Anet A8 – 3D Printer Review

Nothing thrills me more than helping newbie makers find their way around the world of 3D printers. It’s a necessary ritual that helps them make the best decisions about the tools they need to bring their thoughts to life. Sometimes, the 3D printer of choice is not as affordable as you might like. But, I’ve also come to discover that several alternative 3D printer products serve more than a maker’s primary needs. One fine example is Anet A8.

The Anet A8 3D printer from Shenzhen Anet Co., Ltd. is a beautiful blend of utility and price for the maker. That’s hardly a surprise: Shenzhen has been delivering products worthy of talking about since 2015. Releasing the Anet A8 in 2018 is nothing short of shaking the 3D printing kaleidoscope. But, what’s special about the Anet A8?

A Fast-Paced Intro to the Anet A8 3D Printer

If you know anything about 3D printers, you’ll surely understand how Prusa’s i3 MK3 redefined the dynamics for 3D printer kits. It spawned a deluge of cheap printers that leave makers with multiple choices for building interesting models.

The open-sourced Prusa i3 MK3 model may be the current benchmark for 3D printer kits, but the price remains far from affordable for many who like it and want it. That’s where cheaper options like the Anet A8 shine through. In fact, the A8 is king here.

One cool thing going for the Anet A8 is its thriving online community because of its upgradeability. A supportive community is vital to the future improvement roadmap for a product. It’s easy to see that people find it easier to shell out $200 for this printer, then continuously improve it to be worth much more.

(Video by Anet)

The key elements that help the Anet A8 3D printer stand out include:

• a decent and low price,
• hackability – an essential factor mechanically inclined makers,
• compatibility with the large number of materials that makers on a shoestring budget love to use.

My goal is to expose you to the exciting bits of the Anet A8 3D printer. I’ve known the cost of purchasing a reliable, quality to be a potent barrier to entry for the 3D printing industry. Shenzhen Anet is a key player in this rapidly advancing sector, where open-source software and hardware are increasingly prevalent.

The Anet A8 enables the newbie maker to grow their 3D printing chops by throwing them head-first into the deep end. I love it when unboxing alongside a new maker, their expression on finding an unassembled kit in the box. But, I quickly explain the benefits of building their printer themselves before creating other special things. The transformation is priceless.

On the other hand, there are countless safety and usability complaints from others who want something working perfectly out of the box. What you have to understand, is that the Anet A8 is a long-term investment and continuous WIP to eventually achieve the perfect 3D printer for you.

Be prepared to tinker, and make lots of things for the 3D printer itself, and have fun doing it! If this isn’t what you’re looking for, you may want to look at the Anycubic Mega S instead, an easy-to-operate 3D printer for beginners.

Specs

• Weight: 18.96 lbs
• Layer Resolution: 100 – 300 microns
• Layer Thickness: 0.1 – 0.3 mm
• Positioning Accuracy: 12 x 12 x 4 microns
• Print Volume: 8.6 x 8.6 x 9.5 in (220 x 220 x 240 mm)
• Interface: 5-Key 2004 LCD Screen
• Print Bed Leveling: Manual
• Modeling Technology: FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling)
• Max Extruder Temperature: 260 °C (500 °F)
• Max Heated Bed Temperature: 96 °C (205 °F)
• Dual Extruder: No
• Print Surface: Heated Bed with Aviation-Grade Aluminum Plate Surface
• Print Speed: 30 – 120 mm/s
• Printing Accuracy: 0.1 – 0.2 mm
• Nozzle Diameter: 0.4 mm (0.2 mm;0.3 mm;0.5 mm;0.6 mm)
• Nozzle Quantity: Single
• X-Y Position Accuracy: 0.012 mm
• Z-Axis Position Accuracy: 0.004 mm
• Working Mode/Connection: USB, SD Card Reader
• Filament Types: All XYZ Printing Bio-degradable and Multiple Filaments such as ABS, HIP, PETG, PLA, PP, PRTG, Luminescent, Nylon PVA, Wood
• Material Tendency: PLA
• Frame: Acrylic + Lead Screw
• Certificate: EMC, FCC, LVD, RoHs

Working Conditions

• Temperature: 10 – 40 ºC
• Humidity: 20-50%

Power

• Power Supply: 180W (110 – 220 V; Adjustable to Local Voltage)
• Power Output: 20 A / 250 W

Materials

• Filament Diameter: 1.75mm
• Third-party Filaments: Yes

Software

• Firmware: Open Source
• OS: Windows XP / Windows 7 / Linux / Mac
• File Format: STL, G-Code, OBJ
• Software: Cura, Repetier-Host

Features

Shouldn’t I show you a bit of what the Anet A8 offers? Aside from its impressive price, this 3D printer allows printing with multiple filament types – six, to be clear. The printing and creating options are nearly endless. Aside from wood and standard PLA, the A8 is comfortable with luminescent filaments. The community agrees the printer works best once the printer is in gear.

