【3D Printing News】In-depth Look at the Snapmaker Artisan 3-in-1 Features! A Major Release!
Following the Snapmaker 2.0, the Snapmaker R&D team spent 516 days developing a new product that pushes the boundaries of 3-in-1 3D printers, naming it Artisan. It can meet the needs of various creative scenarios, truly transforming your home into a workshop. The high quality and performance offered by Artisan allow you to unleash your creativity to the fullest. Artisan is not just an upgrade to the Snapmaker 2.0, but sets a new benchmark for 3-in-1 3D printers.
Next-Generation Linear Module
The linear module motion system is the backbone of any specific manufacturing machine, and the performance of the motion system is closely related to the overall performance of the machine. Linear guides are widely used in industrial fields, such as industrial robots and conveying equipment, as devices that ensure equipment strictly follows the desired path in vertical and horizontal directions. For Snapmaker 3D printers, this refers to the tool head modules for 3D printing, laser engraving and cutting, and CNC carving.
How does the new generation linear module achieve micron-level precision? It positions the tool head in the correct place, depending on two fundamental components of the linear guide: the bearing and the drive unit. In Artisan, the R&D team improved these two components to optimize the performance of the linear module. In the Snapmaker 2.0, the bearing was a combination of linear rods and pulleys. Linear rods are used in many 3D printers on the market. However, linear rods have lower capability, unable to provide smoother motion and higher precision. On the other hand, linear guides allow for a more rigid motion mechanism. It is less susceptible to vibration, thus also reducing printing issues such as ringing.
Instead of conventional linear guides, Snapmaker has introduced industrial-grade transmission technology to 3D printers—steel guide rails manufactured through micron-level CNC grinding are embedded in Artisan's linear module.
As with the drive unit, we applied Gates' high-end synchronous belts on the X and Y axes to optimize the lead, improving power transmission efficiency while maintaining high precision and low noise levels. Compared to the lead screws used in AT models, the lead on Artisan's X and Y axes has increased from 20mm to 40mm.
Overall, improvements to the bearing and drive unit have elevated the performance of Artisan's linear module to a new level. The straightness and flatness errors are now within 0.04mm, while the positioning accuracy is within 0.1mm. How does this translate to performance in 3D printing and CNC carving? The Snapmaker Artisan, through its superior linear module, can operate at higher speeds while achieving high-quality prints. If sped up, it can achieve dimensional accuracy of ±0.1mm at high speeds of 150mm/s to 180mm/s [1]. The new linear module also ensures the stability of CNC machining.
In short, these upgrades lead to significant improvements in precision, rigidity, and durability, providing you with a fast, accurate, and stable fabrication experience.
300°C Dual Extrusion 3D Printing Module
As with the drive unit, we applied Gates' high-end synchronous belts on the X and Y axes to optimize the lead, improving power transmission efficiency while maintaining high precision and low noise levels. Compared to the lead screws used in AT models, the lead on Artisan's X and Y axes has increased from 20mm to 40mm.
Overall, improvements to the bearing and drive unit have elevated the performance of Artisan's linear module to a new level. The straightness and flatness errors are now within 0.04mm, while the positioning accuracy is within 0.1mm. How does this translate to performance in 3D printing and CNC carving? The Snapmaker Artisan, through its superior linear module, can operate at higher speeds while achieving high-quality prints. If sped up, it can achieve dimensional accuracy of ±0.1mm at high speeds of 150mm/s to 180mm/s [1]. The new linear module also ensures the stability of CNC machining.
In short, these upgrades lead to significant improvements in precision, rigidity, and durability, providing you with a fast, accurate, and stable fabrication experience.
300°C Dual Extrusion 3D Printing Module
The dual extrusion 3D printing module has always been one of the R&D team's development projects, opening up a world of 3D printing with multiple materials and colors. Compared to the Snapmaker 2.0, Artisan has seen comprehensive improvements in printing speed, precision, filament compatibility, and accessibility.
The switching mechanism and automatic bed leveling solution are critical to the dual extruder module design. In most dual extruders on the market, the two dual extruders are usually mechanically lifted, which is often time-consuming, and the tool head must move along the X-axis and hit its ends to complete the switch. In Artisan, the nozzle module is automatically lifted by a lead screw stepper motor, improving switching efficiency and eliminating the noise caused by mechanical lifting.
Artisan can automatically level the heated bed and calibrate the Z offset of both extruders, with semi-automatic calibration for the XY offset. In just 3 steps, you can enjoy perfect adhesion and alignment for dual-material or dual-color prints. There are also built-in springs near the nozzles, which help facilitate calibration and prevent the nozzles from hitting the bed or print. It even offers a double-sided print build plate, allowing for easy switching between common materials like PLA and PETG, and flexible materials like TPU. One side of the print build plate is smooth glass, and the other side is PEI coated. Photoelectric switches are used to achieve automatic bed leveling accordingly.
However, switching materials during printing is possible if using a single nozzle. But there are a few things to note. Filaments with different properties require different nozzle temperatures to perform well; the temperature needs to be adjusted before manually changing materials. Otherwise, the temperature (too high or too low) can lead to carbonization, and subsequently, nozzle clogging and insufficient extrusion.
