Anet A8 Printer Profile for Cura 3D

README.md

Setup

1. Install Cura 2.4
2. Copy anet_a8.def.json to ~/Library/Application Support/cura/3.4/definitions
3. Open Cura
4. Expand Custom, then select Anet A8
5. Click Finish

anet_a8.def.json

{
    "id": "anet-a8",
    "version": 2,
    "name": "Anet A8",
    "inherits": "fdmprinter",
    "metadata": {
        "visible": true,
        "author": "Ultimaker",
        "manufacturer": "Custom",
        "category": "Custom",
        "file_formats": "text/x-gcode",
        "has_materials": true,
        "first_start_actions": ["MachineSettingsAction"]
    },
    "overrides": {
        "machine_width": { "default_value": 220 },
        "machine_height": { "default_value": 240 },
        "machine_depth": { "default_value": 220 },
        "machine_heated_bed": { "default_value": true },
        "machine_center_is_zero": { "default_value": false },
        "gantry_height": { "default_value": 0 },
        "machine_nozzle_size": { "default_value": 0.4 },
        "machine_head_with_fans_polygon": { "default_value": [ [0, 0], [0, 0], [0, 0], [0, 0] ] },
        "machine_start_gcode": {
            "default_value": ";Basic settings: Layer height: {layer_height} Walls: {wall_thickness} Fill: {fill_density}\nM190 S{print_bed_temperature}\nM109 S{print_temperature}\nG21 ;metric values\nG90 ;absolute positioning\nM82 ;set extruder to absolute mode\nM107 ;start with the fan off\nG28 X0 Y0 ;move X/Y to min endstops\nG28 Z0 ;move Z to min endstops\nG1 Z15.0 F9000 ;move the platform down 15mm\nG92 E0 ;zero the extruded length\nG1 F200 E3 ;extrude 3mm of feed stock\nG92 E0 ;zero the extruded length again\nG1 F9000;Put printing message on LCD screen\nM117 Printing..."
        },
        "machine_end_gcode": {
            "default_value": "M104 S0 ;extruder heater off\nM140 S0 ;heated bed heater off (if you have it)\nG91 ;relative positioning\nG1 E-1 F300  ;retract the filament a bit before lifting the nozzle, to release some of the pressure\nG1 Z+0.5 E-5 X-20 Y-20 F9000 ;move Z up a bit and retract filament even more\nG28 X0 Y0 ;move X/Y to min endstops, so the head is out of the way\nM84 ;steppers off\nG90 ;absolute positioning"
        },
        "material_bed_temperature": { "default_value": 50 },
        "material_diameter": { "default_value": 1.75 },
        "layer_height": { "default_value": 0.2 },
        "material_print_temperature": { "default_value": 190 },
        "speed_print": { "default_value": 40 }
    }
}

Updated machine settings from: https://www.reddit.com/r/3Dprinting/comments/777slq/cura_for_the_anet_a8/dok82rd/

Start GCODE:

G21        ;metric values
G90        ;absolute positioning
M82        ;set extruder to absolute mode
M107       ;start with the fan off
G28 X0 Y0  ;move X/Y to min endstops
G28 Z0     ;move Z to min endstops
G1 Z15.0 F3600 ;move the platform down 15mm
G92 E0                  ;zero the extruded length
G1 F200 E6              ;extrude 6mm of feed stock
G92 E0                  ;zero the extruded length again
G1 F3600
M117 Printing...

End GCODE:

M104 S0                     ;extruder heater off
M140 S0                     ;heated bed heater off (if you have it)
G91                         ;relative positioning
G1 E-1 F300                 ;retract the filament a bit before lifting
the nozzle, to release some of the pressure
G1 Z+0.5 E-5 X-20 Y-20      ;move Z up a bit and retract
filament even more
G28 X0 Y0                   ;move X/Y to min endstops, so the head
is out of the way
G1 X0 Y+180 F3600              ;move buildplate forward
M84                         ;steppers off
G90                         ;absolute positioning