MakerGear M2

Steel-solid, big volume, prints great — with tweaking, the M2 could be best-in-class.

Torture test print. Click to view large.

MAKERGEAR’S M2 IS THE LONG AWAITED FOLLOWUP to their Mosaic 3D printer, and while there is a family resemblance, there’s been a radical upgrade. Forget plywood — this printer’s frame is stainless steel, and the rest of the structural elements are stainless and anod- ized aluminum. The print volume has also been greatly expanded to 8″×10″×8″ — one of the biggest in its price range.

To read the full review, buy the Make: Ultimate Guide to 3D Printing.

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3D Printers Buyer's Guide — 15 Reviewed
Getting Started in 3D
Learn the Software Toolchain
3D Design for Beginners
3D Printing without a Printer

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We want to hear from you! Share your experiences with this machine, what you like, what you don't like, where you think our test team got it wrong. We hope you’ll join in the discussion. We’d also love to see the things that you design and print out.

Primo Features Metal construction, heated platform, polished frame, RAMBo mother-board, Teflon leadscrew
Print volume 8″×10″×8″
Print speed 150mm/sec
Print material ABS, PLA
Resolution (z-axis) 0.02mm (0.02mm possible)
Machine software Printrun
Slicing software Slic3r
OS supported Windows, Mac, Linux
Open Source Yes
Price as tested $1,299 kit, $1,499 assembled
Pedigree RepRap Mendel/Pruse
Print without PC? Yes, SD card

5 Responses to MakerGear M2

Gregg Bone on January 14th, 2013 at 9:23 pm said:

When I go to the company web site, the pricing I see there is not the same as in your article??? I see $1450/$1750 for kit/assembled

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Keith Hearn on January 16th, 2013 at 8:23 am said:

Something is wrong with the guides ratings for accuracy. The Ultimaker scored a 5/5 and is noted as the most accurate printer. There was a three way tie for runner up, Type A Series 1 scored 4/5, Bukobot 8 scored 4/5, and Replicator 2 scored 4/5. If you look at the accuracy score for Makergear M2, it scored a 5/5!!!! Something is in error in your guide. Page 55 top of the right column for Makergear M2 accuracy.

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ByteMuse on February 3rd, 2013 at 4:48 pm said:

If anyone wants more info on this printer – I wrote a review of this printer with analysis of some other printers and general 3D printing info:

http://bytemuse.com/post/3-days-with-a-3d-printer/

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Sandro Alberti on February 9th, 2013 at 1:41 pm said:

Nice review, ByteMuse. Thanks. Your images and some comments leave me thinking, though: this printer does not seem to be as high resolution as the Replicator 2 (which is listed at 0.1 mm versus the M2 at 0.2 mm); seems one needs 0.1mm or higher res in order to consider 3d products good enough for… selling? And also, then, why did the Make guide give the replicator a 4/5 accuracy score, vs 5/5 for the M2?

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- Sandro Alberti on February 10th, 2013 at 11:06 am said:
  
  Hmmm The Make guide shows resolution for the M2 going up to 0.02 mm! (that would be the most precise among the machines they reviewed; how does one get to that setting?)
  
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