REVIEW: Excessive-speed 3D Printing for Below $300 with the Elegoo Centauri Carbon

On this article, we evaluation the Centauri Carbon, Elegoo’s first totally enclosed, CoreXY FDM 3D printer. 

The Shenzhen-based 3D printer producer’s newest desktop FDM providing was revealed throughout RAPID + TCT 2024 and made commercially obtainable in February 2025. It provides to the corporate’s open-architecture Neptune and OrangeStorm Giga lineup whereas complementing Elegoo’s inexpensive resin 3D printer vary.

With costs beginning at simply $299.99, Elegoo’s Centauri Carbon has already captured consideration within the desktop 3D printing market. Providing print speeds of as much as 500 mm/s, automated mattress leveling, and broad materials compatibility, it delivers spectacular efficiency at a budget-friendly worth. 

The Centauri Carbon is optimized for 3D printing straight out of the field, making it supreme for newcomers and hobbyists. Moreover, its enclosed construct chamber is designed to ensure thermal stability when processing temperature-sensitive filaments. This makes the system well-suited for extra seasoned makers trying to upscale materials properties and half high quality with out breaking the financial institution. 

We put the Elegoo Centauri Carbon via 180 hours of benchmarking and software exams, assessing how this inexpensive system competes within the contested desktop 3D printer market. 
The Elegoo Centauri Carbon is accessible to pre-order from the official Elegoo retailer.

Why select the Elegoo Centauri Carbon?

The Centauri Carbon’s CoreXY structure leverages two stepper motors positioned on the high corners of the machine for simple entry. These management the print head’s actions within the X and Y axes, unlocking quicker 3D printing than Cartesian and Delta techniques.   

Elegoo’s Centauri Carbon boasts a powerful 500mm/s most 3D printing pace and 20,000 mm/s² acceleration. The system’s die-cast aluminium chassis helps to keep up sturdy structural integrity and decrease vibrations throughout quick print head motion. In accordance with Elegoo, this design means accuracy and high quality aren’t sacrificed in high-speed 3D printing. We put this declare to the take a look at later within the evaluation. 

Excessive-speed 3D printing can be enabled by Centauri Carbon’s direct-drive print head, outfitted with a dual-gear hardened metal extruder. This ensures constant and steady extrusion at a movement price as much as 32 mm/s², essential for high-speed manufacturing. Elegoo’s latest FDM system includes a 5020 high-speed, four-wire cooling fan on the rear of the toolhead. This directs airflow to the extruded materials, enhancing print high quality at excessive speeds.

The Elegoo Centauri Carbon’s extruder meeting. Images by 3D Printing Business.

The Centauri Carbon additionally stands out because of its enclosed 256 mm x 256 mm x 256 mm construct atmosphere. Whereas it lacks lively chamber heating, the Centauri Carbon persistently reaches round 45°C throughout prints with excessive mattress and nozzle temperatures. In flip, 3D printing high quality and materials properties are improved because of enhanced layer adhesion and lowered warping, which is precipitated when extruded materials cools too shortly.      

Its highly effective 1000W AC-heated print mattress reaches temperatures as much as 110°C, whereas the hardened metal nozzle, paired with a 60W ceramic heater, shortly heats to 320°C. This high-temperature functionality helps a variety of filaments, from commonplace supplies like PLA, PETG, ASA, ABS, PA, PC, and TPU to superior composites bolstered with carbon fiber, glass fiber, and Kevlar. An activated carbon filter is included with the enclosed construct chamber. This makes use of a nano-mineral crystal filter to soak up dangerous particles produced throughout 3D printing. 

The Centauri Carbon’s double-sided, versatile magnetic construct plate is designed to optimize materials adhesion. Facet A affords a textured PEI floor to help wide-ranging supplies, whereas Facet B includes a clean floor designed particularly for PLA 3D printing. Though each can be utilized for PLA, Facet B offers superior adhesion, requiring solely 30°C to safe 3D printed components. This decrease temperature reduces power utilization and minimizes warping.

The Elegoo Centauri Carbon’s print mattress, spool holder, and body. Images by 3D Printing Business.

Newbie-friendly 3D printing with minimal setup

Elegoo’s newest FDM 3D printer comes totally assembled and able to print proper out of the field. With assist from the included guide, we had the system up and working in below 20 minutes. Even customers with minimal expertise ought to discover the setup fast and easy.

