Known for delivering some of the most brilliant charging capabilities, whether in the wireless form or through improved power banks, Anker now takes its tech know-how and has molded it into an impressive (and incredibly swift) 3D printer. First in line under Anker's newest 3D printing brand AnkerMake, the device boasts an easy setup, swift printing potential, phone connectivity, and even an AI-powered camera.
Coined the M5, Anker's first step into 3D printing will feature two primary modes: a traditional print mode for more detailed projects that take about 250 mm/s to fully complete. The second mode, arguably its most interesting concept, will supposedly take a speedy 2,500 mm/s², but won't be as smooth or detailed as the traditional mode. The swift option is intended more for prototypes, as the end design will be much rougher.
While most subsequent 3D printers that exist on the market often take up a ton of time to print, Anker vies to reduce this number dramatically with the M5, lowering average printing times by nearly 70%. It'll do this not just in the actual printing of the projects in mind, but likewise in the setup, as well. According to AnkerMake, the M5 will take only about 15 minutes of set up time before it begins on a project.
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Anker's M5 also boasts a snazzy AI camera built into the machine that's intended to support the productivity behind the project. Most 3D printers require consistent supervision, but the M5's AI-powered camera is intended to alleviate this constraint. While it's certainly not a perfect design choice that will 100% of the time disallow the need for constant supervision, it does mitigate the hassle of 3D printing issues, such as nozzle plugging, via sending an alert to a user's phone.
Its connectivity ability will also grant users unlimited viewing potential, as an entire printing project can be viewed live from the Anker mobile application. Again, it's not a surefire way of limiting supervision, but is a nice touch and does give consumers peace of mind when a project is underway. On average, most 3D printing setups take about 30 minutes to fully finish the project, with some even allotting a total of 10 full hours, depending on the complexity of the design and the machine itself, thus having a live feed on one's phone is astronomically important.
AnkerMake's M5 currently sits on a still ongoing Kickstarter campaign, with the goal of $50,000 being completely smashed tenfold already with well over $600,000 pledged and rising. With only 44 days left to go before the end of the campaign and backers reaching the 1,200 mark, it's safe to assume that the M5 will be produced for the general public in no time. Pledges range from the Early Bird's $499 to the 5x Early Bird Bundle at $2,299 with an assortment of additional perks, but the official MSRP of the device will be $759 with shipments planned for November 2022.
