The Bard of CNC Machines Snapmaker Artisan Review and Tips: CNC, 3D Printing, and Laser Use
In the realm of the workshop, there are fighters, rogues, wizards… and then there’s the bard — master of many trades, a little bit of everything, and always ready to perform. The Snapmaker Artisan is that bard in the world of fabrication, wielding the powers of CNC milling, 3D printing, and laser engraving like magical instruments in a traveling minstrel’s kit.
We’ve adventured with this machine through many a crafting campaign, and here is our chronicle — the victories, the misfires, and the tips we’ve gathered on the road.
The CNC Module – Axe of Shaping
The 200 W CNC head is our Artisan’s battleaxe, capable of carving its way through soft aluminum, carbon fiber, and enchanted woods with a max spin of 18,000 RPM.
Blessings (Pros)
Carves soft metals and wood with surprising might for its humble power rating
Pairs well with the scrolls of Fusion 360 for precise job setup
Accuracy is solid for most quests under the “small-to-medium” banner
Curses (Cons)
The kingdom’s own software, Luban, is like a spellbook missing half its pages
We possess two CNC heads — both cursed with a minor “wobble of misalignment” (each unique)
The wobble is a nemesis to fine detail — engraving tiny PCBs is beyond this bard’s skill
Sage’s Tip: Mark each CNC head with its “tolerance rune” so you can adjust your settings and avoid chaotic outcomes.
The 3D Printing Module – Wand of Shaping
The dual-extrusion print head is akin to a wand with two tips — one for each filament color or type. The inactive tip even retreats upward, like a wizard politely stepping out of the way.
The 3D Printing Module – Curses and Misfires
Even the Bard’s Wand of Shaping is not without its hexes. Many adventurers in the Snapmaker realm — ourselves included — have faced these printing perils.
Poor Print Quality & Stringing – The Webs of the Filament Spider
Some prints emerge tangled in the webs of stringing, with “scrap” debris left scattered across the bed like battlefield remnants. Filament can glob on the nozzle, eventually dropping onto the print like an ill-timed fireball.
Extrusion Problems – The Clogged Staff
The flow of molten filament magic can be halted by many foes:
Clogged nozzles or hot ends sealing the magic within
Loose extruder gears slipping in their duty
Entire extruders becoming blocked, cutting off the lifeblood of the print
Bed Adhesion and Warping – The Lifting Curse
Many adventurers have seen their first layers peel away from the bed mid-quest. Warping can twist a print until it’s fit only for the scrap bin, especially with larger builds or certain filaments.
Nozzle Scraping – The Grounding Hex
At times, the nozzle rides too close to the bed, scraping across the surface during printing or leveling — an event as destructive as a dragon tail swipe, marring both the bed and the part.
Remedies
Keep your nozzle and hot end clean to prevent glob buildup
Tighten extruder gears and inspect them for wear
Use proper first-layer settings, bed temperatures, and adhesives for your chosen filament
Regularly calibrate and, if needed, manually fine-tune the Z-offset to avoid scraping
Blessings
Solid dual-extrusion mechanics
A mighty build volume fit for printing dragons
Curses
Bed-leveling goblins haunt this machine — manual 9-point leveling is the only reliable exorcism
Changing modules often summons the “Calibration Hydra,” demanding you battle it anew
Print speeds are more “ballad tempo” than “speed metal” — our H2D printer races through jobs nearly three times faster without issue
Verdict: If your main quest is large-format 3D printing, you may want a dedicated wizard in your party.
The Laser Modules – Eyes of the Dragon
The Artisan can equip several laser “eyes,” each firing beams that cut, scorch, or engrave your chosen materials. This is the flashy bard’s pyrotechnic act — but the magic depends heavily on the right spellbook.
The 40W Laser – The Bard’s Greatsword Problem
When our bard equips the mighty 40W laser module — the “Greatsword of Light” — a new challenge emerges. Its sheer size and the added bulk of the air assist attachment turn it into a hulking battlefield presence. Unfortunately, this makes it harder to place the trusty “clamps of holding” in the usual positions.
Why This Happens
Physical Interference: The 40W laser’s body, especially with air assist, looms larger than its 10W cousin. This bulk blocks clamp placement near the work zone, much like trying to swing a greatsword in a narrow hallway.
Workpiece Restrictions: Even without direct clamp interference, the extra bulk can shrink the available workspace, limiting the size of materials you can work with.
Alternative Battle Tactics (Clamping Methods)
When the Greatsword of Light is unsheathed, you may need to rethink your holdfasts:
Use tape spells (strong double-sided or painter’s tape for lighter materials)
Craft jigs of holding — custom fixtures that grip from the sides or underneath
Summon low-profile clamps or magnetic workholding for thin stock
Lore from the Guild (Snapmaker Resources)
Snapmaker’s own scrolls (Wiki and forums) offer guidance for wielding the 40W laser effectively and alternative clamping strategies. Consult these tomes for machine-specific wisdom and see what solutions other adventurers have devised.
Blessings
Wide range of lasers for different material quests
Excellent results with proper incantations
Curses
Luban’s laser abilities are as weak as a first-level cantrip
The Artisan’s official LightBurn grimoire is incomplete and inaccurate — many adventurers have perished trying to follow it as-is
Sage’s Tip: Invest in LightBurn and seek our guild-approved configuration file to save you from hours of trial by fire.
Maintaining your Instruments
This bard requires care between performances. Sawdust from woodworking, soot from laser work, or the cursed dust of carbon fiber can foul the rails and bearings. Always clean your stage before switching acts.
Final Lore
The Snapmaker Artisan is a bard’s instrument — versatile, charming, and ready for many kinds of performance — but it is no specialist. In the wrong hands, it’s a finicky traveling companion that demands patience and constant tuning.
If your workshop is the size of a hobbit’s pantry and you truly need one hero to fill all roles, the Artisan can serve. But if you have the space, recruiting three specialized party members (a dedicated CNC, a 3D printer, and a laser engraver) may be a more powerful adventuring party.
Some free spells:
Snapmaker Artisan (2w 1064nm) Config
Snapmaker Artisan (40w) Config
Snapmaker Artisan (40w) rotary Config
This Counter spell is important for stopping wild spells These 2 commands cut the laser off and the air assist. If you have to stop a job in lightburn it won’t run the end script neccesarily so this ensure they’re cut off.
Macro:
M5
M9