For these new to 3D printing, calibration generally is a daunting and time-consuming activity. Elegoo’s Centauri Carbon addresses this with totally automated mattress leveling. Utilizing 4 strain sensors and a proprietary algorithm, the method is accomplished with a single button press. 

The Centauri Carbon additionally routinely performs Z-axis compensation earlier than every print, minimizing defects attributable to uneven construct surfaces. Constructed-in vibration compensation and strain advance expertise additional improve print high quality by enhancing layer smoothness and decreasing widespread high-speed 3D printing defects like ringing and ghosting.

Unboxing the Elegoo Centauri Carbon. Images by 3D Printing Business.

Accessibility is additional optimized by the 3D printer’s 4.3-inch full-color touchscreen person interface (UI), which helps English, French, German, Russian, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, and Chinese language languages. This intuitive, easy-to-navigate UI is designed for all expertise ranges, providing clear management of calibration, filament loading, community connectivity, upkeep, and starting 3D print jobs.   

Distant 3D print monitoring has grow to be a key requirement for makers and industrial producers alike. The Centauri Carbon addresses this demand with a built-in print chamber digicam, permitting customers to observe manufacturing from wherever and produce time-lapses of their print job. Nevertheless, the digicam doesn’t present sensor suggestions as a failure prevention methodology, with Elegoo but to include micro-lidar or infrared sensors into its FDM choices.

The Elegoo Centauri Carbon’s person interface and construct chamber digicam. Images by 3D Printing Business.

Palms-on with Elegoo’s FDM slicing software program 

Whereas the Elegoo Centauri Carbon is appropriate with each Orca and Cura slicers, it’s optimized for the corporate’s Elegoo Slicer. This software program affords an intuitive interface with preset configurations for the corporate’s FDM printers. 

Upon launching the software program, customers are greeted with a construct plate structure and quick access to printer presets, materials choices, and slicer settings. The person interface options 4 major tabs on the high: Put together, Preview, Gadget, and Undertaking. Customers can alter printer settings, orient fashions, manipulate geometry, and generate helps within the Put together tab. In our expertise, the printer presets are well-tuned and ship dependable, high-quality outcomes.

Within the Preview tab, the person can generate the G-code and look at analytical pictures of the 3D printer’s toolpath. Completely different colours distinguish between options of the print, together with infill, high surfaces, outer perimeters, and different structural components. The Preview part additionally estimates 3D print time and materials consumption. 

The Gadget tab permits customers to entry distant connectivity between the Centauri Carbon and the Elegoo Slicer. Customers can monitor 3D prints by way of a dwell digicam feed. This tab additionally offers entry to print job historical past and permits on-the-fly changes to key parameters corresponding to mattress temperature, nozzle temperature, and fan pace throughout printing.

Setting the proper parameters is essential for attaining a profitable 3D print. To help with this, the Elegoo Slicer offers dwell warnings, corresponding to notifying customers when helps are required however not enabled or highlighting potential stability points. 

Total, we had a constructive expertise with Elegoo’s slicing software program. It affords a simple, user-friendly platform for making ready and monitoring 3D printing. Nevertheless, it lacks a print queue function, that means customers should slice and export recordsdata individually earlier than every print job.

The Elegoo Slicer: Put together, Preview, and Undertaking tabs. Photos by 3D Printing Business.

Benchmarking the Elegoo Centauri Carbon

We carried out a number of benchmarking exams to evaluate whether or not the Centauri Carbon stacks up towards Elegoo’s claims. The primary was a 3D printed Eiffel Tower take a look at file that got here pre-loaded with the USB stick supplied. This mannequin, 3D printed in PLA, got here out very properly, with spectacular geometries, steep overhangs, and skinny partitions. This early success confirmed that the Centauri Carbon’s materials and printer settings are properly calibrated out of the field.

Repeatability is important when 3D printing batches of similar components. To check the Centauri Carbon’s repeatability, we 3D printed sq., hexagon, and tube fashions 12 instances every. Our engineering staff then measured and in contrast the fashions towards the goal dimensions. Succesful 3D printers are anticipated to attain a mean deviation under 0.1 mm and a normal deviation below 0.05 mm.

Sq., hexagon, and tube repeatability take a look at prints. Images by 3D Printing Business.

