AnkerMake (United States) - Press Release: Create Together on the AnkerMake Playground.

AnkerMake is thrilled to introduce its latest community activity, the AnkerMake Playground! This exciting initiative aims to bring together our community of 3D printing enthusiasts, professionals, and beginners alike! Our inaugural event, a thrilling speedboat race, set the stage for a journey filled with fun and exploration. Join us as we delve into the captivating world of the AnkerMake Playground and find out more about AnkerMake M5!

Competition Details:

The AnkerMake Playground launched its first activity which invited users from the community to participate in a speedboat race, where the users did their best to push the limits and print the fastest benchy they could. We provided a firmware update that included unlocked jerk values and acceleration settings, as well as unlocking the controls for motor current, allowing participants to push the limits of their 3D printers. The objective was simple: who could print the fastest and highest-quality speedboat?

One exceptional participant, lukagra, demonstrated remarkable skill and achieved incredible results. Using an unmodified AnkerMake M5, lukagra managed to print a speedboat in an astonishing 8 minutes and 44 seconds, placing 2nd when compared to other unmodified i3-style printers on the speedboat race leaderboard. To put this achievement into perspective, a normal benchy printed on AnkerMake M5 will take 17 minutes 40 seconds in the 500mm/s fast mode. Lukagra was able to do it more than twice as fast! Because of this incredible performance, lukagra took home a free M5 3D printer.

While most printers require about 17 minutes or more to print a benchy, an original M5 can even achieve a good quality 8-minute print with just a few software modifications.

Lukagra also discovered that by slightly reducing the speed and using unmodified firmware that didn’t unlock jerk values, acceleration settings, and motor current controls, he could print a speedboat of even higher quality in just 9 minutes and 44 seconds. This epic performance showcases the impressive speed and potential of AnkerMake M5. If you want to print fast for prototyping or slow it down a little to get high quality, then M5 can help you do both!

Note: It's important to note that these results were achieved under specific conditions with custom firmware released by AnkerMake to the participants.

As a beginner, you can easily start your journey to print fast with M5, straight out of the box. If you are an expert, you can unlock M5's potential with just a few software mods, but you don't need any hardware adjustments.

How to Print Fast: Insights from lukagra's G-code:

Understand the Math:

3D printing speed is not constant and involves different speeds even if it's set at 250mm/s. When you print objects at an angle, the printer needs to move in both horizontal and vertical directions. The way the printer accelerates, or speeds up, during this diagonal movement is a bit different. It's not just the sum of the X (horizontal) and Y (vertical) accelerations; it's a combination of both. This means that the acceleration for diagonal movement is calculated using a formula called vector sum.

In simple terms, 3D printing speed can change, even if you set it at a specific value. And when printing objects at an angle, the way the printer speeds up is a bit more complicated, but it's important to understand to get good print results.

Know Your Printer:

• Different printers have different characteristics.
• Heavy parts limit the maximum jerk setting for the axis.
• For M5 you can adjust jerk settings manually in the G-code for different values on the X and Y axis.

Focus on Jerk and Acceleration:

• For smaller objects like the 3DBenchy, jerk and acceleration settings are more important for faster prints.
• Speed affects extrusion, but acceleration and jerk have a greater impact on overall print speed.
• Calculate volumetric flow by multiplying the speed by layer height and layer width.
• High speeds will cause under-extrusion, but it can be acceptable if the print head doesn't move too fast for too long.

Choose the Right Filament:

• Select a suitable filament for what you need. Some filaments melt at different temperatures and are more tolerant to being printed at higher temperatures.
• AnkerMake white filament is recommended for printing at 230℃.
• Try and avoid silk and PETG filaments as they are not suitable for high-speed printing.

Slicer:

• Using a slicer like the Prusa slicer may add quality changes that can slow down the print. Using a slicer like the AnkerMake slicer can help to increase speed.
• Customize G-code optimizations based on your preferences.
• Play with the arrangement of the model, different orientations can give different speeds!
• Different infill patterns and the amount of infill can also affect printing speed.
• Different surface line alignments can also affect the speed that a model prints as well as the finish it will have.

Remember that achieving faster 3D prints requires considering acceleration speeds, jerk settings, filament choice, and slicer settings. It may require some experimentation and adjustments to find the right balance between speed and print quality for your specific printer and project.

Conclusion:

M5 has shown an impressive ability to reach speeds of up to 500 mm/s in the AnkerMake Playground. This initiative highlights the versatility of M5, catering to a wide range of needs. Whether you seek rapid prototyping or high-quality prints, M5 can deliver exceptional results.

By leveraging optimized layer height, streamlined retraction settings, and fine-tuned acceleration and jerk values, users can unlock the printer's full capabilities. This opens up a world of possibilities for makers, beginners, and enthusiasts alike.

Stay tuned for more projects from the AnkerMake Playground! Join us on this journey of innovation, creativity, and exhilarating challenges.