Snapmaker 3-in-1 3d Printer

[Fortun Bawa]

Snapmaker3-in-1 3D Printer is a modular printer, which can be transformed into CNC carving and engraving machine by swapping the interchangeable heads. It had been presented on Kickstarter by US startup as easy to build and operate DIY Kit. Snapmaker comes with its own software for slicing, carving, and engraving but can be used with other programmes as well.

Snapmaker 2.0 modular 3-in-1 3D printers are ideal for beginners who are just getting started, hobbyists who prefer more customized options, as well as engineers and designers who want to print large objects or accurate parts with outstanding print quality.

Traditional 3D printers can only 3D print. Your Snapmaker 2.0 is completely different. With interchangeable modules, Snapmaker's functionality can be changed quickly, just like changing lenses on a camera. Now you can make many kinds of beautiful and artistic creations using laser engraving and cutting.

You can even use Snapmaker 2.0 as a CNC router to create precision 2.5D and 3D objects. It has faster working speed and a much larger workspace than the original model. It is the perfect machine to extend your interest to CNC carving.

With the Wi-Fi feature and the USB port, you can connect your Snapmaker 2.0 to any configuration for your convenience. You can upload designs via Wi-Fi or USB flash drive and print with the touch of a button. In addition, you can update the firmware over Wi-Fi directly.

Traditionally, machines like 3D printers, laser cutters and CNC routers didn't pay enough attention on HMI (Human Machine Interface). Snapmaker 2.0 comes with a smart touchscreen that simplifies the workflow of your daily projects, letting you manage the most-used tasks directly from the touchscreen. Similar to a smartphone, this 5-inch (720 x 1280 pixels) movable touchscreen is equipped with a Quad Core A7 CPU @1.1GHz, running under Android OS. providing a smooth and fast interface.

You don't have to worry about power outages anymore. Snapmaker 2.0 can automatically detect power-loss, and then resumes exactly where it left off. You can recover any project and get perfect printing / engraving / cutting / carving results all the time.

The Snapmaker 3-in-1 is the perfect machine to find your maker groove. With its three different configurations out of the box, it can be anything you want it to be, giving you the freedom to create anything and everything you can.

The unique selling point of the Snapmaker is its modular design. Not only does it come with three separate tool heads, but the very structure itself is modular. Although Snapmaker has yet to sell the extensions, it is creating longer and shorter pieces to increase the size of your printer. One picture I saw showed a giant frame for using with the laser cutting module, allowing you to engrave far larger objects than you can with the stock machine.

I was pleasantly surprised at how good the 3D printing module is on the Snapmaker. Every print I tried came out almost perfect every time and the software was simple to use. Snapmaker has gone to great strides to make sure the printer is open to everyone so it uses the standard 1.75-mm filament and has a heated bed to allow for various types of plastic. While the roll is situated somewhat clumsily in the back, a user has already created a filament guide to fix the issue and Snapmaker has said it is working on a fix.

Snapmaker even has an enclosure you can pick up for $149 that is beautiful to look at. The construction matches the printer, and the orange tinted windows can protect your eyes from the laser while it is running, as well as keep your printer at the correct temperature for printing Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS). ABS plastic is a strong, heat-resistant filament that needs a constant temperature to print.

The laser module is both the best and worse thing on the Snapmaker 3-in-1. I was excited to try it out and set to work burning as many things as I could. The Snapmaker comes with some wooden squares to start you off and once I read the instructions correctly, I was converting pictures into charred etchings all day. I tried as many different materials as could on the laser etcher with varying degrees of success. Wood worked very well, as did colored plastics. However, clear acrylic didn't work unless I painted the top surface and washed it off. Leather worked really well, and even denim looked good, though it smelled terrible.

The milling part of the Snapmaker is perhaps the most complicated. It comes with two separate milling bits that give different finishes and you can order new ones cheaply from the Snapmaker store. If you just want to carve a 2D shape, it is as easy as the laser etcher; just set the SVG image you want, center the machine, and it will cut your image into the wood, or in my case, carbon fiber plate. But if you want to have a 3D carving things become more complicated.

