What Size Nozzle Does Makergear M2 Have

Bottom Line

Nosotros have tested the MakerGear M2 and it failed to amaze the states. We tin't recommend this 3D printer, despite its popularity.

3D printers are complicated at the best of times. In that location'due south a huge amount of variation from i model to the next, and all the jargon really gets in the style of making a conclusion sometimes. That'south why we've decided to create a simple, easily understandable guide to one of the most popular 3D printers bachelor: the MakerGear M2.

There's an extra challenge when information technology comes to buying premium products: you demand to discover a printer that'due south worthy of its price, but one that isn't weighed downward with functionalities y'all'll never go to use. Let's accept a look and see if the M2 lives up to the hype.

Filament Diameter	1.75mm
Extruders	ane, optional 2nd
Supported Materials	PLA, ABS, PLET, HIPS, HDPE, TPU, Polycarbonate, composite
Connectivity	USB, SD Carte
Press Speed	80-200mm/due south
Build Volume	8 x 10 x 8"

Design

This printer has a spacious, open build surface area that allows you to build larger objects than most other models. Absolutely, in that location'southward but i extruder by default, but if this is a big drawback for yous, you lot can always add together an extra one. This is doable because the unabridged unit is modular – it simplifies maintenance and allows you to effortlessly upgrade.

It'south sturdily built, too. Instead of 3D printed components, it's made almost entirely of metal for added durability. The impress bed comes already leveled, and in that location'south software included to help you reset it if needed. Thanks to its 4-betoken organization, though, this should only exist necessary rarely.

With a base of operations temperature of 110°C, this printer allows y'all to impress fifty-fifty with materials that require very high amounts of oestrus. This should also preclude sticking, which is excellent. This unit ships with a 0.35mm nozzle, but MakerGear offers additional sizes and materials on their website.

Press

Print quality is above-boilerplate but withal not perfect, despite this printer's high cost tag. It handles overhangs exceptionally well, merely there was significant distortion on relatively elementary test models. Information technology seems to excel at low-poly prints, but more complex ones tend to warp or complete with loose strands – hardly ideal, but skillful for fast prototyping.

We were pretty impressed with the number of different filaments you tin use, though. All the usual suspects are supported, merely you can too employ wood or carbon-fiber filaments. That said, you'll need to buy a metal nozzle since you lot don't go one as standard.

Permit's exist clear: this printer is not suitable for commercial applications. Information technology's conspicuously intended for experienced users who know how to troubleshoot hard prints, and at such a loftier cost, it's prohibitively expensive for newcomers. These facts aside, it's a strong choice for those looking to improve their skills and larn by doing.

Features

At this price, you lot expect to see some WiFi capabilities, but this is absent in the M2. USB and SD card connections are supported, though. It includes a copy of Slic3r and Pronterface – 2 free, open up-source applications. By and large, loftier-end printers come with costless professional software, or at the very least, a discount, so this is a bit of a let-down.

Unfortunately, the M2 requires you to utilize multiple programs unless y'all're willing to pay for premium software. First, you take to slice your model, then employ a secondary application to send it to the printer (assuming you lot're non putting it on removable storage). Also, the bed-leveling and filament changing requires y'all to use the proprietary software.

Still, we did similar how easily this product can be upgraded. You can choose to add an extra extruder, additional filament spool, or an LCD screen, and spare parts are also available via the MakerGear website. Even with a single extruder, the printing is pretty fast, so yous may not even need 1.

Price

At a little over $1800, this printer isn't for anyone but experienced users. A fully upgraded version will run you effectually $2000, and that's earlier you lot add $149 for a copy of Simplify3D. Simply put, this model is extremely expensive, and yet, only suitable for mass-producing very simple objects.

On the other manus, we find the spare parts kit to be worthy of its price. You lot go all of the most commonly broken components including a filament drive and hot end, so you'll always have spares on hand should annihilation go incorrect. Because of its modular design, replacement is very easy, which is a bonus.

Support

MakerGear'southward back up area provides several ways to find assistance. You can phone call the company, submit a support ticket, ship an email, or bank check out the user forum. The company claims to reply to messages inside a few hours, but yous should note that weekend inquiries will likely be answered the following Monday.

The M2 comes with a six-month limited warranty, which is standard. What isn't standard is the extension choice: for $350, you lot tin can add an extra year's coverage. Normally, nosotros'd say this was extortionately expensive, merely given the loftier price indicate of this printer, it might actually be worth the investment.

Simply, the M2 is very expensive and lacks some of the features that many mid-budget printers have as standard. We don't think information technology's fair to ask customers to pay effectually $1800 for a product and and so wait over the weekend for support if issues arise.

Summary

While the MakerGear M2 has a premium price, it seems to be designed to milk every bit much money from consumers as possible. Fifty-fifty if the price were halved, we'd struggle to justify purchasing it, just because of its complication and poor print quality on reasonably simple models.

It'southward pretty complicated to use as well, with multiple programs required to go even easy prints started. This is a classic case of "high price, low expectations", and without significant improvements, the M2 tin't fifty-fifty come close to justifying its extreme initial cost. Buyer beware.