Switching to two independent nozzles allows heating up to 300°C. You can experiment with more materials, such as soluble materials like PVA and HIPS, Breakaway filament, and even tough nylon. Removing support material is never a pleasant task and can even leave rough spots on the print. Soluble support materials can save you from this nightmare. And Breakaway filament provides the same support as regular materials but is easier to remove and requires no further post-processing. You can boldly print models with complex structures. You can also change nozzles of different sizes according to your needs.
10W Laser Engraving and Cutting Module
Artisan comes directly with 10W. More importantly, it can laser engrave objects of 400mm × 400mm × 400mm. The laser beam splitter and beam shaping optics in the laser module provide 10W of high power and an ultra-fine laser focus of 0.05×0.2mm. The triangulation system with a wide-angle camera calculates the material thickness, achieving autofocus in seconds, and provides real-time preview in Snapmaker Luban. The 10W laser module boasts engraving speeds of up to 6000mm/mins and can cut paulownia wood up to 8mm thick in a single pass.
However, switching materials during printing is possible if using a single nozzle. But there are a few things to note. Filaments with different properties require different nozzle temperatures to perform well; the temperature needs to be adjusted before manually changing materials. Otherwise, the temperature (too high or too low) can lead to carbonization, and subsequently, nozzle clogging and insufficient extrusion.
Switching to two independent nozzles allows heating up to 300°C. You can experiment with more materials, such as soluble materials like PVA and HIPS, Breakaway filament, and even tough nylon. Removing support material is never a pleasant task and can even leave rough spots on the print. Soluble support materials can save you from this nightmare. And Breakaway filament provides the same support as regular materials but is easier to remove and requires no further post-processing. You can boldly print models with complex structures. You can also change nozzles of different sizes according to your needs.
10W Laser Engraving and Cutting Module
Artisan comes directly with 10W. More importantly, it can laser engrave objects of 400mm × 400mm × 400mm. The laser beam splitter and beam shaping optics in the laser module provide 10W of high power and an ultra-fine laser focus of 0.05×0.2mm. The triangulation system with a wide-angle camera calculates the material thickness, achieving autofocus in seconds, and provides real-time preview in Snapmaker Luban. The 10W laser module boasts engraving speeds of up to 6000mm/mins and can cut paulownia wood up to 8mm thick in a single pass.
Laser engraved bottle by group member Michael Mikkelson; Chess game by group member Lennart Lamoller
200W CNC Carving and Cutting
Artisan's 200W CNC module is designed to meet the precision machining needs of hardwoods such as beech and walnut, jade, and other hard materials. Compared to the Snapmaker 2.0, Artisan's 200W CNC module has increased power by 300% and maximum spindle speed by 50%. The machining speed on hardwoods like beech has increased 6-fold [2], and dimensional accuracy has reached 0.2mm [3]. The runout within the collet now reaches 0.02mm, whereas with the Snapmaker 2.0's 50W CNC module, this specification was 0.05mm.
Artisan's 200W CNC module is designed to meet the precision machining needs of hardwoods such as beech and walnut, jade, and other hard materials. Compared to the Snapmaker 2.0, Artisan's 200W CNC module has increased power by 300% and maximum spindle speed by 50%. The machining speed on hardwoods like beech has increased 6-fold [2], and dimensional accuracy has reached 0.2mm [3]. The runout within the collet now reaches 0.02mm, whereas with the Snapmaker 2.0's 50W CNC module, this specification was 0.05mm.
Choosing the correct cutting tool is crucial for CNC machining. The new CNC module is equipped with three CNC milling cutters: two flat-end mills (single-flute and double-flute) plus a straight-groove V-bit, allowing for efficient machining in CNC machining.
Snapmaker is the first manufacturer in the desktop 3D printer industry to introduce embedded steel guide rail linear modules, providing such industrial technology to makers worldwide.
Did you enjoy this sharing? 3DMart offers more than just 3D printing. Contact us now to learn more about the Snapmaker series of 3-in-1 3D printers.
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[1] Test results were obtained by printing a 100 mm × 100 mm × 100 mm cube using PLA and a 0.4 mm nozzle. Dimensional accuracy may vary depending on test conditions and product iteration, and is for reference only.
[2] The recommended speed for the maximum 50W CNC module is 1000 mm/min with a 1 mm depth of cut, and for the 200W CNC module, it is 3000 mm/min with a 2 mm depth of cut.
[3] This data was obtained from cutting beech wood and may vary depending on test conditions and product iteration, and is for reference only.
Snapmaker is the first manufacturer in the desktop 3D printer industry to introduce embedded steel guide rail linear modules, providing such industrial technology to makers worldwide.
Did you enjoy this sharing? 3DMart offers more than just 3D printing. Contact us now to learn more about the Snapmaker series of 3-in-1 3D printers.
Follow our fan pages for updates:https://www.facebook.com/3dmart.com.tw/
https://www.instagram.com/3dmart/
[1] Test results were obtained by printing a 100 mm × 100 mm × 100 mm cube using PLA and a 0.4 mm nozzle. Dimensional accuracy may vary depending on test conditions and product iteration, and is for reference only.
[2] The recommended speed for the maximum 50W CNC module is 1000 mm/min with a 1 mm depth of cut, and for the 200W CNC module, it is 3000 mm/min with a 2 mm depth of cut.
[3] This data was obtained from cutting beech wood and may vary depending on test conditions and product iteration, and is for reference only.