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A number of months in the past I acquired a Snapmaker 2.0 A350 which is a 3-in-1 machine. It’s a modular machine that may act as a 3D printer, a laser cutter/engraver, in addition to a CNC carving and milling machine.
I used to be a little bit not sure of what to anticipate once I acquired this unit. First, it’s a multi-function machine, and in my expertise, plenty of the time when you will have a multi-function machine, it doesn’t actually do any one of many capabilities almost in addition to a machine that’s devoted to that particular function. Secondly, this product got here out of a Kickstarter marketing campaign. Now, that was the unique Snapmaker and that is the second era of this product, however nonetheless, figuring out that it initially got here by that Kickstarter course of I simply wasn’t fairly positive what to anticipate when it comes to manufacturing high quality and software program integration.
I’ve acquired to inform you although, once I acquired this machine proper from the minute I opened the field, I used to be shocked and impressed. And I continued to be shocked and impressed all through the method of testing every of those three totally different modules. Now that’s to not say that this machine isn’t with out its downsides. Actually, there are shortcomings when you will have a multi-function machine like this, however general I used to be pleasantly shocked and I’ll inform you extra about why within the video under.
Snapmaker 2.0 Overview Video with Jeremy Simon
Unboxing the Snapmaker 2.0
When my colleague and I opened the field for the Snapmaker 2.0, the very very first thing that we had been introduced with was a fast begin information. This fast begin information is packaged in a approach that it’s flush-mounted with the customized foam packaging in there so you possibly can’t fairly see till you’re taking it out that it’s really 90 pages lengthy! We had a little bit of a chuckle over that, however it seems, after all, it’s principally footage and it was precisely what we would have liked. It’s fantastically carried out, has nice photographs, and has step-by-step directions that offered all the pieces that we would have liked to get by the meeting course of with out challenge.
After you’re taking off that prime layer the place the fast begin information is, you begin to see the remainder of the packaging, which actually blew me away! Every little thing is completely fitted collectively in customized containers and every field is labeled to let what’s within it. Even the elements inside these containers are labeled, so you bought all of the totally different screws and little baggies which can be labeled with the sorts of screws and all of the equipment, and all the pieces is simply fantastically laid out and arranged.
I used to be actually fairly impressed as I went by the unboxing course of. As we proceeded, the following factor that shocked me was the standard of the elements themselves. I instantly related it with Apple merchandise as a result of these are the merchandise that actually have impressed me probably the most when it comes to the standard of the elements used, the packaging, and the entire expertise of unboxing and getting began with the product. Snapmaker actually achieved that stage of their product high quality and packaging. You’ll see that in all the elements and you may actually really feel that high quality as you place the machine collectively as a result of it’s very stable.
Every little thing goes collectively properly and it simply feels prefer it’s a secure, stable, machine. The meeting course of took me about an hour to an hour and a half for the machine itself however I used to be sort of taking my time. The enclosure took most likely one other hour or so to place collectively. So the meeting course of isn’t tough. Once more, the directions are actually glorious each for the machine itself in addition to the enclosures.
3D Printing on the Snapmaker 2.0
As soon as we had the machine collectively, the primary take a look at I did was the 3D printing perform. That’s the place most of my background is. I’ve plenty of expertise with totally different 3D printers, so I had foundation for comparability, and it made sense to begin there.
As I discussed earlier, whenever you’re coping with a 3-in-1 machine, the expectation is that it’s not going to do as nicely in any of those capabilities as a machine devoted to that function, and that definitely was the case right here utilizing the 3D printer. There are quicker 3D printers available on the market, and there are printers with higher-end options, reminiscent of twin extrusion and different extra superior capabilities, however for a fundamental 3D printer, this machine carried out nicely.
