Snapmaker Artisan can be used to create large 3D prints, carve and laser engraving. It’s a vast improvement on its predecessor. Snapmaker 2.0 It offers more build volume, faster speeds, and quick release modules which snap into place in just minutes. It has a direct drive with an interesting dual hotend – two extruders that share one tool head.
Other features include linear rails for speed on the X & Y axis, stability dual Z axiss for stability, two-sided PEI coated glass plate, and built-in WiFi. The laser module now has a 10W power rating that can cut and engrave materials up 8mm. The CNC tool head is now capable of operating at 18,000 RPM with 200W.
The Artisan is equipped with a ventilated and laser-proof enclosure, making it safer to use in open workshops. It prevents dust and heat from escaping.
The machine is expensive, at $2,899 but it does a great job in all three modes. Though it takes a massive amount of space – we had to build a new table to fit this machine into our workshop – it’s still a space-saver for any maker that wants to print, engrave and carve. This machine is a great choice because of its well-thought-out design. The best 3D printers we’ve seen and a great choice for anyone who needs all of its capabilities and can afford its premium price.
Specifications
| Increase volume | 400 x 400 x 400mm (12.6 x 13.7 x 13 inches) |
| Material | PLA/PETG/ABS/Nylon (upto300 degrees) |
| Type of Extruder | Dual Direct Drive |
| Nozzle | .4mm (MK8) |
| Bed Leveling | Automatic |
| Build Platform | PEI coated glass, heated |
| Sensor for Filament Runout | Yes |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi stick |
| Interface | Color Touch Screen |
| Machine Footprint | 508 x 620 x 634 mm (20 x 24.4 x 24.9 inches) |
| Machine Weight | 52.9 kg (116 pounds) |
| Laser | 10 watts |
| CNC | 18,000 RPM |
Snapmaker Artisan: In the box
Snapmaker Artisan boxes should be unpacked by recycle day. The packaging is clean and clearly marked.
Everything you need for your printer’s setup and construction is included with the Artisan. The box contains everything you need to set up and maintain your printer. Side cutters, side cutters and wire brushes are all included. Two 1kg spools in black and white PLA are included for support. You will also receive standard safety glasses for woodworking and two pieces light plywood. There is also a piece MDFboard, a calibration block, clamps, bits, and bits for your CNC.
Because the Artisan includes a laser safe enclosure, there are no laser safety glasses.
The test unit we received did not include Snapmaker’s magazine-sized, full color instruction manual, but we were sent a PDF copy. Snapmaker Luban, the unit’s custom slicer, requires a visit to the company website for a free download.
Snapmaker Artisan design
Snapmaker Artisan is a multi-functional machine. It’s a beautifully built machine encased in sleek aluminum, with modular parts that quickly snap into place. Its 7-inch screen features a touch screen control panel, which offers simple-to-understand options. The enclosure provides lighting, ventilation and dust control for CNCs, as well as optical safety for lasers. It also heats up to print advanced filaments. It has WiFi connectivity for file transfers.
The printer’s best selling point is also the reason I have one problem with it. It’s huge, with a 400mm cubed build volume – nearly twice the size of an average Ender style printer. It weighs in at just 116 pounds. The enclosure, spool holders and detached controller module take up almost a meter. Because the machine was too large to fit on any existing workbench or counter, we had to create a special table to hold it.
To illustrate the size of this beast, here’s the Snapmaker Artisan with an average size 3D printer – the Anycubic Kobra Neo – sitting on its build plate.
I’m not saying this is a dealbreaker, but if you’re going to bring this behemoth home, you’ll want to do some planning first.
Once you find the right spot for it to be set up, the Artisan will be well worth the effort. It features a dual-hotend direct drive hotend that is all metal and high-temperature. This means the tool head can be used as one unit, with two extruders working together. The active hotend is moved down by a few millimeters to keep the inactive nozzle out of the prints.
The hotends have quick release, which makes it easy to change them quickly without any tools. Additional hotends cost $50 and must be bought separately. The nozzles can be easily changed with third-party replacements. If you want to change nozzle sizes, you’ll still want to buy extra hotends, as each are chipped, allowing the printer to identify them and make adjustments in the slicing software as needed.
