Comgrow Hi Combo (A) 3D Printer Auto Leveling Review: The Multi-Color Speed Demon Put to the Test

There’s a moment every 3D printing enthusiast experiences. You’ve spent hours designing or downloading the perfect model, meticulously slicing it, and watching with anticipation as your printer lays down layer after layer of plastic. The result is fantastic, a tangible object born from a digital file. But it’s… monochrome. To bring it to life, you face the tedious task of pausing prints, manually swapping filament, or worse, breaking out the paintbrushes. I’ve been there countless times, wishing for a machine that could not only print with blazing speed but also handle vibrant, complex color changes without turning me into a full-time print-sitter. The dream has always been a printer that combines the speed of modern CoreXY systems with the creative freedom of multi-material units, all without a punishing price tag or an engineering degree required for setup. This is the challenge the Comgrow Hi Combo (A) 3D Printer Auto Leveling aims to solve, promising a high-speed, multi-color experience right out of the box.

What to Consider Before Buying a High-Speed 3D Printer

A 3D printer is more than just a gadget; it’s a key solution for rapid prototyping, creating custom parts, bringing artistic visions to life, and fueling educational projects. The primary benefit of a modern, high-speed printer is efficiency. It drastically cuts down the time from concept to physical object, allowing for faster iteration and more ambitious projects. For hobbyists, this means more making and less waiting. For professionals, it means accelerated workflows and quicker turnaround for clients. The ability to produce strong, detailed parts quickly can be transformative for any workshop or studio.

The ideal customer for a high-performance FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) printer like this is someone who has moved beyond the absolute basics or a newcomer who values speed and convenience and is willing to invest in a machine that bypasses many of the traditional first-timer frustrations. This includes makers, engineers, designers, and serious hobbyists who want to produce functional prototypes, detailed miniatures, or complex multi-part assemblies efficiently. However, it might not be the best fit for those who require microscopic detail, for whom a resin printer would be a better choice, or for users on an extremely tight budget who are willing to trade speed and features for a lower entry cost. For those users, a more basic, slower “bed-slinger” model might be a more appropriate starting point.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Build Volume & Footprint: The build volume (10.24 x 10.24 x 11.81 inches on this model) dictates the maximum size of a single object you can print. Consider the scale of your intended projects. At the same time, measure your workspace. A printer’s overall footprint, including any external additions like a filament drying system or the included CFS, must fit comfortably and safely in your designated area.
• Speed & Performance: Maximum print speed (measured in mm/s) and acceleration (mm/s²) are the headline figures for high-speed printers. A speed of 500mm/s is exceptionally fast and can turn a 10-hour print into a 2-hour one. Look for features that support this speed, such as robust motion systems (like the step-servo motors here), powerful cooling, and vibration compensation technology, which ensure quality isn’t sacrificed for speed.
• Materials & Durability: A printer’s construction, typically aluminum for the frame, contributes to its stability and longevity, which is critical at high speeds. More importantly, check the extruder and hotend capabilities. An all-metal direct drive extruder, like the one on the Comgrow Hi Combo (A), can handle a wider variety of materials, including flexibles and abrasive composites like PLA-CF, offering greater creative flexibility.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: The days of spending an entire weekend assembling a printer are fading. A 95% pre-assembled machine is a massive benefit for users of all skill levels. Features like advanced auto-leveling, which uses sensors to map the bed and compensate for inconsistencies, eliminate one of the most common points of failure for new users. Long-term, consider features like quick-swap nozzles and filament run-out sensors that simplify maintenance and improve reliability.

Making an informed decision means balancing your project ambitions with the technical capabilities of the machine, ensuring it’s a tool that will grow with you rather than hold you back.

While the Comgrow Hi Combo (A) 3D Printer Auto Leveling is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

First Impressions: Unboxing the Comgrow Hi Combo (A) 3D Printer Auto Leveling

Pulling the Comgrow Hi Combo (A) 3D Printer Auto Leveling from its well-packaged box, the first thing we noticed was its substantial, solid feel. Weighing in at just under 30 pounds with a sturdy aluminum frame, it immediately inspires confidence. Comgrow and Creality’s claim of a 95% pre-assembled state is no exaggeration. The base, gantry, and toolhead are all intact, leaving only a handful of steps for the user. We timed our assembly, and true to their word, it took about 10 minutes, involving just seven screws to attach the gantry to the base and plugging in a few clearly labeled cables. This is a world away from the multi-hour builds of older “kit” printers and a massive win for anyone eager to start printing. The included Color Filament System (CFS) is a separate but equally well-designed unit that sits beside the printer. Everything feels purposeful, from the neatly foldable 3.2-inch touch screen to the physical privacy cap for the built-in webcam. The initial impression is that of a thoughtfully designed, integrated system, not just a printer with a bolt-on accessory. You can see its full feature set and user reviews to get a better sense of the complete package.

