The allure of 3D printing is undeniable, but the journey can quickly become frustrating if you spend more time troubleshooting printer issues than bringing your digital creations to life. As someone who has been fascinated by 3D printing since 2015, I’ve often found myself in this predicament. That’s why the Anycubic Kobra, marketed as a user-friendly starter printer and a more compact sibling to the Kobra Max, immediately piqued my interest. I wanted to see just how far affordable 3D printer technology had advanced in recent years, and if the Kobra could truly deliver a hassle-free experience.
And indeed, many of the common pitfalls I encountered with older 3D printers seem to have vanished with the Anycubic Kobra.
Effortless Assembly and Quick Setup
Assembling the Anycubic Kobra is remarkably straightforward. Unless they were to ship it fully assembled, it’s hard to imagine a simpler setup process. The included step-by-step instructions are clear and concise, guiding you through the process in under 20 minutes. This leaves you ample time to power on the machine and follow the intuitive prompts on the touch screen display.
Ideally, after assembly, all that’s needed is a quick, one-time bed leveling, a heat test, and filament insertion before attempting the pre-loaded test print. However, my initial experience deviated slightly from this seamless theory. My first two attempts at the test print failed without any obvious reason.
Auto-Leveling and Bed Calibration: A Minor Hiccup Resolved
After some online investigation, I pinpointed the issue: the initial configuration instructions provided by Anycubic for bed leveling were slightly misleading. They instruct users to lower the print head until it meets a sheet of paper with slight resistance. However, the intended paper thickness wasn’t specified, and using standard printer paper resulted in the print head being positioned too high, causing print failures. A minor adjustment to lower the print head to the correct height immediately resolved the problem, and the test print – a small plastic owl, Anycubic’s signature test model – printed flawlessly.
Software and User Experience: Bridging the Beginner Gap
With the initial setup hurdle cleared, it was time to delve into the software side. The Anycubic Kobra includes Cura slicing software on the provided microSD card, along with a USB reader for easy file transfer from a laptop to the printer without direct connection. While convenient, the included Cura version lacked pre-configured settings for the Kobra printer. I had to manually configure the settings, following separate instructions. Later in my review process, Anycubic provided a configuration file for Prusa Slicer, which also worked seamlessly for preparing print files. Regardless of the slicing software you choose, transferring files is simple: insert the microSD card into the printer’s front slot, select the desired file on the touch screen, and printing commences.
My initial frustration with the software and the somewhat lacking beginner support is counterbalanced by the Kobra’s exceptional performance once operational. After resolving the initial software setup, the experience became significantly smoother, especially with direct support from Anycubic. However, for a printer marketed towards beginners, a more refined out-of-the-box software experience is crucial. While Anycubic isn’t alone in this aspect – many 3D printer manufacturers assume a level of user familiarity – streamlining the software setup would significantly enhance the appeal for newcomers to 3D printing and foster broader adoption.
Consistent Print Quality and Reliable Performance
Once the software is correctly configured, the Anycubic Kobra truly shines in print consistency and quality. Over a week of rigorous testing, accumulating over 100 hours of active printing, the Kobra has proven remarkably reliable. I can confidently initiate a print and trust that I will return to a well-executed, finished product several hours later.
Throughout my extensive testing, the only minor issue encountered was related to print output temperature. The cooling fan at the extruder, while functional, appears slightly underpowered. This can lead to insufficient cooling of the extruded filament, particularly affecting thin or narrow sections of prints. In such cases, the lack of rapid cooling can cause slight inconsistencies at the edges. However, this is a minor limitation that can often be mitigated by making small adjustments to the default extruder output temperature settings within the slicing software. For most prints, and especially for beginners, this is unlikely to be a significant concern. However, those aiming to print highly delicate or ultra-thin models might need to experiment with temperature adjustments.
Removable and Flexible Build Plate: A Game Changer
One of the standout features of the Anycubic Kobra is its removable, flexible build plate. Once a print is complete and the heated bed has cooled down, the spring steel surface of the build plate can be easily detached. A gentle bend of the flexible plate is all it takes to effortlessly release the printed object. Having spent considerable time with older generation 3D printers wrestling with glues and adhesion sprays, this flexible build plate is a revelation. Its ease of use and cleanability are incredibly convenient and significantly improve the overall 3D printing experience.
Final Verdict: The Best Starter 3D Printer in its Class
Priced around $300, the Anycubic Kobra stands out as the best entry-level 3D printer I have used in a long time. It convincingly outperforms budget $200 printers in both print quality and speed, particularly in tasks like heating up to the desired temperatures quickly. If Anycubic invests further in enhancing the user experience on the software side, providing more comprehensive support and beginner-friendly configurations, the Kobra has the potential to introduce a vast new audience to the fascinating world of 3D printing. For anyone looking to take their first step into 3D printing, the Anycubic Kobra is an excellent and highly recommended choice.
