If you’re looking for an affordable 3D printer with many useful features, it’s hard to ignore the Anycubic Kobra. Released in 2022, the original Anycubic Kobra is an all-around terrific fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printer, with useful features like auto-bed leveling and a spring steel build plate. Though the company is retiring the original Kobra printer, Anycubic has kept the Kobra series alive through the recent Kobra 2 as well as the other iterations of the machine (e.g. Kobra 2 Pro).
But whether you have the original Kobra, Kobra 2, or one of the many Anycubic Kobra variants, there’s always room for improvement. Whether for getting a hold of cable management or perfecting filament extrusion, upgrades enhance the overall performance and usability of your 3D printer. If you have a Kobra Max, some of the upgrades below will be compatible, but you can also check out our dedicated article on Anycubic Kobra Max upgrades and mods for a guaranteed fit.
In this article, we’re going to present several mods and upgrades for the Anycubic Kobra and Kobra 2 that you can print or buy yourself. Let’s dive right in and have a look!
Filament Sensor
A filament runout sensor for the Kobra printer is made and supplied by Anycubic. For the Kobra 2, you’ll have to opt for the new model that’s also compatible with the Kobra Go and Neo.
The sensor detects when the filament is about to run out and then pauses the print to allow for a change of roll. This can prove invaluable if you’re doing a long print that requires a lot of filament or you left your printer running overnight and aren’t sure how much filament is left on the spool.
While you may have to do some tinkering with the motherboard, there’s an instructional video that walks you through the installation process. That said, Printables maker WeTheDylan also designed a useful bracket that they claim is more stable than the proposed setup.
- Improvement: Helps anticipate potential print failure
- Printer compatibility: Kobra, Kobra 2
- Price: ∼$20
Light Bar
How can you work on your 3D printer if you can’t see it? A light bar, or other form of lighting, makes working on your printer (e.g. changing nozzles, starting prints) much easier when the sun goes down.
There are many ways you can add a light bar to your Anycubic Kobra printer, but this 3D printable project is one of the easiest options considering the build and assembly instructions provided by the designer. The light bar mount is a single 3D print meant for fitting two strips of 10-mm LED lights. The print mounts in a clip-like fashion to the top of your Kobra Neo or Kobra Go, though it works with other versions of the Kobra as well.
On top of the mount and lights, the designer mentions that you need a few screws and a push button to make this upgrade work. It’s also worth mentioning that the light is meant to be powered directly from the printer’s motherboard, so it’s important to get 24-V LED strips.
- Improvement: Illuminates the print space
- Printer compatibility: Kobra, Kobra 2
- Price: $20-$30
- Designer: 3DPrintingJoe
- Where to find it: Printables
Filament Guide
One of the most simple upgrades you can make to the Anycubic Kobra is adding a filament guide. For reference, a filament guide is an attachment that helps guide filament from the spool to the extruder to prevent any tangling or other issues.
As seen in the picture above, this specific filament guide is simple in design but fits perfectly on the Kobra and effectively keeps your filament out of the way. The guide mounts to the top bar on the printer and is push-to-fit, so no screws or other hardware are necessary. The designer also mentioned that they used a 10% infill density and a 0.2-mm layer height to successfully print the model.
While it’s unknown if this filament guide fits perfectly on other versions of the Kobra, you can check out an alternative filament guide for the Kobra Go.
- Improvement: Guides the filament to the extruder
- Printer compatibility: Kobra
- Price: Only filament
- Designer: WeTheDylan
- Where to find it: Thingiverse
Tool Holder
The manufacturers of most 3D printers will usually include a bag of the most essential tools that you’ll need to assemble the printer and maintain it. But where do you keep them for easy access? The answer: A tool holder.
A tool holder can be a useful addition to any printer. This one sits neatly at the side of the Kobra to hold the tools, and there’s additional space for calipers. There’s also a small container for any odds and ends you may want to keep by the printer.
- Improvement: Simplifies access to essential tools
- Printer compatibility: Kobra, Kobra 2
- Price: Only filament
- Designer: darkamikaze
- Where to find it: Printables
Mechanical Power Off Button
This addition to the Kobra is more of a project than a simple print-and-go modification and will require some skill with electronics and wiring. You’ll also need to know how to use G-code in Marlin to make it work with your printer.
