0:00
Well, Eligu upset a lot of people,
0:02
didn't they? It probably wasn't a smart
0:04
idea allowing the Centuri Carbon 2 to be
0:06
revealed before making it clear that a
0:08
color-changing element was still coming
0:10
to the original CC as promised. And
0:13
based on the footage they've shared on
0:14
socials, it is at some point. But don't
0:17
worry, dear Aligu fan, because this
0:20
isn't really even a Centuri Carbon 2.
0:22
It's more of a 1.5. It's the same
0:25
machine again with a few improvements, a
0:27
few enhanced features, a few things
0:29
moved about, and it does move the
0:30
product line forward. But I think for
0:32
many a 3D printing enthusiast, the
0:35
second you see their sidemounted
0:36
implementation of color changing rather
0:39
than a separate modular and expandable
0:41
box in a world where tool changes and
0:44
multiple nozzles are 3D printing's next
0:46
top model, I'm sure many of us are
0:48
thinking, "Yeah, but that's not the
0:50
direction we hoped you'd go."
0:52
Nevertheless, this is still Eligu doing
0:55
what they've done best for years now,
0:57
stripping expensive technology back to
0:59
little more than the components
1:01
necessary and delivering a decent
1:03
workhorse at a price point that's hard
1:05
to ignore. And when it comes down to it,
1:07
whilst color changing still looks
1:09
impressive, most of us abandon it the
1:12
second we realize how much waste is
1:14
involved. Anyway, oh yeah, sorry. Before
1:16
we move on, hi, I'm Ross and this is
1:18
Fammer Videos. So, let's get through
1:21
this. And up front, I need to say what
1:23
you're all going to see throughout and
1:25
what is actually quite typical of the
1:27
brand over the last few years. These are
1:30
more budget conscious machines. And
1:32
here, I don't mean that in a bad way. It
1:35
arrives in a basic cardboard box, lift
1:37
it out by the bag, and unwrap it. There
1:40
is some building to do, a little more
1:42
than other enclosed Corxy printers
1:44
nowadays, but nothing is particularly
1:47
difficult. For the most part, this is a
1:49
simple case of remove all the foam
1:50
packaging and unbolt the bed. But you
1:53
also need to attach the screen on the
1:54
bottom. And even the waist shoot on mine
1:56
came as a separate part that needs
1:58
mounting in. Now, for a basic printer,
2:01
that would be it. And whilst I don't
2:03
have confirmation, I think it's safe for
2:05
us to assume that there will be a
2:06
version of the Centuri Carbon 2 coming
2:08
out which doesn't have this fourcolor
2:10
add-on included. It would be daff not to
2:13
when there's so many other changes here,
2:15
just something on external. So, going
2:16
back to the earlier Centuri Carbon
2:18
review, the right side of the chassis
2:20
there had a built-in recess to mount a
2:22
filament reel holder and a screw socket
2:24
for the runout sensor. So, on this new
2:26
model, I'm not sure where those elements
2:28
are going to move to, and I'm curious as
2:30
to whether Elgo expect to sell a basic
2:32
version of the Centuri Carbon 2 with the
2:35
ability to upgrade to a color changer
2:37
later. This might actually be it, color
2:39
changer or nothing. We'll see before
2:41
long, and I think it'll be fine. But
2:43
these are things I wish I knew at the
2:45
start of a new generation. And if they
2:46
do release another model, maybe that's
2:48
going to be another video for me.
