Elegoo centauri carbon review
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The Centauri Carbon is Elegoo’s enclosed CoreXY: 256 x 256 x 256 mm, 500 mm/s and 20,000 mm/s2, aimed squarely at the P1S bracket for less money. It is the machine that made people take Elegoo seriously as an FDM brand rather than a resin one. Note that Elegoo has since released the Centauri Carbon 2 and a Combo version, so check which generation a listing is offering before you buy.
This assessment is based on Elegoo’s published specification rather than a workshop test here. The Centauri Carbon matters less for any single number than for where it landed: an enclosed CoreXY at 256 mm cubed with mainstream speed figures, from a company that previously sold mostly resin machines.
Where to buy
Specification
| Spec | Centauri Carbon |
|---|---|
| Build volume | 256 x 256 x 256 mm |
| Motion | Enclosed CoreXY |
| Max speed | 500 mm/s |
| Max acceleration | 20,000 mm/s2 |
| Generations | Centauri Carbon, Centauri Carbon 2, Centauri Carbon 2 Combo, Centauri 2 |
Those speed figures put it level with the P1S and X1 Carbon rather than the faster 600 mm/s machines, and the 256 mm cube is the format that has become the default for this class.
What the name implies, and what to verify
The Carbon in the name signals filled filament, and that is the right expectation for an enclosed machine at this size. Two things always decide whether a printer really handles carbon-filled filament: the nozzle material and the enclosure. Hardened steel or a tri-metal nozzle survives abrasive filament; brass does not, and it wears fast enough that you will see it in flow inconsistency within tens of hours. Check what nozzle the specific listing includes, and budget for a hardened nozzle if it is brass.
The other number to check on the listing is bed temperature, because that is what separates comfortable ABS and ASA from optimistic ABS and ASA. Enclosure plus a hot bed is the combination; either alone is not enough.
How it compares in the bracket
Against the Bambu P1S at the same 256 mm cubed, the Centauri Carbon competes on price rather than ecosystem. Bambu’s advantage is the software stack, RFID filament handling and the sealed AMS; Elegoo’s is cost. Our P1S vs Centauri Carbon comparison sets those out.
Against the Creality K1C, which is 220 x 220 x 250 mm with a 300 degC nozzle, 100 degC bed and 600 mm/s, the Centauri Carbon has the bigger plate and the K1C the faster ceiling plus a tri-metal nozzle as standard. See Centauri Carbon vs K1C.
Against the Bambu A1, the trade is enclosure versus automation: the A1 has the easier maintenance and full auto calibration but no enclosure, so no ABS. See Centauri Carbon vs A1.
Who should buy it
Buy the Centauri Carbon if you want an enclosed 256 mm CoreXY at the lowest sensible price and you are comfortable doing your own research on filament profiles rather than relying on a curated ecosystem. Buy a P1S or P2S if you want the software and changer maturity. Buy a K1C if abrasive filament out of the box matters more than plate size.
Whichever you choose, confirm the generation. With Centauri Carbon, Centauri Carbon 2, a Combo variant and the plain Centauri 2 all in the market, listings are easy to misread. Our Centauri Carbon overview and multi-colour notes have more.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Centauri Carbon enclosed? Yes, it is an enclosed CoreXY.
How fast is it? 500 mm/s with 20,000 mm/s2 of acceleration, the same bracket as the P1S and X1 Carbon.
Can it print carbon-fibre filament? That is the design intent, but check the nozzle in your listing and fit hardened steel if it ships with brass.
Which generation should I buy? Check the listing carefully; Elegoo now sells a Centauri Carbon 2 and a Combo alongside the original.
LayerWalker
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