What you need to know
- 250mm/s is the base speed Anker is going for with its new printer, and that's 5x faster than many of today's models.
- The device features a built-in webcam that sends a video feed to a companion app for monitoring.
Anker has a new 3D printer live on Kickstarter. Starting with the build volume, the AnkerMake M5 rocks the standard Ender 3 build size of 235x235x250mm, which is a respectable size for printing these days. The bed itself has a magnet for the PEI flex plate, allowing you to remove the bed and flex it in order to get prints off.
The bed rides on a wide stance with two Y-axis belts for stability and tracking, meaning it isn't going anywhere. There are no wheels to adjust its height; it is all done automatically with the bed level sensor, which maps a 7x7 grid of 49 points in order to have a high-resolution height map of the bed. You can also adjust the Z-offset whilst printing to dial it in.
The Z-axis runs on two hidden lead screws away from dirt and debris. There doesn't appear to be a hidden belt connecting the two. In short, this is not your standard V-wheel bed slinger.
For Anker to be chasing a 250mm/s print speed, a rigid frame is necessary, and with a projected 2500mm/s(squared) acceleration, the company is trying very hard to make its device actually achieve those speeds. Anker touts the ease of assembly: It will be two parts (the base and Y-axis is one piece, and the Z and X-axis are a second piece) utilizing a total of eight screws, two cables (which are USB-C), and a power cord.
Particularly uncommon are the smarts of the M5. With cameras and auto-framing tech, the M5 watches its prints and can relay that to the AnkerMake app to monitor for failed prints, but should also allow you to make time-lapses, which could be useful for social media clout if nothing else. With WiFi and a custom slicer (the program to take 3D models and make them printable), you should also be able to download a model, slice it, transfer it to the printer and start printing all without touching the printer.
Anker is putting this out on Kickstarter with a projected price of $759. However, Early Birds can get it up to 43% off at $429, which is a sizeable price slash. The AnkerMake M5 does cost more than comparably sized machines (the Elegoo Neptune 2 goes for under $200) but it also does significantly more out of the box, will be noticeably faster, and comes from a trusted brand with a trusted customer service history. We look forward to getting the AnkerMake M5 in for review and putting it through its paces.
