The Anycubic Kobra 2: The Best and Fastest Sub-$300 3D Printer You Need to Know About

best 3d printer under 300
Image: David Gewirtz/ZDNET

Are you looking for a 3D printer that excels in speed, affordability, and print quality? Look no further than the Anycubic Kobra 2. This remarkable printer is a game-changer, delivering astonishingly fast printing speeds, affordability that won’t break the bank, and impressively clean prints. If you’re seeking the ultimate combination of speed, cost-effectiveness, and print precision, the Anycubic Kobra 2 is the ideal choice for you.

Fast, Cheap, and Good: The Kobra 2 Offers It All

A commonly-accepted marketing adage states that you can only have two out of three factors when it comes to products: fast, cheap, or good. However, the Anycubic Kobra 2 defies this notion by offering all three. This FDM (fused deposition modeling) 3D printer is not only incredibly fast but also reasonably priced compared to other printers in its class. Moreover, it consistently produces clean and high-quality prints that will exceed your expectations.

The printer operates by using melted extruded filament to build objects layer by layer. This method, known as FDM, allows for the creation of larger and more robust parts. In contrast, resin printers, also known as SLA printers, use a liquid resin hardened by light exposure to create highly detailed and smaller parts.

Unveiling the Secrets Behind the Kobra 2’s Speed

One of the key secrets behind the Anycubic Kobra 2’s impressive speed lies in its direct-drive extruder. This design allows the printer to have better control over filament movement compared to printers that rely on a gearing mechanism located at a distance from the extruder. While having the gearing mechanism away from the extruder makes the gantry lighter, the Kobra 2 utilizes robust metal wheels to support its entire extruder mechanism, ensuring durability even after prolonged use.

Additionally, the printer features dual lead screws that move the gantry evenly. Interestingly, these lead screws are synchronized by a rubber belt, which effectively coordinates their movement. Despite this unconventional arrangement, it functions seamlessly, contributing to the printer’s exceptional speed.

Speed and Quality Tested: The Kobra 2 Shines

Now let’s talk about the results. Just take a look at this stunning dice castle printed using the Anycubic Kobra 2, which only took 4 hours and 30 minutes. In comparison, the same print took 7 hours and 26 minutes on Anycubic’s Vyper printer, 6 hours and 52 minutes on the Creality Sermoon D1, and 7 hours and 43 minutes on the $6,000 Ultimaker S5. All four prints were executed with 10% infill, an 0.2mm layer height, and a 0.4mm nozzle, providing a fair comparison.

Without any specific modifications, the Kobra 2 was approximately 30-45% faster than its competitors. Anycubic claims a potential 5X speed improvement, which could be achievable with extensive fine-tuning and in comparison to a poorly configured printer. Even without those adjustments, the Kobra 2’s out-of-the-box speed increase of 30-45% is remarkable and offers substantial time savings.

Beyond Speed: The Kobra 2’s Impressive Features

While speed is undoubtedly the Kobra 2’s standout feature, it offers much more. With a build area measuring 250 x 220 x 220mm, it may be slightly smaller than Anycubic’s Vyper printer. Nonetheless, the Kobra 2’s price of $269 via Anycubic’s site (or $279 on Amazon) makes it an immensely affordable option. Additionally, this budget-friendly printer boasts various impressive capabilities, including automatic bed leveling, a removable print surface, filament runout sensors, power-fail resume, and an easy-to-use LCD touch panel for seamless control.

The Verdict: An Exceptional Printer at an Unbeatable Price

In conclusion, the Anycubic Kobra 2 is an outstanding 3D printer that offers unrivaled speed, affordability, and print quality, all while staying under the $300 mark. Its impressive capabilities, coupled with its remarkable speed and cost-effectiveness, make it an ideal choice for both beginners and enthusiasts. At Blog Hồng, we stand by the Anycubic Kobra 2 as our go-to recommendation for an entry-level printer that doesn’t compromise on performance. Trust us, you won’t find anything better at this price point.

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