--- title: "ELEGOO Centauri Carbon 2 Combo review: ultra accessible multicolor printing" url: https://www.voxelmatters.com/elegoo-centauri-carbon-2-combo-review-ultra-accessible-multicolor-printing/ date: 2026-01-29 modified: 2026-06-08 lang: en author: "Davide Sher" description: "When we started testing the new ELEGOO Centauri Carbon 2 Combo printer, we did not yet know the official price, but we imagined it would be under $500. Now that..." categories: - "3D Printer Hardware" - "3D Printing Processes" - "Color 3D Printing" - "Decision Makers" - "VoxelMatters Reviews" tags: - "Featured" image: https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ELEGOO-Centauri-Carbon-2-Combo-Review-Feature-640x427.jpg word_count: 1740 --- # ELEGOO Centauri Carbon 2 Combo review: ultra accessible multicolor printing When we started testing the new [ELEGOO](https://www.voxelmatters.directory/company/elegoo/) Centauri Carbon 2 Combo printer, we did not yet know the official price, but we imagined it would be under $500. Now that the price has been officially confirmed and the machine is being formally released on January 26, we know for sure that it is significantly lower than any similar multi-color printer from its main competitors, Bambu Lab, Creality, and Prusa Research. ![](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Centauri_Carbon_2_IMG_0806.jpg)What we did have was the opportunity to extensively test this new machine, and we had a fantastic all-around experience, much better than we had expected. The new Centauri Carbon 2 Combo is a high-quality printer with smooth-running software, and it now supports multicolor printing. The hardware capabilities, with a new high-temperature nozzle, faster auto-leveling, improved thermal control, and the new CANVAS system for automated multicolor printing, smooth filament switching, and instant material loading, are incredible for the price. Even the software, especially the Nexprint platform, is extremely easy to use and user-friendly. Its only limitation is the limited access to multi-color 3D models that can fully justify the use of a multi-color system. Don't misunderstand, CANVAS serves a multitude of purposes beyond just printing multicolor parts. Having four different color filaments ready at all times means less filament loading and uploading, and even when you do have to change materials, the process remains smooth and fast. However, the best thing about having multicolor systems is creating multicolor products, and as of today, only Bambu Lab's MakerLab systems make these capabilities truly available to all through parametric modeling apps. Possibly the most ironic part is that the multi-color products you create in Bambu Lab's Makerlab generally work just fine on the ElegooSlicer, giving you access to an infinite source of printing files. After all, Bambu Lab says they are first and foremost a software company. Their software has no rivals, but both ELEGOO and Creality can directly benefit from it. So, this brings us back to ELEGOO's unique selling proposition for the Centauri Carbon 2 Combo: the most (by far) cost-effective enclosed desktop multi-color 3D printer ever. Let's see what it's like to get one and put it to work. This is what we received from ELEGOO: - **Centauri Carbon 2 Combo 3D printer**: $449 USD, €439, £339 GBP, $619 CAD, $999 AUD and ￥79,999 JPY Includes: **CANVAS** for Multi-color 3D Printing - **5 spools of RFID filament**: circa €60 - **Total value: circa €500** ## Unleashing the Centauri It's shocking to think that, for just €500, we can seamlessly print multicolor parts in under an hour of unpacking the machine. It takes a little time and work to set it all up, but the process is simple and fun. As you would imagine, the packaging is not as curated and elegant as that of most competitors (especially Prusa and Bambu Lab) but the machine does come packed in a sturdy cardboard box, with two convenient plastic-covered handles on the side. The machine weighs about 20 kg, so it's easy to carry and place wherever you need. [![](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Centauri_Carbon_2_IMG_0799-480x640.jpg)](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Centauri_Carbon_2_IMG_0799-rotated.jpg) [![](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Centauri_Carbon_2_IMG_0800-480x640.jpg)](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Centauri_Carbon_2_IMG_0800-rotated.jpg) [![](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Centauri_Carbon_2_IMG_0803-480x640.jpg)](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Centauri_Carbon_2_IMG_0803-rotated.jpg) [![](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Centauri_Carbon_2_IMG_0802-480x640.jpg)](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Centauri_Carbon_2_IMG_0802-rotated.jpg) [![](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Centauri_Carbon_2_IMG_0808-480x640.jpg)](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Centauri_Carbon_2_IMG_0808-rotated.jpg) [![](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Centauri_Carbon_2_IMG_0809-480x640.jpg)](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Centauri_Carbon_2_IMG_0809-rotated.jpg) Inside, the hard black Styrofoam covers provide necessary protection, with reinforced plastic corners for additional strength. The machine is wrapped in plastic, with everything, including the toolbox, the CANVAS, and