[paulirwin]

It seems like everyone is dog-piling on Anker over this, so I'd like to put forward a bit more positive of a take.

I have a M5 that I got through the original Kickstarter campaign. I love this printer. I use it casually, but I rarely have a failed print that I can't attribute to i.e. poorly chosen supports. Almost all of the parts on it are still original and working well, apart from the hot end that I've had to replace a few times due to accidentally breaking the screws when changing nozzles. (It was a poor design of the original hot end where the very thin, long screws did not have the shear strength in aluminum to not break when accidentally torquing the nozzle head. This was fixed with the all-metal hot end, which is not ideal for all filaments.)

Despite my issue with the hot end (which I believe could easily be fixed with an updated design), and the nearly useless "AI" feature, I feel like this printer was a great value at the time. It's very well built, looks great, and very reliable. I really enjoy every opportunity I have to use it and do not regret my purchase decision at all.

I'm saddened that they seem to be pulling out of the market, even though it makes sense compared to the competition. It really seemed like they had a promising start. If this is truly the end, then RIP with positive sentiments from me.

[geerlingguy]

> The hot end that I've had to replace a few times due to accidentally breaking the screws when changing nozzles. (It was a poor design of the original hot end...)

That bit was highlighted in the article, though, as one of the more annoying aspects of Anker pulling out of the market. It's likely if your hot end fails again, you'll suddenly have 10 lbs of useless 3D printer to deal with. Most people will just toss them in a landfill.

There was a time I thought 3D printers would break free from the 'every part is proprietary' industry of 2D printers, where you have cheap disposable hardware and people are incentivized to buy new printers frequently to replace dodgy old equipment.

But outside of the passionate Voron community and a few companies who still have at least some of the community/repairability-first ethos, it seems the wider industry is moving towards proprietary hardware, even to the point of blocking out (or at least making difficult) 3rd party accessories, mods, and community software.

[guiambros]

+100 this. I understand them exiting the market, but it's a tragedy we won't have access to spare parts. I wish they had at least produced a ton of hot ends in advance, so owners could have a reliable supply for a few more years.

I'm a happy M5 user, but now counting the days until it becomes paperweight.

[paulirwin]

Yeah, agreed. Anker, if you're reading this - please open source the printer hardware/parts and software if you're truly pulling out of the market!