AnyCubic Mega-S Review

There’s a growing number of 3D printer options from manufacturers across the world. The Chinese AnyCubic brand will probably be my first recommendation for anyone looking to invest in a reliable 3D printer. Once I had a chance to try the AnyCubic Mega-S, it became clear how this printer is different from the AnyCubic i3 Mega.

Both machines sport the same design and are entirely metal chassis. This simple yet solid frame improves the print quality of the original AnyCubic offering. The only noticeable difference is the model names. But there’s more.

The new AnyCubic Mega-S is an upgrade of the AnyCubic i3 Mega, with vital improvements to keep other brands green with envy.

Overview of the AnyCubic Mega-S

As I expected, the AnyCubic Mega-S 3D printer delivers a substantial base featuring a full-color touchscreen. The touchscreen is not alone, though – the robotic mascot reminds me of Iron Man.

The Mega-S is easy for beginners and non-techie types to adopt. Because it’s partly pre-assembled, it will be love at first sight for makers who need a head start to build a kit.

The build volume is 210 x 210 x 205 mm, and the first layer of each build begins from the resilient AnyCubic Ultrabase heated bed. This approach ensures that the print sticks to the bed and plucks off immediately.

Many budget 3D printers come with impressive features such as filament runout detection and power recovery loss, and I found them on the Mega-S. AnyCubic also has a suspended spool holder at the 3D printer’s side, and it’s changed the filament sensor placement to improve usability.

The company says the extruder on the AnyCubic Mega-S is now more compatible with flexible filaments like TPU. Even though other upgrades are only cosmetic, this is a significant functional enhancement.

AnyCubic Mega-S Specs

Dimensions

• Physical Dimensions: 16.14 x 15.94 x 17.83 inches (405 x 410 x 453 mm)
• Weight: 11 kg (24.25 lbs)

Functional Specs

• Bed Leveling: Manual
• Build Volume: 8.3 x 8.3 x 8.1 inches (210 x 210 x 205 mm)
• Connectivity: SD, USB Data Cable (for experts)
• Display: Color Touch Screen
• Extruder Type: Single
• Feeder System: Bowden drive and geared feeder
• Filament Sensor: Yes
• Input Formats: AMF, DAE, OBJ, STL,
• Layer Resolution: 40 – 300 microns
• Maximum Extruder Temperature: 260 °C
• Maximum Heated Bed Temperature: 110 °C
• Modeling Technology: FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling)
• Nozzle diameter: 0.4 mm
• Output Format: Gcode
• Print Bed: Heated bed with AnyCubic Ultrabase coating
• Print Speed: 20 – 100 mm/s (60 mm/s is optimal)
• Support Print Materials: ABS, HIPS, PETG, PLA, TPU, and Wood
• Travel Speed: 100 mm/s

Materials

• Filament Diameter: 1.75 mm
• Third-party Filaments: Yes
• Support Print Materials: ABS, HIPS, PETG, PLA, TPU, and Wood

Software Requirements

• Operating System: Windows, Mac OSX, Linux
• Recommended Slicer: Cura, Repetier-HOST, Simplify 3D

AnyCubic Mega-S Features

Here, I’ll delve deeper into the features of the AnyCubic Mega-S that I find appealing. But first, here are its major features:

• Easy set-up
• Upgraded Extruder
• AnyCubic Ultrabase
• Filament Sensor
• Massive build volume

Let’s begin with the extruder. Make no mistakes – it’s still a Bowden extruder – but you cannot print with flexible filaments. Overall though, I like the superior design.

Assemble in Record Time – What You See Is What You Get

I only needed three steps to set up the printer using only eight screws. That’s a small number of parts considering what I’m used to as a DIY person. Anyone at any level – beginner or expert – will enjoy how easy it is to piece this machine together.

The faster I can assemble a printer, the more time I have to enjoy printing and creating on the full-color TFT Touchscreen. I like the friendly user interface, and the multi-language feature allows me to practice my Spanish.

Updated Extruder and Resilient Ultrabase

The Titan extruder comes with a solid filament drive and overall mechanical design that most filaments find compatible. The extruder also reduces the risk of clogging, while enhancing the accuracy of the print. It’s also easy to adjust the extruder by adjusting the angle logo.

AnyCubic Mega-S’s Ultrabase provides excellent adhesion during printing. Once it cools, the print pops off like it never had anything to do with the bed. The wires are also tighter now that they come at a higher quality.

Filaments – The Definition of Solid

The significant difference with the i3 is the additional filament holder. This feature is not entirely

groundbreaking, but it is relevant. The separate acrylic filament holder feels cumbersome. But, the positioning is excellent, so I can easily change the filament. The one-piece hanging filament rack design is a priceless space-saver that helps in organizing work.

AnyCubic Mega-S also sports an auto-pause feature if the filament breaks or runs out.

No Power? No Problem!

If power outages are frequent in your area, the power outage resume capabilities are a real life-saver. Now, you have a nifty feature to handle an issue that could easily jeopardize your prints. So, what happens when a power failure occurs?

They say, “an elephant never forgets.” AnyCubic Mega-S has a way of recalling where it got to before your fuse blew, your cable detached from the wall socket, or your entire city experienced a blackout.

Spooling Issues Now Left Behind

The filament runout sensor also has a new position, just behind the filament spool. I find it much better than the previous design, where the spool often fell off when changing the filament.

Other than these, there’s little in terms of features that make the AnyCubic Mega-S different from the AnyCubic i3. But, trust the manufacturers who’ve promised new products, such as a 4Max Pro version, a Photon-S version, and a colossal delta version in a bid to offer different options to makers.

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Pros

• Good-looking, yet strong and reliable 3D printer
• Easy to Operate, even for beginners or new makers
• Great Customer Support

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Cons

• You have to tune with your slicer
• Cooling fan rattling
• Electrical issues and Z-axis problems

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Conclusions

Adding the AnyCubic Mega-S to my array of 3D printers is a huge source of satisfaction. It retains most of the design specs I’m familiar with, so I’ve had zero issues in fixing the original design.

AnyCubic is highly supportive of customers, and the Mega-S upgrade shows they’re in touch with the customer’s pulse. It’s no wonder their machines continue to be reliable – I’ve used my i3 Mega for a few years, and it continues to serve me well.

I’ll recommend the AnyCubic Mega-S to any DIY enthusiast, anytime. It’s probably the best in class 3D printer considering the features it offers at its price. You can upgrade your i3 Mega to a Mega-S by purchasing the upgrade kit. It’ll enhance your 3D printer’s extruder, and enable you to print flexible filament. You also get an upgraded filament holder that bolts onto the printer frame. There’s little else one could ask of this 3D printer.

Once my ideas are ready to come alive, I simply take my ideas and designs on paper or some CAD file and trust the AnyCubic Mega-S 3D to complete the magic.