Elegoo’s Mercury XS Wash & Cure bundle is the perfect dual machine station and is a perfect partner with the Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra 3D printer. The wash and cure stations each have very respective features, making it safe to use and convenient.
The Mercury XS Wash & Cure bundle features a clean, simple design. Both machines use a combination of knob and button controls—no need to fumble through countless settings. Each unit also features a maximum timer setting of 0 to 30 minutes, providing users with peace of mind when curing prints. Overcuring is still possible, but these built-in limits add a welcome layer of protection.
One of the standout features of the Mercury XS Wash & Cure bundle is that both machines can run off the same power cord, reducing outlet clutter. The controls are easy to use and intuitive, with sufficient safety features to make even a novice 3D printer user feel comfortable. Without those added protections, I might have risked damaging my eyes by staring directly into the cure station’s UV lights.
“Elegoo’s Mercury XS Wash & Cure bundle is the perfect dual machine station and is a perfect partner with the Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra 3D printer.”
The curing machine’s transparent cover blocks up to 99.9 per cent of ultraviolet rays, improving resin solidification while keeping users safe. The bundle also includes a pair of anti-UV safety glasses—great for taking direct photos of your prints while they cure, or even for some freehand UV curing. Either way, the transparent design makes it much easier to capture photos or video of the process.
Another significant part of the Mercury XS cure machine was the included handheld UV lamp. This allows users to cure the interior or nooks and crannies of 3D-printed parts for smoother surfaces and incredible print quality, making it ideal for curing assembled models. This was perfect for tight spots on both bigger and smaller models, which I utilized for my large and small prints of Gustave from Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
As for the wash station, it was extremely convenient in most aspects, featuring a large washing volume of up to 7,000 ml (7 L). This means it can hold a substantial amount of isopropyl alcohol (IPA) or water, depending on your resin or the specific situation. Like most 3D print users, whether using resin or filament, alcohol washes are better nine times out of ten.
“Having something this large and convenient frees the user from needing to look for and use other containers.”
The only inconvenience of washing with this high-volume liquid container is that it may make proper disposal slightly more challenging because you cannot simply dump the water or IPA down the drain. The container of the wash station is an excellent buy for those washing prints in high volumes or investing in washing large prints in a simple, streamlined way.
Having something this large and convenient frees the user from needing to look for and use other containers. The built-in spin wash is where this whole wash station excels. The Mercury XS Wash & Cure bundle instructions also stated how you can wash with prints still on the build plate. I found this was a bit of a nightmare, though, especially with water.
The water sometimes swooshed into the top part of the build plate. The water got trapped in some of the holes, meaning I had to let the build plate air dry before getting to my next print. For the technical 3D print users, the maximum wash volume is 180mm x 121mm x 153mm (with the build plate) and 201mm x 124mm x 255mm (without the build plate). Even with IPA, I would not recommend washing with the build plate because you have to wait for the plate to dry properly before using it again.
My final analysis of the Mercury XS Wash & Cure bundle is that it is a great companion to the Mars 5 Ultra 3D printer, but not necessary for casual users. The wash station is only relevant for printing in high volumes; the cure station makes this bundle worth it the most. Anyone who cures using the sun knows that the method is not the most effective curing process. If Elegoo made the cure station available to purchase separately on their site for around $150-$175, otherwise, the wash station does not fully carry its weight.
- 【360° all-round exposure】The post-curing station adopts 2 L-shape light bars (each built-in 14 UV LED lights), and added 4 UV LED beads beneath the turntable. Work with 360°auto-rotating turntable and a handheld UV lamp that cures the nooks and crannies and interior of 3D prints, so that the entire model is cured thoroughly without dead ends.
- 【Dual function of washing and curing】 ELEGOO Mercury XS contains 1 washing station and 1 post-curing station, with the dual function of cleaning and curing to remove uncured resin of 3D printed models and optimized your print quality, making your post-processing simple and efficient.
