What Anycubic Has Announced with the Kobra S1 Max
Anycubic has just launched its latest filament (FDM) 3D printer on the market: the Kobra S1 Max, a closed CoreXY with a 350×350×350mm print volume and a modular ecosystem that promises up to 16 colors. What stands out most to me about the announcement is the combination of specs that just a few years ago were only found in the Qidi X-Max 3 or Raise3D machines at €3,000+.
The machine comes with an actively heated chamber at 65°C, a hotend capable of reaching 350°C, and maximum speeds of 600mm/s with accelerations of 20,000mm/s². On paper, this is a proposal that aims directly at the professional and semi-professional segment, but with a price point that keeps it accessible for the advanced maker.
The package includes two hardened steel nozzles (0.4mm installed and 0.6mm additional), which already signals that Anycubic expects you to be working with abrasive materials from day one. Compatibility with the ACE 2 Pro system for multicolor printing is the cherry on top: each unit handles 4 filaments with active drying while printing, and you can connect up to 4 units for those 16 colors mentioned in the specs.
How It Compares to the Kobra S1 (What Changes on Paper)
The most obvious difference is the volume: according to Anycubic, we're talking about 2.74 times more print space than the standard S1. But the real change goes far beyond size. While the S1 is an open Cartesian machine aimed at the average user, the S1 Max is a fully enclosed CoreXY designed for serious work.
The leap in thermal capacity is massive. The standard S1 has no heated chamber, while the Max actively maintains 65°C. This is no gimmick: at that temperature you can print ABS, ASA, and nylon without warping — something impossible on an open machine. The hotend also raises the stakes, going from standard temperatures to those 350°C that open the door to polycarbonate and high-end carbon fiber filaments for FDM.
The CoreXY architecture versus the S1's Cartesian system means less moving mass and, in theory, better precision at high speeds. Anycubic promises those 20k accelerations aren't just pretty numbers on a webpage, though we'll have to wait and see whether the frame holds up without resonance when you really push it hard.
Print volume and speed: what the specs promise
The 350mm cubic print volume puts you firmly in serious-scale 3D printing territory. To put it in context, you can fit complete functional prototypes, large uncut enclosures, or decent production runs of medium-sized parts. The machine's total dimensions (502.7×483×584mm) are compact for what it offers, although you will need a dedicated space no matter what.
Let's be clear: nobody prints real production runs at that speed. It's the typical marketing figure you only reach during travel moves or specific tests. In practice, if you manage to print fast with decent quality on real parts, you're already doing great. The 20,000mm/s² accelerations are actually more relevant: they mean less time lost on direction changes and, if the firmware handles input shaping well, you could see real improvements in total 3D printing times.
The system requires 2200W at 220V (1000W at 110V), which tells you that heating all that volume to 65°C is not free in energy terms. Anycubic mentions 55dB with active heating, which is reasonable for a machine of this calibre, although I wouldn't expect to have it in the same room where you sleep.
ACE Pro ecosystem and direct extruder: what catches my attention
The ACE 2 Pro is where Anycubic truly tries to set itself apart. Each unit (368×291.5×236.5mm) manages 4 filaments with active drying during printing. It's not just a filament selector: it keeps the material at temperature while it waits its turn, something critical with nylon or hygroscopic materials that absorb moisture from the air like sponges.
I've seen too many filament spools ruined from leaving them out over a weekend. If it really keeps the material dry while it waits, then great.
The maximum of 16 colors by connecting 4 units sounds spectacular, but let's be realistic: purge waste on every color change is unavoidable with any single-nozzle system. The 16-color thing sounds good on paper and it's not a bad idea, but purging and profiles are still a pain with any single-head system. It's also worth noting that with the trend of new multicolor systems using CMYK like Bambu, it looks like this style of multicolor with more than 4 spools will become a thing of the past in the coming years. For occasional multicolor work or prototypes with color codes, great. For intensive multicolor production, get ready to generate kilos of purge tower.
The direct extruder with hardened steel nozzles included as standard indicates that Anycubic expects you to run technical materials from day one. With temperatures of up to 350°C, you can work with PA6-CF (nylon with 20% carbon fiber) which requires 270-300°C nozzle temperatures, or even venture into pure polycarbonate.
What gives me doubts before having it in the workshop
My first concern is the real thermal management of that chamber at 65°C. Maintaining uniform temperature in 350mm³ is no trivial matter, and if there are significant gradients between the center and the corners, you'll see warping on large parts even using ABS. The first reviews will be crucial to see whether the heat distribution is homogeneous or if this is another case of "technically true but practically optimistic specification".
The multicolor topic also makes me uneasy. Yes, the active drying on the ACE 2 Pro is a point in its favor, but managing profiles for 4 different filaments (let alone 16) with their temperatures, retractions and optimal speeds is a calibration nightmare. And that's without counting the inevitable waste on every change. The specs look great, but until I see real tests with a stopwatch in hand, I'm keeping my hype in check.
The 2200W power consumption makes me think about the electricity bill during long print runs. If you need to maintain 65°C during 20-30 hour prints, the consumption adds up. And although 55dB isn't outrageous, it's constant noise that can be annoying if your workshop is close to living areas.
Who might benefit from waiting and who might not
If you're still wrestling with your Ender 3, this machine is a quantum leap. Enclosed CoreXY with a heated chamber at this price... two years ago it was unthinkable. And look, if you print (or intend to print) PA-CF or PC, that 350°C hotend comes standard. No need to go buying a copper V6 or a Dragon for 500 bucks.
Now, if you already have a decent machine and what you're looking for is clean multicolor for miniatures or decorative models, don't get your hopes up. A single nozzle purge system will never be as clean as a Bambu with AMS. And if your priority is pure speed for production, maybe a Voron or similar with specific tuning will give you better real-world results than chasing the theoretical 600mm/s in the specs.
My prediction: if the first reviews confirm that the chamber maintains stable temperature and the ACE 2 Pro handles changes without drama, Anycubic will have hit the sweet spot. If it turns out that the 65°C are more like 50°C in the corners and the multicolor is a jam festival, it will be another machine with pretty specs that doesn't deliver day to day. Personally, I'd bet that Anycubic has nailed the price-to-performance ratio, but the ACE Pro gives me serious doubts based on the feedback from the first version... So we'll see!
Happy printing! 🤘
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