The Kobra 2 3D is an update to the collection from Anycubic. Today, we will discuss this 3D printer in our Anycubic Kobra 2 3D Printer Review.
Like its predecessor, the Kobra 2 offers an affordable product without compromising its high-quality and fast performance. It readily offers top-notch performance, but the company optimised its tool head, electronics, and other mechanical aspects. All these help enhance speed, print quality, and reliability.
Continue reading our Anycubic Kobra 2 3D Printer Review to get more information about the product. Learn more about its functions, design, specs, features, and how well it performs.
Anycubic Kobra 2 3D Printer Packaging
The printer shipped in a very basic-looking cardboard box with nothing appealing. Instead of focusing on its exterior, here is the list of items and accessories inside the box. These are everything you need to assemble the 3D printer.
- Frame
- Basep
- Filament Holder
- LCD touch-screen
- Print Head
- Card Reader
- Filament Detector
- TF Card
- Nozzle
- Testing Filament
- Power Cable
- Filament Tube
- Tool Set
- Cable Fixing Clip
- Assembly screws (4x M5*45 screws, 1x M5*14 screw, and 4x M3*6 screws)
- Four washers
- User Manual
Anycubic Kobra 2 3D Printer Review – Design and Functionality
While writing our Anycubic Kobra 2 3D Printer Review, we realised the original Kobra borrowed the look of industrial printers. But this new printer sports a simple exterior with a bold-coloured and chunky body along its extruder.
Its build plate consists of PEI or polyetherimide that is spring-steel textured, making it scratch and wear-resistant. You can achieve quality adhesion with speedy heating since your prints will adhere to the printer base.
Removing your prints is easy because you only need to bend the plates to acquire them. These are also easy and convenient to maintain since you do not need extra adhesives like glue.
Two semi-hollow beams are vertically-positioned. These link to the sides of the Kobra 2 while keeping the crossbar in position. Aside from this, another beam, though horizontally, manages its extruder.
The filament holder spreads towards the sides of the printer. It allows feeding from the sides instead of on top.
The base of the Kobra 2 houses a power supply and carriage, allowing the platform to move in/out. We can compare it to other similar printers that are out on the market.
Anycubic Kobra 2 3D Printer 4.3-Inch LCD Touch-screen
The printer features a 4.3-inch LCD touch-screen integrated into its base. We love that it is responsive, user-friendly, and easy to assemble.
The screen is also vibrant and user-friendly, allowing you to control all its actions. You can set the Z-offset and change the temperature, language, and others from the screen.
LeviQ 2.0 Automatic Bed Levelling
The Kobra 2 utilises the innovative LeviQ 2.0 from Anycubic. It is an automatic bed-levelling technology that uses an inductive sensor, also called the brain of its operation. It is set next to the extruder for determining the distance/gaps between the extruder/bed without direct contact with each.
It maps out 25 points to offset the unevenness of the bed with high accuracy via a 5×5 grid on the bed.
Additionally, the printer features an intelligent Z-axis compensation module, allowing the printer to adjust the height of the nozzle. Plus, the Kobra 2 fine-tunes the Z-offset automatically with boosted precision.
The feature makes the entire levelling process quicker and more convenient, especially for new users.
Moreover, the LeviQ makes bed levelling more seamless and quicker than the older version, which has knobs for adjustments.
Double Metal Spindle and SG15 Bearing
The X and Y axes have the SG15 bearing or metal double axel core. It helps reduce friction between the axis belts and the extruder assembly. Unlike the conventional D-shaped wheel design, it is smoother, faster, and more wear-resistant.
Dual Cooling Fans
The Kobra 2 incorporates a unique cooling mechanism combining a dual-fan system and the extruder assembly. One fan is beneath the extruder, while the other is on its side. Their primary role is to cool down the extruded filament.
The purpose of these fans is to expedite the solidification process of the deposited filament layer. Doing so enables the extruder to transition to the subsequent layer. As a result, these fans would allow the printer to keep remarkable printing speeds achieved by the device.
The printer comes with cooling fans that have cooling wind ducts. These optimise their efficiency, allowing the prints to cool faster than usual.
Additionally, the fans Anycubic integrated are low-power consumption devices, so keeping them on will not crank up your electricity bill. However, it is worth noting that these fans can reach over 7000 revolutions per minute, which is extremely fast.
Our Anycubic Kobra 2 3D Printer Review will now share the product features that make the printer worth purchasing.
Key Features of the Anycubic Kobra 2 3D Printer
Ultra-High Speeds of the Anycubic Kobra 2 3D Printer – 5x Faster
The higher printing speed is one of the unique features of the Kobra 2. Compared with the standard 50mm/s printing rate, it can work as fast as 250mm/s.
Its recommended speed is 150mm/s and can reach 2,500mm/s when accelerated. Kobra 2 is the first FDM printer from Anycubic to have this feature.
Convenient Modular Assembly
Enjoy the hassle-free set-up process of the Kobra 2 with its semi-assembled design. Anycubic provides easy-to-follow instructions to make things quick in 10 to 15 minutes.
4.3-inch Coloured LCD Touch-screen
The Kobra 2 features a 4.3-inch sensitive and full-coloured LCD touch-screen, making your printing experience more enjoyable. It has comprehensive settings and functions, which we will discuss later in our Anycubic Kobra 2 3D Printer Review.
Magnetic Spring Steel Build Plate
This 3D printer has a scratch and wear-resistant build plate sheet, making print removal easier when you finish your work. It has a blend for the printed model to come off effortlessly.
Rapid Cooling System with Part Cooling Blower
The part-cooling blower works as fast as 7,000rpm to maintain the pace of increased printing speeds. It ensures the proper cooling of each layer to prevent warping, sagging, and overheating. With the part-cooling blower, you can enjoy high-quality and detailed prints.
