Get ready to dive into the exciting world of the Anycubic Kobra 2—a 3D printer that brings your wildest imaginations to life. The Kobra 2 is not your ordinary printer; it's a speedy gateway to endless possibilities, where artistry meets technology. In this review, we'll embark on an adventure together, exploring the features, performance, and overall awesomeness of the Kobra 2. So, buckle up, grab your favorite beverage, and join me as we uncover the wonders of this handy hobby machine.
Specifications
- Price: $269 (Anycubic), $279 - with $140 instant discount (Amazon)
- Machine Weight: 8.4kg
- Machine Dimensions: 19.1 x 173 x 171 in.
- Printing Volume: 3.2gal./12.1L
- Printing Dimensions: 9.8 x 8.7 x 8.7 in
- Nozzle Temperature: ≤500F/260?
- Nozzle Size: ø 0.4mm (replaceable)
- Hotbed Temperature: ≤230F/110?
- Printing Speed: 9.8in./s or 250mm/s (Max.)
- Zaxis: Double-Threaded Rod
- Control Panel: 4.3" LCD Touch-Control Screen
- Power Button: Power-Loss Recovery
- Data Input: MicroSD Card
Well, I call it a hobby machine, but the Kobra 2 can really be used by anyone from a hobbyist to an advanced printer. In my case, it is definitely a hobby. I absolutely love 3D printing, especially with an FDM printer because there isn’t nearly as much to clean up as there is with resin printers. However, you do have a lot more work in the realm of fine-tuning and tweaking settings.
Anycubic Kobra 2 - Packaging
As with all of the Anycubic printers we’ve reviewed, the Kobra 2 came packaged with all of the basic necessities and then some. Everything was packed tightly with styrofoam, and even though the shipping service always does a doozy on the cardboard box all of the pieces were accounted for and in great condition. Anycubic focuses entirely on the quality of the product so they tend to skip out on any fancy boxes or packaging - which I don’t mind. While fancy packaging and colors might look nice, I find it to be kind of wasteful, and the lack thereof helps keep prices down. In addition to each of the printer parts, the Kobra 2 has a handy little tool kit with allen wrenches, small wrenches, and a tiny screwdriver for intricate pieces. I personally love that Anycubic always includes this little toolkit because the tools are decent quality and it prevents me from having to find and break out my toolbag.
Anycubic Kobra 2 - Assembly
While the cats were having a heated discussion in the hallway, my fiance and I got to work assembling the Kobra 2. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the machine is about the same size as the Kobra and just as light. The print head however, looked strikingly different. More on that later. We installed the main frame with the four screws, the strange-looking printer head, and then the LCD touch screen. Simple enough. Then, we came to one of the parts I was most interested in: the filament runout sensor. The original Kobra printer didn’t have this newfangled piece of technology, so I was definitely excited to see what functionality it added to the Kobra 2. After slotting in the filament holder and attaching any remaining cables, we were chomping at the bit to test this baby out.
Anycubic Kobra 2 - Getting Ready to Print
Anycubic was kind enough to send over a full spool of blue silk filament of their own branding. I haven’t used anything other than matte filament previously, so this was a special treat. With a smooth texture and a shiny appearance, the silk filament slid easily into the holder and extruder. Just like the Kobra with an extra step.
Of course, before printing we had to test out the new LeviQ 2.0 auto leveling feature. The Kobra utilized LeviQ smart leveling previously, so 2.0 was uncharted territory. Here is a description of the feature directly from Anycubic: “Anycubic LeviQ 2.0 auto bed leveling system utilizes an inductive sensor that works by generating a magnetic field and detecting the field's interference. The sensor can detect distance or gaps on metal surfaces without direct contact and automatically compensates for irregularities in the print platform. With the inclusion of a smart z-axis compensation module, the LeviQ 2.0 can adjust the height of the nozzle and achieve an accurate Z-offset automatically, making the leveling process much easier for new users.” Phew, that was a mouthful. Essentially, we were looking for a quick setup and a great first print layer because the new leveling system should be able to detect the distance between the printhead and the bed much more efficiently.
