ANYCUBIC Photon Mono 4: problems, parts and running costs

Checked: 2026-10-17

Summary

Owners report three recurring faults on the Mono 4: a touchscreen misaligned by about half an inch on some units, false “residue detected” errors that stop prints mid-job, and a loud internal fan that can need a power cycle before a print will start. Keeping it running means resin, isopropyl alcohol and replacement FEP film, and no annual total is reported. At $209 from Anycubic’s US store (2026-10-12) it is a good buy for a first 10K resin printer.

Common problems and fixes

Touchscreen misalignment — reported in Anycubic Wiki FAQ comments (October 2025), with the screen off by about 0.5 inch on some units; Anycubic sells a replacement 2.8-inch touchscreen for the Mono 2/Mono 4 and has published a replacement guide; the 1-year warranty applies to Anycubic 3D printers. [1][3][4]
“Residue detected” false positives — persistent errors that halt prints mid-job, reported in the Wiki FAQ; the fix is to clean resin residue from the vat. [1]
Loud fan whirring — the internal fan whirs loudly and may need a power cycle before a print will start, per the Wiki FAQ. [1]
Screw grease buildup — the Wiki FAQ lists cleaning the screw grease when accumulation or jamming occurs as routine maintenance. [1]

Parts and consumables

[5][6]

FEP film set — $18.67 at 3DJake (October 2026); replacement interval not reported. [5]
LCD screen protector — $15.87 at 3DJake (October 2026); replacement interval not reported. [5]
LCD screen — $84.03 at 3DJake (October 2026); replacement interval not reported. [5]
Resin replacement tank — $26.14 at 3DJake (October 2026); replacement interval not reported. [5]
Build platform — $28.00 at 3DJake (October 2026); replacement interval not reported. [5]

Other consumables: resin and isopropyl alcohol for cleaning. [1]

Yearly running cost

Not enough data. The recurring costs are resin, replacement FEP film and isopropyl alcohol for cleaning, but the sources report no usage rates, so a typical annual total cannot be computed. Known part prices: FEP film set $18.67, LCD screen protector $15.87, LCD screen $84.03, resin replacement tank $26.14, build platform $28.00, all at 3DJake in October 2026. [1][5]

When it is a good buy

At $209 (Anycubic US store, 2026-10-12, sale from a $219 compare-at) the Mono 4 is a good buy for entry-level 10K resin printing: 17 um XY resolution and a 2.2 L build volume are competitive at that price. [2]
The Mono 4 Ultra is the better choice when you need faster printing: it reaches 80/120 mm/h versus the Mono 4’s 50/70 mm/h and covers a 0.02-0.15 mm layer range versus 0.03-0.15 mm; it is listed at $344 in Anycubic’s EU store and $359 in the AU store. [3][7]