AnkerMake M5C 3D printer

Features

Overview: The AnkerMake M5C 3D Printer (V81101C5) lets you create and print three-dimensional items up to 8-5/8" x 9-13/16" x 8-5/8" (W x H x D). It has a single extruder design with a 0.4mm nozzle, and is compatible with 1.75mm diameter filaments made of PLA, PETG, PA, TPU, ABS, and other varieties and combinations. The printer features a sturdy Aluminum Alloy frame with an auto-leveling heated build plate. The M5C requires some assembly, and comes with the required hardware and tools you need. The printer is compact enough to fit on your desk with a footprint of only 14-1/2" x 14-13/16."

Speeds: The M5C offers three printing speeds: Normal Mode, Fast Mode, and Precision Mode. Normal Mode speed is 250mm per second (mm/s), with an acceleration rate of 2500mm/s². Fast Mode speed is 500mm/s with a 5000mm/s² acceleration rate. The Precision Mode can be selected with a 0.4mm (included) or an optional 0.2mm nozzle, to achieve a layer thickness of 0.1mm and 50μm resolution. To enable Fast Mode printing, you must upgrade the printer's firmware to version 3.0.21 or above. The AnkerMake Slicer software must be at version V0.9.40_8 or above, and the AnkerMake mobile app (iOS or Android) at version V1.2.0 or above.

Compatible Filaments: The M5C 3D printer is an FDM (fused deposition modeling) printer that can use a variety of filament types:

• PLA/PLA+: Polylactic Acid (PLA) is a thermoplastic monomer made from organic sources. PLA+ is made of earth-friendly, non-toxic biomaterials extracted from corn, and is 1.5x stronger than standard PLA. The AnkerMake accessory filaments (listed above) are made of PLA+.
• PET/PETG: PETG is Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) plus glycol, a thermoplastic polyester that is a tough, durable, and flexible material for 3D printing.
• PA: Polyamide (PA) filament, also known as Nylon filament, is a durable material with a high resistance to impact and wear.
• TPU: TPU (ThermoPlastic Polyurethane) is a soft, flexible material for making stretchy 3D models.
• ABS: ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) is likely the earliest commonly-used filament for 3D printers. It is tough and durable, and has great mechanical properties.
• Carbon Fiber Reinforced (CF): Some filament materials can be reinforced with carbon fiber to add stiffness, mechanical strength, and resistance to heat. It also creates an excellent bond between layers. Compatible Carbon Fiber reinforced filaments include PLA-CF, PETG-CF, and PA-CF.

PowerBoost™ 2.0: The M5C 3D Printer features PowerBoost 2.0, an upgraded motion-control system that enables fast printing speeds. A powerful stepper motor and a double-belted driveshaft gradually increase the printing speed and acceleration without sacrificing print quality. The S-smoothing algorithm in the firmware reduces inertia and jerking for better accuracy, and suppresses vibrations during high-speed printing. The algorithm adjusts the pulse frequency of the stepper motor in real time based on motion planning to increase the power release by 30%, compared to PowerBoost 1.0.

Magnetic Flexible Heatplate: The printer's removable soft magnetic heatplate is made of flexible, scratch-resistant PEI. After your print project cools down, you can easily remove the heatplate and give it a slight bend to remove your model. The magnetic design of the heatplate lets you remove and replace the print sheet with ease.

Auto-Leveling: Calibrating the heatbed is essential for producing successful 3D prints. The distance between the nozzle and the heatbed must be constant, or else your prints will be misshapen or warped, or will fail altogether. The heatbed on the M5C features 49 leveling points in a 7x7 grid for proper leveling. Using the AnkerMake app, you can properly level and calibrate the heatbed before beginning your print job.

