(Note:  I’ve updated this article after it’s original posting, due to updates in information and in my own setup)

Update 05/04/2019:  Kickstarter countdown is ongoing.  Countdown clock till launch is here:

Snapmaker 2 Kickstarter Countdown

Back to the article:

As I’ve mentioned in a previous post, the Snapmaker 3D printer is a combination 3D printer, laser engraver, and CNC milling machine.  As I said at the time, the original model is smaller than my Colido DIY and would have required me to downsize my printable area (assuming I was replacing rather than supplementing the printer).  I had also gotten the impression that a 3D printer with a single z-axis column can be prone to having vibration issues.  They had teased an image of a two column model that they were going to release down the road, but they had not provided a lot of information about it.

Well, that’s changed.

Somewhat recently they announced an upcoming Kickstarter campaign for the Snapmaker 2.  The Snapmaker 2 is their blanket term for their next generation, which has upgraded components across the board.  It also includes three sizes of printers you can get.

The three sizes have the following print areas:

1. Small:        165 mm W x 170 mm D x 145 mm H (at least 5.7 inches on each side)
2. Medium:   230 mm W x 265 mm D x 240 mm H (at least 9.05 inches on each side)
3. Large:        330 mm W x 365 mm D x 335 mm H (at least 12 inches on each side)

As you can see, the larger two sizes have the two column design I want, which should be more stable and provide the larger build area I need for some projects.  I haven’t decided which of those two I’ll eventually want, but I’m pretty sure I’m going to be getting one of those two at some point.  There are all kinds of projects you can do with a print volume that size.

This new generation appears to be loaded with features, including auto-leveling, wi-fi control, filament sensors, power-loss detection and recovery, and more.  There are also a number of improvements on the implementation of the original Snapmaker’s features.  That’s a hell of an improvement over my Colido DIY which was almost completely manually operated, and a couple steps beyond what my new Monoprice Select Mini Pro has.   I look forward to being able to get more reliable large prints that I can run wirelessly and not require a computer to be plugged directly into it.

I’m looking forward to learning more, and hopefully getting my hands on one of these sturdy multipurpose fabbing machines.  Gonna get busy building with one of these!

Since the original publication of this post, the Snapmaker Team has been in touch with subscribers to their newsletter, giving us previews of the features and asking us whether we would be satisfied with the features and improvements they displayed.  I highly recommend subscribing to their newsletter if you want to keep in the loop on the Snapmaker 2.

While you are here, please take a moment to glance at the other parts of my site.  You may find even more useful information related to our shared interests here!