2:50
Anyway, back to this one. Adding the
2:52
material change module takes a bit more
2:54
building time. You need to attach the
2:56
brackets to the side of the machine and
2:57
then slide in the filament wheels. I'll
2:59
cover these in more detail later, but
3:01
these are numbered. And whilst it
3:02
doesn't functionally matter where each
3:04
one goes, it's probably best to put
3:06
these in the places assigned with the
3:07
stickers on the chassis because they
3:10
marry up to the order of what the buffer
3:12
on top knows them to be. Anyway, you
3:14
then need to attach this buffer bracket
3:16
onto the top. Then attach the buffer
3:18
itself to that bracket, which then
3:20
connects to the machine via a four pin
3:22
cable. And you also need to manually
3:24
attach the four-way hub in the top of
3:26
the hotend before connecting the PTFE
3:29
tubes from the buffer and clipping them
3:31
together. And then finally, we put on
3:33
the big plastic lid, which is, yeah,
3:36
more of a hat. And yes, this feels a bit
3:38
cheap and flimsy, but aside from taking
3:41
up some extra vertical space, I've had
3:43
no issues with it, and it does help to
3:45
keep the noise down a bit. But that's
3:47
your fully constructed machine. Now,
3:49
externally, other than the hat, this is
3:52
near identical to the original Centuri
3:54
Carbon with only a few things moved
3:56
about, which is why I said in the intro,
3:58
this is more of a 1.5 with a few
4:00
upgrades rather than what other brands
4:03
do in terms of changes where they make
4:04
more of a whole new machine with a new
4:07
silhouette and new footprint. Almost
4:09
everything here is where it was before.
4:11
The power socket and rocker switch is on
4:13
the back, but the waist shoot is now
4:15
directly above it. This time the dual
4:17
fan outlets are a singular fan which
4:19
actually has one of the best Centuri
4:21
carbon upgrades internally, a vent flap
4:24
which opens for materials that need
4:25
cooler print environments like PLA and
4:28
closes to keep the heat in the chamber
4:29
for materials like ABS. And we'll come
4:32
back to the results of this in print
4:33
quality later. But spoiler alert, very
4:36
good. But just to point out, and this is
4:38
what led me to infer there's going to be
4:40
a simple version coming. This machine
4:42
still has an opening at the top for a
4:44
PTFE tube when not using the material
4:47
changer. Now, it would have been nice to
4:48
see Eligu plug this up. At least maybe
4:51
they have on the retail version, but
4:53
even if not, I expect someone will make
4:54
a printable plug before long. And as I
4:57
said before, the right side no longer
4:58
has the socket for the reel holder or
5:00
runout sensor in place of these four new
5:02
reel mounts. So, we'll see what they do
5:04
there if they make a basic version. Now,
5:06
on the front, this is identical to what
5:08
we had before. We've got the USB socket
5:10
right in the center and the screen
5:12
mounted to the bottom right corner. But
5:14
this is fixed, not rotatable. And we
5:17
also have a glass front door. And a lot
5:18
of people have been asking me this on
5:20
more reviews I do. So I'll answer it
5:22
here. No, it doesn't open much beyond
5:25
90°. Maybe 100, 110. It doesn't bother
5:28
me, but yes, I can see how nearer 180
5:31
all the way open would be more handy.
5:34
Now inside we've got the hotend unit.
5:36
The nozzle has been upgraded, so you can
5:38
now push it up to 350°.
5:40
But as always, I'm more interested in
5:43
the practical features of this module.
5:45
And honestly, as a user, this is and has
5:48
always been my least favorite part of
5:50
the Centuri Carbon machines. The cover
5:53
easily comes off, but the nozzle itself
5:55
is rather legacy in that replacement
5:57
still relies on unscrewing the whole
5:59
nozzle assembly, including the heat
6:01
sink, or manually heating it up and then
6:04
unscrewing and rescrewing in a new
6:06
nozzle. But the hardest part is if you
6:08
do get a clog, it's near enough of full
6:11
hotend tear down to reach the extruder
6:13
mechanics, which is proper frustrating
6:16
if it happens. Now, I'm saying that as
6:18
of yet, I haven't experienced a clog on
6:21
either of the Centuri Carbon machines,
6:23
and this one alone has done over 700
6:26
hours, but the fact is clogs can and do
6:29
happen. And when they do, it's a pain in
6:31
the ass to solve it here. Now, the Z
6:33
mechanism operates on three lead screws,
6:36
each with a guide bar. Unfortunately
6:38
though, accessing the rear lead screw
6:40
for relubrication isn't great because
6:42
it's now behind an inner plastic
6:44
enclosure, something that wasn't present
6:46
on the original carbon. So, because this
6:48
new one has an internal carbon filter in
6:50
front of the fan on the right hand side,
6:52
all of that plastic housing gets in the
6:55
way of the screw. Another extra is the
6:57
auxiliary part calling fan mounted to
6:59
the left hand side of the inner chamber.
