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Geeetech a20m 3d printer


Geeetech A20M Review - Specs, Features, Pro & Cons

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Martin

Martin has a M.Sc. in physics and has gained many years of experience in industry as a lab manager and quality assurance manager. He has now tested dozens of 3D printers and is happy to share the collected experience with each new article.

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Since its launch in November 2018, the Geeetech A20M* has made many friends around the world. The printer is affordable, offers a large build volume and is equipped with numerous features that you would otherwise only find in much more expensive 3D printers. Find out what you can expect from the Geeetech A20M in our detailed review.

Geeetech A20M*

Check Price at:

Amazon*

Table of Contents:

  • 1 Specifications
  • 2 Unboxing
  • 3 Setup
  • 4 Design, Equipment and Processing
  • 5 Operation
  • 6 Connectivity
  • 7 Software
  • 8 Print Resume
  • 9 Auto-Leveling Optional
  • 10 Gradient Prints
  • 11 Dual Color Printing
  • 12 Noise Level
  • 13 Optional Accessories
  • 14 Related Questions
    • 14.1 Can the Geeetech A20M be operated with a smartphone and app?
    • 14.2 Is the Geeetech A20M available with 2 print heads?
    • 14.3 Is there a cover available for the Geeetech A20M?
  • 15 Our Conclusion about the Geeetech A20M

Specifications

Let’s first take a look at the technical specifications of the Geeetech A20M*. According to the manufacturer, the printer offers the following technical features:

  • Printing technology: FDM
  • Construction volume: 255 x 255 x 255 mm
  • Printing accuracy: 0.1 mm
  • Positioning accuracy X/Y: 0.011 mm
  • Positioning accuracy Z: 0.0025 mm
  • Print speed: 120 mm/s (max.)
  • Filament diameter: 1.75 mm
  • Nozzle diameter: 0.4 mm
  • Heating bed: max. 100 °C
  • Extruder: max. 250 °C
  • Filament: ABS / PLA / Wood Polymer* / PVA* / HIPS* / PETG etc.
  • Operating system: Windows, MAC, Linux
  • Control software: EasyPrint 3D, Repetier-Host, Simplify 3D, Cura, Slic3r, etc.
  • App: EasyPrint 3D App (with optional 3D WLAN module)
  • File format: .stl, gcode
  • Power supply: Input 110V/220V
  • Power supply output DC 24V/15A
  • Connectivity: SD memory card (max. 32 GB), WLAN (optional), USB cable
  • Screen: LCD Display
  • Frame: Aluminum profile
  • Dimensions: 442 x 447 x 480 mm
  • Weight: approx. 8.8 kg

The Geeetech A20M is a very affordable FDM 3D printer with a large build volume and good features. However, it also has a few weaknesses.

Pro:

  • Affordable price
  • Large construction volume
  • High printing accuracy
  • Two-color printing is possible
  • Color gradients can be printed
  • Filament detectors
  • Heatable print bed
  • Compatible with many filaments

Contra:

  • Open construction
  • Automatic leveling only optionally available
  • Plastic extruder gearbox
  • WLAN module only optionally available
High Printing Accuracy (source: geeetech)

Unboxing

The Geeetech A20M is delivered as a mostly pre-assembled printer. The delivery is very well packed in a sturdy cardboard box with styrofoam inserts. The box contains everything you need to assemble the printer – including tools, cable ties and screws. A good assembly manual with numerous pictures is also included.

In detail, the delivery contains the following things:

  • Portal frame (pre-assembled)
  • Printer base with power supply, display and card reader
  • 2 extruders
  • 1 hotend
  • 2 filament detectors
  • 2 filament holders
  • 1 power cord
  • 1 SD card
  • 2 filament samples
  • 1 USB cable
  • 1 mouse pad
  • 1 assembly instruction
  • several cable ties
  • all screws

Setup

Assembling the Geeetech A20M* is really easy. In principle, you can assemble the printer on your own. However, the assembly is easier if you have someone to help you. The printer comes with a detailed illustrated and clear assembly manual. 

Even without much experience in assembling 3D printers, you should not need more than 15 to 30 minutes to assemble the printer ready for use. The setup is assisted by the fact that the motherboard, the display and the power supply are firmly installed in the base of the printer. The cables are clearly pre-assembled and labeled.

Easy Setup (source: geeetech)

The main task is to screw the gantry frame onto the base of the printer and attach the two extruders to the crossbar. For this, you need only 4 screws each. If you are alone, it is best to lay the print base on its side so that you can screw the portal frame in place. To do this, you must insert the screws through the print base from below. 

If you have someone to help you, it is easier to move the printer with one side a few inches beyond the edge of a table so that you can insert the screws from below. Loosely tighten all screws at first to make sure that all screws are gripped. 