Performance Deep Dive: Putting Speed and Color to the Ultimate Test

A 3D printer’s worth is proven on the print bed. Specs are just numbers until they translate into clean, fast, and reliable prints. We put the Comgrow Hi Combo (A) 3D Printer Auto Leveling through a gauntlet of tests, from simple calibration cubes to complex, multi-colored artistic models, to see if its performance lived up to its impressive feature list. We focused our evaluation on the core pillars of its design: assembly and initial setup, its high-speed motion system, the groundbreaking multi-color capabilities, and the overall user experience.

Assembly and Setup: From Box to First Print in Under 15 Minutes

The biggest barrier for many newcomers to 3D printing is the initial assembly and calibration. Creality has clearly made this a top priority. As mentioned, the physical assembly is trivial. The instructions are clear, and with only seven main screws and a few cable connections, it’s virtually impossible to get wrong. This experience is echoed by users, many of whom, even as first-timers, report being up and running in under an hour. One user noted it was “easy to setup out of the box,” a sentiment we wholeheartedly share. Once assembled, we moved to the calibration process, which is where the “Auto Leveling” in the product’s name truly shines. The printer uses a strain gauge integrated directly into the toolhead. With a single tap on the responsive touchscreen, it initiates its routine, probing multiple points on the build plate to create a digital mesh. It then goes a step further; using two independently controlled Z-axis lead screws, it physically adjusts the X-axis gantry to be perfectly parallel to the bed. This dual-action approach is far superior to simpler systems that only use software to compensate. The result for us was a perfect first layer with zero manual tweaking, no paper-sliding, no knob-turning. This is a game-changer, removing the most frustrating and failure-prone step for beginners and saving valuable time for experts. The combination of rapid assembly and foolproof leveling makes this one of the most accessible high-performance printers we have ever tested.

The Heart of the Machine: Blistering Speed Meets Step-Servo Precision

At the core of the Comgrow Hi Combo (A) 3D Printer Auto Leveling is its advanced motion system. The headline figures of 500mm/s print speed and 12000mm/s² acceleration place it in the upper echelon of consumer 3D printers. But speed is useless without precision. This is where the FOC (Field-Oriented Control) step-servo motors on the X and Y axes make a critical difference. Unlike traditional stepper motors, these closed-loop motors have feedback, allowing them to know their exact position at all times. This eliminates the risk of layer shifting, a common failure on high-speed prints where the printer “loses its place.” In practice, this translated to incredibly smooth and quiet gantry movements. We pushed the printer to its limits with a speed-focused Benchy (a benchmark model), and the layers were astoundingly consistent with minimal ringing or artifacts. The printer’s sturdy frame and vibration compensation firmware work in perfect harmony with the motors. We found that even at speeds exceeding 300mm/s, the print quality was comparable to what older printers produced at a sluggish 60mm/s. This performance is a testament to an integrated system where every component is designed to support high-velocity operation. The all-metal direct drive extruder also kept up flawlessly, providing consistent extrusion without skipping a beat, a crucial factor for maintaining quality at these speeds.

A Splash of Color: The Color Filament System (CFS) in Action

The standout feature is undoubtedly the included Color Filament System (CFS). This is Creality’s answer to Bambu Lab’s AMS, and it’s an impressive one. The unit holds four spools of filament, feeding them through a single tube to the printer’s toolhead. When a color change is commanded by the gcode, the printer automatically retracts the current filament, cuts it with a durable magnetic cutter, and loads the next one. The process involves purging the old color from the hotend by extruding a small amount of the new filament into a “purge tower” or as infill. While this does create some waste, it’s the nature of single-nozzle multi-color systems. Setting up a multi-color print in the slicer software (Creality Print) was intuitive; you simply “paint” your model with the desired colors and the software handles the rest. We tested it with a complex four-color model, and the results were stunning. As one user aptly put it, “El multicolor es sorprendente y preciso” (“The multi-color is surprising and precise”). The color transitions were clean and sharp, with no bleeding or mixing. The system’s potential is massive; by linking up to four CFS units, you can print with up to 16 different colors in a single job. Furthermore, the integrated RFID reader, which works with Creality’s RFID-tagged filament, automatically detects the color and material type, simplifying setup even more. This integrated approach to multi-color 3D printing is a feature that really sets it apart from the competition.

What Other Users Are Saying

Diving into feedback from the user community, a consistent picture of reliability and performance emerges. One owner, who runs the printer in a dusty workshop environment alongside laser engravers, highlighted its resilience, stating, “I’ve pretty much been running this non stop since we bought it. I have had zero problems with this unit… It is probably one of the more reliable machines that I own.” This speaks volumes about the build quality and the effectiveness of the enclosed motors. Many first-time users celebrate the straightforward setup, with one Italian user noting that even as their very first 3D printer, they found the assembly “very fun, as well as very pleasant” and the instructions “clear and easy to follow.”