Innovative Filament Run-out Sensor of the Anycubic Kobra 2 3D Printer
Thanks to the intelligent sensor, accidental power loss or filament run-out are no longer things you must worry about. It can detect issues automatically and pause printing, then resume once resolved.
Next in our Anycubic Kobra 2 3D Printer Review is the list of specifications. Learning these will help you determine what you need, like types of material, workspace, etc.
Specifications
- Printer Weight and Dimensions: 8.4kg | 486 x 440 x 435mm (HxWxD)
- Printing Volume: 12.1L
- Printing Dimensions: 250 x 220 x 220mm (HxWxD)
- Nozzle Temperature: ≤260℃
- Nozzle Size
– ø 0.4mm (replaceable)
– Hotbed Temperature
– ≤110℃ - Printing Speed
– 250mm per second (Max.)
– 150mm per second (Typ)
- Z-axis: Double-Threaded Rod
- Control Panel: 4.3-inch LCD Touch-Control Screen
- Printing Material: TPU/PLA/ABS/PETG
Hands-on with the Anycubic Kobra 2 3D Printer
Our Anycubic Kobra 2 3D Printer Review will discuss everything you need to know about using the product. We will focus on the machine assembly and the touch-screen interface before proceeding to its performance and print quality.
Quick Assembly
One of the best things about the Kobra 2 is its pre-assembled parts, which make assembly quick and convenient. With most components held together beforehand, we did not have to go through a challenging set-up process.
The Kobra 2 has two primary parts: the base and the gantry. The latter requires a few screws when attaching to its base with an Allen key.
First, you will need to attach the upright assembly with four screws. The next step is connecting the extruder hot end to the X gantry backplate with another set of screws. After these, you can attach the touch-screen bracket with the LCD screen and ensure proper connection for all cables.
You can work on securing the filament run-out sensor with the attached LCD.
The remaining steps involve attaching the filament spool holder to the side of the Kobra 2. You will also need to connect the cables to the correct plugs. Anycubic provided labels for these to make things easier for everyone.
Cable management is the last step once you finish assembling the parts. With the cable clips provided by Anycubic, you can secure the hot-end cable to the Bowden tube. Doing this will keep the cords organised and out of the way when printing.
Assembling the parts of the Kobra is quick and straightforward, so it will not take longer than 15 minutes. Even beginners who have not put together a 3D printer will find it easy to set this up.
Once finished, we powered up the printer and readied our first test print.
Touch-screen Interface
The touch-screen interface of Anycubic has four settings. First is Print, then next is Prepare, where you can preheat the bed, adjust the filament, and perform bed levelling. The tools section lets you change the temperature and speed or switch the motor on/off.
Finally, the System option is where you can change the language. However, you only have two options: English and Chinese.
Anycubic also has a new feature that allows calibration of the precise location of the nozzle. You will need to use the newly introduced calibration pad, which attaches to the rear of the print bed. It guarantees accurate nozzle placement to achieve the best printing performance.
Performance and Print Quality of the Anycubic Kobra 2 3D Printer
Once assembled and levelled, the printing should be seamless. Anycubic provides a small starter coil of filament, which is enough for one to two prints. However, we recommend getting a spool of PLA filament immediately.
The most notable feature of the Kobra 2 is the fast performance of its extruder since it ejects the material. During our tests, it was fast, printing at 150mm/s by default. We did not measure its speed while using the product but were impressed with its quick print process.
The print quality of the Kobra 2 was excellent. Its dual-gear direct drive extruder was compatible with different filament types. Plus, its 60W hot end allowed consistent extrusion and melting. As a result, we got highly detailed prints with adequate adhesion and minimal stringing.
Note that adjusting some settings, like its retraction, may be necessary, and this will depend on the environment. Failing to tweak this may cause some issues, like filament sagging. We also fine-tuned some settings on our 3D printer to ensure we can produce prints without problems.
We noticed more stringing than other material types when printing with the provided PLA profile. However, these were not too distinct, and we were still happy with the results.
During operation, we noticed the low noise levels of Kobra 2. Its loudest nose reached 43dB, like the humming sound of a refrigerator, making it suitable for homes and shared workspaces. However, remember that proper ventilation is essential since 3D printing generates fumes.
Its part-cooling blower worked efficiently and ensured adequate cooling for each layer. As a result, the printer improved the adhesion and minimised sagging that can occur at high print speeds.
The Kobra 2 combines easy assembly, high-quality printing, ultra-fast speeds, and reliability. In addition, the low-noise operation and user-friendly interface make the product easy to recommend. Calibration and fine-tuning may be necessary during set-up, but its features and performance make this 3D printer an excellent investment.
Anycubic Kobra 2 3D Printer Review Summary
The Kobra 2 from Anycubic is a versatile and fast 3D printer that offers excellent value for money. It suits anyone who needs a budget-friendly 3D printer that performs well. Its impressive features and user-friendliness will appeal to both beginners and experienced individuals.
Although the Kobra 2 does not have the best aesthetics, it has an excellent build. Its durable frame, 60W hot end, and dual-gear direct drive extruder allow it to handle different materials. As a result, you can conveniently create prints for crafting, modelling, and gaming.
The best things about this product are its high-speed printing, LeviQ 2.0 levelling system and filament run-out sensor. Plus, we enjoyed these highly appealing features during our tests for this Anycubic Kobra 2 3D Printer Review. Most importantly, it performs excellently and does not compromise quality, even with its high speeds.
We highly recommend this product since it is a solid, reliable, and budget-friendly choice. Learn more about the Kobra 2 3D printer by visiting the official product page of Anycubic.