Because the Artisan doesn’t understand color information in .3mf files, it’s somewhat difficult to find premade two color designs. The dual print function can be used to print supports and infill in a second colour. This is a great way to save expensive filament and use it for your model. This allows you to experiment with water-soluble or breakaway support materials for more complex designs.
The Snapmaker Artisan has an enclosed design we don’t see often. Every moving part of the frame is sealed with aluminum alloys to prevent dust from being kicked up by CNC modules. This will probably make maintenance a bit of a chore, but during our testing it didn’t require any tuning.
Under the aluminum skin is a special linear rail system for the X- and Y-axes. These are not equipped with rubber wheels, which could cause them to wear out. Instead, they have a carriage that is supported by steel tracks and ball bearings. In the gantry towers are traditional twin Z screws. It is built from all metal and has a strong foundation.
The main unit rests on a sturdy baseplate. A detached control module with power and electronics is attached to it. The enclosure, which acts as the spool holder, is included in the machine. Extra long cords will run from the machine via a conduit to reach the back of the control panel. They are kept tidy by being extra long. The touch screen can be found on the front panel of the control module. A USB slot can be found on the side. On the top is a red emergency off button.
The Artisan is equally good in laser or CNC mode, and can be easily swapped out with the help handy latches.
The surface for 3D printing comes in two parts. An aluminum grid holds the heating elements, and a glass plate with two sides. One side has a PEI coating while the other side is clear. There are two heating zones – the inner zone can reach 110 degrees Celsius, while the outer zone can only reach 80. This makes it more difficult to print large ABS parts.
Each module has its own work surface, including the laser and CNC. Laser surface is a metal grill, while CNC surface is wood with holes for attaching clamps.
Assembling the Snapmaker Artist
Snapmaker Artisan DIY Kit has an inordinate number of components. I spent well over an hours assembling the machine and another 20 minutes putting together the enclosure. It is quite heavy so I needed some help moving everything around. Between the weight – 116 pounds – and numerous plugs to wrangle, this is a machine you want to set up and never move again.
Our test unit was a pre-production machine, so we did not have the benefit of a printed manual – consumers will get a full color magazine style manual like the Snapmaker 2.0 had.
Snapmaker Artisan has been designed to be dustproof, with all moving parts completely covered. It also has very long appliance-style cords, which run from the machine through a conduit to reach a control unit that is outside the enclosure.
Three tool heads are available (printing/laser/cnc), and they are all easy to mount on X axis. Each mode has its own built plate, which snaps on to the base unit quickly with quick release latches. This is a significant improvement on the Snapmaker 2.0 which required a lot of screws to attach each plate.
Preparing files / software for Snapmaker Artisan
Snapmaker has partnered with Luban to create “Snapmaker Luban” which can slice models for all three functions. It is easy to use, and includes presets for laser, 3D printing, and CNC modes. Snapmaker provides helpful links to the manual as well as video tutorials from the homescreen.
The 3D printing mode employs a combination of presets, sliders, and popups to explain the function. You can choose from normal, fast, smooth or strong presets, or click the “more” button and have full control. You can set the extruders to run at different speeds but they must maintain the same layer heights.
Two functions are missing in Snapmaker Luban. Snapmaker Luban scales size only by percentage and not absolute measurements, so it is difficult to predict how large your model will print. For example, I could print the above Cali-Dragon by McGybeer at 50%, but I couldn’t tell it to print it 50mm tall. Another function that is missing is the material use estimate. Luban will give an estimate of how much material your print will take, but doesn’t break it down between left and right extruders. This information is crucial as you can assign support, helpers and walls to each extruder. You could save money on the walls or use less material for the unseen parts.
Snapmaker will hopefully address these issues soon.
You can use Cura for slicing 3D printing files, but you’ll need to create your own profiles. You can maintain WiFi access by dropping sliced files into the “workspace”.
Snapmaker Artisan offers 3D printing mode
To 3D print, you’ll need to install the 3D printing tool head, the heated bed and its snap-on glass build plate. The PEI coated side works well with most materials and can be released easily. The plain glass side is great for ABS printing or whenever you need a smoother bottom to your print.