The idea of the switch is that when the extruder nozzle returns to the auto-home position at the end of printing, an arm attached to the extruder flicks it to the off position, shutting down your printer. It’s a simple principle, but one that will save you some energy and cost if you’re unable to turn your printer off manually when the print finishes. It’s also an additional safety measure if you’re in the habit of leaving your printer unattended for long periods.
The print of the casing and arm is pretty straightforward, and both files are available. Handily, the designer has added instructions and the appropriate lines of G-code you need to add to make this work, so you have all the tools you need. There will be additional costs involved with the electronics, but you’ll only need a single pole rocker switch and a short piece of cable.
- Improvement: Enhances control over power consumption, cost, and safety
- Printer compatibility: Kobra
- Price: ∼$5
- Designer: LucasDravandi
- Where to find it: Printables
Z Belt Tensioner
Unlike the original Anycubic Kobra, the Kobra 2 and Kobra 2 Pro use two threaded rods (rather than one) to facilitate vertical movements across the Z-axis. However, because these printers are only equipped with one Z-axis stepper motor, a belt runs at the top that synchronizes the rods’ movement. But over time, slack develops in the belt, causing print quality issues like failed first layers and Z-axis banding.
This next upgrade is a belt tensioner designed specifically for the Z-axis belt on the Kobra 2. The tensioner is made up of two 3D prints, a typical skateboard ball bearing, and a few screws. A similar model for the Kobra 2 Pro can be found on Printables.
Once assembled, you can screw in the tensioner to the top extrusion on your printer and the bearing will remove some slack in the belt line while still allowing the belts to run smoothly. You can adjust the belt tension by loosening the mounting screw and sliding the tensioner assembly forward and backward based on your desired tension.
- Improvement: Provides adjustable tension for the Z-axis belt to synchronize motor movements
- Printer compatibility: Kobra 2
- Price: $5-$10
- Designer: tacitapproval
- Where to find it: Thingiverse
Modified Fan Duct
With this item, the designer has modified the original fan duct model, which was made for a Creality CR-10, to make it fit the Kobra.
Mods such as this are commonly made for most printers, as they improve airflow to the hot end, making for a more controlled printing environment.
While the designer didn’t include any printing settings, neither of the two makers who shared their prints on Thingiverse used rafts, although one did use supports.
- Improvement: Enhances part cooling and airflow around the nozzle
- Printer compatibility: Kobra
- Price: Only filament
- Designer: jimsterdelux
- Where to find it: Thingiverse
Bed Alignment Cover
While the spring steel PEI build plate that comes with the Anycubic Kobra is terrific, it’s nearly impossible to align the square surface perfectly with the frame of the printer. This 3D printable bed alignment cover mounts to the back left corner of the print bed and offers a 90° corner to make perfectly aligning the build plate a speedy process. Additionally, the upgrade helps ensure that the print bed cables stay in place and don’t get tangled.
This upgrade consists of just a single 3D print and can be attached by sliding the part under the bed frame and around the wires, as depicted on the project page. As for printer compatibility, the designer states that this 3D printable cover should work on the Anycubic Kobra 2, Kobra 2 Neo, and Kobra 2 Pro.
- Improvement: Eases alignment of the build plate and protects the bed heater cable
- Printer compatibility: Kobra 2
- Price: Only filament
- Designer: mrfenyx
- Where to find it: Printables
Raspberry Pi & Camera Housing
The Raspberry Pi was originally developed as a learning tool to teach children the basics of computing and writing code. In recent years, however, the Pi has become a favored way for 3D printer owners to control and monitor their machines. As a result, it’s useful (and sometimes necessary) to have the Pi fairly close to the machine, so a holder is a natural progression.
This holder has been designed to attach a Raspberry Pi, the 4B or 3B versions, to the side of the printer with additional support for a camera – perfect for an OctoPrint setup.
Note that while the image above is of an Anycubic Vyper, the holder is also compatible with the Kobra.
- Improvement: Allows for access and connectivity to a Raspberry Pi
- Printer compatibility: Kobra, Kobra 2
- Price: Only filament (plus the Pi, if you don’t have one already)
- Designer: A_Leh
- Where to find it: Thingiverse
Spool Bracket Upgrade
The purpose of this model is to replace what the designer refers to as the “wobbly” standard spool holder that comes with the printer. It also nicely centers the spool on the X-axis gantry, making for a neater look and more efficient feed.