You will need to use a program like Fusion 360 that will allow you to design and edit models in its CAM mode. Using this you can set the correct cutting heights and depths then save it as an NC file for use with the Snapmaker. There are also some NC files available at Thingiverse if you want to try them. I was going to give it a try, unfortunately, I snapped the milling bit I needed before I could.

The software that Snapmaker uses is called Snapmaker.js and it is surprisingly powerful. With sections for all three modules, it allows you to load your models or files into a virtual workspace where you can prepare to bring them into the physical world.

The Snapmaker really has only one flaw. The laser etcher, while still being my favorite module, is weak. At only 200mW, the laser can only etch certain materials and cannot cut through any. I would have loved to see it be able to etch aluminum or glass from the get-go, but it just doesn't have the power. Snapmaker has released an enormous 1600mW laser capable of etching just about anything and even cutting through acrylic plastic and thin wood. At $129, it isn't terribly pricey, but a middle ground for the stock laser could have been reached to allow more versatility than it currently has.

Aside from the small laser issue and the build plate being smaller than I would like, the Snapmaker 3-in-1 is an excellent machine for anyone looking to get creative. The modular design is beautiful and the three modules do a great job at starting you on the road to becoming a creator of all the things.

This may be a small thing to some people, but the Snapmaker is so well packaged it borders on a work of art. Each individual piece is lovingly wrapped in a solid foam and split into easy to find sections. When you have to build something from scratch, having a well laid out box at the start makes everything easier.

The Snapmaker is an excellent infection vector for anyone wanting to get into fabricating their own creations. While the laser is a little underpowered the whole machine works as an excellent package.

[1] The test result of A350 is from the previous version that has not been firmware upgraded for motion control algorithm improvement.

[2] The test result was obtained in Snapmaker laboratory, which may vary according to the testing conditions and product iteration, and is for reference only.

The new Power Module uses a much quieter fan whose speed can be adjusted automatically according to the real-time temperature, realizing a noise level decrease of about 16 dB(A)[3], so that you can truly focus on your making.

Snapmaker 2.0 Modular 3-in-1 3D Printer unlocks your full creative potential, from 3D printing to laser engraving, cutting, and CNC carving. Smarter, faster, larger, and more powerful than ever before, it is a new generation of 3-in-1 3D printers that comes with everything you need.

You can print almost anything for your creative projects: from common applications to objects with specific mechanical properties, such as toughness, durability, and flexibility. A350T/A250T can do it all.

CNC carving is ideal for precisely carving or cutting hard materials. With A350T/A250T, you are able to go beyond plastic or soft materials and choose among the following materials for your creative projects: hardwood, PCB, acrylic, POM, carbon fiber sheet, and many more.

One of the big reasons why A350T/A250T can support various modules and add-ons is that we have innovatively adopted the CAN (Controller Area Network) bus expansion. A special chip is built inside the controller to transmit all messages, which allows easy modification and inclusion of additional ports and controls in the future.

Thanks to its modularity, A350T/A250T can be personalized with a wide variety of modules and add-ons. For a greater level of applications, we have Enclosure, Rotary Module, Emergency Stop Button, CAN Hub, and Air Purifier available now. And there are more to come.

Snapmaker Luban is tailor-made for your Snapmaker machines. One single and powerful software for all your tasks. The software from version 4.0 comes with various user manuals and tutorial videos for you to start quickly. And with a plugin system and API, Snapmaker Luban even enables you to develop new features for your customized modules.

You don't have to worry about power outages anymore. A350T/A250T can automatically detect power loss, and then resumes exactly where it left off. You can recover any project and get perfect results all the time.

A350T/A250T comes with an intelligent touchscreen that simplifies the workflow of your daily projects, letting you manage the most-used tasks directly from the touchscreen. Similar to a smartphone, this 5-inch (720 1280 pixels) movable touchscreen is equipped with a Quad-Core A7 CPU @1.1GHz, running under Android OS., providing a smooth and effortless user experience.

3D Printing Industry tested the Snapmaker 3-in-1 3D printer against the claims made for this low cost desktop 3D printer. Specifically this 3D printer is aimed at beginners, is designed to be easy-to-use, expandable for makers and affordable. The all metal construction is also highlighted as a bonus for reliability.

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