Anycubic Kobra 3 Combo Review 2024
3D printers have been around for decades but they’ve gained popularity for the general public in more recent years. Like any tech, time has only improved its capabilities, which has made it more accessible to everyday people wanting to delve into the world of 3D printing. Today we’ll cover one of the more popular models, the Anycubic Kobra 3 Combo. We’ll discuss features, specs, pros and cons, and help you decide if it’s worth your hard-earned money.
Overview of Anycubic Kobra 3 Combo 3D printer
Anycubic has been around since 2015, and they tout themselves as bringing elite 3D printing to the public at an affordable price. They seem to have succeeded, offering prices and products that are attainable for most budgets. The Kobra 3 Combo printer is particularly well-loved by users. However, as with anything, there are pros and cons to be aware of. Let’s delve into all the stats to know.
Pros & Cons
The pros outweigh the cons here, but it’s always nice to know what gotchas to be aware of. One of the biggest complaints is how much space it can take up, so plan accordingly to make sure it fits your work area. The Kobra 3 printer itself is one thing, but when using the color capabilities, you need to also have the Ace Pro to go with it. The two together can be a bit of a desk hog.
Pros:
- Affordable without losing quality
- Prints very fast
- Capable of printing 4 colors (soon to be 8 by the end of the year)
- Top-tier customer service
- Can print via wifi
- High value for the money
Cons:
- To take advantage of the multicolor printing, you need the Ace Pro, which can take up extra desk space
- Printing for multifilament projects is slower
- Can be loud when running
Features
- Dries while printing
- Co-created with the Pantone Color Institute for vibrant colors
- Built-in Accelerometer G-Sensor that adjusts motion control in accordance with vibration frequencies, which results in top-tier prints
- Can print 4 colors (via the Ace Pro), by the end of the year it should do up to 8 with their new product
- Print speeds 12 times faster than standard 3D printers
- Nozzle clog detection prevents/reduces filament tangling
- Automatic filament refill
- Auto-leveling
- Precise extrusion algorithm
- Dual PTC heating means filaments stay dry constantly
- Tilting touchscreen adjustable to your preferences
- Core of the system is protected by sealing, so you can clean it without hassle and keep it protected from filament residue
- Nozzle can be quickly swapped
- Auto resume means when interruptions happen (like power disruptions), it picks up printing where it left off without affecting your final print
Specs
- Printing speed is 600mm/s max, though 300mm/s is recommended
- Build volume of 250 x 250 x 260mm
- Has a motherboard fan, hot-end fans, and model cooling fans
- ≤300℃ nozzle
- Steel extruder
- Hotbed temperature of ≤110℃
- Touch screen that’s 4.3 inches
- AnycubicSlicer/Cura
- Can connect via USB, AC Cloud, or Wi-Fi
- 400 W power supply
- Dimensions: 452.9 x 504.7 x 483mm (WDH) for the Kobra 3. The Ace Pro is 365.94 x 282.84 x 234.5mm (WDH)
- Printing volume of 4.29 gal
Design
There’s lots to love about the design of the Kobra 3 Combo. Made with a metal frame, it’s sturdy and stylish, with a printing volume that’s 34% more than previous 3D printers. The filament storage keeps it protected while allowing easy access to the filaments as they are automatically fed through the printer, staying dry the whole time. The touchscreen is also tiltable for customizable comfort.
Average time to assemble out of the box is 10-30 minutes, depending on how tech prone you are. It can seem intimidating, but it’s fairly simple to execute. They also have video instructions if you’re partial to visual learning. Besides all this, there’s a variety of materials that are compatible with the Kobra 3, such as TPU, PLA, ABS, etc. The filament run-out sensor is particularly handy, as is the ability to pick up printing after interruptions.
Performance
Prints from Kobra 3 Combo.
Performance is great on the Kobra 3 Combo, but it can take a bit of trial and error to get operations smooth. For instance, you might run into filament jams, tangles, blockages, or slicer software issues, though they are in the midst of updating their slicer software into something more user-friendly. That said, usually, it’s ready to roll right after assembly and is widely lauded for its quality. Other performance strengths:
- Automatically change filament color without having to do it manually
- Remote printing
- Drying container protects filaments
- Multifilament printing capabilities without manual involvement
- Seamlessly finish prints after being interrupted halfway through
The nice thing is, if you do run into performance problems or faulty parts, Kobra will make it right. It may take a bit to get through to their customer service, but once you do they are great about sending replacements or honoring warranties. Also, many other minor problems are usually able to be fixed on your own with some simple adjustments to things such as filament lengths or nozzle configurations.
Should you buy the Anycubic Kobra 3 Combo?
If you’re looking for high quality 3D printing at an affordable price, the Kobra 3 Combo fits beautifully. It has some of the highest user reviews of any 3D printer, along with advanced features and tools that you’d normally have to pay hundreds extra for with other brands. Add to that their strong warranties and willingness to send replacement parts on the rare occasion something does go wrong, it’s a low risk investment for a printer that produces high quality prints, fast. Just make sure you have the space for it.
3D printers have been around for decades but they’ve gained popularity for the general public in more recent years. Like any tech, time has only improved its capabilities, which has made it more accessible to everyday people wanting to delve into the world of 3D printing. Today we’ll cover one of the more popular models, the Anycubic Kobra 3 Combo. We’ll discuss features, specs, pros, cons, and help you decide if it’s worth your hard-earned money.