7:01
And as for the build plate, this is a
7:03
dual-sided spring steel plate, which
7:06
actually has two sides. It has a
7:08
generally rough PEI side used for a
7:10
variety of materials with the slightly
7:12
less rough B side specifically for PLA.
7:15
But honestly, I just stuck with the PEI
7:17
side for all of my prints and it was
7:19
absolutely fine. Oh, and the build
7:21
volume is once again 256 mm cubed,
7:25
directly copying a certain other brand
7:27
on the market. Considering the amount of
7:29
designs out there nowadays on the likes
7:31
of Maker World with that build size in
7:33
mind, this means it's a solid machine
7:35
out of the box because it's directly
7:37
compatible with most of the pre-esigned
7:39
models already available. The only other
7:41
thing I want to mention in the internals
7:42
right now is a small frustration, but it
7:44
is practically annoying. And this is
7:46
because the internal base of the machine
7:48
is lower than the bottom of the door.
7:50
So, it's slightly harder to remove
7:52
debris that will inevitably get dropped
7:53
in here, which is a little bit extra
7:56
bothersome due to the large gaps around
7:57
the guide rods where things can fall
8:00
inside the machine. Again, though,
8:02
someone will probably make a printable
8:03
cover before long. But, I've got to
8:05
mention it cuz scooping crap out of the
8:07
base rather than slide it out is a valid
8:09
difference that doesn't exist now on a
8:11
few other Core XY machines. Before we
8:14
come on to color changing, I'm getting
8:15
old and I need to sit down. And that
8:18
brings me perfectly to this quick
8:19
sponsored break. This section is
8:21
sponsored by Bullies, and I want to talk
8:23
briefly about the Master Rex chair,
8:26
which you're seeing me build here.
8:28
Assembly is straightforward and
8:29
sensible. Nothing fights you. Nothing
8:31
feels flimsy while you're putting it
8:32
together, and once it's built, the whole
8:34
thing feels solid rather than creaky or
8:37
hollow. The metal base and frame give it
8:39
a reassuring bit of weight, and
8:40
everything lines up without needing to
8:43
force parts into place. Once it's set
8:45
up, what stands out is how adjustable it
8:47
is in ways you'll actually notice. The
8:50
lumbar support moves up and down so you
8:52
can actually line it up with your back
8:53
properly. The seat is wide with rounded
8:56
edges so you're not perched on the edge
8:57
of it. And the armrests adjust in ways
9:00
that will actually get your arms sitting
9:02
naturally instead of shrugged up or
9:04
stretched forward. It recines smoothly.
9:06
And yes, it has a built-in leg rest.
9:08
That's not something I use often when
9:10
working, but when you lean back between
9:12
jobs or you're just watching something,
9:15
it's genuinely comfortable and easy to
9:17
use. Material-wise, you can choose
9:19
between their Ultraflex PU or water
9:22
repellent fabric in a variety of colors.
