Last April, the AnkerMake M5 3D printer emerged, promising to revolutionize home 3D printing with its speed and ease of use. Anker’s tagline, “Printing So Smart, It’s Easy,” boldly declared a new era. But does the reality match the hype one year later?
3D printing has long been perceived as complex, but Anker aimed to change that with compelling features for the AnkerMake M5 3D printer, initially pitched on Kickstarter:
- 5X Faster Printing: Significantly reducing print times compared to competitors, minimizing waiting.
- Robust Build: Engineered for smooth, quiet, and high-quality prints even at rapid speeds.
- 15-Minute Setup: Boasting a remarkably quick three-step setup, ready to print in just 15 minutes from unboxing.
- AI Camera Monitoring: Equipped with an “AI camera” to detect print failures and ensure precise output according to specifications.
- Remote Control & Monitoring: Offering remote control, notifications, and HD monitoring via the internet.
- Automatic Timelapse Videos: Generating shareable timelapse videos for social media.
After extensive use of two AnkerMake M5 printers over several months, and after running numerous spools of filament to create a wide array of parts, it’s time for a detailed look at whether this 3D printer lives up to its promises.
AnkerMake M5 3D Printer in operation.
AnkerMake M5: Pros and Cons
The Good:
- Simple assembly process.
- Genuinely fast printing capabilities.
- Compatible with various plastic filament types.
- Auto-leveling feature works effectively after firmware updates.
The Bad:
- “AI camera” functionality is unreliable.
- Vibrations impact print quality, causing visible ringing.
- Noisy operation, even when idle.
- Inconsistent quality control from Anker.
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While the AnkerMake M5 3D printer can produce functional parts, and indeed at impressive speeds, especially for those new to 3D printing, the journey to optimal performance was not as seamless as advertised. Successfully printing a Legend of Zelda sword hilt and a print-in-place tank with moving treads on the first attempt showcased the printer’s potential. Creating a TPU bouncing ball and transparent PETG shapes without adjusting settings further demonstrated its user-friendliness in “Easy” mode, requiring only model loading and filament selection in the software.
AnkerMake M5 extruder speed capabilities.
The AnkerMake M5’s extruder can reach speeds of 500mm/s, but this speed can negatively impact print quality.
However, achieving this level of functionality took considerably longer than the promised 15 minutes. While core assembly might fit within that timeframe, pre-delivery issues like loose belts and overtightened wheels, absent from both printed and LCD screen instructions, prolonged the initial setup. The promised one-button filament loading feature also remains absent.
Furthermore, early firmware issues plagued the AnkerMake M5 3D printer, hindering auto-leveling, causing parameter resets upon shutdown, nozzle scraping, and print defects. A March update largely resolved the auto-leveling problems, achieving consistent first-layer plastic sheet printing.
Despite firmware improvements, the print quality of the review units did not consistently meet Anker’s initial promises.
Print quality comparison between Ender 3 Pro and AnkerMake M5.
Print quality comparison: Top – Ender 3 Pro, Middle & Bottom – AnkerMake M5. Click to enlarge.
Comparing prints of a DJI Mini 2 drone case printed on an older Ender 3 Pro (50mm/s) and the AnkerMake M5 (at both 50mm/s and its default 250mm/s) reveals quality discrepancies. The Ender 3 Pro produced cleaner lines than the AnkerMake M5, regardless of speed adjustments or belt and wheel tensioning. This “ringing” or “ghosting,” common in high-speed 3D printing due to vibrations, was consistently observed and reported by other users.
Benchy print quality before and after firmware update.
Benchy print comparison showing improvements after the March firmware update, but ringing persists.
Despite the ringing issue, the AnkerMake M5 3D printer generally delivers good print quality. The Legend of Zelda sword print and results on the Autodesk Kickstarter Geometry Test (except for overhangs) were commendable, exhibiting good bridging and dimensional accuracy. However, the printer achieved a 21/30 score on the Autodesk test, falling short of Anker’s claimed 25.5/30 with perfect vibration scores.
