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Anet A6 vs Anet A8 Comparison [2022]: Which is Better?

Anet A6 vs Anet A8 Comparison [2022]: Which is Better?
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The Anet A6 and the Anet A8 are both DIY kits at an extremely low price.

They are considered one of the best budget 3D printers online and have huge community support for fixes as well as upgrades and modifications. While it might look like Anet is a brand, and they are just two different versions of the printer, that is not always the case.

The Anet A6 and Anet A8 are Chinese no-name printers that greatly vary depending on where you buy them from. Both of them use an acrylic frame and since they are based in an open source design and there are a lot of clones online.

Bottom Line Up Front: I personally prefer the more reliable Anet A6 available here. For a few more dollars you get 2X the memory, a faster hotbed, and a slightly improved motherboard. Well worth it in my opinion. If you enjoy tinkering and need slightly more space, the Anet A8 is a good, dirt cheap option (just be prepared for more DIY fixes).

In the following sections, we will list the features of each 3D printer as well as a comparison between the two, including a comparison of their features, their Pros and Cons. At the very end you will find the final summary and rating of each 3D printer respectively.

Main Differences Between the Anet A6 vs Anet A8

The main differences between the Anet A6 and Anet A8 are:

  • Anet A8 has a vertical mount extruder, whereas the A6 has a parrallel mount extruder
  • Anet A6 has a 16GB microSD card, whereas the A8 only has 8GB
  • The A6 has an improved motherboard comapred to the older A8
  • The A6 has a faster hotbed compared to the A8
  • The Anet A6 is slightly more expensive than the A8
I Personally Prefer the A6
Put simply, for a few more dollars you get 2X the memory, a faster hotbed, and a slightly improved motherboard. Well worth it in my opinion. It's the overall better call in my view!
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Core Features of the Anet A6 3D Printer

  • Print Volume: The Anet A6 features a very standard 8.6″ x 8.6″ x 9.8″ (220 x 220 x 250mm) print volume which is more than enough for most users, both new and experienced.
  • Resolution: While this is a very cheap 3D printer, because of its open source philosophy, any nozzle size can be used, and everything can be further upgraded. As standard, this printer is able to print at a resolution as high as 0.1mm layer height, making for some very detailed prints. This can be achieved using the included 0.4mm nozzle
  • Open source: This is probably its biggest advantage over other 3D printers on the market. Not only is the software open source, the hardware and all the control boards are also open sources, allowing experienced users to take advantage of any modification and upgrades. Being so cheap and so popular has also caused a huge community to emerge, with thousands of people sharing tips and tricks as well as troubleshooting in online forums, ensuring that no matter what problems(if any) you face, someone will be able to help you.
  • Material options: Again, being based on an open source design, and having a heated bed, almost any material can be printed using this printer. This is very important to note, as this is not a standard feature from budget 3D printers.
  • LCD screen: The Anet A6 includes an LCD screen with a rotary knob that allows for very fast changes to the printer settings and parameters. The included screen can also display the current printing stats, as well as allow tweaking of the printer while it is printing.
  • Acrylic parts: Being a DIY kit, a lot of assembling has to be done. All the major parts and interconnects for the structural parts of the printer are based on black, pre-cut acrylic pieces, making for a stronger and slicker looking 3D printer.

Anet A6 Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Even though it’s acrylic, the printer comes with a solid frame;
  • The graphics display has a nice interface and control;
  • Comes with filament roll included;
  • Filament support. The heat bed and nozzle reaches up to 260 Degree, so there is a wide range of filament supported;
  • The package includes the required assembly tools;
  • Offers great print volume;
  • Great online community support;

Cons

  • The wire on the print bed does not handle the current from the ABS printing well;
  • Loose screws. Make sure you check everything twice before you start printing;
  • Manual bed leveling. Nowadays most printers have an auto leveling system, the A6 instead, comes with a manual one. However, you can fix this very easily by adding an auto leveling sensor to the printers motherboard;

Anet A6 Key Specifications

  • Printing Technology: FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling)
  • Nozzle diameter: 0.4mm
  • Nozzle temperature: Room temperature to 260 degree
  • Product forming size: 220 x 220 x 250mm
  • Layer thickness: 0.1-0.4mm
  • Memory card offline print: TF card
  • Print speed: 40 – 120mm/s
  • Filament Types: ABS, HIPS, PLA, PETG, etc.
  • Material diameter: 1.75mm
  • Language: Chinese, English, French, German, Spanish
  • File format: G-code, STL
  • XY-axis positioning accuracy: 0.012mm
  • Z-axis positioning accuracy: 0.004mm
  • Working Power: 150W power supply
  • Firmware: Open Source
  • Software: Cura
  • Packing Type: Unassembled packing

Core Features of the Anet A8 3D Printer

  • Print Volume: The Anet A8[ features a very standard 8.6″ x 8.6″ x 9.4″ (220 x 220 x 240mm) print volume which is more than enough for most users, both new and experienced.
  • Resolution: While this is a very cheap 3D printer, because of its open source philosophy, any nozzle size can be used, and everything can be further upgraded. As standard, this printer is able to print at a resolution as high as 0.1mm layer height, making for some very detailed prints. This can be achieved using the included 0.4mm nozzle
  • Open source: This is probably its biggest advantage over other 3D printers on the market. Not only is the software open source, the hardware and all the control boards are also open source, allowing experienced users to take advantage of any modification and upgrades. Being so cheap and so popular has also caused a huge community to emerge, with thousands of people sharing tips and tricks as well as troubleshooting in online forums, ensuring that no matter what problems(if any) you face, someone will be able to help you.
  • Material options: Again, being based on an open source design, and having a heated bed, almost any material can be printed using this printer. This is very important to note, as this is not a standard feature from a budget 3D printer.
  • LCD screen: The Anet A8 includes an LCD screen with a keypad that allows for changes to the printer settings and parameters. The included screen can also display the current printing stats, as well as allow tweaking of the printer while it is printing.
  • 3D printed parts: Being a DIY kit, a lot of assembling has to be done, but don’t worry, you have all of the instructions on the included SD Card. All the major parts are black, pre-cut acrylic pieces and every interconnects and moving parts are 3D printed, meaning the printer can print replacements for itself.

Anet A8 Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Budget-friendly option yet high-quality option;
  • Excellent for users who are just entering the 3D printing game;
  • If well adjusted, produces amazing prints for its price;
  • Straightforward instructions for assembling;
  • Great online community support;

Cons

  • Comes in parts and it takes a lot of time to assemble, compared to the A6;
  • Has an Acrylic Frame which doesn’t add much to the stability and the print quality;
  • Poor navigation and user experience. The LCD Is controlled by buttons which can be very dull for most users;
  • Manual bed leveling. Easily upgradeable if you buy an automatic bed leveling sensor;
  • The filament stand is incomplete – it’s not easy to insert it into an extruder;

Anet A8 Key Specifications

  • Printing Technology: FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling)
  • Nozzle diameter: 0.4mm
  • Nozzle temperature: Room temperature to 260 degree
  • Product forming size: 220 x 220 x 240mm
  • Layer thickness: 0.1-0.3mm
  • Memory card offline print: TF card
  • Print speed: 40 – 120mm/s
  • Filament Types: ABS, HIPS, PLA, PETG etc.
  • Material diameter: 1.75mm
  • Language: Chinese, English, French, German, Spanish
  • File format: G-code, STL
  • XY-axis positioning accuracy: 0.012mm
  • Z-axis positioning accuracy: 0.004mm
  • Working Power: 150W power supply
  • Firmware: Open Source
  • Software: Cura
  • Packing Type: unassembled packing

Comparison Anet A6 vs Anet A8

  • Hardware: As you can tell, these printers are almost identical when compared spec to spec. And that’s mostly true, as they are both based on the same concept, and they use mostly the same hardware, including stepper motors, mainboards, screens, print heads, heated print bed etc. One of the biggest differences is that on the A8, the extruder is mounted vertically on 2 rails while on the A6 is mounted in parallel to the X-axis. The A6 design is considered a more stable and reliable design.
  • Design: The design of the printers is also very similar but they differ in some small places. One of the biggest advantages of the A6 is that a lot of mounting brackets are actually 3D printed parts, meaning that replacement and upgrade parts can be 3D printed, while the A8 has laser cut acrylic pieces for everything. Other than that, the only other difference would be the total print volume of the A6 which is a little bit bigger on the Z axis.
  • Performance: Since the two printers are almost identical when it comes to their hardware, their performance and quality are almost identical.
  • Community: This is one of the strongest points that sets these Anet 3D printers apart from other DIY printer kit 3D printers. The community regarding the A8 is bigger compared to the A6, giving the A8 big advantage when it comes to troubleshooting, future upgrades, and modifications as well as general tips and tricks. This does not mean that there are no communities for the A6, as it is also a very popular 3D printer. It’s just that the A8 has been out longer and is used daily by more people, hence the larger community.
  • Assembly: Since these printers come in parts and require an assembly, it is important to know that the A6 comes with more parts premade, and offers an easier assembly procedure than the A8. It is also important to note that since these are very low priced printers, the quality of the plastics are often cheap, making for some small incompatibilities from time to time.
  • Price: This is probably one of the strongest points of why these 3D printers are so popular. The Anet A8 costs typically $25 LESS than the A6. These prices vary a lot over time and really depends on where you buy them. The A8 is obviously a better deal at this point, but the A6 might be worth the small difference for the small improvements that it offers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I increase the print quality?

By greasing the threaded rods and clamping to a piece of wood you can significantly increase prints. You can make it even better by updating some features like the E3D style extruder.

Conclusion Anet A6 vs A8

I Personally Prefer the A6
Put simply, for a few more dollars you get 2X the memory, a faster hotbed, and a slightly improved motherboard. Well worth it in my opinion. It's the overall better call in my view!
View Discounts
We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.

Both A6 and A8 printers are capable of producing very high-quality prints and can be a fun way for anyone to get into the DIY world by assembling a kit like these.

There are no other printers on the market as such a low cost that offer so much. These are, of course not meant for the absolute beginner, and are more marketed towards people who have the time and the skill to assemble, troubleshoot and be willing to spend a lot of time on the printer itself before starting to actually print objects.

Bottom Line: I personally prefer the more reliable Anet A6 available here. For a few more dollars you get 2X the memory, a faster hotbed, and a slightly improved motherboard. Well worth it in my opinion. If you enjoy tinkering and need slightly more space, the Anet A8 is a good, dirt cheap option (just be prepared for more DIY fixes).

3D PrinterANET A8 3D Printer | Amazon I Personally Prefer the A6
Print Quality7/108/10
Speed7.5/107.5/10
Build Area8.5/108/10
Precision7/107/10
Value9.5/109.5/10

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