You can then tighten the screws alternately from left to right. The two holders for the filament rolls are screwed to the crossbar with two screws each, both lengthwise and crosswise. Then the two filament detectors are mounted and the printer is wired. The final step is to mount the print bed on the heating plate. No more effort is required to set up the Geeetech A20M ready for operation.

During assembly, you should check whether the screws of the already preassembled components are tightened properly. The Geeetech A20M takes a long time to get to you, so screws can come loose. Some buyers report that they had to retighten various screws during assembly so that the printer is really stable. 

A very important point to pay attention to before you switch on the Geeetech A20M for the first time is the position of the voltage switch on the back of the printer. Here you can set whether the printer is powered by 110 volts or 220/230 volts. If the switch is set to the wrong voltage, you run the risk of destroying the printer’s electronics immediately when you turn it on.

Geeetech A20M*

Check Price at:

Amazon*

Design, Equipment and Processing

The Geeetech A20M is a 3D printer whose design has been reduced to a minimum. It basically consists of only a printer base, a gantry frame and three movable axes. It is a printer with the classic gantry structure of the Prusa I3 3D printers and can make optimal use of the build platform.  

The design is open in all directions. The frame of the Geeetech A20M, which is made of extruded aluminum profiles, is very sturdy and torsion-resistant. Overall, the build quality of the printer is high and leaves a solid impression. It is positive that the display, the power supply and the motherboard are located in the stable printer base. This is exactly the area where other inexpensive 3D printers leave the available space unused. 

One shortcoming is the somewhat difficult access to the y-axis under the print bed. It is not uncommon for the axis to require readjustment. If the adjustment is too tight, the bed cannot move freely. If the adjustment is too loose, the bed wobbles during printing.

The heated print bed heats up very quickly. It is equipped with a glass cover. One side provides a protective layer that leaves a small pattern on the models during printing. However, you can turn the glass plate over so that the smooth side is facing up. 

You can process a variety of filaments with a diameter of 1. 75 mm with the printer. The printer is compatible with HIPS, PLA, ABS, PETG, PVA and WOODFIL. The positioning accuracy of the xy-axis is 0.011 mm and for the z-axis 0.0025 mm. The hotend has a diameter of 0.4 mm. 

To prevent finished printed models from being melted again by the hot end, the print head automatically moves away from the model when printing is complete. The finished printed model can cool down completely.

As standard, the Geeetech A20M is equipped with 2 extruders and two filament detectors. Two-color prints or the printing of models with color gradients are thus possible without changing filaments. The two plastic strands are mixed in the hotend or printed one after the other. 

The extruder drives work with a reduction ratio of 1 to 3. Unfortunately, some of the gears are only made of plastic gears. If you print a lot, it is advisable to replace them with metal gears.

Operation

The Geeetech A20M is operated via an LCD display in the beveled front of the printer base. This is not a touchscreen. Menu items are selected with the rotary control placed to the right of the display. The menu navigation is not always intuitive but does not require a long training period. 

A reset button is installed under the rotary control. By pressing this button, you reset the printer to the factory settings. The bright font on a blue background is easy to read on this display. You can also use the display to change settings while printing.

Connectivity

The Geeetech A20M is equipped with a card reader for SD memory cards as standard. You can use memory cards with a maximum capacity of 32 GB for the printer. 

With the help of this card, you transfer the print data to the printer. Stand-alone or offline printing is thus possible without any problems. A USB port is available as a further connection. The printer is compatible with most Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems. 

The connection with your PC or notebook should therefore not cause any problems. A WLAN module is only optionally available.

Software

The Geeetech A20M comes with the latest version of the Marlin firmware installed. This software is open-source and has already been extended for the A20M with the mixer. For slicing and creating your models, you can use almost all known slicing programs. For example, Repetier-Host, Simplify 3D, Cura, Slic3r and others. The printer can read files in .stl and gcode format.

Print Resume

The Geeetech A20M is equipped with a print resume function. Resuming printing after a power failure or filament breakage works flawlessly with the Geeetech A20M. 

Print-Resume (source: geeetech)

However, it can sometimes happen that, depending on the position of the nozzle, a small hump is formed by the residual filament running out of the nozzle. This bump can sometimes be so large that the print head cannot subsequently pass over it. The possible consequence is a layer shift in your model. However, with a very sharp knife or a scalpel, you can easily cut off this bump before you continue printing.  

The printer finds the last print position precisely and continues printing at this point. If a layer shift appears, pull the power plug again, remove the hump and then continue printing. At the end, the spot should no longer be visible or barely visible.

Geeetech A20M*

Check Price at:

Amazon*

Auto-Leveling Optional

The mainboard of the Geeetech A20M is programmed to support auto-leveling. However, to use this feature, you will need to purchase a 3D Touch* sensor separately. Installing the sensor on the print head is quick and easy. 

