Phrozen has built a solid reputation in the 3D printing space, especially for their resin 3D printers. The company, founded in 2016, made a name for itself by releasing high-resolution machines that could produce incredibly detailed prints. Their Sonic series, including the Sonic Mini 8K and Sonic Mega 8K, became popular for things like miniatures, cosplay props, and even professional prototypes. Phrozen didn’t stop at just improving print quality—they focused on creating printers that are easy to set up and straightforward to use, which is part of why they grew so quickly in the market.

After mastering resin 3D printing, Phrozen decided to expand into FDM printing. Instead of playing it safe with a typical desktop printer, they went all-in with their first FDM 3D printer, Phrozen Arco. It’s is designed for mid-sized projects, combining fast speeds and a sizable build volume. The Arco was a hit right from its Kickstarter launch, earning support from more than 1,400 backers and is now available to consumers. In this review, we’ll take a detailed look at Phrozen Arco. We’ll explore its build volume, print quality, and overall design to see how well it handles big projects.

Design and Build Quality

The Phrozen Arco keeps things simple and solid, which is what you need when printing life-size objects like masks, armor, and more. The frame is made from sturdy metal to cut down on vibrations during long print jobs. It takes up more room than you standard printer. Its open-frame design means you can easily reach into the print area to load materials or check on things mid-print. The touchscreen is simple and easy to use. You won’t get lost in menus trying to tweak settings or check your progress. Getting the printer set up and calibrated doesn’t feel like a hassle either—it’s pretty straightforward.

As with most big printers, it’s not the quietest machine out there. The motors and moving parts have more work to do, so it does hum along at a noticeable volume. If you’re working in a quiet space, that’s worth considering.

Key Features and Specifications

It’s Arco!

The Phrozen Arco is built for mid-sized printing and handles these projects quickly and efficiently. The 300 x 300 x 300 mm³ build volume gives you enough space to print models like helmets, masks, or prototypes in one piece. This saves time and reduces weak points in the final product.

One of the Arco’s strongest points is its speed. It’s equipped with dual 18 mm extrusion gears and a 9.5 torque ratio HGX extruder, reaching print speeds of 600 mm/s and an acceleration of 30,000 mm/s². That’s about 12 times faster than most standard FDM printers. You can finish large projects much faster without losing print quality. The Direct Extrusion Path (DEP) system improves filament feeding by keeping the path between the gears and the hotend short. This setup helps keep extrusion consistent, even when printing softer filaments like TPU, which can be tricky with standard setups.

To keep everything stable during fast prints, the Arco has a low-gravity base, CoreXY structure, and four reinforced support pillars. These design features help prevent wobbling and reduce the chances of print failures caused by unwanted movement during printing. If you need multicolor printing, the Arco supports up to four colors when paired with Phrozen’s Chroma Kit. This means you can set up multiple colors for a project without manually swapping filaments mid-print.

The Arco runs on Klipper firmware, an open-source system that gives you more control over your print settings. You’re free to adjust and fine-tune without being stuck with preset configurations. This makes it easier to match the printer’s performance to your projects.

Comparisons

Phrozen Arco vs Creality K1 Max

The Phrozen Arco and Creality K1 Max both target users who need mid-sized 3D printing, but they approach things differently.

• Printing System: The K1 Max uses a CoreXY system for faster, more efficient movements. The Arco also uses a CoreXY structure but pairs it with Phrozen’s Direct Extrusion Path (DEP) system to improve extrusion stability, especially for soft filaments like TPU.
• Build Volume: Both printers feature a 300 x 300 x 300 mm³ build area, giving plenty of space for large models and batch printing.
• Speed: Both printers can reach speeds of up to 600 mm/s. However, the Arco’s 30,000 mm/s² acceleration and low-gravity base help maintain control during rapid prints.
• Material Compatibility: The Arco’s 300°C hotend can print difficult materials, like carbon fiber blends. The K1 Max also handles high-temp materials but lacks the same extrusion design aimed at softer filaments.

Phrozen Arco vs Bambu Lab X1 Carbon

The Phrozen Arco and Bambu Lab X1 Carbon target different types of users—one built for larger prints, the other focused on automation and multi-material capabilities.

• Build Volume: The Arco’s 300 x 300 x 300 mm³ build area is larger than the X1 Carbon’s 256 x 256 x 256 mm³. The Arco is better for larger, single-material projects, while the X1 Carbon handles smaller builds and batch jobs.
• Speed and Acceleration: Both printers hit speeds of up to 600 mm/s, but the Arco’s acceleration of 30,000 mm/s² is faster than the X1 Carbon’s 10,000 mm/s².
• Multi-Material Printing: The X1 Carbon supports multi-material printing out of the box with its AMS system. The Arco can print with up to four colors when paired with the Chroma Kit, but it’s an add-on rather than a built-in feature.
• Noise Levels: The Arco’s larger build and powerful motors are louder during prints. The X1 Carbon has a silent mode that keeps noise levels under 48 dB.

Real World Applications

The Phrozen Arco isn’t just built for size—it’s practical for different types of projects where having more space and speed really pays off. Here’s where it makes a difference:

• Prototyping and Product Design: The large build volume lets you print full-size prototypes in one go, so you don’t have to split them into smaller parts. For engineers and designers, that means faster testing and fewer post-print headaches from gluing pieces together.
• Cosplay and Props: If you’re printing helmets, armor pieces, or oversized props, the Arco gives you the space to print big sections at once. Plus, it can handle tougher filaments, which is a bonus if you want props that hold up during events or shoots.
• Architectural Models: When you’re working on large building models, being able to print bigger sections saves time. Instead of piecing together tons of small prints, you can print large chunks that fit better and look cleaner.
• Batch Printing: The Arco’s speed makes it handy for batch printing multiple parts in a single job. Whether you’re making small production runs or printing several components at once, it can handle the workload without slowing down.

Final Notes

Arco is Phrozen’s first FDM 3D printer and they made sure to leave a big impression! Its 300 x 300 x 300 mm³ build volume is paired with incredible print speed of 600 mm/s with 30,000 mm/s² acceleration. The CoreXY structure, and reinforced frame help keep prints stable, even at high speeds. The patented Direct Extrusion Path (DEP) system reduces the gap between the gears and heat source, ensuring smooth extrusion even with flexible filaments like TPU.

That being said, the Arco takes up a good amount of space and can get loud during prints, which is something to consider if you work in a shared or quiet environment. But if you’re after a machine that can handle large props, life-size prototypes, or batch jobs efficiently, it checks the right boxes.

For creators who like to experiment with multicolor prints, the Chroma Kit expansion adds even more flexibility. Plus, the open-source Klipper firmware means you can customize the printing process to fit your projects. Overall, the Phrozen Arco offers the tools needed to tackle large-scale printing without unnecessary complexity.

Phrozen Arco is built to handle the job. It’s fast, dependable, and flexible enough to tackle everything from everyday prints to more demanding builds.