For years, the 3D printing community has longed for Golden Tripod: speed bubbles, reliable accuracy and user-friendly operation-none of them broke the bank. Enter the Ankermake M5, a printer that bursts to the scene, promising to break the speed barrier and redefine possibilities at the consumer level. After rigorous testing and realistic printing marathon, it failed "Speed Beast" Hype? Let’s dive.
Unboxing and first impressions
The Ankermake M5 arrives with obvious pre-assembly, a huge win for beginners. In just 15 minutes after unboxing, almost all users can start their first print. The build quality feels industrial, with a robust aluminum frame and double potential screws on the Z-axis. Out of the box, you get:
- printer
- PEI-coated magnetic construction board
- A small portion of Ankermake PLA filament
- Toolkit (scraper, nozzle cleaning needle)
- Power cable and USB stick
Speed Revolution: How fast is it real?
The title function is the original speed: Up to 500 mm/s, with acceleration of 10,000 mm/s². In fact, it’s not just marketing fluff. Print standard 20mm calibration cubes in 150 mm/s (default value "Quick Mode") It takes about 15 minutes on most competitors, while it takes ~45 minutes on most competitors. Complex prints, such as articulated dragons or robotic parts, can be done Half the time No sacrificing structural integrity.
This speed is achieved with the following speeds:
- Quad motorcycle direct drive system: Ensure high-speed filament control.
- Advanced motion control: Enhanced Y-axis stiffness and dual potential Zs chain screws prevent resonance and ghosting.
- AI-driven collision detection: The live camera monitors each layer and pauses printing if an abnormality or spaghetti malfunction occurs.
Printing quality: precisely reach rhythm
Despite the speed, the M5 does not sacrifice mass. Use its default values "Precision mode" (slower but thinner), the layer lines are always smooth and use minimal strings or artifacts. Small overhangs and bridges perform well, although complex geometries such as <60° angles benefit from slowing down through the slicer's setup. For PLA and PETG, the result is a competitor with more than $1,000 in competitor printers.
Material versatility:
- Perfect for PLA, PETG and TPU.
- ABS/ASA may come with a shell (not included, sold separately).
- Maximum nozzle temperature: 300°C (heat within <90 seconds).
Smart glowing functions
- Automatic bed leveling: The flawless first layer uses its 49-point platform sensor in 3 minutes.
- Anchor Make App: Intuitive remote monitoring, AI alerts and file transfer without SD card.
- The slicer optimized speed: Built-in configuration files that don’t need to print (Cura/Prusaslicer support is now available through plug-ins).
Growth space
Although impressive, it is not perfect:
- Nozzle options: 0.4mm out of the box (upgrade requires removal).
- Parts Cooling: A single-sided cooling fan is not ideal for bridging at extremely high speeds.
- No integrated shell: The challenge of printing ABS/ASA without purchasing an additional chassis of $79.
Conclusion: Who should consider the speed beast?
The Ankermake M5 offers a promise of revolutionary speed without compromising accuracy. It is Ideal:
- Prototype enthusiast: Iterative designs in hours rather than days.
- Educators/Workshops: Handle large prints with very little downtime.
- Functional Part Creator: Quick output of tools, installations or functional components.
Although the premium purchase price is $799 (often sold for $599), it justifies the price with reliability and time savings. For amateurs and semi-professional users who require production-grade speeds without any complexity, the M5 is a game-changer.
However, Even the M5 has limitations if your job requires aviation-grade metal components, surgical tools or large-scale industrial prototypes. At this level, it is crucial to work with dedicated rapid prototyping services.
Unlock industrial-grade rapid prototyping
While desktop 3D printers (such as Ankermake M5 Excel) come with plastic, professional scenarios often require metal, ceramic or ultra-composite geometry, i.e. industrial SLM (selective laser melting) printers. This is Great Improve your project.
As a leading rapid prototyping company based in China World Advanced SLM 3D Printers and Optimized Production Technology Solve the toughest metal prototyping challenges. Why work with us?
- End-to-end solution: From titanium medical implants to corrosion-resistant aerospace alloys, we handle all work – design verification, printing, precision machining, heat treatment and surface finishes.
- Super fast delivery time: The key prototypes are delivered in days rather than weeks. Most materials (stainless steel, aluminum, inconel) are available as soon as possible.
- Unrivaled expertise: Engineers with more than 10 years of additive manufacturing tackle minimized, supporting optimization and materials science challenges.
- Cost Efficiency: From 1 to 10,000 units, there is no premium mark for typical Western companies.
Customize precision metal parts at today’s Greatlight (China’s highest rapid prototyping provider). Get an instant quote and start your project.
FAQ: Ankermake M5
Q1. Actually, is it practical to print at 500 mm/s?
A1. For large models with simple geometry such as boxes or panels, yes, even in 30% of the fill. However, complex designs (<30 mm travel move) risk artifacts. We recommend using 150-250 mm/s for optimal mass-to-speed balance.
Q2. How reliable is AI fault detection?
A2. In the test, it captured filament tangle, nozzle clogging and bed adhesion failure in 9 of 10 scenarios. Nevertheless, avoid leaving unsupervised high temperature printing overnight.
Q3. Is firmware open source?
A3. not yet. Currently, the Marlin-based operating system is locked, limiting advanced tweaks. Community pressure may change that.
Q4. What is the largest printing size?
A4. The build volume is 235x235x250mm. The maximum utilization rate is ~230x230x245mm, with a reliable clearance rate.
Q5. Can you use third-party filaments?
A5. Absolute – Category PLA, PETG and TPU work perfectly. For special materials (wood, carbon fiber), reduce the speed to 80 mm/s.
Q6. How long does the stainless steel nozzle last?
A6. There are approximately 800–1000 printing hours without informal filaments. Using carbon PLA requires 300-400 hours before replacement.
Q7. Does the final promotion mean that Greatlight uses Ankermake printers?
A7. no. Metal Parts – Extruded printing beyond consumer grade. They provide supplementary services to customers who need high-strength, precision metal components.
Accelerate your creations. Perfect your prototype. Neither Ankermake’s desktop Marvel or Greatlight’s industrial solutions, innovation has no throttle.
