Hey AnkerMake Fans,
2023 has been a year full of exciting advancements and innovations in 3D printing. We kicked off the year with a bang in January, releasing the highly anticipated M5. Not resting on our laurels, we continued to push the envelope and released M5C in August, bringing fast and reliable FDM printing to creators, tinkerers, and dreamers alike.
Now let's take a closer look at what we've achieved in 2023, and what could be coming in the next few months and beyond.
Better Quality and Faster Printing with PowerBoost 2.0
At AnkerMake, our commitment has always been to make 3D printing accessible to everyone, regardless of expertise. With M5, we wanted to achieve this goal without compromising quality or speed. In pursuit of this mission, our skilled team devised PowerBoost 2.0, an advanced energy optimization technique.
This sophisticated system integrates a unique Y-axis transmission, a powerful stepper motor, a double-belt driveshaft, and a precision motion S-smoothing algorithm. While our PowerBoost 1.0 technology achieved commendable print speeds of 250mm/s, the release of PowerBoost 2.0 in April 2023 propelled us even further. Users can now consistently print at an impressive 500 mm/s with 5,000 mm/s² acceleration, ensuring high-quality prints at high speed.
50 μm Precision Mode
We listened to our community and discovered that so many of you like to print miniatures and figurines. So, we rolled out the game-changing Precision Mode for AnkerMake M5C. This feature stepped up the fine printing game with an impressive 50 μm (0.05 mm) resolution. Our engineering team used an advanced layer height-slicing algorithm to make high-speed, high-precision printing a reality. Users are free to choose from different nozzles, like the 0.2 mm for 0.05 mm or 0.1 mm layer heights or the 0.4 mm for 0.12 mm or 0.16 mm layers, ensuring top-notch results. Thanks to our refined slicing algorithms and robust PowerBoost technology, M5C can maintain speeds of up to 500 mm/s and 5,000 mm/s² acceleration in Precision Mode. We fine-tuned the outer wall height to 0.12 mm with a 0.4 mm nozzle, achieving smoother surfaces and saving print time. As if that wasn't enough, we extended Precision Mode to the M5 in our August upgrade.
Improved User Experience
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New Slicer
Since the release of M5 and M5C, the AnkerMake Slicer, initially built on Cura, has received continuous updates and enhancements throughout the year. However, a noticeable preference for PrusaSlicer emerged within the community, so we decided to initiate a change. We entrusted our dedicated team to transition our slicer to a Prusa-based solution.
We launched the transition in an alpha state, actively seeking the valuable experience and feedback of our community. By the end of October, we proudly unveiled the revamped AnkerMake Studio, now based on PrusaSlicer. This transformation underscores our commitment to innovation and responsiveness to the evolving needs of our users, reflecting a dedication to continuous improvement.
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New Features in the AnkerMake App
We understand that not everyone has the time to embark on a quest for the perfect 3D model or deal with the hassle of booting up their PC just to slice a print. To make things simple, our 3D maestro, Three Wu, dedicated the entire year to making things easier for you by curating a collection of pre-sliced prints in the AnkerMake app's Explore section.
But we didn't want to stop there. That's why, in October, we introduced cloud-based slicing, allowing you to slice any model you want using the AnkerMake app. We're all about eliminating unnecessary steps and empowering you to print whatever cool, crazy, or quirky thing you have in mind whenever the mood strikes. This update is a testament to our commitment to providing you with a seamless and user-friendly 3D printing experience.
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Make It Real
Throughout the year, our Make It Realplatform has made remarkable progress. The launch of 3D Paint empowered creators to easily convert 2D images into vibrant 3D models, unlocking new realms of creativity. With City Print, users could craft intricate 3D models of iconic city landmarks worldwide, bridging the gap between imagination and reality. In addition to these innovations, the model search feature seamlessly connected users to thousands of 3D models from platforms like Thingiverse and Printables, and our model library became a valuable resource, offering a wide range of 3D models to explore and print. Make It Real transformed the 3D printing landscape, making it accessible and exciting for seasoned enthusiasts and beginners alike.
Wider Compatibility with the New All-Metal Hotend
M5 is now compatible with a wider range of materials and supports printing at 300℃. All you need to do is switch to the new all-metal hotend.
Upcoming Features
PowerBoost™ 3.0
Our dedicated R&D team has been working tirelessly to develop and perfect our proprietary closed-source system, drawing on the best features of Klipper, Marlin, and other industrial-grade motion control algorithms.
PowerBoost™ 3.0 is an upgraded motion control system with an all-new industrial-grade control algorithm to deliver ultra-smooth printing results. With the new algorithm, the pulse frequency of the stepper motor is adjusted in real-time based on motion planning to increase power release by 30% compared to PowerBoost™ 1.0. The result is a significant improvement in print quality that we can't wait for you to experience.
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S-SmoothingAlgorithm
One of the key enhancements is the upgrade of our S-smooth algorithm to an industrial control algorithm. This enhanced algorithm eliminates the need for a G-sensor to collect points of resonance and can suppress multiple resonance frequency bands simultaneously. For example, this can solve the problem of having different resonance points at different locations, and some scenarios with multiple resonance points. We performed some comparison tests with and without the newly tuned algorithm. Notice how, in the first photo, there are artifacts on the print wall when the print head has to change speed and direction, commonly referred to as ghosting or ringing. In the second photo, these are no longer visible, and this is all thanks to PowerBoost 3.0’s newly implemented S-smoothing algorithm.
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Innovative Extrusion Solution
We've also developed a brand-new extrusion scheme that makes our 3D printers more versatile than ever. The all-new extrusion solution applies smooth extrusion control to the S-shaped speed planning curve. It can reduce corner piling and improve flow uniformity. This means you'll see even greater detail in your 3D prints.
Make It Real
Finally, we're pleased to announce an upgrade to our Make It Real platform. We're adding more features that allow users to create and share designs, giving you even more freedom to bring your ideas to life.
Stay tuned for more updates on these exciting enhancements. We can't wait to see what you'll create with PowerBoost 3.0!
Updated Roadmap
Acknowledgements
We'd like to thank our backers whose unwavering support brought the M5 project to life and all of our users for their continuous support and valuable feedback. We'd also like to thank media partners and influencers for their insightful comments and our community administrators for their commitment to resolving challenges.
We thank our enthusiastic community partners, whose passion and support fuels our product's success. With your active involvement, AnkerMake is poised to evolve, promising an enhanced experience for everyone involved. Your contributions have been instrumental in shaping our journey, and we look forward to continuing this collaborative relationship.
Keep Making,
The AnkerMake Team