9:24
I went with fabric because it's more
9:26
breathable for long desk sessions, and
9:28
it feels durable without being stiff or
9:30
plasticky. Overall, this feels like a
9:33
chair designed to be used everyday
9:35
rather than just photographed for a
9:36
product page. It's comfortable,
9:38
adjustable, and well put together cuz I
9:41
did it myself. No, I'm kidding. If you
9:43
want to check it out, there's an
9:44
affiliate link in the description, and
9:45
any current offers or coupon codes will
9:47
be listed there as well. And yes, I
9:50
mostly like it because bullies rhymes
9:52
with ghoulies, and apparently I'm still
9:54
12 years old. Now, this color changer,
9:57
or canvas, as they call it, I'm not
9:59
going to call it that. As far as
10:01
material changes go, I just don't think
10:04
this is the direction people want to
10:06
see. It feels legacy budget. External
10:09
enclosed boxes that help keep filament
10:11
dry or sometimes even actively dry it
10:14
are much more versatile and expandable
10:16
tools which are far easier to add to a
10:18
device later down the line. And again,
10:21
you can normally daisy chain them and
10:22
multiply them. Just sticking four reels
10:25
on the side in the open air when
10:27
filament is very susceptible to ambient
10:29
humidity isn't the way to go. But then
10:33
at the same time, I've got to remember,
10:34
I've also said for a long while now that
10:36
even though color changes exist, just
10:39
how much material a multiolor print
10:41
wastes and how messy that waste can be,
10:43
the feature you've paid for here often
10:45
gets relegated to no more than, "Ooh,
10:48
that was cool the first time you use it,
10:50
but never again." So honestly, as I've
10:52
said before, the bigger value in these
10:54
or any of them is the small convenience
10:57
of not having to manually heat the
10:58
nozzle and then hand push filament to
11:01
and through it. And then the reverse
11:03
every time you want to change it. So the
11:05
value here longterm, I think, is more
11:08
that. And I actually reviewed another
11:10
brand recently who have an external dual
11:13
reel autoloader, which I actually think
11:15
serves more value to people than this.
11:18
But on the flip side, if you do want it,
11:20
this works. Just be aware you can only
11:22
use filaments where the reels have an
11:24
inner diameter of about 52 to 58 mm.
11:28
Otherwise, they either won't mount on
11:29
the pegs or they'll fall off. And Eligu
11:32
now has filament with RFID tags. And
11:34
they're apparently making their own open
11:37
RFID format so that other brands can get
11:39
on board with this as I found out at
11:41
Form Next last year. Check out that
11:43
video for more. Okay, not more. Well,
11:45
actually, it's the same info, but please
11:47
watch more of my videos. Now, this isn't
11:50
quite as automated as other machines
11:51
where you just put the reel on and it
11:53
automatically detects it. What you
11:55
actually do is scan the RFID against the
11:58
reader on the side of the buffer and
11:59
then you get a pop-up on the UI which
12:01
asks you which slot you're mounting it
12:03
to. So, it is straightforward. Now, just
12:06
before we go on to print quality, a
12:07
couple of quick notes about software.
12:09
The UI of the machine is pretty much
12:11
what we've had before and is now rather
12:13
standard across most printers. They
12:15
have, of course, added the menu for
12:17
filament loading, which is handy because
12:18
setting your filament type and color
12:20
here then syncs back to the slicer. But
12:23
speaking of, this is Eligu's version of
12:25
Orca. It's basic, but it also doesn't
12:28
try and reinvent the wheel. And there
12:30
are some elements that have now become
12:32
common of printers using this same
12:34
firmware and slicer combo, such as the
12:37
simple ability to cancel part of a print
12:39
mid-print. I actually had one of several
12:42
parts fail and come away from the bed
12:44
during one of my earlier prints. And
12:46
rather than just cancel that item,
12:47
allowing the rest to continue, I only
12:50
had the option to either cancel the
12:51
entire print or just allow the printer
12:54
to extrude a spaghetti-ike mess in the
12:56
area of that part until that small piece
12:59
was complete. So, I chose that one. And
13:01
there was no sign of the printer
13:03
detecting the spaghetti and pausing.
13:05
Another thing I noticed with this
13:07
machine is that print time estimates
13:09
were wildly off. I printed a lot of
13:11
multiolor parts on this machine and jobs
13:13
with an estimate of say just over a day
13:16
ended up taking more than two. So this
13:19
is something they really need to get a
13:20
hold of and dial in. Now the machine has
13:23
a camera which generates time-lapses.