Outcomes from all three fashions have been properly inside the benchmark figures, demonstrating spectacular precision. The sq. mannequin achieved a mean deviation of 0.0444 mm, properly inside the 0.1 mm benchmark, and the usual deviation was 0.0115 mm, under the 0.05 mm threshold. 

Whereas these outcomes reveal sturdy repeatability for the squares, we noticed some deviation within the gap’s inside diameter, with a normal deviation of 0.086 mm (approaching the 0.1 mm tolerance threshold). This variance was attributable to over-extrusion, a standard situation for FDM printers, particularly when fabricating round options. Though not supreme, it may be mitigated by adjusting the opening contour compensation setting in Elegoo Slicer by +0.08 mm.

Our hexagon outcomes have been additionally sturdy. The common deviation was 0.0206 mm, whereas the usual deviation was 0.0109 mm. The components exhibited wonderful floor high quality and layer adhesion, whereas the typical deviation for top was a powerful 0.0058 mm. 

Notably, the hexagon corners confirmed no indicators of bulging, a standard flaw amongst FDM printers. This means that the Centauri Carbon’s strain advance expertise is well-calibrated, successfully controlling over-extrusion at sharp corners.

The common deviation (0.0162 mm) and commonplace deviation (0.012 mm) have been properly inside the anticipated vary for the tube fashions. The cylinder top measurements have been notably correct and constant. Nevertheless, the exterior diameter was barely under the goal, ranging between 19.95 mm and 20 mm. This minor discrepancy is probably going on account of materials shrinkage relatively than extrusion points. Whereas PLA has a comparatively low shrinkage price (round 0.3% to 0.5%), it will possibly nonetheless trigger delicate dimensional variations.

FDM 3D printers battle with fabricating circles on account of uneven belt pressure and G-code inaccuracies. Can Elegoo’s Centauri Carbon 3D print an ideal circle? To search out out, we 3D printed a number of fashions with round sections measuring 100 mm, 65 mm, and 20 mm in diameter, which have been in comparison with the goal dimensions. A mean deviation under 0.1 mm for each the X and Y axes is an efficient consequence.

Elegoo’s FDM 3D printer handed this take a look at with flying colours, attaining an X-axis deviation of simply 0.01833 mm and a Y-axis deviation of 0.02111 mm. The imply commonplace deviation measured 0.0135 mm, properly under the 0.05 mm benchmark, whereas the typical deviation got here in barely greater at 0.0197 mm, nonetheless comfortably below the 0.1 mm threshold. These outcomes place the Centauri Carbon properly above common for round precision in desktop FDM 3D printing.

Elegoo Centauri Carbon round trajectory outcomes. Photos by 3D Printing Business.

We subsequent assessed how properly Elegoo’s Centauri Carbon handles small and exact components with tight tolerances by 3D printing a useful nut and bolt mannequin with a 1.25 mm thread pitch and a 12 mm nut. Our staff was impressed by the accuracy of this half, which showcased wonderful element and easy performance.

We then upped the problem by 3D printing eight threads spanning an M10 1.5 mm thread pitch to an M3 0.5 mm thread pitch. The Centauri Carbon efficiently printed useful threads from M10 to M4 (1.5 mm to 0.7 mm) however failed at M3 (0.5 mm). These outcomes are spectacular and above common. Most competing FDM 3D printers typically obtain profitable outcomes solely as much as M8, reflecting the Centauri Carbon’s spectacular 3D print high quality.

For customers desirous to 3D print components with advanced geometries, overhangs and bridging sections can pose challenges. To find out whether or not the Centauri Carbon can handle these wants, we fabricated take a look at components with 6 overhangs every, rising by 5 levels from 40° to 65°.

Elegoo’s 3D printer produced clear, sag-free components with no layer detachment at overhangs as much as 65°. That is spectacular, as most desktop FDM printers sometimes battle past 60°. Our exams confirmed that cooling is simpler alongside the X-axis than the Y-axis. The principle situation affecting the Y-axis seems to be the high-speed auxiliary fan, which cools the layers too shortly, inflicting defects at 65°.

Overhang 3D printed outcomes for X-axis (first two pictures) and Y-axis (second two pictures). Images by 3D Printing Business.

