Bambu Lab spent the week making headlines for something that isn't a printer. The R1, a 55W enclosed CO2 laser cutter and engraver, launched September 22 at $2,499, Bambu's first product outside its printer lineup and a real signal that laser work is going mainstream in the maker space. While that story settles, here's what's actually worth buying on the printer and resin side this week.
Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 Combo: Budget Multicolor Pick
Elegoo's second-gen Centauri Carbon adds four-color printing with the CANVAS system, a 500mm/s CoreXY chassis, and a 350C nozzle that can handle nylon and PC, not just PLA. It's running $399 on Amazon right now for the combo bundle. For a maker who wants multicolor prints without stepping up to a full AMS setup, this is the printer I'd point a beginner or a budget-conscious hobbyist toward first.
Anycubic Kobra X: Step-Up Multicolor Pick
Anycubic's Kobra X pairs native 4-color printing, up to 19 colors with extra ACE units, with a 600mm/s top speed and a quiet 45dB motor. Current price is $459.99 on Amazon. It's the printer I'd recommend to someone who has outgrown a single-color machine and wants faster prints plus real multicolor without jumping straight into Bambu's ecosystem.
Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra 12K: Resin Pick for Detail Work
The Saturn 4 Ultra's 12K mono LCD and 150mm/h print speed make it a strong choice for miniature painters who want crisp detail without babysitting long prints. It's currently $426.99 on Amazon. Between this and my older Saturn 3 Ultra, this is the machine I'd tell a serious mini painter to save up for.
Elegoo Standard Resin 2.0: Reliable Everyday Resin
This is the resin I keep coming back to for general prints, $17.99 for a 1000g bottle on Amazon. Lower shrinkage and higher precision than the original formula, and it plays nice with just about any MSLA printer on the market, including the Saturn and Mars lines.
Don't Skip the Safety Gear
If you're running resin, you need real protection, not just an open window. A 3M OV/P100 respirator, $35.99 on Amazon, handles the fumes properly, and a box of nitrile gloves, $14.99 for 100, keeps uncured resin off your skin. Cheap insurance for your lungs and hands, and honestly the stuff I reach for every single pour.
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That's Maker Monday
That's the maker world for this week. If any of this got you thinking about a custom print, paint, or engraving, come see what we make on the commission page. See you next Monday.
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