The Snapmaker 2.0 does have a pleasant construct quantity, particularly with the mannequin A350 that we had been testing. You’ve acquired a heated mattress so you possibly can work with a spread of various supplies. The efficiency of the printer was very dependable, and the standard of the prints was superb. In actual fact, surprisingly good. Among the calibration prints that I did got here out higher on the Snapmaker than some far more costly printers that we’ve examined.
The one noticeable draw back was the velocity. It took about three and a half days to print a big bust of Darth Vader that we did for an extended stress take a look at (see photograph above). We didn’t have any points in any respect with the print. It got here out flawlessly, however that very same print with comparable settings on a number of the different dearer printers may have most likely been carried out in a few days. So this machine is definitely not as quick as a number of the different printers available on the market, however in any other case, I had no complaints in any respect concerning the efficiency of the 3D printer.
It was very simple to make use of and I’ll present you their software program in this video. Snapmaker’s “Luban” software program, a free obtain, has come a good distance even since we began testing. It offers you all the pieces that it is advisable to do so far as fundamental 3D printing, simply as you’d count on. All of the settings are customizable, and all the take a look at prints that we did full efficiently with out challenge.
Laser Cutter Operate on the Snapmaker 2.0
Subsequent, we moved on to testing the laser slicing and etching perform. I had the same expertise right here. It was very dependable, very simple to make use of the software program, which may be very highly effective and makes it simple to get began. The one draw back as soon as once more is, comparatively talking, it’s not as highly effective a laser as others that we provide and that you’ll find elsewhere.
This can be a 1.6-watt laser, whereas plenty of those that we provide listed here are 30, 40, or 50 watts even, and so the thickness of supplies that you would be able to minimize by and the variety of passes that it’ll take to chop by supplies goes to range in comparison with these higher-end laser cutters. Except for that, I discovered it very succesful and you are able to do fairly a wide variety of initiatives with this laser cutter and engraver.
Observe: Since we produced this video, Snapmaker has launched an upgraded 10-watt laser module, which is out there right here.
Whenever you’re working with the laser cutter perform, you possibly can work in one in all two modes. You possibly can both use the work origin level mode the place you specify the place to begin for the job after which your graphics are positioned in relation to that start line, or you need to use digital camera seize mode. Now in the event you haven’t used a laser cutter with the digital camera seize characteristic earlier than, you’re in for a deal with. It truly is a pleasant option to work along with your laser cutter and it makes it very simple to get your jobs going.
Say you will have an unusually formed piece of wooden that you just need to etch one thing on and also you need to place your graphics so they seem in a sure place on this piece of wooden. Properly, you possibly can lay that wooden on the platform after which use the digital camera seize characteristic (there’s a digital camera constructed into the laser head). You possibly can set off this by their software program, and it’ll take photos from straight above. It’ll undergo and take photos of the entire work space after which sew these photos collectively and offer you a single view of that whole work space with no matter you will have sitting on there. Then you possibly can visually lay your paintings on prime of that and simply drag it round and rotate it and place it in order that it matches proper the place you need it on that medium.
It’s very correct in order that wherever you place your graphics in relation to that media, that’s precisely the place that etching or engraving or slicing goes to occur, inside a really small distance. I don’t know precisely what the tolerance is however I might say most likely a fraction of a millimeter. It’s very correct, so it makes it very simple to get began with laser slicing and engraving.
CNC Operate on the Snapmaker 2.0
Final, I moved on to the CNC perform. I saved this for final for a few causes. To begin with, my background is in 3D printing and laser slicing and I’ve had expertise with plenty of machines in these classes, however I don’t have a lot expertise with CNC.
That is all new territory for me, so I’m studying as I’m going. This was actually a terrific machine for me to get began with. Identical to the 3D printer and laser cutter capabilities, I’ve little doubt that there are way more highly effective CNC machines, and if I used to be to put money into a devoted CNC machine, it could have far more superior capabilities. However in an effort to be taught the essential ideas and the workflows concerned with CNC, I’ve discovered this an amazing device. I feel it’s capable of open up all kinds of venture potentialities with the ways in which you need to use this CNC perform.
