Anycubic 3D Printer manufactures a wide variety of 3D printers, falling into two main categories: Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) filament printers and Stereolithography (SLA) resin printers. Your ideal choice depends on your experience level and project needs.
Anycubic filament (FDM) printers
Filament printers are best for beginners, teachers, and makers who need to create larger, functional objects, such as cosplay props or prototypes. FDM models are generally more budget-friendly than resin printers.
Best for beginners: Kobra 2 Neo
- Ease of use: This entry-level model offers a balance of affordability and performance. Its LeviQ 2.0 auto-leveling system simplifies the setup, and its high-speed printing makes it a strong option for first-time users.
- Speed: It is notably fast for its price point.
- Build volume: Has a standard printing area that suits most beginner needs.
- Noise: Its powerful cooling fan creates a bit of noise, but it provides excellent filament cooling.
- Material support: Can run PETG and TPU at high speeds.
Best for multicolor printing: Kobra 3 V2 Combo
- Multicolor printing: Anycubic’s flagship Kobra 3 V2 Combo features the Ace Pro filament feeder, enabling multi-color printing with up to 4 colors at once. You can expand it to eight colors by adding a second unit.
- Ease of use: This is a good option for beginners despite its advanced features, thanks to its user-friendly interface and simple operation. It features automatic bed leveling and AI error detection.
- Speed: Achieves printing speeds of up to 600mm/s.
- Connectivity: Supports Wi-Fi connectivity for remote monitoring.
- Material drying: The Combo version includes an integrated filament dryer.
- Awards: This printer was named the “Best Multitasker Multicolor 3D Printer” by Tom’s Hardware and “Best for Beginners” by TechRadar.
Large-scale filament printing: Kobra 2 Max
- Large build volume: The Kobra 2 Max has a large build volume of 420 x 420 x 500 mm, making it suitable for printing large projects such as cosplay helmets.
- Speed: While not as fast as the company claims, it still reaches brisk speeds of up to 230 mm/s.
- Drawbacks: Users have reported issues with out-of-the-box performance, including buggy firmware and a potentially uneven bed.
Anycubic resin (SLA) printers
Resin printers, also known as SLA printers, offer higher resolution and smoother surface finishes than FDM printers, making them ideal for small, intricate, and highly detailed models such as jewelry or miniatures.
Best entry-level resin printer: Photon Mono 4
- High resolution: This model delivers exceptional detail at 10K (9024×5120 pixels) on a 7-inch monochrome screen.
- Low cost: It is a cost-effective option for beginners entering the world of resin 3D printing.
- Stable printing: The LighTurbo matrix light source technology delivers stable, uniform lighting to reduce layer lines.
- Small build volume: 153.4 x 87 x 165 mm.
High-speed resin printer for beginners: Photon Mono 4 Ultra
- Fast printing: An excellent option for beginners who prioritize printing speed for their resin models.
- Value: This is another great, small but powerful entry-level resin printer.
Anycubic vs. Other brands
The primary choice for many beginners is between the Anycubic Kobra series and competitors like Creality or Bambu Lab.
- Anycubic: Often praised for being beginner-friendly, and models like the Kobra 3 Combo have won awards for multi-color printing. Their customer support and community resources are considered excellent.
- Creality: Another popular and affordable option, with models like the Ender series being highly customizable.
Bambu Lab: A major competitor, particularly with its A1 series, which is known for its speed and user experience.