I tested the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2, and now I want to print everything in multicolour glory!

The rate of development in the 3D printing space hasn’t slowed much over the last few years, with many companies leapfrogging each other by way of introducing new features and capabilities. Most recently, we have seen the introduction of multi-reel printers, whereby a number of filaments can be fed into the hot end for multicolour prints. Bambu Lab got an early start, while Elegoo had talked about an update to its popular Centauri Carbon machine, which had users pretty excited.

That update never showed up, though, leaving some bemused. The reasons for this are unclear, but now the second iteration of the Centauri has arrived, with the option for multicolour printing. I won’t speculate on the reasons for the change in approach, but it’s good news for Elegoo fans and the market in general, although it may leave a bad taste in the mouths of people who ordered the original model, in the expectation of being able to upgrade, rather than buy a whole new machine.

That said, the Centauri Carbon 2 looks good on paper, with specs and features that could make this a winner for many.

Having spent much of the last decade or more testing and owning many of the best 3D printers of all shapes, sizes and budgets, I was very interested to see how this new Carbon Combo would work out in a practical setting. I cleared some space in my machine room (or, as any normal person would call it, my utility room) and spent the last few weeks getting to know it. Here’s what I uncovered.

Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2: Price

The Centauri Carbon 2 combo (CC2) ships with the Canvas system and is priced competitively at $449 / £399 at the time of writing. In comparison, this is significantly cheaper than any of Bambu Lab's enclosed printers (its AMS system is around £350 on its own), and similarly, the Creality K2 Pro would set you back an extra third of this price.

For this reason, the Carbon 2 Combo is an attractive proposition for makers in the market for a new printer, and I think this should get Elegoo off to a strong and successful launch.

Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2: Setup and build quality

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Long gone are the days of having to construct a 3D printer yourself, and that’s good news, as it could be a lengthy and sometimes frustrating process. Most 3D printers still need a little work to get them up and running, but thankfully, setup was kept to a minimum with the CC2.

Everything comes packed nicely, with the foam used to hold all the parts in place, as well as acting as protection in transit. Once everything is removed and laid out, it’s a simple case of undoing a few screws that keep things in place for delivery (they are clearly marked and easy to access) and then you'll spend time fitting the various parts, like the canvas, lid and spool holders.

The screen also needs attaching, which means connecting a simple ribbon cable and clipping the unit in place. The whole process takes around ten minutes, so it's really not too taxing.

Keep in mind that, even if you’re used to machines of this type, you will need extra room to manoeuvre, as the spools sit on the right-hand side, and you’ll need to access them to load new filament. You’ll want some space at the rear too, ideally with enough room to clear the bin where trimmed filament is pooped out. No container is supplied for this, so maybe a first print could be aimed at this use, although any old small box would work.

I’d also recommend making sure the screen doesn’t hang over your worktop, as it would be all too easy to knock and damage this.

The build quality is excellent and very typical of Elegoo, with high-quality materials all around, and a nice finish. For those, like me, with multiple machines, who enjoy a little consistency, the CC2 sits very well with other Elegoo machines, like my Saturn 4 Ultra. I just wish the Mercury Plus followed the same design language. Anyway, it’s a good-looking device, and being enclosed means, as well as looking neat, it keeps stray dust and pet hair out of the mechanisms, while also assisting with temperature control.

Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2: Performance

Before you can begin a print job with the CC2, you need a file. The easiest way to prepare a model for 3D printing is to use Elegoo’s slicer software. To be honest, most of the slicers out there are so similar that it doesn’t make much of a difference, so go with whatever feels easiest on the eye. That said, staying within the brand does mean you can trust all of the presets for various materials, but Lychee and others will still work well, too.

Using the CC2 is a doddle, whether connecting via wifi or printing from a USB memory stick. The menus are crisp, clear and logical, so navigation is simple. The first thing to do is let the printer run through its setup routine, which tests and adjusts a number of things from bed level to heating elements. You’ll also be reminded to remove the three transport screws before you do anything (this is in the manual, too).

This process takes around ten minutes, for which you might want to be in a different room, as it gets somewhat noisy. The usual operation is quiet, and I’d have no problem running this in my studio while working, if I didn’t have a dedicated space. Loading filament is a slightly different process than if you used the previous Centauri Carbon or other single-reel machines.