Most spool holders involve the use of one extended “arm” on which the filament spool hangs and rotates as it feeds. This design incorporates brackets on both sides of the spool holder, creating sturdier and smoother spool turns. The design itself is composed of three separate printable files, which can be assembled and attached to the printer.
- Improvement: Adds a smooth and sturdy feed of the filament to the extruder
- Printer compatibility: Kobra, Kobra 2
- Price: Only filament
- Designer: DsK_Printing
- Where to find it: Printables
X-Axis Cable Clip
Cable management is a constant battle on a 3D printer, as many different wires and tubes are involved in the printing process. While Anycubic reduced the cable clutter on the Kobra 2 by choosing to use a ribbon cable to power the printhead, there’s still room for improvement. This 3D printable cable clip helps keep the Bowden tube and the printhead ribbon cable tied together so they don’t get tangled on an ongoing 3D print.
According to the designer, this clip works on all versions of the Anycubic Kobra 2, including the Max, Pro, Plus, and Neo. Lastly, installing the clip is super simple and you just have to slide in the ribbon cable into the rectangular section of the print and slide the Bowden tube into the upper, circular section.
- Improvement: Organizes and contains the PTFE tube and printhead cables
- Printer compatibility: Kobra 2
- Price: Only filament
- Designer: FreshPrintsBelair805
- Where to find it: Printables
Vibration Dampening Feet
These dampening feet have been designed to specifically fit under each corner of the Kobra’s base and are available to print yourself.
The feet add some slight “give” in movement, which reduces vibration caused either by the machine itself or external factors. The idea is to improve and prevent ghosting and layer slips in prints caused by vibrations.
The creator specified that they used supports when printing, with a layer height of 0.3 mm and an infill of 40%. They don’t recommend going lower than this percentage, as the feet need to be strong and sturdy.
- Improvement: Reduces vibration from printing and external elements
- Printer compatibility: Kobra
- Price: Only filament
- Designer: WeTheDylan
- Where to find it: Thingiverse
Nozzle Holder
In addition to a place for your tools, you might also need somewhere to store your replacement nozzles. This design is quite neat and has room for 18 nozzles, which should keep you going for some time.
The holder is designed to slide into the 4040 profile V-slot, which forms part of the base frame of the Kobra. The designer has screwed the nozzles into each of the available holes to create a thread and allow for nozzles to be hung upside down. This has also allowed more space for additional nozzles.
According to the designer, supports aren’t necessary. While the model includes overhangs, a well-calibrated printer should be able to print the design with no issue. Note that the design is compatible with the Kobra and the Kobra 2 as long as the V-slot covers are removed.
- Improvement: Eases access to and storage of printer nozzles
- Printer compatibility: Kobra, Kobra 2
- Price: Only filament
- Designer: darkamikaze
- Where to find it: Printables
MicroSD Extender Holder
This is a simple design for an extension to the MicroSD card slot on the front of the Kobra. The idea behind it is to make access easier and hopefully to protect and prolong the life of the slot itself.
The designer has given instructions on assembly, and some additional materials are needed to attach it to the printer, including a MicroSD card extension and double-sided tape.
- Improvement: Allows for access to the SD card reader
- Printer compatibility: Kobra, Kobra 2
- Price: ∼$20
- Designer: EdgarAndre71
- Where to find it: Thingiverse
Printer Enclosure
While this may be a bigger project than most upgrades and mods, an enclosure is a tool that can improve print quality, so we think it’s worth including.
An enclosure protects your printer and what it’s printing from external interferences such as drafts, dust, and fluctuations in temperature and humidity. It can also provide some sound dampening if you’re concerned about causing any disturbance to your or your neighbors’ ears! And there are some filaments, like ABS, that benefit greatly from an enclosure.
Purpose-built enclosures are available for a variety of printers, but the most popular options seem to be the DIY kind. Possibly the most well-known of these is the now famous IKEA lack enclosure, but various options are available, and instructions can be found online or via YouTube tutorials.
If you’d rather purchase one, you can find plenty of options at Amazon, but just be sure to check the dimensions before clicking on the “Buy” button!
- Improvement: Allows for better print quality, reduces noise, improves printing of higher-temperature filaments
- Printer compatibility: Kobra, Kobra 2
- Price: Varies
- Designer: Many
- Where to find it: Online and YouTube tutorials
