Simple ANYCUBIC Mega X Review – Buy or Not?
Intro
Anycubic is a well-respected 3D printer manufacturer based in China and they make high quality machines. The Anycubic Mega X is one of the latest machines they’ve created and it satisfies many desires that people have been wanting in a 3D printer.
The Anycubic Mega X is built for massive build volume coming in at 300 x 300 x 305mm which is able to print models that a majority of 3D printers out there wouldn’t be able to manage.
It’s a great choice for beginners as well as experts in the 3D printing field, so don’t feel intimidated by the size just yet.
Not only do you have build volume, but characteristics such as precision, accuracy and high quality really take this 3D printer at the forefront of the competition.
Keep reading on to find out whether the Anycubic Mega X 3D printer is one that you should have beside you. I will go into more detail about its features, specifications, benefits, downsides and other useful things you’ll want to know.
There are many features and benefits that come with the Anycubic Mega X that make it such a worthwhile 3D printer to get for yourself. From it’s extremely competitive price to it’s high quality manufacturing it’s really a no-brainer.
I’ve done some extensive research on this 3D printer and it really does check the boxes you want it to. From unboxing, you place your eyes on a thing of beauty. Setup should only take you around 10 minutes, if that.
The packaging is neat, secure and done in such a way that it won’t have issues in any kind of transit. You have many extras such as your 1KG roll of white filament, hotend backup and all the main tools you need for 3D printing.
You’ll be given an SD card with test prints where you can watch your Anycubic Mega X lay down each layer with great precision and accuracy.
Simply download the Cura slicer, configure your settings with the Mega X printer then slice your desired files and save them onto the provided SD card.
Prints with this 3D printer will come out as good as any premium 3D printer out there. Forget the back and forth tweaking and hoping that things come out acceptable, you’ll get high quality from the start.
From the sturdy frame, to high quality prints, to great price point it’s hard to bring forward any negatives when it comes to this printer.
It’s a large low-maintenance system with easy bed-levelling, thermal runway protection already installed and a standard filament run-out detection sensor.
After-sale customer service goes above and beyond to make sure you’re satisfied with your purchase and you can just focus on the fun side of 3D printing.
Now that I’ve given you a glimpse of the journey you can look to expect, let’s get into some sweet details about the Anycubic Mega X 3D printer.
Features of the Anycubic Mega X
- Rigid Metal Frame
- Y-Axis Dual Sideways Design
- Z-Axis Dual Screw Rod Design
- Powerful Extruder
- Filament Sensor
- TFT Touch Screen
- Backup Hotend Set
- Comes with 1KG of Filament
- Large Bed-Levelling Knobs
- Large Build Volume
- Patented Heatbed
- Resume Print Function
- Meanwell Power Supply (UL Certified)
Rigid Metal Frame
Any 3D printer you buy you want it to be sturdy so it decreases vibrations, leading to better quality prints. When you have a loose, vibrating frame, it can have a direct effect on printing quality because your nozzle won’t be as accurate.
The Anycubic Mega X has made sure to tackle this problem by using solid, high quality parts.
Y-Axis Dual Sideways Design
This feature has a positive impact on the Mega X’s printing precision, allowing it to create stunning details and textures in your prints. Anycubic used customized aluminum modules for the Y axis on the head bed base, as well as a dual lead rail to vastly improve the stability of the heat bed.
Z-Axis Dual Screw Rod Design
Anycubic has reduced the likelihood of printing errors by using a solid Z-axis dual screw rod design.
Powerful Extruder
Compatible with a wide range of filaments that lower quality 3D printers have trouble handling. TPU is one of the main filaments that can be difficult to print, so you’ll be happy to know that the Anycubic Mega X can print it accurately.
Filament Sensor
The small things make a nice difference, which is exactly what having a filament sensor does for you. The printer will auto-pause if your filament runs out or breaks, leaving you the ability to change or adjust the filament to save your prints.
This should save a lot of possible hassle in the future and it’s great to have. Many 3D printers miss out on this feature.
TFT Touch Screen
In the day of smartphones and quick technology we like to have responsive screens wherever we go, the Anycubic Mega X’s touchscreen shouldn’t be any different. It’s very responsive to the touch, very similar to your high quality gadgets and allows for a smooth process from start to finish.
Backup Hotend Set
It’s always ideal to have backups where you might need it in the future since anything can happen. Although the hotend is of great quality and should be a long-term part, Anycubic supplies us with a sweet backup hotend set for peace of mind and being able to act quick if anything does go wrong.
Comes with 1KG of Filament
This feature is a nice gesture from Anycubic so you don’t have to worry about having your 3D printer all set up but not having enough filament to keep things running.
Large Bed-Levelling Knobs
With older versions of 3D printers, the bed levelling knobs used to be quite small so it was harder to get a good grip and twist them. Manufacturers have used this feedback and made bed levelling knobs a lot larger so it’s easier to manage and make precise.