the large trademark plastic thermal top cover, carefully stacked inside. The door is held closed with reinforced plastic tape. Compared to other, pricier Chinese-made machines, the Centauri Carbon 2 Combo requires a bit more assembly. Once again, this is easy to do and should be expected, given the low price point. Also, the system will guide you through every step; all you need to do is connect the color LCD screen to the printer, plug in the power cord, and connect the machine to your wifi network. There are also QR codes for tutorials and for receiving one-to-one assistance, but we skipped them. ![](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Centauri_Carbon_2_IMG_1016-2.jpg) [![](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Centauri_Carbon_2_IMG_1011-480x640.jpg)](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Centauri_Carbon_2_IMG_1011-rotated.jpg) [![](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Centauri_Carbon_2_IMG_1012-2-480x640.jpg)](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Centauri_Carbon_2_IMG_1012-2-rotated.jpg) [![](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Centauri_Carbon_2_IMG_1013-2-480x640.jpg)](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Centauri_Carbon_2_IMG_1013-2-rotated.jpg) [![](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Centauri_Carbon_2_IMG_1014-2-480x640.jpg)](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Centauri_Carbon_2_IMG_1014-2-rotated.jpg) [![](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Centauri_Carbon_2_IMG_1036-480x640.jpg)](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Centauri_Carbon_2_IMG_1036-rotated.jpg) First, you'll need a hex key to remove the three screws that hold the build plate in place. Then you can use the same hex key to mount the nozzle wiper assembly, aligning the screws with the clearly visible screw holes. The CANVAS filament feeding module requires a bit more effort and 8 screws to mount to the top-side bracket. The next step is to mount the 4 PTFE tube adapters onto the extruder with two more screws and connect all the PTFE tubes to the CANVAS module. The filament spools are connected to four holders on the side of the printer, which are secured by 8 screws. Finally, the extension piece covering the CANVAS module must be aligned with the main thermal cover and pushed upward until it snaps into place. Most of the assembly work is for the CANVAS multi-filament module, but it pays off by making the filament loading process easier and faster. If you are using the new RFID spools from ELEGOO, you won't even need to update the system. But even if you are using generic material, it's very easy to manually input all the necessary information. The spool holders are designed to securely hold the original ELEGOO spools, reducing the risk of the filament tangling or the spool falling off. And that's it. The machine is ready. Total time required: less than 45 minutes. ## Slicing it up in ElegooSlicer (and Nexprint) The slicer software is included on the USB drive, but we downloaded it directly from ELEGOO's website to get the very latest version. The slicer is the same basic Orca software used by both Bambu Lab and Creality, and, besides making it easy to share the same files among different printers, network printing is super easy to set up. [![](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ELEGOO_-2026-01-21-alle-10.50.27-150x150.png)](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ELEGOO_-2026-01-21-alle-10.50.27-scaled.png) [![](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ELEGOO_-2026-01-21-alle-10.27.04-150x150.png)](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ELEGOO_-2026-01-21-alle-10.27.04-scaled.png) [![](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/elegooslicer_-2026-01-25-alle-12.50.25-150x150.jpg)](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/elegooslicer_-2026-01-25-alle-12.50.25-scaled.jpg) Screenshot [![](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/elegooslicer_-2026-01-25-alle-12.50.06-150x150.jpg)](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/elegooslicer_-2026-01-25-alle-12.50.06.jpg) Screenshot To set up network printing, ensure the computer and printer are on the same local network. Then, in ElegooSlicer’s Device tab, click “Add Printer” (upper-right), double-click your printer from the detected devices list, and click “Connect” to complete pairing. At this point, you are ready to print anything directly from your computer. Possibly even better, you can print 3D models directly from the Nexprint 3D model marketplace and import the file into ElegooSlicer with one click. The only limitation is that you cannot print parts via cloud when the printer and computer aren't on the same LAN. And here we should spend a couple of words on Nexprint. As [we reported in the beta launch article](https://www.voxelmatters.com/elegoo-launches-nexprint-open-source-3d-model-platform/), Nexprint offers countless 3D designs [optimized for Elegoo printers](https://www.voxelmatters.com/elegoo-releases-saturn-4-ultra-16k-resin-3d-printer/) by combining official model libraries with user-generated content to enhance the printing experience. It is integrated with ElegooSlicer to ensure a smooth workflow from model selection to printing with most 3D printers in the market and aggregates 3D models from platforms other than