Anker is well-known for its chargers. In fact, it calls itself “The World’s No. 1 Mobile Charging Brand.” But now the company is charging headlong into the 3D-printer business.
And with its new brand, AnkerMake, and its new 3D printer, the AnkerMake M5, the company makes big claims about beating the competition at its own game.
AnkerMake M5 3D printer: Very fast, with a mistake-catching smart camera
Anker rolled out the new AnkerMake M5 3D printer via Kickstarter. And the company said the M5 solves critical issues that have kept 3D printers from going mainstream, like printing speeds that make you wait a long, long time.
Anker said the M5 can reduce average print times by up to 70 percent compared to other 3D printers. But that would not be in every case.
The AnkerMake M5’s basic print speed of 250 mm/s is intended for more-detailed projects that require a smooth finish. But if you don’t need that precision, you can use a mode that lets you print at up to 2,500 mm/s². In that case, you’ll get a rougher and less-detailed end result. But it could work for prototypes, to name an example.
Easy set up, smart camera, remote monitoring
Speed factor aside, Anker designed the M5 for easy set up. The company said it takes 15 minutes to go from unboxing to printing. The product features an auto-leveling base to help you out.
3D print jobs tend to need constant supervision to avoid time-wasting mistakes in a time-consuming process. To address that, Anker built-in an AI-powered camera. Its job is to monitor the work. If it detects an issue like a plugged nozzle, it can send an alert to your phone. And you can view live feeds of your print jobs through the AnkerMake mobile app from afar.
Kickstarter campaign
We’ll have to see if the M5 delivers on the promises. As the subject of a Kickstarter campaign, Anker’s new 3D printers may not find their way to shipping too soon. As of now, 44 days remain in the campaign, even though it has already eclipsed its goal of $50,000, raising over $2 million.
The super-early-bird ($429) and early-bird ($499) pledge levels for one printer are already gone. Anker notes the printer’s MSRP is $759, so that could be the regular price assuming the product goes into full production.
Price: Kickstarter special, $599, or $969 for two printers
Where to preorder: Kickstarter