13:25
But getting these off the device is a
13:27
more arduous process of exporting them
13:29
to a USB drive rather than doing it
13:31
remotely in the slicer. And it's also
13:33
quite a low resolution camera. So, your
13:36
resulting time-lapses are at a pretty
13:37
poor quality of 640 by 360. But this
13:41
brings me on to the biggest thing Eligu
13:43
lacks, a phone app for basic remote
13:45
monitoring. Now, Eligu now have the
13:47
Matrix app, but so far this is only for
13:50
their resin printers. And you can access
13:52
the printers UI via a web browser by
13:55
just typing in the IP address. But to
13:56
monitor this outside of your own home,
13:58
yeah, you need to do some local network
14:00
fiddling on your router. But when it
14:02
comes to overall print quality, this has
14:05
been solid. In fact, it's been one of
14:07
the best printing experiences out of the
14:09
box that I've ever had. My first Beny
14:12
print was absolutely fine. First layer
14:14
test was near perfect with only a small
14:16
sign of underextrusion in the front
14:18
right corner. Now, yes, this isn't
14:20
perfect. I said near perfect, but this
14:22
is certainly above par for most FDM
14:25
printers that I've tested. And when it
14:27
comes to ABS, I ran off a full 3D print
14:30
test that showed decent surface quality.
14:32
All parts printed first time, bridging
14:34
was clean, and even the overhang test
14:37
outperformed my Prusser Core 1L, which
14:39
is a review I'll have out shortly after
14:41
this one. Subscribe so you don't miss
14:42
that. Now, this machine has no internal
14:45
heater. The chamber heats passively
14:47
using heat from the build plate. And I
14:49
must admit, the one thing I wish it did
14:51
was at least wait and let the chamber
14:53
warm to temp before starting a print.
14:56
But for the most part, this works and it
14:58
works well. Now, I had to wait a few
15:00
days for Eligu to send me some filament
15:02
as they asked me to do a large project
15:04
on this and supplied the materials for
15:06
it. So, I used up the ends of several
15:08
rolls I had printing a Final Fantasy 7
15:11
Buster Sword. And I told the printer
15:13
that all the rolls I loaded were the
15:14
same color when printing this. So, when
15:16
one ran out, it would just move on to
15:18
the next. and it had absolutely no issue
15:20
moving from one to the next every single
15:23
time I had a run out on all four reels.
15:26
To be honest, I wasn't even going to
15:27
show this model. It was just something I
15:28
was doing for myself. But I wanted to
15:30
bring it up because if there's anybody
15:32
watching who could please take this
15:33
model and remix it with two ball holes
15:35
through the full length of the blade so
15:37
I can add some long plastic rods for
15:39
stability, I'd be eternally grateful and
15:41
thank you in a future video when I
15:43
reprint it. A link to this model will be
15:45
in the comments if anyone can help me
15:46
with that. Also, while I'm asking for
15:48
favors, what do people in the UK use for
15:51
plastic welding PLA? Because I can't get
15:54
my hands on that gloop stuff anywhere at
15:56
a reasonable price. Anyway, yeah. So,
15:59
Eligu asked me to print a large
16:01
multiolor print for this video and said
16:03
they'd provide me with the filament to
16:05
deliver it. I got the printer for free.
16:06
They haven't paid me to make the video.
16:08
Printer filament for free. That's how I
16:10
do all my reviews. All the words I'm
16:12
saying are my own. They've had no
16:14
oversight over this video, but they
16:16
wanted me to show off color printing
16:17
because this is their first multiolor
16:19
printer. So, I printed two of these
16:21
frost axes from the Eternal Forges last
16:24
campaign. This took over a week, nearly
16:27
2 weeks, with thousands of color
16:29
changes. And one part of it even has
16:32
five colors. Now, in order to do this, I
16:35
added a pause in the job to do a swap
16:37
out. But unfortunately, and I tested
16:39
this a few times, the printer seems to
16:41
completely ignore that instruction in
16:43
the G-code. But because the gap between
16:45
these different colors, I had more than
16:47
enough time to do a manual swap between
16:49
the blue finishing for the rune block
16:51
and the start of the red gem. Now, on
16:53
these prints, the dimensions were a
16:54
little expanded. I actually struggled to
16:56
screw these parts without lubrication.