Anycubic Kobra 2 - The First Print
Pop quiz: What file does every hobbyist go to when they want to test the settings on their filament printer? Benchy, of course! Previously, it took about 50 minutes to print Benchy on the Kobra. I’d say that’s pretty decent timing. The build plate volume for the Kobra 2 is 250 x 220 x 220mm, so you could probably fit multiple Benchy’s on there. For this test, we just needed one.
After slicing our little Benchy in Cura and inserting the SD card, we were ready to begin. I found myself kind of wishing we might have another method of transfer by now. It’s getting hard to keep up with all our little micro SD cards! Maybe we can print an SD card holder later. Regardless, what we weren’t expecting was a perfectly buoyant Benchy ready to take on the world in 30 minutes or less - but that’s exactly what we got. In addition to speed, it popped off the flexible, magnetic build plate very nicely due to the golden texture.We kept the Kobra 2 in the front room where we watched a new episode of our favorite TV show in order to test its noise level and keep an eye on any hangups. With the exception of some small bits of modulation bleeps and bloops here and there, we weren’t bothered at all by the sound of the print.
I still can’t get over just how much faster the Kobra 2 handled the Benchy print job. The Kobra is a fantastic printer, but there is a clear difference in machinery between the Kobra 2 and its predecessor. Like I mentioned before, this is a great machine for hobbyists but it could also be a fantastic unit for those interested in selling prints due to its reduced printing time. Every second counts, especially when you may have to account for failed prints.
Anycubic Kobra 2 - The Second Print
Our second print went fantastically right up to the end. We attempted to print a larger terrain piece for tabletop gaming, but about 80% of the way in we encountered the dreaded failed print. While we did use the included printer profile, we found that tweaking the settings juuuust a bit increased our success rate for later prints. Filament printers are such fickle creatures, and while the Anycubic profile settings are a great jumping off point it just needed a little more attention for our area. After those tweaks, everything came out perfectly! I think I can safely speak for both of us when I say that the Kobra 2 exceeded our expectations in almost every way.
Anycubic Kobra 2 - Speedy Prints
What exactly makes the Kobra 2 such a speedy printer? Digging into the technical side of the manual, we discovered that there is indeed a reason for that funny-looking printer head. Inside the new print head is a “dual-gear direct drive extruder.” This extruder is a little more grippy so the filament doesn’t slip around so much which results in better flow control at higher speeds.
The hot end also gets up to 60W which melts the filament faster and aids in a much smoother flow. This is really important when you start printing faster, because if the filament isn’t thick enough or is cooling too quickly, you’ll get strings or a much thinner layer. That can start to lead to failures or artifacting in your print which is a no-no. Time is money, friend, and we don’t want to waste precious filament. Interestingly enough, the Kobra 2 also has upgraded 4W cooling fans that made sure the next layer of filament went down quickly and cooled at just the right speed.
The last new feature we took note of was a considerable upgrade to the core of the track where the print head moves back and forth. The Kobra 2 comes equipped with a “metal double axel core” on both the x and y axis. Sure enough, when we took a closer look at the unit, there were much higher quality bearings and components that had to be taken into account with how quickly and easily the print head was able to maneuver in the midst of a job. Maybe that’s just me nerding out, but I love seeing actual substantial upgrades to machinery in a new unit. Not just eye-catching “gotcha” features, but actual components with higher quality parts you can see.
Pricing & Final Thoughts
One point we always come back to with 3D printers is their pricing. In the past, we’ve typically knocked off a point when a printer might be a little too expensive for the features being offered. However, the Kobra 2 comes out swinging at a whopping $269. In my opinion, that is an incredible price point for both an entry-level and advanced printer with all the bells and whistles included. You really can’t beat that price for everything you’re getting with this unit. Aside from the crazy-fast speed, the Kobra 2 has some great updates with its user-friendly auto leveling system and the filament sensor detector.
Would I suggest the Kobra 2 to my tabletop friends? A thousand times over - yes. It is currently our favorite printer in the Anycubic lineup and will be a huge asset to printing terrain for our D&D games at the local library. Do we need a shiny, silk blue castle piece? Probably not, but, Anycubic does sell a nice, matte gray filament that I’m eyeing for our next set of prints. If you’d like to snag a Kobra 2 for yourself or a loved one interested in 3D printing, you can find it on the official Anycubic website for $269, or on Amazon for $279.
Now to start budgeting for our future adventures.
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