Large Build Volume
A whopping 300mm x 300mm x 305mm build volume for amazing space creation for all your 3D printing desires. It can print models that most 3D printers out there just can’t manage to do so you can put your creativity to better use.
Patented Heatbed
Worrying about all sorts of stickers, sprays, glue sticks isn’t ideal when it comes to 3D printing so Anycubic has made use of their patented Ultrabase heat bed surface with microporous coating.
This material allows your prints to have a strong hold while printing and after cooling down, an easy to remove print afterwards. Many 3D printer users complained about this issue, so solving it was important for Anycubic.
Resume Print Function
This is a simple, yet effective feature that all 3D printers should have, but surprisingly some fall short on this feature. Being able to have a one-click resume button from your last recorded position when something goes wrong is an overlooked feature but is very important.
No need to worry about power outages or someone accidentally disconnecting your printer, you’ll be able to finish your print with ease!
Meanwell Power Supply (UL Certified)
This reliable power supply is compliant with UL60950-1 so you know it’s safe and ready to last many years. It’s a world-famous brand and makes sure that you have fewer worries about safety, and more thoughts of flawless printing.
Specifications of the Anycubic Mega X
- Build Size: 300 x 300 x 305mm
- Printer Dimensions: 500 x 500 x 553mm
- Layer Resolution: 0.05-0.3mm
- Printing Speed: 20-100mm/s (60mm/s suggested)
- Positioning Accuracy: X/Y 0.0125mm Z 0.002mm
- Compatible filaments: PLA, ABS, TPU, Wood, Copper, Rubber
- Weight: 14kg
- Nozzle Diameter: 0.4mm standard nozzle
- Software: Compatible with Cura, Simplify3D and Repetier-Host
- Technology: FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling)
- Extruder Quantity: Single
- Filament Diameter: 1.75mm
- Maximum Extruder Temperature: 250°C
- Maximum Bed Temperature: 90°C
- Connectivity: SD card reader, and USB connectivity
- Software Input Formats: .STL, .OBJ, .DAE, .AMF
- Working Voltage: 24V DC
- Input rating: 110V/220V AC, 50/60Hz
- Certifications: UL, CE, FCC, RoHS ,EN
Benefits of the Anycubic Mega X
Besides the arsenal of features that you get with this 3D printer you can count on getting the following benefits:
- Comes backed with one-year machine warranty (consumables excluded) – giving you peace of mind and the safety of a reliable safety net
- Fast assembly with easy to follow manual and tools – so you don’t spend countless hours of frustration trying to put your 3D printer together
- High print precision – don’t settle for less, with the quality of printers today you should only receive the best quality prints!
- Lifetime technical support – you won’t be left to figure things out yourself because you have a professional team ready to help solve any potential issues.
- User-friendly touchscreen interface
- Overall an easy-to-use 3D printer with features perfect for beginners
- Improved packaging to ensure safe delivery to your door
- All tools needed for assembly are included plus many more
- Great quality prints straight out of the box without necessary upgrades
- Excellent print quality with little errors
- Very competitive price for high quality printer
Potential Modifications for the Anycubic Mega X
The Anycubic Mega X is a 3D printer which can be modified easily due to its design so I decided to list some potential modifications some people have done.
You can replace the fans, stepper drivers, extruder, hotend, add an enclosure, upgrade firmware.
These aren’t needed to get the amazing quality of this 3D printer but simply a choice that you can use to get that extra quality out of the Mega X.
Downsides of the Anycubic Mega X
Nothing is perfect so although it’s a great printer, it does have its cons which I’ll explore in this section.
It doesn’t come with auto-levelling so it’s the standard 4-knob manual levelling system that most people are used to. This isn’t a massive downside, but it would have been nice to have an auto-levelling system to take the extra work out of getting accurate prints.
The glass ultra-base has been known to chip in rare circumstances but even if it does occur in that off chance, the technical support will be there to quickly rectify this potential situation.
The Anycubic Mega X can get pretty loud without some noise-reducing upgrades of a few internal components. I’ve written a pretty in-depth post about How to Reduce Noise on a 3D Printer, so this isn’t too much of a deal-breaker when deciding on purchasing this 3D printer.
Verdict
The competitive price of this printer is sometimes hard to believe but it’s a solid printer that gives great results. It’s impressive build size is what makes it such a great unique printer compared to most out there.
Users of this printer sing nothing but praises, with its very sturdy design and no movement while printing giving it great quality prints. The construction of it really is outstanding.
If you print with just PLA the hotend is great as the PTFE liner goes straight through to the nozzle, while if you plan to print ABS it won’t do you justice. This is where some modifications can be in your benefit.
The issue with the controller is not being able to swap the drivers around, so you have to stay put with the A4988 and the ChiTu software but you can operate at a great level with them. You can still change the controller for a better one but it’s a cost you’ll have to absorb.