Utilizing the newly introduced “500mm/s” fast mode further exacerbates vibration issues. 3DBenchy prints at 250mm/s and 500mm/s demonstrate the trade-off between speed and quality.
3DBenchy print comparison at 250mm/s and 500mm/s.
3DBenchy prints at 250mm/s (left) and 500mm/s (right), highlighting quality differences at high speeds.
Close-up of 500mm/s Benchy print showing gaps and reduced quality.
Beyond print quality, noise levels were also a concern. The AnkerMake M5 3D printer’s constant fan noise, even when idle, necessitated relocating it to a garage. Noisy homing maneuvers further contribute to the overall noise issue.
Timelapse video quality was also disappointing. The promised smooth, professional timelapses were not achieved due to the camera not waiting for consistent bed positioning before capturing frames, resulting in jerky videos. Lack of lighting during capture also makes it difficult to discern print details in timelapses.
AnkerMake promised timelapse quality vs. actual output.
Animated GIF contrasting AnkerMake’s advertised timelapse with the reviewer’s experience.
The most significant letdown was the “AI camera” feature. Despite advertising detection of “Bottom Layer Adhesion Failure,” “Spaghetti Messes,” and “Extruder Jam,” the AI camera failed to perform in months of testing.
AnkerMake M5's "AI Camera" module.
Close-up of the “AI Camera” integrated into the AnkerMake M5.
Using Anker’s slicer to create AI models, the camera still failed to detect deliberate and accidental print failures, including spaghetti messes and extruder jams. The only error detection instances were false positives, like misinterpreting the first layer of a black TPU ball. Consequently, Anker disabled timelapse and error detection by default in a firmware update.
Anker's marketing for the AI camera's error detection capabilities.
Image from Anker’s marketing materials promoting the AI camera’s ability to prevent filament waste.
Concerns about potential catastrophic failures also arose from online communities. Reports and images of extruder failures resulting in plastic mushroom clouds damaging print heads, sometimes reaching circuit boards, are present on AnkerMake’s subreddit and Discord. While some users managed to resolve issues with heat application, others required complete extruder replacements due to melted components.
Remote print monitoring via AnkerMake M5.
Remote viewing capability of the AnkerMake M5 print process.
Customer support experiences regarding hardware issues revealed lengthy troubleshooting processes before replacement parts are shipped, requiring user self-installation.
While some users report positive experiences, moderators and reviewers acknowledge quality control inconsistencies with the AnkerMake M5 3D printer. Issues range from loose parts and overtightened wheels to damaged V-wheels and easily broken hotend screws. Stripped screws and potential extruder design flaws further contribute to hardware concerns. The printer also lacks the promised all-metal hotend, using plastic tubing instead.
Anker’s PR responded to hardware concerns by stating issues are within “normal tolerance levels,” suggesting simple fixes for V-wheel problems and case-by-case USB-C cable replacements. Only touchscreen failures were acknowledged as a known issue with replacements provided.
Despite hardware shortcomings, Anker focuses on software improvements. Significant software updates have addressed initial issues, enhancing stability and adding features like Vase Mode and Gcode pause functionality. However, the software still feels like beta, and a planned switch to PrusaSlicer and firmware updates have introduced new issues alongside fixes, indicating ongoing development.
Various prints created with the AnkerMake M5.
Examples of prints produced by the AnkerMake M5, including functional and decorative items.
The AnkerMake M5 3D printer.
In conclusion, while the AnkerMake M5 3D printer shows potential and has made strides in software and print speed, it still feels like a work in progress. Recommending it as a finished product, especially at its current price point and against emerging speedy competitors, is challenging. The gap between Anker’s promises and the current reality, particularly regarding ease of use and reliability, is significant. For consumers seeking a truly seamless and consistently high-quality 3D printing experience straight out of the box, the AnkerMake M5 may still need further refinement.
Update, 4:21PM ET: Clarified AI image creation process; Anker slicer required for AI model, but Gcode from other slicers like Cura and Prusa can be used.
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