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generalize
I think this is a great large format 3D printer. Overall quality is excellent, and its sheer size makes it a very versatile machine.Precise precision, impressive speed, and the concept of self-leveling are not just a
advantage
- Large building platform
- Fast Recommended Speed – 80mm/s
- car leveling
Anycubic’s Kobra Max just launched with Kobra. I reviewed both the Kobra Max and the Kobra, so I’ll be referencing the other machine in each review, respectfully.you can view Cobra review here.
assembly
The Kobra Max is semi-assembled and is considered a great feature to help beginners, but I think anyone at any level of expertise can appreciate the simplicity of the assembly process. I certainly liked the groves on the aluminum strips on the base, which helped to find the frame to mount, especially since this printer weighs about 16kg, it can be a bit difficult to wrangle. I recommend using an extra pair of hands for this step as the 4 screws need to be secured from below.
Other than that, the assembly went smoothly thanks to the detailed user manual provided. The entire 61-page booklet can be found on the microSD card, along with a step-by-step guide to installing and setting up Ultimaker Cura, Anycubic’s preferred slicing software. My favorite part is the included settings configuration file. While not perfect, it provides a good foundation for work.
Build quality and design
In fact, I was impressed by the design details of this printer. It has dual z-axis motors that lift the x-axis carriage onto the frame and are connected by straps on top to spread the load between the two motors. This setup increases speed and accuracy to reduce layer height deviation, displayed with an impressive z-axis positioning accuracy of 0.0025mm. Having this level of precision is critical for 3D printers.
There is a tension adjustment wheel at the end of every 3 main straps; this is a small but useful detail that improves the overall experience.
Due to the huge size of the Kobra Max frame, additional support is required. Without them, the frame acts as a tuning fork, amplifying the vibrations of the printer. Vibration through the machine can cause artifacts and ghosting in prints, a common problem with 3D printers. As I mentioned in Kobra, it is possible to reduce vibration in the Kobra Max by adjusting the acceleration and jerk settings in Cura, however, that’s not what I’m testing here. That’s why the simple design of adjustable additional supports is crucial for the Kobra Max to excel at printing at such impressive heights.
I was impressed that reusable cable ties were included on the Teflon filament tube for connecting the data cable to the extrusion head. There are multiple small details scattered around the printer and user manual, such as the tie, that really reflect the attention to detail and care in the design of this printer.
4.3-inch color touch LCD screen
The Kobra Max has an excellent interface that makes setting up and preparing the machine a breeze; some controls on other 3D printers can be a bit fiddly and annoying. The user interface is intuitive and simple; it’s the same system that comes with Kobra.
car leveling
One of the features that really caught my eye was the auto-leveling. It sounds absolutely fantastic, and it is in most cases. The nozzles of the print head are equipped with strain gage sensors to detect the print surface. When probing, the nozzle moves systematically around the surface, subtly poking into 25 points for automatic bed alignment.
This is fine in theory, but in practice it can actually be a bit problematic. Because the sensor needs to physically touch the print platform, which means the bed has to be completely clean, any imperfections on the surface of those 25 dots will dislodge your printer. As I’m sure you know, the nozzle is also the source of the filament, so unless it’s completely cleaned, you’ll end up with 25 tiny dots equally spaced around the work area after the leveling process is complete.
However, this may all be just an initial issue with the new system. The solution I found was to retract the filament after preheating and before leveling, then clean the nozzle. When the probing is over, you just send the filament back and you’re back to work. I must admit this took me a bit of time to figure out.
Unlike the Kobra which uses an inductive sensor, you (probably) don’t need to adjust the z-axis offset since the nozzle is in direct contact with the print surface. I say maybe because the options and controls are still available, but I found the initial layer height to be correct.
bed adhesion
The Kobra Max has a thick silicon carbide glass print platform (that’s a fancy word for silicon carbide), an excellent material widely used in 3D printers. However, this is not a textured print platform, so an additional bonding method is recommended. An example is in the Cura profile, printing the first layer at 140% line width and 120% flow.
I’m not sure which surface I prefer between the two printers, since the Kobra’s spring steel bed is fantastic, and I don’t think it’s suitable for this machine. The Kobra Max is big and the prints can easily last over a day, if at 23 hours there is a power issue and the spring steel surface pops out of my part of the print, I think I’ll be a little disgruntled.
Self-developed Bowden extruder
I personally prefer to separate the extruder from the printhead for a number of reasons, and the benefits of doing so stand out on this machine. The Anycubic Kobra uses a direct extruder and demonstrates the quality of the system. But removing the extra weight of the printhead allows it to move at a higher speed, which is why the Kobra Max is recommended to print at 80mm/sec. It also really helps with print quality, not having to drag another motor around, and the filament wheel on the other end can’t be underestimated.
The small printhead also allows for a larger build height, and the Kobra Max can print up to 450mm.
Attached to the Kobra Max frame is a filament sensor located before the Bowden extrusion system. I don’t know what it does. The manual doesn’t mention its purpose or working, and I’ve never seen any effect from the sensor. I guess it’s a filament presence sensor that pauses printing when nothing is printing, but unfortunately that’s never really stated.
large build volume
The Kobra Max is huge. It is about 1 meter high and 1 meter wide. It offers an impressive 17.7 x 15.7 x 15.7 inches / 450 x 400 x 400 mm (HWD) print area, truly opening up the possibilities of 3D printing. Size allows for more versatility in printing without having to split the print into multiple parts.
Price and Availability
The Kobra Max is available now from Anycubic for $599, and should be available soon from Amazon US via the link above.
By comparison, the smaller Kobra is $300
in conclusion
Overall, I think it’s a great device, the overall quality is very good, and its sheer size makes it a very versatile machine. Precise accuracy, impressive speed, and just the concept of auto-leveling, is more than anyone can ask for from a 3D printer.