16:59
Yeah, giggity giggity. But anyway, once
17:01
I added some grease, they did connect
17:03
up. But the main point is during
17:06
printing, I had no issues. This machine,
17:10
like the Centuri carbon before it,
17:12
performed like an absolute workhorse for
17:14
hundreds of hours. But I do think this
17:17
waste also shows off the earlier point I
17:19
made about color changing because I had
17:21
to move this around my room during use
17:23
as I had other projects on the go. And
17:26
yeah, I think I'm going to be picking
17:27
out bits of filament from under my
17:29
cupboard for months to come. I did try
17:31
printing a small waste model, but after
17:33
my first print, I realized this was way
17:35
too small for the task I was
17:37
undertaking. So, I just took it off. But
17:39
again, someone will probably have a
17:41
larger solution available before long,
17:44
if not already, and I just missed it.
17:46
But let's conclude on the printer. So,
17:48
as always in my reviews, I like to just
17:50
break it down straight for you and get
17:52
to the point. This is a budget printer.
17:54
when you look at the price versus the
17:56
competition for the features you get.
17:58
And you've seen me sour on cheap copy
18:01
brands before, but I think this one is
18:04
an example of how to do it right. Even
18:07
in the resin space, Eligu have a track
18:09
record of understanding the key elements
18:11
we want as customers and delivering them
18:13
at the most affordable and competitive
18:16
price points possible. And they do that
18:18
by stripping things back. No glass lid,
18:21
money saved. The screen doesn't rotate,
18:22
money saved. lower resolution camera,
18:25
money saved. No app, no STL storefront
18:27
when better ones already exist. Money
18:30
saved. And that saving is passed on to
18:32
you. But yeah, there is a cost there
18:35
because there are still some software
18:36
elements that exist on other machines
18:38
like the ability to cancel parts or add
18:41
pauses and hardware elements that are a
18:43
bit outdated like long nozzle swaps and
18:46
bad extruder gear access. But this then
18:49
just comes down to your choice. And at
18:51
least this time it's a clear choice. You
18:54
know you're saving money when you buy
18:55
this machine. You get issues with all
18:58
printers, not just mid-tier brands. But
19:00
here, Eligu, instead of pretending to be
19:03
just like the best printers on the
19:05
market, but actually offering a poorer
19:07
quality experience with only a small
19:10
relative saving like some brands,
19:12
savings which will probably cost you
19:14
more in the long run. And you know the
19:16
brands, the ones I mean the ones that
19:18
embody that meme of your mom telling you
19:20
you don't need a bamboo A1 because
19:21
you've got an A1 at home. Yeah, those
19:23
guys. Here, Elu have found a better
19:26
market gap. In fact, they've actually
19:29
found a market gap without all the
19:31
pretense, misdirection, and marketing
19:34
by actually leaning into and I
19:37
suppose even being proud of their budget
19:39
conscious position. what they've
19:41
delivered here stripped this back
19:42
sensibly whilst passing a bigger saving
19:45
on to you. Yeah, they've got some
19:47
software work to do and we should
19:49
absolutely but kindly add pressure on
19:52
them to resolve these things and update
19:54
these features. And when they do, I'll
19:56
update the description of this video.
19:58
But the point is, if you're looking to
20:00
buy the most powerful 3D printer you can
20:03
on a budget, this is definitely one I'd
20:06
recommend over many of the others. just
20:09
decide if you want color changing or
20:11
not. But even if you don't, the
20:13
automatic loading is still handy. So, at
20:15
the end of the day, you know what this
20:17
is? Sensible savings without the
20:19
I want to say thanks for
20:21
watching with a huge thanks going to our
20:23
members who are on screen now. They help
20:25
keep the lights on and generally just
20:27
encourage me to keep doing what I'm
20:29
doing, as do you for watching my videos
20:31
and dropping comments. So, please do
20:33
that if you've had a good time. As
20:35
always, there are affiliate links in the
20:37
description if you do decide to pick up
20:38
this or any printer I review or even any
20:41
product. Clicking those links before
20:43
making a purchase really helps me
20:45
because I make a commission at no cost
20:47
to you. Above all, I appreciate you
20:49
being here. So, I'm just going to leave
20:51
it with until next time. This guy are