Be Ready to Explore

Setting up the Anet A8 3D printer is an exciting excursion, though I’ll admit it’s satisfying to watch newbies struggle with it. The learning experience is second to none. Of course, DIY enthusiasts enjoy the challenge of the entire process.

There are no printed manuals as the manufacturer has placed everything on an SD card. Now, even for veteran makers, those instructions are not too clear. Many of the over thirty steps need third-party video and photo support to ensure all is going well.

The first step deals with the printer’s acrylic frame. A support plate at the base supports the two upright support plates. A top support plate is part of this first step. It’ll hold the LCD, which is one of the final components of the assembly process.

It’s a lot of fun guiding new makers to connect acrylic frame pieces using M3*18 screws and M3 nuts. Shenzhen provides a countless number of these tiny screws and nuts. Then, the two lock plates support the top of the frame. The purpose of this is to ensure the Z leading rod locked and snug in place.

Decent Build Quality and Design

To be honest, I find the Anet A8 design too simplistic or that there’s not too much thought behind it. On the other hand, this minimalist design enhances the performance of the machine. With its open-ended style, you can easily tweak bits and pieces of the printer to match your goals.

After some assemblies, I observed the toothed belt didn’t have a tight-enough fastening. There was only a small amount of rubber belt material, making the whole setup susceptible to the tiniest screw-up. It was also important to fit the component into tight spaces to ensure there was enough tension. This issue is easy to resolve, anyway. The accessibility allows key elements like an extruder to be taken apart in the event of a clog.

Some design features of the Anet A8 are not great, to put it mildly. Here are a few to note:

1. The 3D-printed fan duct that Shenzhen provides in the package is not a proper fit for the extruder. Thus, it hangs down below the nozzle.
2. There are too many indistinguishable wires, and the absence of a power switch does not befit the A8’s stature.
3. Smoke may exit the nozzle after unclogging it and reassembling the extruder.

These issues are not really a big deal for a sub-$200 printer. Especially when it does so well on other fronts.

Print Quality is Good, not Great

Print quality is important in DIY 3D printing. How does our little man hold up? Well, first things first. My Anet A8 needs calibration before extruding. It can prove challenging on the first attempt, but all should be fine with some trial and error.

Note your screwdriver revolutions when leveling the bed properly. I achieve optimal calibration by setting the extruder at the home position and using a single sheet of paper to try the height between the print bed and the nozzle.

Tension is not uncommon while sliding the paper in between the bed and the nozzle. Once the print bed is at an even level, printing can begin. The first print will produce a wavy print surface – not quite the level for a good print.

A second print after tightening the loose belt under the print bed is better but still a long way off. I use the software to tweak the retraction settings and print temperature for even better results. So, it can get a bit tricky getting great prints from the Anet A8.

“Yes” to Upgrades and Mods

The Anet A8 works really well as is. But, I like this part: you can improve it in many ways for better safety and superior performance. All you need are a few upgrades here and there. I love 3D printing many of these parts on the student’s new Anet A8.

However, a few important upgrades are not printable. For instance, you’ll need a MOSFET for your 3D printer. It’s critical for fire safety, something any Anet A8 user must note. The MOSFET lowers the risk of fire and delivers better voltage to the motors. It regulates the massive workload of the extruder and heated bed place on the mainboard.

The MOSFET also provides several benefits for performance. I’m currently enjoying the second power supply unit (PSU) to their 3D printer and shaving lots of time when heating the print bed.

Other possible upgrades include a better extruder, such as the E3D Titan Universal Extruder, Auto Leveling, and 3D printer upgrades.

Pros and Cons of The Anet A8

Pros

• Highly affordable 3D printer kit, especially for new makers
• Excellent community support and enhancements
• Decent print volume and quality
• Heated print bed
• Onboard LCD interface
• Ease of upgrade
• Open filament system
• Multiple slicer compatibility
• Features spare kit parts, sample filament, test models, and tools

Cons

• Replicas
• Steep learning curve
• Acrylic frame and non-intuitive UI
• Assembly manual only on SD card
• Exposed electronic components and poor management
• Frustrating bed leveling and filament loading
• No enclosure

Conclusions

It’s been a long-winded review, and I haven’t yet scratched the surface about the features of the Anet A8. I like the machine, and I want my protegés to use it where possible. Besides, it’s a low-cost way to get into 3D printing.

The most priceless element about this machine is the community any new maker can leverage online to bring models to life using the Anet A8. Once they’re willing to learn and roll up their sleeves, everything else is a breeze.