We are back with another AnyCubic Vyper 3D printer review. We last reviewed the Mono X, one of the AnyCubic MSLA printers. This time we tested the AnyCubic Vyper, a mid-range FDM 3D printer that will set you back between $359 and $431 depending on which variant you order.
Overall, the Vyper is a great entry-level filament printer that will allow you to print things right out of the box without a lot of setup time or trial and error. What started as a Kickstarter-style project has grown into a legitimate product in the 3D printer market.
AnyCubic Vyper 3D Printer review
AnyCubic Vyper 3D Printer Features
The AnyCubic Vyper 3D printer comes with a rich set of features. The Vyper is comparable to other filament 3D printers in its class and doesn’t cost as much as many of its competitors.
- Large build volume: 9.6 x 9.6 x 10.2 inches (245mm x 245mm x 260mm)
- Automatic bed levelling by strain gauge sensor
- Two-part cooling fan, plus hot-end fan
- Silent TMC2209 stepper driver for ultra-quiet and precise printing
- Integrated belt tensioners for easy maintenance
- 4.3″ color touchscreen
- 32-bit processor
- Dual gear extruder driver
- Twin screw Z axis
- Spring steel bed for easy part removal
- LED light next to the mouthpiece
We could say a lot about each function, but suffice it to say that it has a parcel of nice features, especially the spring steel blade and the automatic bed levelling.
Vyper 3D Printer Assembly
It took less than 30 minutes to unbox and build the machine before our first part started printing. And five minutes of that was spent looking for tools we thought we were missing but were actually packed away in a really nice built-in storage drawer that we totally missed at first sight.
The Z axis and XY axis have been fully assembled, only requiring us to connect them together using the included bolts. Then we mount the touchscreen with a few screws and connect all clearly marked electrical cables. It was almost impossible to do wrong.
Finally, various zip ties were used to hold the parts together during transport. We cut them, according to the instructions. That was it.
Vyper Build Quality
The Vyper uses 20/20 extrusions and moulded plastic covers. All parts looked professional and well made, not creaky like MK3 parts can be. Cable connectors for cables are easy to use and well-placed. The touchscreen is second to none and the partial drawer is a really nice touch.
Upon unpacking, the Y axis required a small adjustment (the manual mentions this possibility). We were impressed with the hotel and the more than adequate partial cooling. The Vyper uses a dual fan, which means you can run your printer faster while cooling your layers. The attention to detail really makes it feel like a printer that costs a lot more than it does.
Calibration
The first step is to level the print bed. AnyCubic advertises that the Vyper is “self-levelling”, and it certainly is. The Vyper uses a method called strain gauge levelling which measures the force applied to the nozzle to determine when it contacts the bed. This has a few advantages over other automatic bed levelling methods.
First, there is no need to adjust the height of the levelling probe or apply an offset. Second, having the level sensor built right into the nozzle means your probe can reach every part of the build plate.
Bed levelling was easy to find on the touchscreen control menu, and the touchscreen itself was extremely responsive. This is probably the best touchscreen we’ve ever used on a 3D printer. Levelling the bed was a fairly quick task, except for the time it took for the Z axis to come down all the way. It seemed very slow, but overall the process was quick. The slowness of the Z-axis is probably a trade-off for better accuracy. And since you don’t need to level the bed before each print, that’s okay.
The Vyper uses a 4×4 grid system to do bed levelling and stores it in EEPROM for all subsequent prints or until you level it again.
First Impression
Apart from a bit of debugging on the model, owl.gcode, the test print was superb. We suspect the print in particular could be significantly improved by adjusting the Cura settings and re-cutting it, but it looked better than expected, especially for a first print.
After letting the print bed cool and removing the steel sheet, the print fell off almost effortlessly. The magnetic spring steel bed is a must-have feature if you buy a 3D printer. The textured surface left a nice finish on the bottom of the test print. The test print was completed in just under 90 minutes, impressively fast.
Aside from the fan, the Vyper is nearly silent. Having lived in a house with many 3D printers, we can attest that this is the quietest we’ve ever used.
Come to the Point
For the money, this printer is a bargain. It’s easy to set up, and easy enough for a beginner to start printing in half an hour. It is reliable enough to print batches. In fact, we had no failures.
If we were to buy a printer for someone who had never used a 3D printer before, the AnyCubic Vyper would be a strong contender. It is much easier to use than an Ender 3 thanks to the automatic bed levelling and high-quality parts.
Vyper requires very little setup, which means the end user can start printing right away. The Vyper also works great with OctoPrint, so you can access all of those great OctoPrint plugins.
The Vyper could be a great candidate for a print farm or school 3D printing lab because they are very inexpensive and easy to install and because of the low failure rate.
All in all, the Vyper is an excellent 3D printer, well worth your money.
