AnkerMake is a relatively new manufacturer in the consumer 3D printing space. While brands such as Creality and Prusa have been around for over 10 years now, AnkerMake came to life in 2022 with the release of their M5, which was funded via a Kickstarter campaign. The M5 was followed in August 2023 by the M5C, a slightly smaller and more accessible version. These are two relatively new printers that, like many modern models, aim to bring speed printing to the masses. While just a single letter separates their
Author: 3dLab World
The Best Ceramic / Pottery 3D Printers in 2024
Throwing clay and forming pottery is an art that is thousands of years old, but 3D printers are bringing something new and unique to this ancient craft. Not only can you create parts with shapes not currently possible with any other process, but 3D printing is far more cost-effective and faster than traditionally producing ceramic parts and pottery. Artists are using 3D printers to create unique pieces, while companies are prototyping specialized ceramic parts and enjoying time and cost savings as a result. Thanks to the unique material properties of the medium,
Gluing 3D Prints: The Best Glues for PLA, PETG & ABS
There could be a number of reasons you want to bond two or more 3D printed parts. The most obvious reason is when you need to print a part that’s bigger than your 3D printer. However, gluing 3D printed parts can be tricky. There are several different methods: Some will result in (almost) invisible seams, while others might leave a big and ugly bump. Regardless of the method you choose, it’s important that the surfaces to be bonded together are smooth and properly cleaned before applying glue. Sanding is a good way
3D Printer Layer Shifting: 6 Simple Solutions
While there’s a host of possible 3D printing problems, layer shifting is one of the most obvious because it affects both the dimensional accuracy and the visual appearance of a print. Simply put, layer shifting occurs any time a layer is printed with a horizontal offset from where it should have been printed. Often, multiple layers of the same print will move in one direction, leaving you with an erroneously slanted print that looks bad and won’t function as expected. Other times, layer shifting will appear as a single large displacement at a
Orca Slicer: All You Need to Know to Get Started
The first version of Orca Slicer, developed by SoftFever, was released in July of 2022. Originally called “Bambu Studio SoftFever”, this open-source slicer is a fork of Bambu Studio, which is based on PrusaSlicer. Orca Slicer is one of the most convenient slicers you can use if you’re working on big projects with lots of parts. One of its standout features is the possibility to add multiple build plates to get a complete overview of the filament and time required for a project when various parts need to be printed. This
Free STL Files for CNC Routers: The Best Sites of 2024
One could say that CNC machines are the inverse of 3D printers. They’re based on a subtractive method of manufacturing, whereas 3D printers are an additive manufacturing method. The subtractive method of CNC routers involves a router bit that spins at high speeds to remove material while moving along the X-, Y-, and Z-axes in a way not dissimilar to a 3D printer’s extruder. CNC machines typically use STEP, DXF, or SVG file formats for cutting. While STL may not be the most common format used for CNC routing, it can be used for cutting that changes height
The Best Anycubic Kobra (2) Upgrades & Mods in 2024
If you’re looking for an affordable 3D printer with many useful features, it’s hard to ignore the Anycubic Kobra. Released in 2022, the original Anycubic Kobra is an all-around terrific fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printer, with useful features like auto-bed leveling and a spring steel build plate. Though the company is retiring the original Kobra printer, Anycubic has kept the Kobra series alive through the recent Kobra 2 as well as the other iterations of the machine (e.g. Kobra 2 Pro). But whether you have the original Kobra, Kobra 2, or one of the many Anycubic
PLA Not Sticking to Bed: 6 Simple Solutions
If you know anything about 3D printing, you probably know PLA, the most popular 3D printing filament out there. While PLA is known for its ease of use, sometimes it comes with printing issues that can make achieving great prints a struggle. Challenges with the first layer deserve particular attention, as a good first layer is the foundation for a successful print. In order for successive layers to print properly, the first layer needs to stick to your printer’s build surface. This is known as bed adhesion in the 3D printing world. This
Pronterface: How to Download, Install & Set It Up
Pronterface is a simple graphical user interface that provides users with the ability to monitor and control their printer from a USB-connected computer. With it you can directly move stepper motors, control bed and nozzle temperatures, send G-code commands directly via a terminal or console window, and much more. Created by the influential RepRap initiative, Pronterface has been around for a long time, and is part of the Printrun suite of simple tools for managing and controlling both 3D printers and CNC machines. While it’s certainly showing its age now, Pronterface continues
3D Printed Drone & Quadcopter Parts: How to Get Started
Commonly known as drones, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are vehicles that are capable of autonomous operation. As such, a drone is not limited to being an aircraft; it could be a car, boat, or even a hovercraft. However, the term has come to define an aircraft with three or more propellers that provide lift and thrust. These are also commonly referred to as multirotors or quadcopters. In general, UAVs are mechanically very simple, consisting of a frame, a flight controller, motors, propellers, speed controllers, and possibly first-person view (FPV)