SL1S in 2026 needs a hardware update!
Just feeling as though the SL1S could use a little resolution update.. These cheaper printers such as the mars 5 ultra seem to check all the boxes that my prusa does. I was hoping that we would see some sort of update now that tech has moved forward a little. I know Prusa is all about keeping their products upgradable, but we are falling behind, man! This is a very expensive printer and is still being sold at a premium.
Isn't it time?
Thoughts?
-Colin
RE: SL1S in 2026 needs a hardware update!
i actually bought the sl1 a upgraded it to sls1 and now bought the saturn ultra 16k for almost half the price of the cw1 curing station. The 16k is a gimmick and i dont think that even 12k make a difference. But never the less it has a substantially bigger plate (for a resin printer) and nothing less than the sls in terms of features. Ellegoo's Satellite slicer is inferior to Prusaslicer, which i still use to slice models and pass them to elegoo satellite slicer for just gcode generation. Im not by any means trying to promote Elegoo ( i have/had until now only prusa printers MK3S.mmu2s,sls1,XL), i mentioned it because you mentions mars5, but Prusa doesnt need just a resolution upgrade for the SLS but rather a reality check in my opinion. 2000E for the SLS1 and 750 for the curing station.. No matter what type of lcd you stack to that thing is not going to sell except for hardcore prusa fans. If someone wants to spend those kind of money probably needs it for professional use and better invest in formlabs or something in that category. And Prusa already has a pro version so i guess SLS1 is more a middle ground between a Elegoo or a Anycubic etc and Fromlabs for example. Of course you have to offer something to distinguish against the cheaper brands which Prusa does not.
My opinion in short. It doesn't matter. I wouldn't buy an upgrade kit to lets say 8k since it would probably cost almost as half the cost of my Saturn.
P.S. To be honest and not pass the wrong message. I still use my SLS1 for smaller prints to save resin but is not my primary one. Its a good printer but not for its current price tag.
RE: SL1S in 2026 needs a hardware update!
Exactly what I am saying!
And no, I don't endorse the other brands either, in fact, I love my Prusa. I want to keep using it.
I am a goldsmith and don't mind the smaller build plate. I just want to get the really nice crisp details that some of these other printers are offering.
There is a "Prusa Tax" we all know about, but that is a premium price for a premium product that comes with upgradabilty, etc.
I am just hoping that the SL1S gets that treatment again. It's been long enough, and I would rather just keep using it! I love the slicer, I love everything about it. Just.. an upgrade... please :)-- And maybe make it affordable!
Ha!
-Colin