worth going through the processions to get 3D printing as safe as possible.
Anycubic has produced a wonderfully enormous 3D printer that’s a top-end performer in terms of speed, quality, and feature set — at a cost. At $999, the Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Max isn’t cheap, particularly in relation to the standard size of resin printers available on the market. It’s clearly not for newbies — the marriage of high build volume, higher price, and the messy nature of resin printing makes it most suited to enthusiasts and pros.
The M7 Max excels for users who need to print very large individual models or several small models at a time. It’s well-suited to small production workflows or print farms, where several machines could be running at the same time.
If you don’t require the large print volume, think about the Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Pro as a substitute. It provides even quicker printing along with greater detail at a lower $669. Although it has a smaller print volume, it comes with much of the same functionality that makes the M7 Max so appealing.
At the end of the day, I loved what Anycubic delivered with the Photon Mono M7 Max 3D Printer. It does what it promises to do: bring professional features and impressive build volume at a cost that, although high for a hobbyist, is manageable for serious enthusiasts and small businesses. It looks solid, has all the features you’d hope for from a modern resin printer, and the build volume means you’re not as limited by space — you can build whatever comes to mind.
Yet even with all that said, for the majority of hobbyists, this printer is simply overkill — both in size and cost. However, for users who’ve outgrown smaller resin printers and want extra capacity without stepping up to industrial-scale equipment, the M7 Max fills a sweet spot that few of its contemporaries can match.
- 【Huge Build Volume】 Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Max offers a spacious printing size of 298mm × 164mm × 300mm, allowing for the creation of full-size masks, intricate game terrains, detailed cosplay props, and various models without the hassle of cutting and assembling
- 【Upgraded Light Source】 LighTurbo 3.0 combines a COB light source and Fresnel lens and factory calibrate technology can reach the light angle within 3°, and light uniformity is more than 90%. With the anti-aliasing feature activated and paired with high-precision positioning lead screws, it effectively minimizes layer lines and aliasing to achieve a higher level of precision
