A resin printer is only one part of the setup. Once a print comes off the build plate, there is still cleaning and curing to do—and that means making room on the bench for more than just the printer.
To go with my ELEGOO Mars 3, I picked up the ELEGOO Mercury Plus 2.0 wash and cure station. In this video, I unpack the unit, explore its components, and put it beside the Mars 3 to see how the two fit together.
Watch the Unboxing
Why Add a Wash and Cure Station?
You do not have to own a dedicated wash and cure station to get started with resin printing. You can clean prints manually using the liquid specified for your resin and use a suitable curing setup afterward.
The appeal of a combined station is organization. It gives the washing and curing stages a shared base and a clear place on the workbench. For my Mars 3 setup, I wanted something that would keep those steps close to the printer without spreading equipment across the entire workspace.
Washing and curing are separate jobs: washing removes uncured resin from the surface, while curing uses UV light to further harden the cleaned print. The Mercury changes between those jobs by using different components on the same machine.
What Comes in the Box?
The station arrives well packed, with protective material around the unit and inside the washing container. After removing that packaging, I work through the main pieces:
- The wash and cure station base
- A yellow protective cover
- A washing container with a clamping lid
- A removable washing basket
- The curing turntable
- A power supply
- Allen keys and the instruction booklet
The overall shape is familiar if you already have a small resin printer: a base, a cover, and the working area inside. My Mars 3 has a red cover, while the Mercury has a yellow one.
I peel off the protective wrapping carefully and set the cover aside. These rigid plastic covers are worth treating gently; dropping one is an easy way to turn an exciting unboxing into a repair project.
The Washing Container and Basket
Opening the washing container reveals more packaging and the basket. At the bottom of the container, you can see the agitator that moves the cleaning liquid around the print.
The basket holds the parts during washing. The container sits on the base, which drives the agitator underneath. That is the main mechanism I show during the unboxing: moving liquid around the parts helps clean their surfaces.
In the video, I also mention using water-washable resin. The cleaning liquid and method should follow the instructions for your specific resin and the machine. Water-washable resin still needs appropriate handling, and used cleaning water should be collected rather than poured down a drain.
The Rotating Curing Platform
The second platform is for curing. I place it on the base and show how it seats into position. With the washing container removed, this turntable supports the print while it rotates beside the UV lights.
The rotating platform helps expose the outside of a model from different directions. It is a useful feature to understand before the first run, especially because the washing container and curing platform share the same space.
For actual operation, let the washed print dry before curing, use the protective cover, and follow the resin manufacturer's curing guidance. ELEGOO provides the model-specific instructions through its Mercury series support page.
How It Fits Beside the Mars 3
At the end of the video, I reassemble the washing container and basket, secure the lid, and place the station beside the Mars 3.
What stands out is how compact the pair looks together. The printer and post-processing station fit into a relatively small area, which is appealing when you are starting with resin printing and working with limited bench space.
This first look covers the packaging, components, and layout of the station. With everything unpacked, the next step is putting it to work with actual prints and choosing the cleaning and curing settings for the resin being used.