First 3D printing with Snapmaker 2.0 A350T (=F350 + laser +CNC)

During the Christmas time last year (2021) I bought a 3D printer Snapmaker F350 but could not have time to set it up until last week. My plan is to add the strong laser module of 10W and a CNC module into it, making it more powerful than the original 3 in 1 machine A350T. After setting it up, I could now finally make my first printing, a black vase.

I have been playing with crafting machines for several years, although did not have much time for that hobby. My first 3D printer was a Weistek WT1, which was one of the earliest 3D printer for DIY people. Such a machine does not exist now, even its photos cannot be found in the Internet. I had to modify the printer a lot, including a filament holder and a enclosure to improve the quality, which was really low when compared with nowadays ones. Also a lot of tricks were learnt from that machine, including using hair spray to make the first layer of filament sticky to the base, or using nail acetone to wipe filament left over off the base. ( I will talk about my first Laster engraver K40 and my first CNC later when I try the relevant feature on this 3-in-1 Snapmaker)

The first impression the machine when unboxing was really good. The parts are made of solid metal with high quality, and the instruction guides are intuitive and helpful. It did not take me much time to assemble the machine. Some photos of the assembled printer are shown next.

The machine can be controller by the software named Luban, provided by Snapmaker, although the machine can be operated independently. Luban comes with sample projects for every of its feature, i.e. 3D printing, laser engraving and CNC. I decided to try the Vase project. Next photos show the work in progress and the control touch screen during the work, which shows the estimated total of about 4 hours.

The next photos show the final product. I am very impressed with the quality and speed of the printing. The sample project is set up with a custom quality level, not the highest or lowest one. It was almost a press and forget work for me, no hassle at all. The vase was removed out of the base easily. I believe the enclosure and the heated base contributed significantly to this high quality output.

This machine has still a lot for me to explore, as 3D printing is the simpler than laser engraving/cutting, and CNC feature would be the most difficult to try. I will come back with more posts about new printing and those two other features later. For 3D printing, I think this machine is a great choice for hobbyists.

PS: The vase was created on 14th of Feb, just in time for my Valentine day. The rose has made a really good match.