This CNC machine can function at spindle speeds of six thousand to 12 thousand rpm. It has a normal ER-11 collet that accepts bits as much as a quarter-inch diameter. That features a enormous number of bits that you would be able to select from, and the supported supplies embody wooden, acrylic, PCB, carbon fiber sheet, jade, and much more supplies are being examined. We’ve had studies from the consumer neighborhood of every kind of supplies that you would be able to really get away with slicing and carving and milling with this machine, however I gained’t point out a few of these as a result of they’re not formally supported by Snapmaker right now.
In the video, I present you a number of the initiatives that I’ve carried out all through my testing of the CNC perform simply so as to see the sorts of outcomes that you would be able to get from this very reasonably priced machine. I used to be blown away fairly frankly. I had no concept that I might have the ability to obtain this stage of element with wooden carving and milling operations.
What I’ve been interested by doing particularly are third-dimensional CNC milling operations. I need to do detailed carving, and to do this, you need to do a number of passes with totally different instruments. I normally do a primary move that’s type of a roughing move utilizing a quarter-inch flat-end mill. That permits me to eliminate plenty of the unneeded wooden in a short time. It could take an entire lot longer if I used to be utilizing a type of finer bits that include the Snapmaker 2.0, so for this, I like to make use of a bigger bit first.
So I begin with a quarter-inch flat finish mill, simply to tough out the piece and eliminate as a lot of that unneeded wooden as doable as shortly as doable. Then I change to a finer bit, and in that finer move, you undergo and carve out all the small print. Generally chances are you’ll need to use a number of passes for that, so I would do a 3 move job or a 4 move job, however most often, two passes are sufficient. You are able to do one simply as a roughing step after which the second as your detailed step. However for this to work, every of the device paths that you just’re producing wants to pay attention to the device path earlier than it.
It must know what that earlier device path did, how a lot materials was eliminated, and from the place in order that it may well then begin from the suitable level, figuring out what’s already been cleared, and simply work on taking away extra new materials. That type of connectivity between totally different device paths isn’t but supported throughout the Luban software program. It’s one thing often called “relaxation machining”.
For that, I needed to flip to some barely extra highly effective software program. I went to Autodesk Fusion 360. Should you haven’t used Fusion 360, it’s a extremely popular and really highly effective CAD program. It’s what’s thought of a hybrid resolution – that’s, it operates partly within the cloud however principally it runs domestically. You do must have some fairly important computing assets accessible to run it nicely, however there are free licenses accessible for college kids and educators in addition to for private use beneath sure circumstances. Undoubtedly try their web site for the present phrases on that, however you may have the ability to get entry to a free license to this very highly effective platform.
Fusion 360 isn’t just a CAD platform – it’s also a CAM platform, which is what you employ for CNC. That’s the place you do the device path era and it does have full assist for a number of device paths linked to one another. I’m going to be sharing a really detailed tutorial later to point out you ways that works, and in that tutorial, we’re going to point out you all the pieces it is advisable to get jobs arrange in Fusion 360 for multi-tool machining. We’ll undergo all of the totally different settings, offer you all of the recordsdata that it is advisable to get that began, and we’ll present you some suggestions and tips to get the very best outcomes. You’ll want to subscribe to our YouTube channel so that you don’t miss that.
Snapmaker 2.0 Add-ons
The Snapmaker 2.0 isn’t just a modular machine – it’s extra of a modular platform. You should buy non-compulsory equipment, add-ons, and elements to increase the capabilities. For instance, you will get totally different sizes of the linear rail modules and you may really assemble the machine in numerous methods to provide you several types of work areas and format layouts.
I’m not going to spend time going by all of those choices right here, however I do need to contact on only a few of them, particularly the air air purifier, the enclosures, and the rotary add-on.
Enclosure Possibility
Should you plan on utilizing the CNC perform of the Snapmaker 2.0 in any important approach, I undoubtedly advocate that you just take into account the enclosure.