Of course, no product is without its critiques. A few users, particularly those accustomed to older kits, found the minimalist instructions a bit too sparse, suggesting that watching a video guide is helpful. Another common point, typical for high-speed printers with powerful cooling fans, is the noise level. One user mentioned, “Les ventilateurs de l’extrudeur et de l’alimentation font beaucoup de bruit” (“The fans on the extruder and power supply make a lot of noise”). While we found it to be on par with other printers in its class, it’s not a silent machine. One Spanish-speaking user praised the print quality and precise multi-color performance but mentioned a strange noise on the Z-axis, which could be an isolated issue but is worth noting. Overall, the sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, focusing on the printer’s fantastic out-of-the-box performance, speed, and reliability.

How Does the Comgrow Hi Combo (A) 3D Printer Auto Leveling Compare to Alternatives?

The Comgrow Hi Combo (A) carves out a powerful niche, but the 3D printing market is diverse. It’s important to see how it stands against other specialized machines. We’ve selected three distinct alternatives that cater to different needs, from ultra-high detail to professional-grade engineering materials, to help you determine the best fit for your specific goals.

1. ANYCUBIC Photon Mono M7 MAX Resin 3D Printer

The most significant distinction here is the technology. The ANYCUBIC Photon Mono M7 MAX is a resin (SLA) printer, not an FDM printer. Instead of melting plastic filament, it uses UV light to cure liquid resin layer by layer. This results in vastly superior detail and smoother surfaces, making it the go-to choice for miniatures, jewelry, and dental models where precision is paramount. However, it comes with trade-offs: the build volume is smaller in the Z-axis, the materials are more expensive and require careful handling (gloves and ventilation are a must), and the post-processing involves washing and curing parts. If your priority is exquisite detail over speed, material strength, and multi-color capability, the ANYCUBIC is the superior choice.

2. Sovol SV08 Core-XY 3D Printer High Speed

The Sovol SV08 is a direct competitor in the high-speed FDM space, built on the open-source Voron 2.4 platform. It boasts a slightly higher top speed of 700mm/s and a much larger build volume (13.8×13.8×13.6 inches), making it ideal for users who need to print very large objects quickly. Its key differentiators are its open-source nature, appealing to tinkerers who love to modify and upgrade, and its four independent Z-motors for impeccable bed leveling. However, it does not come with an integrated multi-color system like the Comgrow Hi Combo (A). If your primary needs are maximum build volume and speed for single-color prints, and you enjoy the flexibility of open-source hardware, the Sovol SV08 is an incredibly compelling option.

3. R QIDI TECHNOLOGY PLUS4 High-Speed 3D Printer

The QIDI PLUS4 is aimed at a more professional or prosumer user who needs to print with high-temperature, engineering-grade materials. Its key feature is a fully enclosed and actively heated chamber that can reach 65°C. This, combined with its 370°C direct extruder, allows it to reliably print materials like PPS-CF (Carbon Fiber reinforced Polyphenylene Sulfide), which are impossible to print on an open-air machine like the Comgrow Hi Combo (A). While it also features high speed (600mm/s) and auto-leveling, its main selling point is material compatibility for creating strong, heat-resistant functional parts. For users in engineering, automotive, or manufacturing, the QIDI PLUS4 offers capabilities that the Hi Combo (A) cannot match, though it lacks the out-of-the-box multi-color system.

Our Final Verdict: Is the Comgrow Hi Combo (A) 3D Printer Auto Leveling Worth It?

After extensive testing and analysis, our conclusion is a resounding yes. The Comgrow Hi Combo (A) 3D Printer Auto Leveling masterfully bridges the gap between high-speed performance and creative multi-color printing, all while maintaining incredible ease of use. Its ultra-fast setup, truly automatic and reliable bed leveling, and the precision of its step-servo motion system make it a joy to operate. The integrated Color Filament System is not an afterthought; it’s a well-executed solution that unlocks a new dimension of creativity for hobbyists and prosumers alike.

This printer is the perfect choice for the enthusiast who wants to spend more time creating and less time troubleshooting. It’s for the maker who has dreamed of printing colorful, complex models without the hassle of manual filament swaps. While it may produce some filament waste during color changes and isn’t the quietest machine on the block, these are minor trade-offs for the immense capability it offers. If you’re ready to leap into the exciting world of fast, reliable, and vibrant 3D printing, we can confidently say that the Comgrow Hi Combo (A) is one of the best all-in-one packages on the market today. We highly recommend you check the latest price and availability and bring this powerhouse into your workshop.