I spent some time with the new Elegoo 3D printer and he’s pretty great for $ 300

Just a few years ago, 3D printing changed significantly. A new brand has emerged from Kickstarter, redefining what is possible on the consumer market by introducing closed 3D printers that deliver high quality models with unprecedented speeds. Since then, every company has been trying to respond to change, but it took a while. Now, however, companies are starting to launch Corexy machines to compete with the Bambu Lab Behemoth laboratory, and Elegoo’s Centauri Carbon is a great example of this new wave.

Centauri is categorically targeted at the beginner market to middle -class that P1s and P1P From the Bambu laboratory is currently occupying. As a direct rival of P1 – one of my best peaks for 3D printers – He comes at a lower price and, surprisingly, with very few discounts. I spent some time with him and in his current $ 399 price label I would say it’s one to watch.

The first thing I noticed when I untied a centaur was the glass door and a lid. Elegoo could easily save a few dollars there and make them from plastic. It would be good, but the weight of the glass and the acoustic damping it produces is welcome. This ethos is also distributed throughout the centaur; She doesn’t feel cheap. It feels well designed and designed to be a working horse, not a machine to throw away in a year.

When you directly compare P1s and Centauuri, you can see that the specifications are similar in speed, construction area and common accessories. Centauri even exceeds P1s in some areas, such as a more convenient LCD display for the user. Its interior layout, including a waste chute, hints at a possible future multicolor system similar to AMS. If this happens, I hope it remains compatible with this model – you have to buy a whole new printer, just to access the color system, it would be a difficult sale.

As for the overall quality of the prints, Centauri carbon performed delightfully. The CNET test print that I use to test all the printers that pass through my workshop showed very small defects, although there was some stroke on the print, indicating that it was a little too hot and the tolerance test of 0.2 mm It was firmly glued. Most of the problems can be resolved in the software, so it’s not too big a deal.

I used Centauri to print a large number of funny small dinosaurs Flexi and my daughter’s first grade toys. No matter how much I printed or what material I used, everyone came out to look great. And all the children loved them, which is the most important. I tested the hardened nozzle with PLA, PETG, TPU and even glowing threads, and Centauri printed them smoothly.

I enjoyed my time with Centauri Carbon, and after I finished full testing, I feel like it would be a strong contender for a place in my best lists. It is currently available for pre -order on the Elegoo website for $ 300 (£ 300 GBP). If you are looking for a printer for the first time, this is an excellent choice.