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The Anycubic Mega X – The Best Large Mid-Level 3D Printer?

The Mega X is the largest printer from Anycubic’s mega-series and one of the largest 3D printers in the market. The printer has a nicely finished, matte black, metal design and comes loaded with a lot of features.

It is also a mid-level printer that should be pocket-friendly enough for both beginner and seasoned creators. But there is more to the Mega X than meets the eye, and this will be the focus of our review today. We simply take an in-depth look at the printer just to see if it’s indeed worth your money.

Specifications

• Printing Technology: Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)
• Build Volume: 300 mm x 300 mm x 305 mm
• Layer Resolution: 0.05 – 0.3 mm
• Positioning Accuracy: X/Y 0.0125 mm, Z 0.002 mm
• Nozzle Diameter: 0.4 mm
• Print Speed: 20 – 100 mm/second
• Maximum Extruder Temperature: 250 Degrees Celsius
• Maximum Bed Temperature: 90 Degrees Celsius
• Filament Materials: PLA, ABS, TPU, HIPS, PETG, wood
• Connectivity: SD Card and Data Cable
• Control: Touchscreen display
• Filament Sensor: Yes
• Printer Size: 500 mm x 500 mm x 553 mm
• Printer Weight: 19 Kilograms

Features

The Mega X also comes with several unique features that make it stand out from other large midlevel units in the market. Here are some of them:

• The printer has an exceptionally large build volume. This gives you enough flexibility to print relatively large items.
• The printer is also fitted with a large, easy-to-use, assisted leveling knob that should work perfectly, even for a beginner.
• The manufacturer also offers an improved Z-axis dual screw rod design in the Mega X. This helps to enhance printer stability and reduce the risk of printing errors.
• The Mega X also features a powerful Titan extruder that is compatible with so many different filaments, including TPU and wood
• You will also get an innovative dual lead rail design that helps to stabilize the hotbed during printing. It also comes with customized aluminum modules on the Y-axis. These two features play a key role in enhancing print quality.
• The printer is also powered by a high voltage, reliable and safe power supply system from top-rated manufacturers.
• It also has filament detection sensors that track filament use and notify you when you are running low.
• There is also a print resume function that lets you continue printing smoothly after a sudden power outage.
• The Mega X also has an all-metal frame design, finished in matte black, for that sleek look. It also features a durable metal chassis for extra longevity.
• The printer is also fitted with a unique Ultrabase print bed made from glass and coated with a porous microstructure that enhances print adhesion massively.
• The bed also offers rapid heating, reaching 60 degrees Celsius in about two minutes. You also get fast and balanced heat dissipation all across the print bed for better print quality.

Pros

• Extra-large build volume that lets you print larger items with ease
• All metal frame and chassis design for long-lasting service 
• It comes already pre-assembled, making setup and assembly relatively easier
• Improved printer stability thanks to innovative X/Y axis design

Cons

• Some customers have had trouble leveling the bed correctly
• You may also run into quality issues when you use ABS filament
• The extruder jams occasionally, which may affect the printing experience
• The printer is heavy and super bulky and will require a lot of space

Unboxing and Box Contents

The Anycubic Mega X ships in a large cardboard box, probably the largest packaging we have seen. It is, however, nicely secured with tape. The package is also heavy, so if it’s possible, at least have someone around when it arrives to help you bring it into your studio. The inside of the box is also well packaged.

First, all the stuff in there is covered in a nice transparent plastic bag that goes all around the entire box. You will also be met by the first layer of foam padding when you cut open the tape. And just so you know, there is a lot of foam padding in there. Now, the Anycubic Mega X ships already pre-assembled. In that case, you get two main printer components, the base and the gantry.

Anycubic also gives you a 1 KG spool of white PLA filament. You will also notice there is a small plastic bag full of goodies. Some of the accessories to look out for in there include an SD card, a card reader, a filament sensor, a spare hotend, and a USB cable. There are also a few tools in there as well including a pair of pliers, tweezers, a scrapper, a nozzle cleaner, and several screws.

The manufacturer also has a set of Allen keys, wrenches, and zip ties that will be needed for assembly. Don’t also forget the power cord and the detailed user manual. The manual can also be found on the SD card that ships with this unit, and you can also download it from Anycubic’s website.

Setup

The Anycubic Mega X ships already pre-assembled. For this reason, the assembly is so easy. Once you’ve removed the printer out of the box, you just need to attach the gantry to the printer base, and that’s it. The process is detailed very clearly, too, in the user manual. 

To give you some perspective on just how easy it is to set up this unit, the user manual provided by Anycubic is one page. The Mega X does not, however, come with an automatic leveling feature. Instead, the manufacturer offers what they call assisted leveling, but it’s all manual.

While the leveling instructions on the manual look fairly easy, there are a lot of complaints on Amazon that the bed does not level quite well.  As for loading filament, it’s pretty easy too. You just need to attach the spool holder and feed it in.

Software

The Anycubic Mega X comes with a proprietary slicer from the manufacturer called the Photon Workshop. From the reviews we saw on Reddit, it seems the slicer is just perfect. The good news is that the printer is also compatible with popular modern-day slicers, including Cura, Simplify 3D, and others.

In Use

For a mid-level pocket-friendly printer, the Mega X does produce impeccable print quality. All the reviews we analyzed agree with this assertion. Much of this success is down to the improved gantry that enhances print precision substantially. The Ultrabase glass bed on this printer is also very central in promoting print quality and adhesion. 

You will also love that it doesn’t take a lot of effort to remove the printed object from the bed. Heat dissipation on the bed is also quite commendable for the Mega X. The print speed is also very good. Generally, the Mega X can hit between 20 and 100 mm/second. But the recommended optimum printing speed by the manufacturer is 60 mm/second.

Despite all these positives, the Mega X is very noisy. I wouldn’t recommend it for a school or for anyone who just wants a super quiet printer.

Customer Service

Anycubic says that it has a comprehensive support team that works to address customer issues within 24 hours. I’ve found their support team to be very friendly and useful but a little slow to respond. Thankfully, there are plenty of Anycubic owners in online 3D printing communities, so you’ll never be on your own if you do come across any issues.

Conclusion

The Mega X sure has a lot to offer. First, it’s a large, well-built printer with a sturdy all-metal design. You also get a large build volume that allows you to print relatively large objects. The Mega X also comes pre-assembled. It takes just a few minutes to set it up, even if you are a beginner. Let’s also not forget the print quality achieved and the well-constructed hotbed. When you consider its price, there is no arguing that this is one printer that offers immense value for money. 

But even then, it still has its low points. For instance, the printer is very noisy. We have also seen complaints about leveling and, in some cases, bed warping. The Mega X is also huge and quite heavy. It’s just not for someone on the go. Nonetheless, it is still a great option to go for. If you can get around the bed leveling, this unit will give you high-quality prints and a great customer experience. I highly recommend it!

Dylan