Anycubic Photon Maintenance Guide
Same core resin-printer upkeep as any MSLA machine, plus a couple of habits specific to the Photon line.
Maintenance schedule
| Task | Interval |
|---|---|
| Inspect FEP film for cloudiness/damage | Every print, before pouring resin |
| Clean vat and build plate (IPA) | After every print, and between resin types |
| Level the build plate | Every print, using the printer's specified process |
| Run an exposure time validation test on a new resin | Whenever switching resin brand or color |
| Check LCD masking film condition | Every several prints |
| Update slicer profile (Photon Workshop or third-party) | When switching resin or after firmware updates |
Exposure time isn't a universal number, even on the same printer
Every resin (and often every color within the same resin line) cures at a slightly different rate, so the exposure time that worked perfectly for one bottle can under- or over-cure the next — running a simple exposure validation test print (a small calibration matrix testing several exposure times at once) when starting a new resin catches this before committing a full print to a guess. This matters more than it does on FDM, where a slightly-off temperature rarely ruins a whole print outright.
Photon Workshop vs. third-party slicers
Anycubic's own Photon Workshop is the default slicer, but many users move to Lychee Slicer or Chitubox for more advanced supports and hollowing tools — if a print looks fine in slicer preview but fails on the printer, checking that the correct machine profile is selected (matching your specific Photon model's exact screen resolution and Z height) is worth confirming first, since a mismatched profile is a common and easy-to-overlook cause.
Build plate leveling drift is worth a quick check if adhesion suddenly gets worse
The build plate can loosen slightly at its mounting screws over repeated use, gradually throwing off a leveling that was correct when first set — if a print that used to release cleanly now fails to adhere to the plate at all, re-leveling before assuming it's a resin or exposure problem saves time chasing the wrong cause.