Snapmaker Artisan’s all-metal hotend can handle PETG and ABS as well as nylon. Although the direct drive should handle TPU, the Luban profile will need to be adjusted. For examples of all filaments that you can use with the Artisan, see our guide on the Best Filaments to 3D Printing.
The Snapmaker Artisan at its best
Each time you mount the 3D printer tool head, the Snapmaker Artisan needs to be calibrated and leveled. The machine will recognize which tool head is installed and will prompt you for the necessary calibrations. The control screen will display illustrations that show you what to do at each stage.
For 3D printing, the Artisan uses a “smart” probe attached to the left nozzle for leveling. The bed is permanently mounted and cannot be manually adjusted. After moving through 25 points, the bed will ask you to adjust the Z offset of both nozzles using a piece of paper.
Dual nozzles need a third calibration in order to ensure that the X and/or Y axis align. This test print can be done automatically by asking permission.
Snapmaker Artisan – Loading Filament
The Snapmaker Artisan makes it easy to load filament. The machine features a reverse Bowden tub to guide filament from outside the enclosure to the toolhead. After swapping the tool heads, it will detect whether filament is loaded and prompt you to load it.
You will be guided through the initial loading process with step-by-step photos on your touch screen. If you need to swap colors, click Control → Filament and you will be given a temperature dial to set the heat for each nozzle. When you have reached the desired temperature, the Load/Unload buttons will turn on. The bowden tube should be fed through the filament until it touches the top end of the toolhead. Apply pressure to the filament by pushing load. The gears will then grab it and feed it through a hotend.
Simply reverse the process to unload materials.
Snapmaker Artisan: Printing
After calibration, the Snapmaker Luban library was used to create the first print. This pencil cup shows how impossible it is to produce prints using the breakaway filament provided for supports. The print took 4 hours and 54 minutes, using the default “normal” setting with a .16mm layer height, 100mm/s speed and a purge tower to keep the nozzle clean. The filament that broke away was very stubborn but it did come off easily. This is what I printed. Snapmaker’s Black PLA (Opens in new tab PLA.
Two-color printing was a possibility when I used a jar made for the IDEX by Bugman_140. The print came out great. There was no bleeding between colors. Made in Snapmaker’s Black PLA (opens in a new tab Inland’s red PLA (Opens in new tabIt took the jar 6 hours and 30 mins to complete with a 1.16mm layer height, 100mm/s speed and a 6.16mm layer height.
The Artisan’s giant build plate is perfect for cosplay pieces, so I had to print a helmet. The Mandalorian helmet, which can be worn by anyone, measures 225x276x242mm. It is just a little too big for an Ender 3 printer. The Artisan is spacious with its 400x400mm built plate.
The default settings for supports are nothing short of tenacious, and as you can see I’m somewhat flustered as to how to remove them. I think the last trace of supports must be filed and sanded.
It’s also clear that the support should be extended to the entire eye opening. Luban’s paintable supports are partially to blame. I could have added more. I did use this function to remove support pieces from the helmet’s center, which saved 9 hours and at least 300kg of filament. There’s a little roughness on the layer lines, but this was run at full speed: .2mm layer height, 160mm/s taking 54 hours and 26 minutes. Print in PLA Inland White (Opens in new tab Recycled PLA005 Protopasta Colorful Still Available.
ABS is extremely stable and I tried it out by printing parts for an RC demolition derby. ABS can be difficult to print if the parts are large. I heated the enclosure, turned off the fan, and used an ABS glue I made to stick the part.
The slurry consists of ABS scraps mixed in acetone. The acetone evaporates leaving behind a thin layer of ABS that the print can bond to. At 255 C, the part was printed cleanly and without issues on a 100C bed. Matterhacker’s Pro ABS. (opens in a new window) The print – which is 241 mm long, took 11 hours and 30 minutes to print at a .2mm layer high and a 100mm/s speed.
TPU was a bit disappointing and didn’t perform as well as I hoped. The Artisan’s direct drive fed the material well – and handled the loops without effort, but there was a lot of stringing between the ears from the default settings. The print took 6 hours and 39 minutes. It had a layer height of.24mm at 30 mm/s speed. This was printed in Inland TPU.
