Shenzen Anet Technology Co., Ltd. is perhaps best known in the bargain-hunting maker community for its Anet A8 3D printer.
Unlike the A8, which is a full blown kit you assemble from scratch, the Anet E12 takes a leaf out of the Creality CR-10 playbook opting instead for a partially assembled 3D printer that requires little elbow grease or prior experience from the user.
Don’t miss: Anet A8 Review: Most Popular 3D Printer in 2018
A large Cartesian-style 3D printer that borrows heavily from the CR-10 — we imagine the fundamental experience of using the two is similar. With the Anet E12 3D printer, you’re looking at large volume desktop 3D printing at a competitive price point.
Please note that this is not a fully blown Anet E12 review, but a deeper look at the specifications of the printer.
Tech Specs
- Print volume 300 x 300 x 400mm
- Single 0.4mm nozzle
- Nozzle temp up to 260 degrees Celsius
- Heated bed up to 100 degree Celsius
- Maximum layer height 0.1mm
- Up to 120mm/s print speed
- Accepts 1.75mm filament
- Micro SD card/USB connectivity
- 110V/220V switch, working voltage 250W
- Integrated Y-axis belt tensioner
- Dual Z-axis lead screws
- Semi-assembled kit
Price and Features
The Anet E12 undercuts the popular CR-10 by approximately $60 depending on where you look. At the time of writing, we found it going for anywhere between USD $319 and $369.
But despite this disparity in pricing the Anet E12 3D printer provides, on paper, largely the same printing capabilities as its CR-10-style stablemates. However, there are key differences that set it apart.
The most prominent thing on the list above, for us, is the adjustable Y-axis belt. We haven’t seen this on an affordable kit printer before and, come to think of it, would be hard pushed to name any higher priced machines that offer it too.
Typically a belt tensioner would be one of the printable modifications you would consider adding to a printer like the Anet E12, but Anet has gone ahead and taken care of it for you.
Not only this, but the Anet E12 features dual stepper motors driving its Z-axis movement. This means two lead screws raising and lowering the printing carriage from both sides in unison. A measure that should lead to greater stability and fewer artifacts along the Z-axis of prints.
Also of particular note on the Anet E12 3D printer but not mentioned above in the specs list is the inclusion of dual rods for the Y-axis carriage to slide along. In other printers, we typically see a single rail which, while adequate, can be prone to instability and be easily knocked off axis — especially so with a heavy and large glass plate for the print bed. The Anet E12’s dual rod arrange spreads the load and should lead to a much sturdier print bed less likely to be knocked and require constant leveling.
In addition, we notice some flavor of Marlin 3D printer firmware running on the Anet E12 control box — which itself sports orange decorative stripes and a mounted spool holder.
Where to Buy the Anet E12 3D printer?
Initial feedback on the stores that sell the E12 hint at some quality control issues, highlighting the power cable in particular. As always, exercise caution and check parts thoroughly should you decide to pick one up.
License: The text of "Anet E12 3D Printer: Review the Specs" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED ‘AS IS’ AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME.