Spis treści:
3D printers invariably reach the peaks of popularity, and manufacturers are breaking their backs to meet the expectations of their customers. An additional complication is the pandemic, which has left its mark on us all for another year, and the associated anguish. In spite of this, there has been some action!
One of the manufacturers who are leading the way in the development of 3D printing technology is Snapmaker, known for its high-end products – those for special tasks, for professionals and medium-advanced makers. So let’s take a look at Snapmaker’s 2021 recap.
January
A new year often means new goals, new challenges and… new technologies. Certainly for many people connected with new technologies the CES 2021 was important, as it was held in a virtual form. This made it possible to learn about news from all corners of the world. In this edition of the fair, Snapmaker had its exhibitions there for the fourth time. In addition, maintenance work was also started in the United States and Europe.
February
The shortest month of the year marked the announcement of the funding closure of Series A and the launch of the affiliate programme, which encouraged influencers, bloggers, creative people and forum administrators, among others, to participate. It was also the time of the 5th Edition of the “Snapmaking Contest” dedicated to the theme of upcycling. This is a form of waste reprocessing that results in new products, reducing the amount of rubbish and materials needed for primary production. Modern technology can be eco too.
March
In March, the Snapmaker team got a new warehouse in Australia. In addition, user profile research was conducted to improve the user experience.
April
Spring has not only brought an improvement in the weather in our part of the world, but also new devices designed to improve our work and safety. These are the rotary module and the emergency button.
The first accessory extends the capabilities of the 3-in-1 devices considerably. It enables carving and engraving in oval materials, thanks to which wooden figurines or your own engraving on a glass is no longer a problem. When it comes to stopping the Snapmaker in the event of a malfunction, the second gadget helps by offering the user 3 states signalled by coloured LEDs.
May
In May, Snapmaker participated in the TCT Asia exhibition, where it presented the previously described rotating module. A few days before the exhibition, the Snapmaker Makerathon 2021 competition was also held, a team-based maker challenge that requires each team to complete their theme-related ideas within 24 hours. This month also witnessed the launch of StarMaker.
June
June brought an update for Luban, a free open-source software developed by Snapmaker. There was also the “MOVEIT 3DP CONTEST” competition run together by Snapmaker and Elegoo.
July
This month introduced online sales of Snapmaker products in the US. There was also the official launch of the Air Purifier that allows you to clean the air of PM and VOC pollution, and the 4-in-1 CAN Hub docking station for Snapmaker 2.0.
August
At that time we were given the opportunity to learn about the fourth version of Luban software. Apart from that, the celebrations started, and with that, the campaign to celebrate Snapmaker’s 5th anniversary under the slogan “Make it Happen” was launched. In addition, the FAQ update and troubleshooting guide 2.0 have been launched.
September
The 5th anniversary proved to be a good opportunity to sell Snapmaker products globally. In addition, Snapmaker partner Manchester Metrology showcased Snapmaker at TCT UK.
October
In October, the first Snapmaker virtual event was held using YouTube. At that time, we were able to listen to warm wishes from all over the world on the occasion of Snapmaker’s 5th anniversary, get to know the company’s background, learn about its history, see the products on offer and find out about the manufacturer’s future plans. The first brand video was also published.
New printer models launched – Snapmaker 2.0 F and AT models. A new office and warehouse were opened in the UK. In addition, the seventh internal Makerathon was held and the Snapmaker Care programme was introduced, covering two repairs or replacements up to one year after the end of the standard warranty, accidental damage cover and free shipping of repaired or replacement parts.
November
During this month Snapmaker has grown – the number of employees of the company approached 300. Snapmaker’s partner – iGo3D showed at Formnext the latest models of Snapmaker 2.0 AT and a new version of Luban saw the light of day – this time it was 4.1. Novelties do not end, because a new, 10-watt laser module was also shown to the world. Of course, there were promotions on the occasion of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, where the opportunity chased the opportunity and everyone could find something for themselves.
December
At the end of 2021, a warehouse in Canada was handed over and Snapmaker also made its debut in the German offline shop Urbanbird. In addition, customers showed their satisfaction, as indicated by the customer service satisfaction rate, which rose to 98.9%, according to the manufacturer. Luban’s software user experience survey was also conducted during the period.
The summary
The past year has shown that, at least with Snapmaker, it is possible to adapt and push forward relentlessly despite the constant restrictions. As well as continuing to grow its product pool, the manufacturer has also had some minor and major successes, and we wish this for everyone.
And what can we expect this year? The manufacturer has announced a dual extruder module and new models of its machines for the second half of the year. The Snapmaker Academy is also set to continue and be further developed to provide us with tutorials so that everyone is able to harness the potential of these remarkable devices. Of course, there will also be further improvements to the Luban software and the launch of a Beta version programme to give users an active role in its development. There are also plans to launch an extended warranty programme and further expand the company.