Head to the load screen and click on reel one. At this point, you can hold the reel up to the side of the Canvas unit if it has an RFID, which will change all the settings for you. If your filament doesn’t have the chip, then you can input the appropriate specs on the touchscreen, including manufacturer, colour and min/max operating temperature.

Then, snip the end of your filament and guide it into the PTFE tubing for the corresponding input of the Canvas, which will start to feed through, heating the nozzles and so on. A message will appear on the screen to say when it’s ready for use.

You may be wondering how you define which reel is used for different parts of a multicolour print, and it couldn’t be simpler. Load your file and open it on the CC2, and you will be presented with a setup window, where you can define which spool is used for the various parts. Very quick and easy.

For my first print, I used the obvious choice of a benchy boat, cut into different parts for colouring. The file took around 40 minutes to print, which isn’t slow but not the fastest either. Bed adhesion was excellent, using the textured side of the plate, but not so strong that removal posed any issues.

Layer lines were very minimal, probably the smoothest results I’ve had from an FDM printer, and I’d gladly use this for some tasks I’d only reserve for my resin printer. Similarly, there were very few of those annoying wispy bits of filament you can get when the nozzle lifts off. I had thought that might be more evident here, especially around areas where the filament was swapped to a different colour.

Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2: Test prints

My gut tells me the main reason for the excellent print results is down to temperature control, which has a massive impact on 3D printing. The CC2, being a totally enclosed printer, regulates heat well, but it also seems particularly speedy when it comes to temperature changes.

The bed and nozzles both warm up fast, so adjusting to changes in ambient temperature happens quickly, meaning good consistency during a print job. I think that the hood that covers the printer and the Canvas probably helps here too, as it means there is a larger volume of air inside, making for a more stable overall atmosphere in the chamber.

When it comes to the printed results, I couldn’t ask for much more. As mentioned, layer lines are barely visible, corners and edges are sharp, and I’ve experienced none of the warping or curling I’ve seen elsewhere. My tests were all carried out using PLA, as I had no other filaments to hand while testing, but once I do, I will update this review. I’m confident that the way the CC2 regulates temperature will mean impressive results with PETG, ABS or any other material.

The benchy I printed (see above) looked great, as did a couple more multi-coloured tests, including a name badge, which is tiny but the details held up really well.

I wanted to test something larger, which needed supports too, so I opted for this origami-style elephant, as it also had some interesting smooth surfaces facing different directions, which would push the printer.

The supports were set up as trees, using Elegoo’s slicer, and the results were impressive. Each face looks smooth, the corners and edges are nicely defined, and the supports broke off easily, although this is as much about the software as the printer. Still, it’s confidence-inspiring to see such clean results.

I have an Ikea pegboard in my studio that I use for odds and ends when camera scanning. Using a 3D printer for practical everyday uses is something I really enjoy, so I printed out a handful of pegboard accessories.

My first attempts, the tray and scissors holder, I printed in clear filament. While they are fine, they didn’t fit the look I like, so I moved on to print another shelf and some containers, including the peg brackets, in black PLA. You can see how well they turned out in the photo. Smooth finish, and you’d be pushed to tell they weren’t produced in a factory.

Next, I decided to test out the accuracy for a real-world project and opted for a fidget toy, essentially a sphere that is modelled with curved segments. This prints in one piece and, once the supports are removed (in this case, a simple raft), the piece should be movable without any work.

The motion of the final print is silky smooth, a fantastic result and shows just how well the CC2 deals with fine tolerances. On a side note, I love that dual colour Elegoo filament. Unfortunately, my daughter has taken it all for herself!

Who is it for?

The Centauri Carbon 2 is definitely a step up from the previous version. Not only is it capable of multi-coloured printing, but even if you only ever print a single colour at a time, it’s still a fantastic machine.

You may be a hobbyist, dabbling in 3D printing for the first time, or a seasoned maker, with high expectations. Either way, the CC2 will have you covered. The sealed, temperature-controlled volume means it’s even great for those looking to print using trickier filaments.

Buy it if

• You’re looking for a first printer
• You want to produce multicolour projects

Don't buy it if

• You have limited workspace
• You have no need for multi-material printing.