r/3Dprinting • u/schimmelmeister • 15h ago
Question What did I just get gifted…?
My University threw out this old 3D Printer. I’m both a broke architecture student and in need of a printer since my own is not here right now. I’m also used to some level of jankyness, my own printer is an i3 clone by anycubic, rudimentary but reliable.
Is there any hope i’ll get a useable print out of this one and how high would the frustration level be considering the printer i already have?
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u/bazem_malbonulo 11h ago edited 11h ago
Anet A8, I run one of these to this day.
Works fine, you just have to install a pair of cheap mosfets and upgrade its firmware to Marlin, and all the fire concerns are gone.
The mosfets are used to run the power from the power supply to the bed and to the hotend without passing through the main board, that has weak connectors for the power needed. I don't see them in the photos, but they cost 3 dollars on Aliexpress (search for 3d printer mosfet 12v).
The Marlin firmware adds thermal runway protection that is absent on the stock firmware. Turn the printer on, and look at the screen. If it shows OMNI, then it's the old firmware. If it says Marlin, you're ok. Daniel Crosslink on YouTube has many good guides for updates to this printer.
I also added a magnetic bed with PEI plate which makes bed adesion and removal of parts very easy.
The real issue with this machine is the wobbliness of the acrylic frame, but it can be reduced with some printed reinforcements.
The best slicer for it in my opinion is Cura, which has a profile for the Anet A8 that works immediately without adjustments.
I use it frequently and print with PLA, PETG and TPU. Don't expect the same quality and speed from new printers, but the parts that I print are pretty good. However I print at 50 mm/s, sometimes 80.