You then only need to activate the automatic leveling in the software of the printer. After installation and activation of the auto-leveling function, the Geeetech A20M always moves to 9 points of the print bed during leveling.

3D Touch*

Check Price at:

Amazon*

Auto-Leveling (source: geeetech)

Gradient Prints

With the Geeetech A20M, you can easily create gradient prints. For example, from red to orange. The ratio of the two colors of the right and left extruder to each other is controlled. 

For example, you start with a ratio of 100% to 0%. Then you gradually reduce the ratio of the left extruder and increase the ratio of the right extruder. For example, 90 % to 10 %, 80 % to 20 %, 70 % to 30 % and so on. You can change these settings at any time during printing via the display. When printing color gradients, you should only use compatible filaments. However, the two filaments are not actively mixed in the hotend. 

For best results, you’ll usually need to experiment a bit with the temperature settings, the amount of color in each, and the number of layers you print with a setting.

Dual Color Printing

You can produce two-color prints with the Geeetech A20M without changing filaments and without much effort. For example, a red and white striped lighthouse. To make the color change really abrupt, however, you must either print a purge tower, also called a prime tower, or use a purge basket.  

Mixed Color Printing (source: geeetech)

The Purge Tower has the disadvantage that it grows in height at the same rate as your model. This means that the printer prints a layer of your model and then a layer of the Purge Tower.

When changing colors, the printer prints the hotend on this tower empty, so that the next layer on your model has the other color and the color change takes place seamlessly. Because the Prime tower always grows with the model, you consume a lot of filament. 

The second option, the so-called purge basket, is much more economical. With this method, the print head simply moves to the side to change colors, empties the hotend until the other color appears, and then prints the next layers of your model.

Noise Level

As far as the noise level during printing is concerned, the Geeetech A20M is in the midfield. Some inexpensive 3D printers are significantly louder, while others are audibly quieter. The noise level depends on various factors, such as the printing speed and the number of direction changes.  

In general, the noise is not disturbing or annoying. You can place the printer in the office and keep an eye on it while doing other work. However the Geeetech A20M’s printing noise is too loud to place the printer in the bedroom.

Optional Accessories

You can easily expand the functionality of the Geeetech A20M with various accessories. The accessories include the already mentioned 3D sensor for automatic leveling of the printer. 

Also available as an accessory is a Wi-Fi module so you can control the printer with your smartphone or tablet and print files from a cloud. The Wi-Fi module comes with the Easyprint app, which you can download for free.

Related Questions

Can the Geeetech A20M be operated with a smartphone and app?

In principle, yes, but you have to purchase the optional Wi-Fi module and install the free Easyprint app on your smartphone or tablet. Thus, you can integrate the printer into your Wi-Fi network or print files from the cloud.

Is the Geeetech A20M available with 2 print heads?

No, unfortunately not. The Geeetech A20M comes with a print head by bringing the two filaments together and printing them at the same time. This facilitates the printing of color gradients. However, printing 2 models at the same time is not possible.

Is there a cover available for the Geeetech A20M?

No, the manufacturer does not offer a cover. However, it is possible for you to make your own side walls and a door from Plexiglas or a similar material to protect the installation space and your models from temperature fluctuations caused by drafts.

Our Conclusion about the Geeetech A20M

With the Geeetech A20M*, you get an inexpensive but very well-equipped FDM 3D printer with an exceptionally large build envelope for this price range. The print quality is very good with a minimum layer thickness of 0.1 mm. 

However, the printer’s optimal setting is not always easy to find. The ability to produce color gradients and two-color prints without much effort is particularly pleasing. The heated large print bed and the two filament sensors are further plus points of this printer. 

The only real drawbacks are the two extruders that are mainly made of plastic, which you should probably replace with metal extruders early on. All in all, the Geeetech A20M 3D printer offers a very good price-performance ratio and can convince with its qualities.

Geeetech A20M*

Check Price at:

Amazon*

Disclosure: This website is the property of Martin Lütkemeyer and is operated by Martin Lütkemeyer. Martin Lütkemeyer is a member of the Amazon Services LLC and other Affiliate Programs. These are affiliate advertising programs designed to enable websites to earn advertising revenue through advertising and linking to Amazon.com and others. Links marked with * are affiliate links.

Geeetech A20M Review: A Large 3D Printer

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Feature Spec
Build volume 255 x 255 x 255 mm
Filament types PLA, PETG, ABS, HIPS, PVA, Wood Filled
Filament diameter 1.75mm
Nozzle diameter 0.4mm
Construction Aluminum Alloy
Extruder type Bowden
Heated bed Yes
Weight 19.4 lb
Dimensions 17.4" x 17.6" x 18.9"
Price Under $400 on GearBest

Geeetech A20M 3D printer ×1