Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
MakerGear M2
The kit is very well organized and includes
every tool you need except an adjustable
wrench. Kit documentation is very nice—
animated videos, subassembly drawings, ex-
plicit instructions for critical steps—but also
has confusing gaps. That said, MakerGear
tech support answered questions quickly on
IRC.
Setup is simple: you can unpack, adjust the
stops, load the software, and start printing
the included samples in less than an hour.
Find a sturdy table—the M2's metal con-
struction makes it reassuringly heavy, and it
shakes a bit when it runs at high speeds.
The M2 ships with an SD card reader and a
card loaded with sample G-code files to ver-
ify that your printer is working. They also in-
clude a 1 kg spool of PLA. Although it ships
well calibrated, there's a learning curve. Be-
fore you print, visit MakerGear's Google
Groups to learn about the settings and op-
tions available, especially for different mate-
rials and build surfaces.
After I positioned the Z endstop and leveled
the bed, the M2 printed great. I experimen-
ted with different layer heights, speeds, and
temperatures, and I've yet to experience the
M2's full capabilities. Not only can I adjust the
software settings to get even better output,
but because the machine accommodates
improvements in extrusion technology, I'll
be able to keep on upgrading!
This printer's frame is stainless steel, and the
rest of the structural elements are stainless
and anodized aluminum. The print volume
is 8"×10"×8”—one of the biggest in its price
range. The rest of the printer is built with
premium parts, and its motion is smooth.
MakerGear's geared stepper motor extruder
comes with their groove-mount hot-end.
The heated build platform is a sandwich of
cork insulation, polyamide heating element,
and laser-engraved aluminum, topped off
with a sheet of borosilicate glass.
UltiMachine's RAMBo board, a refinement of
the popular RAMPS, controls the printer. It
supports dual extruders, so you could up-
grade to dual-extruders without upgrading
the electronics.
