History: this checklist was first written to bring this printer back into service, so it starts with a diagnosis step. Use that step whenever the printer is acting up; otherwise follow the routine schedule.
Confirm the model on the label on the back. This page is for the Kobra 2 Max. The older original Kobra Max is mechanically similar but its menus differ; see Anycubic: Kobra Max hot end replacement.
## Routine schedule | Interval | Task | |---|---| | Before each print | Clean the bed; check the nozzle for buildup | | Monthly | Check eccentric nuts and belt tension; clean the V-slots | | Every 3 months | Grease the Z lead screws; clean the extruder gears; blow out the fans | | As needed | Nozzle replacement; firmware updates | ## Supplies - Open-end wrenches (for the eccentric nuts), hex keys - Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) and paper towels - Light machine grease for the Z lead screws (PTFE-based, for example Super Lube) - Compressed air, brass brush - Spare nozzle (check the fit: Kobra 2 nozzles differ from standard Volcano nozzles), USB drive or SD card for firmware - Known-good PLA ## 1. Diagnose (when something is wrong) - Write down the symptom: will not power on, heater or thermistor error, leveling failure, poor prints, clog. - Power on and note any error message. - Heater or thermistor (NTC) errors usually mean a loose cable or a failed part. Reseat the connectors first (see the troubleshooting section of the [Quick Start Guide](https://wiki.anycubic.com/en/fdm-3d-printer/kobra-2-max/quick-start-guide)). ## 2. Power off, unplug and clean - Remove debris from the frame, bed and V-slot extrusions. - Wipe the V-slot channels so the wheels roll on clean aluminum. ## 3. Frame and fasteners - Check that the gantry uprights are square to the base and all frame bolts are tight. - Shake the print head and the bed by hand to find any wobble. ## 4. V-wheels and eccentric nuts Loose or worn wheels are the most common cause of Kobra problems. - Lower the X-axis module (pull the belt) and check the Z-axis V-wheels for slipping. - For any loose carriage (Z, X print head, Y bed), turn its eccentric nut with an open-end wrench in **small** steps until the wheel just stops spinning freely under your finger, without binding. - Every wheel should touch the extrusion; none should be so tight that it flat-spots. - Look for cracked, flat-spotted or worn wheels and report them for replacement. ## 5. Belts - Inspect the X and Y belts for fraying or missing teeth. - Anycubic's method: turn the X/Y tensioner knob **fully clockwise**, then back it off **two turns** counterclockwise. - Confirm the pulley grub screws are tight on the motor shafts. ## 6. Z-axis lead screws - Wipe the lead screws clean. - Apply a thin coat of light grease, run Z up and down to spread it, and wipe off the excess. - Confirm both Z sides move together, so the gantry stays level. ## 7. Extruder and hotend - Heat the nozzle and brush off old plastic. - Open the extruder and clean filament dust from the drive gears. - Do a cold pull, or replace the nozzle, if extrusion is weak or blocked. - Check the heater cartridge and thermistor wires at the hotend for damage. ## 8. Fans and wiring - Blow out the hotend and part cooling fans. Hold the blades still. - Inspect the print head cable and bed cable for wear at the bend points. - With the printer unplugged, reseat the main board connectors (heater, thermistor, motors, endstops and probe). ## 9. Bed surface - Clean the PEI spring steel sheet with IPA, or dish soap and water if needed. - Clean debris off the bed underside and the magnet surface. ## 10. Firmware - Check the installed version against the [Anycubic update log](https://wiki.anycubic.com/en/home/update-log) and the Kobra 2 Max firmware page. Only flash official Kobra 2 Max firmware. ## 11. Calibration Per the [Anycubic leveling calibration guide](https://wiki.anycubic.com/en/fdm-3d-printer/kobra-2-max/kobra-2-max-leveling-calibration-guide): - **Position calibration:** Tools > Control > Module Calibration > Position Calibration. Jog the nozzle to the center of the calibration module, then save. - **Auto leveling:** Tools > Control > Auto Leveling, with the bed heated. - **Z-offset:** print a first-layer test and adjust the Z-offset until the line is slightly squished. - Print a small test part. ## 12. If it still will not level or print - Re-check the eccentric nuts and belts (sections 4 and 5). Anycubic attributes most leveling problems to loosened parts. - Check the probing and offset switch area for dust (a community-reported fix for the Kobra 2 family; see [Anycubic Kobra 2 leveling issues fix](https://store.anycubic.com/blogs/3d-printing-guides/anycubic-kobra-2-leveling-issues-fix)). - Record the problem. If a part has failed, the printer may need a support ticket with Anycubic. ## Afterwards Record anything you found, what you did about it, and whether follow-up is needed. If the printer is not safe to use, tag it out of service: see **Shop Safety: Tagging a Tool Out of Service and Reporting It**.