I used to be really shocked to seek out that this isn’t only a easy enclosure that gives a bodily barrier. It really is linked to the machine and the software program is built-in with it, so from the contact panel you possibly can activate the built-in LED lights which can be contained in the enclosure, and it offers nice, even illumination inside so you possibly can see what you’re engaged on.
You may also regulate the fan velocity on the enclosure (there’s an exhaust with a fan on the again). The enclosure actually helps to maintain that sawdust contained, so in the event you’re working with the CNC mode in any important approach, it truly is a should, or your complete room goes to get stuffed with salt mud. Should you’re working with CNC and doing issues like wooden carving and milling like I’ve been doing, you’re undoubtedly going to need that enclosure. You’ll be completely satisfied that you’ve got it.
Air Air purifier Possibility
The air air purifier is a reasonably latest addition. That is very nice to have in the event you’re going to be doing plenty of laser slicing and engraving. You undoubtedly need to just be sure you have exhaust system. The enclosure does have an exhaust port with the fan that I discussed and it has an exhaust tube that you would be able to connect with an current air flow system, or you can run it out of a window utilizing a booster fan if wanted. However in the event you don’t have entry to a window or current air flow system, then you need to use the non-compulsory air air purifier.
It’s a self-contained unit with a number of layers of filtration, and it offers a really excessive stage of security to work with this type of machine inside an enclosed atmosphere. If it is advisable to use the Snapmaker inside a classroom or inside an workplace atmosphere or one thing like that, you possibly can simply put this air air purifier subsequent to it and join them up, and also you’re good to go.
Rotary Add-On Possibility
The opposite factor value referring to is the rotary add-on that’s accessible now. That is one other pretty latest launch. I’ve been testing it and have been very impressed up to now. It’s plenty of enjoyable, and their newest model of the Luban software program is totally able to assist the rotary add-on and makes it very simple to get your jobs going.
The rotary add-on is appropriate with each the laser module in addition to the CNC module. With the laser module, for instance, you can do engraving on a cylindrical object. I’ve not had an opportunity to check this add-on within the laser mode however I’ve examined it within the CNC mode and it labored fairly nicely.
The newest model of the Snapmaker Luben software program makes it very simple to make use of the rotary add-on. It’s just about drag-and-drop to rearrange your mannequin to the place it is going to match over the thing that you just’re carving. It’s very simple to get arrange and operating, and it really works very easily. I’ve solely carried out a few exams up to now, however I stay up for doing extra with it, because it provides an entire new dimension to your making. Primarily, it’s taking it from a three-axis CNC machine to a four-axis CNC machine with that axis of rotation being the fourth axis. It opens up some attention-grabbing potentialities with regards to the sorts of carving and sculpting that you are able to do.
Software program Choices for the Snapmaker 2.0
The newest model of the Snapmaker Luban software program contains numerous nice options. It has all the pieces it is advisable to function the Snapmaker machine in all three modes (3D printing, laser slicing, and CNC). In the video, I present a demo of the software program so you possibly can see the way it works.
General, the Luban software program has actually impressed me. It’s very simple to make use of, it’s very secure, and I haven’t had a crash but, even when working with massive and complicated jobs. It really works very nicely, and the tutorials included throughout the software program are glorious to information you step-by-step by every of the totally different processes. They’ve carried out a pleasant job right here. The one limitation I’ve run into is within the CNC module, the place I needed to have the ability to do multi-tool jobs that want the remaining machining perform mentioned earlier. For that, I used Autodesk Fusion 360, and the small print of that might be coated in a later tutorial.
Be taught Extra or Ask Questions!
I hope this overview was useful for you! In case you have any questions concerning the Snapmaker 2.0, please go to our web site or be at liberty to electronic mail us at information@3duniverse.org!
You may also watch and hearken to our 3D Universe Untethered net sequence and podcast episode the place I share extra about my expertise!
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