Nexprint, making it easy to browse and download high-quality models without switching between platforms. [![](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Nexprint_-2026-01-23-alle-18.50.40-150x150.jpg)](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Nexprint_-2026-01-23-alle-18.50.40-scaled.jpg) [![](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Nexprint_-2026-01-24-alle-15.13.57-150x150.jpg)](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Nexprint_-2026-01-24-alle-15.13.57-scaled.jpg) [![](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Nexprint_-2026-01-24-alle-15.14.19-150x150.jpg)](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Nexprint_-2026-01-24-alle-15.14.19-scaled.jpg) [![](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Nexprint_-2026-01-23-alle-18.50.20-150x150.jpg)](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Nexprint_-2026-01-23-alle-18.50.20-scaled.jpg) ![](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Nexprint_-2026-01-24-alle-15.16.18-scaled.jpg)   Thousands of creators have contributed their designs and are rewarded through a points-based system. While the offer is already enormous, the number of useful models that fully leverage multi-color capabilities remains limited (but this issue is not limited to ELEGOO's platform). This may and probably will change in the near future, but for now, we had to create our own multi-color models (more on this further down). ## Printing on the Centauri In a few words, the Centauri Carbon 2 prints very well. It's fast and precise, like any of the higher-priced competitors. At 256 x 256 x 256 mm, the build volume is not particularly large, but we were able to print parts that nearly filled the entire build plate without any issues. We have not yet had the opportunity to test the higher-temperature extruder (which reaches 350°C) with any of the tougher materials, but PLA works very well for most objects. ![](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Centauri_Carbon_2_IMG_1043.jpg) Our very first print was a test straight from the system's internal memory, just to make sure everything was working properly. A small Buddha was printed in just over 20 minutes, with an excellent-quality finish. The next print was a bit more challenging—perhaps even too much. It was a tree creature from the new 2D-to-3D image conversion, Hitem3D. It required a huge amount of support and was way too brittle, printed in PLA with a low infill percentage. The print came out just fine, with a fantastic surface quality, but removing the supports proved too complicated. This is not really an issue related to the printer; however, it confirms that you will need to choose your supports wisely and not rely exclusively on the slicer's automated settings. ![](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/tree-support-copia.jpg) To test the multicolor capabilities on something we would actually want to use—not just a multicolor gimmick from the website—we had to resort to Bambu Lab's MakerLab. Since testing the H2S, we've had lots of requests from friends for the football-themed lightboxes. We designed those, starting with a simple logo from any team in football, and we've been printing them non-stop. Because the ElegooSlicer is based on the same Orca slicer, it was easy to import the Bambu Lab file and print it on the Centauri Carbon 2. The ElegooSlicer system has a dedicated option for 3MF file format projects. The system does warn you that the Bambu Lab presets could cause complications, but we just ignored the warnings. ![](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Centauri_Carbon_2_IMG_1083-rotated-e1769342157624.jpg) While these are relatively simple prints, they present significant challenges in the first layer. If there is even a single printing hiccup, the final result will come out imperfect, with the errors highlighted by the LED lighting. We printed a few, starting with an AC Milan-themed lightbox. Initially, we had an issue with the first layer: the red color wouldn't stick properly. This happened occasionally with the Bambu Lab printers as well, so it must be considered. But eventually the system "adapted" (we did not make any major change, just repeated the operation), and the following prints (FC Internazionale and Juventus FC) came out very well. ![](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Centauri_Carbon_2_IMG_1144.jpg) [![](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Centauri_Carbon_2_IMG_1128-640x480.jpg)](https://www.voxelmatters.com/elegoo-centauri-carbon-2-combo-review-ultra-accessible-multicolor-printing/centauri_carbon_2_img_1128/) [![](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Centauri_Carbon_2_IMG_1143-640x480.jpg)](https://www.voxelmatters.com/elegoo-centauri-carbon-2-combo-review-ultra-accessible-multicolor-printing/centauri_carbon_2_img_1143/) Finally, as mentioned, we put the machine to work on a multi-color file that filled up the entire build plate: an ELEGOO toolbox printed straight from Nexprint (as shown in the Nexprint photogallery in the previous section). The photos above show the perfectly adhering first layer as well as the neatness of the multi-color logo. The ease with which we were able to print a file directly from the online model database is the same as that of any of ELEGOO's competitors, further confirming that this machine is a real bargain for the price.