This guide is designed for teachers who are brand new to 3D printing and those who already have some experience. By the end, you should be able to:
Set up the printer safely
Understand the major parts of the printer
Load filament
Connect the printer to your computer
Slice and send a file
Complete a successful first print
When you open the box, you should expect to find:
The Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 printer
Touchscreen
Power cable
Tool kit and Allen wrenches
Build plate installed inside the printer
Filament holder and CANVAS multi-color module if you purchased the Combo version
USB drive with software and videos
Spare parts and accessories
Before throwing away any packing material, make sure you remove everything from inside the printer. Many new users miss small boxes or foam pieces hidden inside the machine.
Inside the printer there are shipping screws and foam pieces holding parts in place. These must be removed before use.
Look for:
Foam blocks around the print head and build plate
Tape holding moving parts
The screws locking the heated bed in place
If these are not removed, the printer may make loud noises or fail to move correctly.
The printer works best on a:
Strong, level table
Surface that does not wobble
Space with good ventilation
Spot with room around the back and sides
Because the Centauri Carbon 2 is enclosed, it takes up more room than many classroom printers.
Plan for:
At least 6 inches of space on the sides
Room in the back for the power cable and filament tubes
Enough space to fully open the front door
Avoid putting the printer directly next to a classroom sink, window, or heating vent. Big temperature changes can make prints fail.
The main parts teachers need to know are:
Print head: Moves around and melts the filament
Heated bed: The plate the print sticks to
Touchscreen: Used to control the printer
Camera: Lets you monitor prints remotely
Air filter and exhaust fan: Helps with airflow inside the enclosure
USB port: Used for flash drives
Filament holder: Holds the spool of filament
CANVAS module: Used for multi-color printing on the Combo version
Compared to many classroom printers, the Centauri Carbon 2:
Is fully enclosed, which is safer and quieter
Can print faster than most beginner printers
Supports multiple nozzle sizes
Supports multi-color printing when using the CANVAS module
Includes automatic bed leveling and built-in camera support
For teachers moving from printers like the Bambu Lab A1 or older open-frame printers, the biggest difference is that this printer is more enclosed and more automated.
Plug the touchscreen cable into the back of the screen.
Make sure the gold contacts face the correct direction.
Slide the touchscreen into the slot on the front of the printer.
Press gently until it locks into place.
If the screen does not turn on later, unplug it and re-seat the cable.
Before using the printer, remove the screws holding the build plate in place.
Open the printer door.
Locate the screws marked in blue near the build plate.
Use the included 2.5 mm Allen wrench.
Remove all three screws.
Keep these screws in a labeled bag in case the printer ever needs to be transported.
If you purchased the Combo version, you will also install the CANVAS module.
The CANVAS module allows the printer to switch between up to four filament colors automatically.
Attach the mounting bracket to the back/top of the printer.
Attach the CANVAS module to the bracket.
Install the filament hub.
Attach the spool holders to the side of the printer.
Connect the PTFE tubes from each spool position into the matching numbered ports.
Plug the CANVAS cable into the printer.
Keep the tube numbers matched to the spool numbers. If spool 1 is connected to tube 3, your colors will come out wrong.
For your first workshop print, it is often easier to start with a single color even if the CANVAS module is installed.
Plug in the power cable.
Turn on the switch on the back of the printer.
Wait for the touchscreen to start.
Follow the first-time setup prompts.
The printer may ask you to:
Select a language
Connect to Wi‑Fi
Run calibration
Update firmware
Yes. If the printer prompts you to update, do it before your first print. New firmware often fixes bugs and improves print quality.
Connecting to Wi‑Fi allows you to:
Send prints directly from the slicer
Watch the camera feed
Start and stop prints remotely
To connect:
Go to Settings on the printer.
Choose Network.
Select your Wi‑Fi network.
Enter the password.
Wait for the printer to show it is connected.
If you are in a school, be aware that guest networks or district firewalls may block the printer.
Many schools use networks that block devices from talking to each other. If your computer cannot find the printer later, try:
Connecting both devices to the same staff network
Using a personal hotspot for the workshop
Exporting files to a USB drive instead
The Centauri Carbon 2 uses ElegooSlicer, which is based on Orca Slicer.
Install it from:
The included USB drive
The Elegoo website
When you open the software for the first time:
Choose the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 printer profile.
Select the correct nozzle size.
Choose whether you have the CANVAS Combo version.
For most teachers, the default 0.4 mm nozzle is the best choice.
0.4 mm: Best for most classroom prints
0.2 mm: More detail, but slower
0.6 mm: Faster, larger prints
0.8 mm: Very fast, less detail
For the workshop, stay with the 0.4 mm nozzle.
For a simple first print, use PLA filament.
PLA is the easiest material for beginners because it:
Prints easily
Does not smell much
Works well in classrooms
Sticks well to the build plate
Put the spool on the holder.
Insert the filament into the matching numbered tube.
Push until the printer detects it.
Confirm the material on the screen.
If you are not using RFID filament, you may need to manually enter:
Brand
Material type
Color
Hang the spool on the filament holder.
Cut the end of the filament at an angle.
Feed it into the printer until the extruder grabs it.
Use the touchscreen to load filament.
If the filament will not go in:
Cut the end again at a sharper angle
Straighten the first inch of filament
Make sure you are pushing into the correct opening
For a first test print, choose something small and simple.
Good first print ideas:
A name tag
A simple keychain
A 20 mm cube
A classroom token
A bookmark with text
Avoid printing something large or complicated on day one.
Open ElegooSlicer.
Import the model file.
Place it on the build plate.
Choose PLA as the material.
Click Slice.
Preview the layers.
Send the print to the printer or export it to a USB drive.
When the printer starts, it will usually:
Heat the nozzle and bed
Home itself
Automatically level the bed
Purge a little filament
Begin printing
The first layer is the most important part of the print.
A good first layer should:
Look smooth
Be slightly squished onto the plate
Stick completely
Not have gaps or blobs
Stop the print if:
Filament is dragging around the plate
The print is not sticking
The nozzle is scraping loudly
The print turns into a pile of spaghetti
Stopping early saves time and filament.
Wait for the bed to cool.
Remove the build plate.
Flex the plate gently.
The print should pop off.
Do not pry hard with metal tools. That can scratch the plate.
If something looks wrong in the first five minutes, stop the print and try again. Most failed prints can be fixed quickly if caught early.
For your workshop, a great first project would be:
Design a simple name plate or keychain in Tinkercad
Export as an STL
Open it in ElegooSlicer
Slice it with default PLA settings
Print it
This gives teachers experience with:
Designing
Exporting
Slicing
Printing
Removing the finished part
It also gives everyone something small to take home.
Start simple
Expect your first print to teach you something
Keep extra PLA on hand
Save successful slicer settings
Label spools and keep filament dry
Let students design, but keep slicing and printer control with the teacher
The Centauri Carbon 2 is designed to be easier than older classroom printers. Most teachers can go from unboxing to their first successful print in under an hour.