Extruder: The AnkerMake M5C is equipped with a new, redesigned Ultra-Direct Extruder, which melts the filament and forces it through the nozzle onto the print bed at up to 0.1mm precision. The large 82mm³ melting chamber and maximum 35mm³/sec extrusion flow lets you print more models in less time. The distance from the extruder gear to the top of the melting chamber has been reduced to just 58mm (2.28"), compared to 400mm (15.75") on other distal extrusion 3D printers. This much shorter distance between the extruder and the nozzle reduces errors and enhances control. The extruder has a multi-stage gear system that has a 21.6:1 reduction ratio through the large 19mm diameter extrusion gear. (Regular 3D printers have extruders with reduction ratios of 3.0 to 3.5.)

Resume Printing: The printer supports Resume Printing, allowing you to continue printing your model instead of having to start over. If the power goes off, or some other interruption occurs, the printer saves the current layer and resumes the print when you're ready to continue.

Assembly: The 3D printer comes in two main parts that need to be assembled prior to printing. The base provides a solid foundation for the printer, and contains the heatbed which moves forward-and-backward. The gantry frame holds the extruder and print nozzle which moves left-to-right as well as up-and-down. The legs of the extruder fit into the holes provided in the base and bolts down with the included screws. The included filament holder can be attached to the gantry frame either at the top or to the left side. There are some motor cables and USB cables that should be plugged in after the gantry frame is installed. The filament spool hangs from the holder with the filament entering the extruder from the left side. When you have downloaded and installed the software, you are ready to print. Assembly takes approximately 15 minutes to complete.

Wireless Connections: You can connect to the Anker M5C 3D printer wirelessly via Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz) or Bluetooth. The printer can be controlled remotely from your smartphone (AnkerMake app for iOS/Android) or computer (AnkerMake Slicer software for Windows/Mac). The printer can also be controlled via Amazon Alexa or the Google Assistant using voice commands.

Importing Files: The M5C 3D printer will accept STL and OBJ file formats. There are three options for importing files to be printed:

• USB Flash Drive: A USB-C flash drive with printing files can be plugged into the printer's USB-C port (on the top of the LCD screen housing). The printer display will show you the available files for you to select.
• AnkerMake App: The Gcode printing file can be transferred through the AnkerMake app on your smartphone.
• AnkerMake Slicer: The Gcode printing file can be transferred through the AnkerMake Slicer software on your PC or Mac.

Software/Apps: The AnkerMake M5C 3D printer can be controlled and monitored with your smartphone running the AnkerMake mobile app. The app lets you simultaneously control multiple printers, queue printing jobs, and view your print history. It also features a search engine with an extensive range of 3D models to select and print. The AnkerMake mobile app works with iPhone and iPod touch running iOS 11.0 or later and with Android devices running Android 6.0 and up. AnkerMake Slicer is the official 3D Printing software and gives you full control of your 3D printing. It is compatible with Windows 10 and up (with 64-bit processors) and for macOS Big Sur 11.0 or later. The M5C is also compatible with Ultimaker Cura and PrusaSlicer software.

Specifications:

• Maximum Print Volume (WxHxD): 220 x 250 x 220 mm³ (8-5/8" x 9-13/16" x 8-5/8")
• Max. Print Speed: 500mm/s
• Max. Print Acceleration: 5000m/s²
• Print Precision:
  • 0.4mm Nozzle (included): 0.16mm or 0.12mm layer thickness
  • 0.2mm Nozzle (optional): 0.1mm or 0.05mm layer thickness
• Nozzle Diameter: 0.4mm
• Filament Diameter: 1.75mm
• Compatible Filament Materials: PLA (incl. PLA+), PETG/PED, TPU, ABS, PA, PLA-CF, PETG-CF, and PA-CF
• Hot End: All-metal
• Extruder: Ultra-Direct Extruder
• Extruder Temperature: Maximum 572°F (300°C)
• Heat Plate: PEI Soft Magnetic Steel
• Heat Plate Temperature: Maximum 212°F (100°C)
• Heat Plate Leveling: Auto-leveling 49 points (7 x 7)
• Operation Noise Level: 48dB (standard mode), 50dB (fast mode)
• Dimensions: Width 14.5", Height 19" (w/o filament holder), Depth 14.8125"
• Weight: 21.2 pounds