Review of the Elegoo Centauri Carbon: A Budget-Friendly 3D Printer

Quick disclaimer: This is NOT a sponsored post. No one paid me, and I’m not making a dime. I’m just a 3D printing enthusiast who got his hands on a printer that… well, kinda blew me away.

I’m talking about the Elegoo Centauri Carbon.

Elegoo Centauri Carbon

Introduction to the Elegoo Centauri Carbon

Long story short, I grabbed it on launch day for €329. After a full month of steady use, I can say it loud and clear: 👉 worth every single penny.

When it comes to size, it’s in the same range as the Bambu X1 or P1 series. As of now, it’s single-filament only, so no multicolor printing (yet). However, if you want a machine that can produce high-quality prints without draining your bank account—this might be your next buy.

Consistency Is Key

What really impressed me was the consistency. I’m talking about real-world, reliable speed.

The printer is fast enough to finish clean prints without errors, and—best part—you don’t have to babysit it every hour. Just like Bambu printers, you hit “start” and forget about it? Same story here.

Print Times Comparison

Here are the print times for the same parts, using the same settings and the same material, on both printers.

Bambu X1C - PETG Sunlu - 2 walls - 2 tops - 2 Bottoms- 10% infill Gyroid

Elegoo Centauri Carbon - PETG Sunlu - 2 walls - 2 tops - 2 Bottoms- 10% infill Gyroid

Over 202 hours of printing, and not a single fail. Sure, it doesn’t come with all the bells and whistles of the Bambu ecosystem. You’ll have to get your hands dirty with filament tuning and such—but honestly, it’s totally manageable.

Recommended Slicing Software

Pro tip: I’d skip the stock Elegoo slicer. It’s a re-skinned, clunky version of Cura. I’ve been using Orca Slicer instead—it already has Centauri profiles, and it works beautifully right out of the gate.

Acknowledging the Flaws

Now, let’s talk flaws—because yeah, it’s not perfect. The built-in lighting? Kinda trash, let’s be honest. However, I fixed it with a printed riser and a €9 LED strip, and visibility improved significantly. You might get some glare on the camera if the light’s too strong—but whatever. Even Bambu printers don’t exactly light up like a concert stage inside, right?

Print Head Management Needs Improvement

The PTFE tube and cable management on the printhead could use some love, especially during full plate printing. But with a couple of bucks and a quick DIY mod, it’s totally fixable.

Noise Levels

Noise level? It operates around 50–52 dB—solid, especially since there's no motor tuning like with Bambu. The only components making some noise are the chamber fan and the auxiliary fan. But again, small issue. I swapped the fans and printed a rear muffler—an easy fix that made a huge difference.

User-Friendly Touchscreen

And the touchscreen? It’s an absolute gem. The interface is responsive, has a clean layout, and is easy to use. It definitely takes some design cues from Bambu, but it’s not simply a copy—it has its own vibe. Plus, let’s be real: its main competitor, the P1S, doesn’t even come with a decent screen and costs nearly twice as much.

Final Thoughts

Bottom line? This printer impressed me—a lot. I’ve been using it for single-color parts with zero issues. I still use the Bambu for multicolor prints, but once Elegoo drops their multi-material system? We’ll see who prevails 😉.

So yeah, if you’re in the market for a powerful, budget-friendly printer, I’d say give this one a serious look. I haven’t regretted it for a second.

Now that we've covered everything, you can make an informed decision about your next 3D printer.

Catch you later,

Enrico