Laser engraving and cutting of the Snapmaker Artisan
The Snapmaker’s laser can cut and engrave a wide variety of material, from walnut to cardboard. It can engrave metals such as copper, tin, aluminum, and glass. It can also cut wood and leather, as well as fabric and paper, up to 8mm in thickness.
To use the Laser tool head, you’ll need to snap in the provided aluminum grid build surface, which comes with plastic screws for holding down material. Tape is also an option. Snapmaker Artisan laser, which is powered by 10 watts, can cut and engrave thin materials.
Laser mode offers a number of safety features. After installing the laser module the Artisan will require you to close the enclosure and create a password. The controller’s initial password is printed at the bottom. However, you can modify it as often as you wish. This would prevent unauthorized users from running the laser – perhaps children – if the Artisan is in a home workshop.
The tool head comes with a camera that can help you focus and place your engraving/cutting designs where you want them to be on the material.
You’ll need to calibrate the laser each time you install the laser tool head. Place the provided test square onto the plate. The Artisan will scan the image using the attached camera to the toolhead. It will triangulate thickness of test piece and adjust accordingly.
It is completely automatic.
Next, you’ll calibrate the camera with a piece of blank paper that is at least 150 x 150 mm. The machine will lightly inscribe a square onto the piece of paper. The machine will take a picture of the square to assist with placing materials.
A ruler and protractor set are used as a sample model to laser. This is then burned onto a 5mm plywood sheet. This shows off the Snapmaker Artisan’s ability to both etch and cut. This model was completed in just 11 minutes.
CNC on the Snapmaker Artisan
While the CNC module can be used primarily to cut wood, it is also capable of carving acrylic and soft stones. You can choose from a variety of materials: HDF, MDF and wood (walnuts, pine, elm, ash, birch), Jade, Carbon Fiber or acrylic, Epoxy Tooling Board and PCB.
To use the CNC mode, you’ll need to swap the tool head and build plate. Snapmaker Artisan comes with a wooden surface and holes to attach special clamps. The Snapmaker Artisan waits until you are ready to cut, unlike the Laser or 3D printing tool heads.
Once you have secured your material to the work surface, it will be time to set the origin. Next you’ll run the tool path well above the clamps in order to see that everything is in the proper place. The final step is to adjust the Z height. You can also set the Z height using the 3D printer. This works in the same way as setting the Z height.
The CNC’s emergency stop button can come in handy when using the CNC. It allows you to stop the toolhead quickly before it runs into the clamp.
Snapmaker Luban provides default settings that allow you to select different types of bits.
Snapmaker provided a sample model of the Luban Lock. This is a puzzle that you can carve using a 10mm MDF board. This piece took just 36 minutes to carve, and the edges were perfectly smooth.
Bottom line
Snapmaker Artisan, a quality machine designed for makers who are interested in both additive and subtraction manufacturing, is the best. It is pricey, but it’s extremely well-made and easy to use with plenty of safety features.
The Artisan is a vast improvement on its predecessor. Switching between modes is fast and simple. No need to use a lot of screws. The 3D printer can print two colors and all metal hotends. It is easier to print engineering-grade materials because the enclosure has been included in the machine. The laser can cut through acrylic and wood up to 8mm in speed and power. The CNC is 300% faster and twice as powerful.
You might be able to find a large format 3D printer, a quality 10 watt laser, a tabletop CNC machine plus a deluxe enclosure for less than Snapmaker’s asking price of $2,899. When you add in the space that can be saved by combining all three machines as well as the custom software required to run them, it makes sense.
If you don’t need a three-in-one machine, we’ve reviewed several excellent printers that might better suit your needs, like the Ender 3 S1 Pro, our pick for best 3D printer overall. The 5 watt CR Laser Falcon by Creality is also available at $332. If you don’t need a CNC or an enclosure, this could save you a significant amount of money.
MORE: The Best 3D Printers
MORE: Best Resin 3D Printers
MORE: The Best Filaments For 3D Printing