Elegoo Mars 2

The Elegoo Mars 2 is the second generation of the line and the first Mars with a monochrome LCD. Same job as the original — miniatures, busts, jewelry and dental masters — but the mono panel cures a layer in about 2 seconds against the 6 to 8 a color LCD needs. It is discontinued and sold out in Elegoo's store.

The screen is 6.08 inches at 2560×1620 with a 50 μm pixel, lit at 405 nm. Build volume is 129×80×150 mm, layers run 0.01–0.2 mm at a rated 30–50 mm/h. The body is CNC-machined aluminum, the plate is sandblasted, and an activated carbon filter handles fumes. Control is a 3.5-inch touchscreen plus USB, in 12 languages. Weight 6.2 kg, footprint 20×20×41 cm.

Pros

• Sharpness holds across the plate, not just in the middle — 3DToday's test prints showed a minimal gap between center and edges
• The mono panel outlives a color LCD: Elegoo warranted it for 6 months against 3 on the original Mars screen
• A chunky aluminum Z bracket on four bolts and a solid trapezoidal lead screw keep the gantry rigid, with no visible play
• The spring-loaded plate with side clamps and a central pivot levels easier than the one on the first Mars
• Metal vat frames mean swapping the FEP film is no tensioning ritual
• Generous kit in the box: tools, protective films, lubricant and two spare FEP sheets

Cons

• The anodized plate grips base layers poorly — the 3DToday reviewer sanded it before adhesion became consistent
• The Z drive has no acceleration ramp, so moves are jerky, and the reviewer felt the carriage binding by hand
• No protective glass over the LCD, so a resin spill kills the panel; a single blower fan does all the cooling and it is loud
• Z height is 150 mm against 160 mm on the Pro, the power switch and USB hide on the back, and the hood gasket slides out of place. No auto leveling, Wi-Fi or camera

The Mars 2 sold as a cheap way into resin printing: tabletop miniatures, busts, small housings and casting masters. It is friendlier to a beginner than the original Mars, printing faster and eating screens slower, but leveling and washing parts in alcohol stay manual chores.

Bottom line: a tidy workhorse for its era, sold on the mono LCD and risky because that same panel is unprotected. Today the Elegoo Mars 5 (4K, 6.6-inch) and Mars 5 Ultra (9K, tilting vat, auto leveling) replace it with a finer pixel and more speed.

Reviews

• YouTube — Elegoo Mars 2 Mono Resin Printer: Should You Buy It? An Honest Review
• YouTube — Follow Along: the Elegoo Mars 2 Mono LCD Resin Printer, from Unboxing to Supports to Wash and Cure