Category Archives: 3D Printer

ANET Upgrades for ANET A8

Leave a reply

What is the ANET A8

So this post is starting to get a bunch of traction, and I wanted to expand more on what has worked well for me personally and give some insights on the upgrades. First and foremost, I have used several different 3d printers and for the money, the ANET A8 has performed beyond my expectations.

Updated: 12.6.2019

Nozzles:

http://amzn.to/2BCp8VO – Ivelink 0.4mm MK8 Extruder M6 Stainless Steel Nozzle for 1.75mm Makerbot Ultimaker UM2 E3D (Pack of 5pcs)

https://amzn.to/2PiAVjG – MK8 Brass Wear Resistant Nozzles

Belts:

http://amzn.to/2qp3Mry

GT2 fiberglass reinforced belt. Proper tensioning and strength is super important for accurate high-quality prints.  Some of the inexpensive Chinese Prusa knockoffs have rubber belts that stretch.

This is HUGE, currently one of the better upgrades for your machine.

Sensor:

BL Touch Sesnorhttp://amzn.to/2u5mIgY 

Wow, Wow, Wow. This is the second best (possibly THE best) upgrade I have done to my printer. While there are several different auto bed leveling sensors, I can safely say the BL-touch is fantastic.  It works with any type of bed, so those who have upgraded to a glass bed, it will still function.

While there is a common misconception that the auto-bed level will prevent any more bed leveling it does account for any warpage or small imperfections in the levelness of your bed and will increase your print quality noticeably.

Frame:

This is my favorite upgrade, it noticeably increases stability and adds uncompromised strength and modification options. The popular AM8 Metal extrusion upgrade utilizes 2040 extruded aluminum.

The total cost for this upgrade ran right around $60 USD. The build guide and Build of Materials are available through the link. You will also need an M5 Tap to complete this upgrade. Altogether, totally worth the additional cost.

Printable A8 Upgrades

I have compiled a list of printable parts for the A8 to help with print quality.

  1. x tensioner http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1976767
  2. y tensioner http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2124800
  3. x belt holder http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1666094
  4. y belt holder http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1648888
  5. z-endstop adjuster http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1776429
  6. air nozzle / part cooler (old favorite, still in use) http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2088006
    (my new favorite) http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2110755 )

Additional Items

  1. not printable, but highly recommended: a glass plate or mirror tile from the hardware store. no need for expensive borosilicate.
  2. filament wiper/oiler. http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1692395 (the improvement of the finish was too noticeable, not to add it to this list. use 1-2 drops of olive oil – NO mineral or silicone oil!)
  3. once you see your frame bend under the force of tight GF belts and consider a “frame brace”, this is a much more sensible solution http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2045010
    (or use 8*365mm aluminum tube, wedged between two felt pads

    Video Walkthrough Skynet upgrade with e3d v6