Subsequent, we 3D printed unsupported bridge sections. The smaller bridges ranged from 5 mm to 25 mm lengthy, whereas the bigger ones spanned from 20 mm to 60 mm. The Centauri Carbon’s enclosed construct space is just not supreme for this objective, as bridging requires speedy cooling to solidify and stop drooping. Due to this fact, when 3D printing in PLA, we advocate holding the door open and eradicating the highest lid. Our outcomes have been spectacular, with the 3D printer exceeding the everyday 20 mm bridge restrict amongst competing FDM techniques. The X-axis outperformed the Y-axis, reaching a superb 60 mm with minimal sagging.

3D printed bridge exams from X-axis (first two pictures) to Y-axis (second two pictures). Images by 3D Printing Business.

The Elegoo Centauri Carbon options 4 print pace modes: Silent (50%), Regular (100%), Sport (124%), and Ludicrous (166%). Though the marketed high pace is spectacular, high-speed 3D printing usually compromises half high quality. To guage the Centauri Carbon’s efficiency at totally different speeds, we 3D printed our in-house 3DPI benchmarking fashions utilizing the Silent, Balanced, and Ludicrous presets.

Silent mode accomplished the print in 6 hours and 40 minutes. Noise ranges have been noticeably lowered throughout printing, making this mode well-suited for indoor work environments. The take a look at achieved a powerful rating of 92.17 out of 100. It earned full marks for retraction movement, ringing, and repeatability. Overhang efficiency was sturdy, reaching 70° earlier than defects. That is properly above the everyday 60° restrict of most FDM techniques.

3DPI take a look at outcomes and radar chart for Silent mode. Images and pictures by 3D Printing Business.

The Balanced mode take a look at was accomplished in 4 hours and 10 minutes. Surprisingly, it outperformed the Silent mode with an impressive rating of 95.65 out of 100, surpassing most competing FDM techniques. This consequence ranks among the many high three scores we’ve recorded in our in depth 3DPI testing, a exceptional achievement for such an inexpensive machine.

Elegoo’s 3D printer earned full marks within the rectangular and round pyramid sections, demonstrating well-tuned strain advance and extrusion settings. It additionally excelled in movement, retraction, ringing, and repeatability exams, delivering extremely correct and constant outcomes.

3DPI take a look at outcomes and radar chart for Balanced mode. Images and pictures by 3D Printing Business.

Lastly, Ludicrous Mode accomplished the print in simply 3 hours and 10 minutes. Importantly, this mode locations important stress on the belts on account of excessive acceleration and deceleration forces, which may result in quicker put on and lowered longevity of mechanical parts.

Ludicrous Mode delivered a powerful rating of 90.45, proving that high-speed 3D printing can nonetheless produce wonderful outcomes. All bridge options have been executed flawlessly, outperforming the Silent and Balanced mode prints. Repeatability in ringing, movement, and retraction exams was additionally spot-on. Whereas minor defects appeared on the 60° overhang mark, this nonetheless matches the anticipated efficiency of most desktop FDM techniques. Total, the Elegoo Centauri Carbon is a best choice for customers in search of high-speed 3D printing with out compromising 3D print high quality.

3DPI take a look at outcomes and radar chart for Ludicrous mode. Images and pictures by 3D Printing Business.

Testing Elegoo Centauri Carbon 3D printer functions   

Subsequent, our staff evaluated the Centauri Carbon’s efficiency in real-world functions. Elegoo’s low-cost, entry-level system is geared towards hobbyists and makers, lots of whom produce small miniatures and high-resolution fashions.

We 3D printed an in depth dragon mannequin from MakerWorld, that includes intricate textures and sharp spikes. Utilizing PLA and tree helps generated within the Elegoo Slicer, the mannequin printed efficiently on the primary try. The outcomes have been spectacular. All fantastic particulars have been captured cleanly, with no seen defects, making the Centauri Carbon a superb selection for small-scale modeling.

3D printed dragon mannequin. Images by 3D Printing Business.

We additionally 3D printed an ornamental plant pot in PLA. Our first try failed, regardless of the filament being correctly loaded. The touchscreen grew to become unresponsive, stopping a pause and suggesting a attainable firmware crash, a problem we hadn’t encountered earlier than. Energy biking the printer and clearing the construct plate resolved the issue.

The second print accomplished efficiently in 5 hours, exhibiting wonderful floor high quality with constant layers. The 3D printer’s cooling system successfully prevented defects, permitting overhangs to print with out distortion.

The failed (orange) and profitable (inexperienced) 3D printed plant pots. Images by 3D Printing Business.

Customers may want to fabricate personalized upgrades for automotive functions. The Centauri Carbon’s broad materials compatibility makes it notably enticing for these use instances. Our staff used high-strength and sturdy ASA-CF filament to 3D print a useful airbox consumption lid. 

This take a look at achieved a seamless 3D printing course of and distinctive half high quality. Embossed textual content and pictures have been seen, whereas the floor high quality was clean with no widespread defects like warping and layer misalignment. The sleek layers underscore the system’s correct mattress levelling capabilities.

3D printed airbox consumption lid. Images by 3D Printing Business.

Potential clients may want to fabricate geometrically correct, useful parts. To evaluate the Centauri Carbon’s suitability for these functions, we 3D printed a useful ABS spur gear meeting consisting of 20 components.    

All components have been produced in simply six hours. As soon as assembled, the gear exhibited flawless performance, highlighting the distinctive high quality and accuracy of all 20 3D printed parts. The gears interlock exactly, permitting for environment friendly drive transmission and optimum system efficiency. We have been impressed by this consequence, as competing 3D printers usually battle with mattress adhesion, resulting in poor performance.

Can the Elegoo Centauri Carbon deal with extra superior engineering supplies for light-weight, high-strength functions? To search out out, we fabricated a generative design bracket utilizing PC-CF filament, identified for its high-temperature 3D printing necessities and propensity for clogging.   

Elegoo’s low-cost 3D printer once more carried out exceptionally. The half was accomplished in 5 hours with excellent precision, demonstrating spectacular dimensional accuracy and floor high quality for such a difficult geometry. Layer adhesion was sturdy, with no indicators of warping, delamination, or extrusion inconsistencies. Secure temperature management and exact movement administration have been maintained all through, validating the Centauri Carbon’s suitability for superior engineering functions.

3D printed generative design bracket. Images by 3D Printing Business.

Elegoo Centauri Carbon: a brand new commonplace for low-cost FDM 3D printing

The Centauri Carbon units a brand new benchmark within the low-cost desktop FDM 3D printer market. It combines affordability with spectacular user-friendliness, making it an excellent entry level into 3D printing. Options like automated mattress leveling, Z-offset adjustment, resonance frequency detection, and nozzle cleansing guarantee a clean, hassle-free workflow. 

Excessive-speed 3D printing is a well-liked pattern amongst shopper 3D printers, with many sacrificing print high quality for spectacular top-speed stats. Elegoo’s Centauri Carbon goes past this trade-off. It’s Ludicrous mode combines spectacular 3D printing accuracy, precision, and floor high quality with slashed printing instances. The 90.45 Ludicrous 3DPI rating is spectacular amongst any FDM system. Its 95.65 rating in Balanced mode ranks among the many highest 3DPI take a look at outcomes recorded.    

Our testing revealed distinctive accuracy and precision. For repeatability, the desktop 3D printer achieved a powerful common distinction of 0.025 mm throughout all measurements, with a imply commonplace deviation of 0.012 mm. Each outcomes fall properly under our benchmarks of 0.1 mm and 0.05 mm, respectively.   

Elegoo’s enclosed construct chamber marks a major step ahead in materials compatibility. It demonstrated a capability to keep up a steady, heated atmosphere, which minimized defects when printing with high-performance filaments like PC-CF and ASA-CF. 

Our engineering staff recognized a couple of minor areas for enchancment. The shortage of job queuing performance within the slicer is irritating when attempting to execute a number of 3D print jobs again to again. Elegoo’s FDM slicer additionally lacks a skip half function, that means {that a} failed half impacts the whole print job. This will trigger catastrophic 3D print failures and waste materials. 

Total, we have been very impressed by the Elegoo Centauri Carbon’s versatility and high quality. Regardless of its low worth and entry-level focus, the system delivers excellent outcomes. Spectacular high-speed capabilities put the 3D printer on par with dearer machines, making it a compelling selection for hobbyists and engineers in search of high-performance 3D printing on a price range. 

Technical specs of the Elegoo Centauri Carbon

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Featured picture reveals the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 3D printer. Photograph by 3D Printing Business.