Australia · Updated 29 October 2026
Choose a 3D printer the whole family can grow into.
A plain-language guide to enclosed, multicolour filament printers from Bambu Lab, Elegoo, Creality and FlashForge—covering price, software, AMS systems and the details that matter at home.
Bambu Lab P2S Combo
The shortlist
Four sensible ways to buy.
For a first family printer, ease and reliability matter more than headline speed. The P2S is the balanced choice; Elegoo wins on entry price; the X2D is the polished step-up; FlashForge’s Creator 5 Pro is the low-waste specialist.
Bambu Lab P2S Combo
The easiest route from downloaded model to successful print, with a polished app, excellent automatic calibration and an AMS 2 Pro that actively dries filament.
- 256 mm cube build area
- Enclosed printer with adaptive airflow
- Four-colour AMS 2 Pro included
- Touchscreen, camera and error detection
Elegoo Centauri Carbon + CANVAS
The lowest-priced enclosed four-colour bundle in this comparison. The ecosystem is less mature, and the CANVAS dispatch date should be checked before ordering.
Check Elegoo AU stock ↗Bambu Lab X2D Combo
Two nozzles mean cleaner removable supports and less purging when two colours or materials are used repeatedly.
See The Good Guys price ↗FlashForge Creator 5 Pro
Four independent toolheads keep four filaments ready, avoiding the repeated unload, reload and full nozzle purge of a single-nozzle feeder.
Check CD-Soft stock ↗Product snapshots
See the machines side by side.
These are the main enclosed multicolour systems worth shortlisting. The filament boxes sit above or beside the printer and feed colours automatically.
Price & feature check
Compare the models.
All prices are Australian dollars and were checked on 29 October 2026. “Combo” means an automatic multi-filament unit is included; filament itself is normally sold separately.
| Model | Build area | Colour system | Chamber | Best for | Price found |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FlashForge AD5X + enclosure kitIFS included; enclosure requires assembly | 220 × 220 × 220 mm | IFS · 4 colours Single nozzle | Add-on enclosure No integrated heater or filter | Cheapest protected multicolour setup | A$539CD-Soft ↗ |
| Elegoo Centauri Carbon + CANVASOriginal Carbon model | 256 × 256 × 256 mm | CANVAS · 4 colours Single nozzle | Enclosed No active chamber heat | Lowest entry priceBudget winner | A$639 deliveredElegoo AU ↗ |
| Creality K2 ComboOne CFS included | 260 × 260 × 260 mm | CFS · 4 colours Expandable to 16 | Enclosed No active chamber heat | Value and a little extra room | A$699–749 deliveredConfirm cart price ↗ |
| Bambu P1S ComboOriginal AMS—not AMS 2 Pro | 256 × 256 × 256 mm | AMS · 4 colours Passive desiccant storage | Enclosed No active chamber heat | Cheapest Bambu bundle | A$729 + deliveryThe Good Guys ↗ |
| Bambu P1S + AMS 2 ProPower adapter needed for drying | 256 × 256 × 256 mm | AMS 2 Pro · 4 colours Active heated drying | Enclosed No active chamber heat | Older printer, newer feeder | About A$899Deal tracker ↗ |
| Bambu P2S ComboAMS 2 Pro included | 256 × 256 × 256 mm | AMS 2 Pro · 4 colours Single nozzle | Enclosed Adaptive airflow | First family printerBest overall | A$939 + deliveryCoupon details ↗ |
| Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 ComboNewer CANVAS platform | 256 × 256 × 256 mm | CANVAS · 4 colours Single nozzle | Enclosed Smart ventilation grille | 350°C nozzle and hardware value | A$999 deliveredElegoo AU ↗ |
| Bambu X2D ComboAMS 2 Pro included | 256 × 256 × 260 mm 235.5 mm-wide dual overlap | AMS 2 Pro + 2 nozzles | Active 65°C heat Three-stage filtration | Supports and mixed materialsBest step-up | A$1,199 + deliveryThe Good Guys ↗ |
| FlashForge Creator 5 ProFour independent equivalent toolheads | 256 × 256 × 256 mm | 4 dedicated toolheads Manual spool loading; minimal purge | Active 65°C heat H13 HEPA + carbon filtration | Frequent 3–4 colour and multi-material workWaste winner | A$1,249CD-Soft ↗ |
| Creality K2 Pro Combo | 300 × 300 × 300 mm | CFS · 4 colours Expandable to 16 | Active 60°C heat | Larger functional prints | A$1,349 deliveredCreality AU ↗ |
| Creality K2 Plus Combo | 350 × 350 × 350 mm | CFS · 4 colours Expandable to 16 | Active 60°C heat | Cosplay and very large objects | A$1,939 deliveredBundle + 2 rolls ↗ |
Prices and coupons can change daily. Check the final product variant, delivery fee and total in the cart. The K2 page has shown different promotional prices in different areas of the same store.
Brand character
Four ecosystems, four priorities.
The machine is only half the experience. The slicer, mobile app, model library and quality of automatic profiles determine how much troubleshooting reaches the kitchen table.
Bambu Lab
The most polished end-to-end workflow. It costs more and is relatively closed, but usually asks the least from a beginner.
- Best software and model ecosystem
- Strong calibration and monitoring
- AMS 2 Pro actively dries filament
Elegoo
Excellent hardware per dollar. The newer multicolour workflow is improving quickly but has less history than Bambu’s AMS platform.
- Lowest enclosed multicolour price
- Strong specifications
- Check bundle stock and dispatch timing
Creality K2
The broadest size range and a good balance of value and flexibility. Software and support can feel less consistent than Bambu.
- 260, 300 and 350 mm sizes
- CFS expands to 16 colours
- Pro/Plus add active chamber heat
FlashForge
Two very different propositions: the inexpensive AD5X uses an IFS feeder, while the Creator 5 Pro parks four complete toolheads and changes tools instead of filament.
- AD5X is the lowest-cost wildcard
- Creator 5 Pro minimises colour-change waste
- Hardware is stronger than the current software polish
Automatic Material System
AMS is the filament-changing assistant.
AMS is Bambu Lab’s name for a box that stores four spools and feeds the selected filament into the printer. Elegoo calls its version CANVAS; Creality calls it CFS; FlashForge’s AD5X uses IFS. They automate colour changes, but they do not turn a single-nozzle printer into a four-nozzle printer. The FlashForge Creator 5 Pro is different: it has four complete toolheads.
The nozzle completes the blue regions of the current layer.
The AMS pulls the blue filament back from the nozzle.
Black filament enters and clears the remaining blue.
The eyes are printed wherever that layer requires them.
From idea to object
Design anywhere. Slice on a computer.
Design software is not locked to a printer brand. Export a common STL or 3MF file, then use the printer company’s slicer to choose layers, supports, colours and quality.
A simple software stack
Start easy and add complexity only when the projects demand it.
iPad reality check
Great for designing. Limited for full slicing.
Mobile apps can browse prepared models, send compatible jobs and monitor the camera. For detailed support placement, colour painting and material settings, a Mac or Windows computer remains the dependable choice.
Open Tinkercad ↗Family setup
Enclosed does not mean child-proof.
Bottom line
Buy the P2S for the smoothest start. Choose a toolchanger when colour waste becomes the priority.
The A$539 AD5X with enclosure kit is the budget wildcard, while the A$639 Elegoo bundle is the more integrated budget option. Around A$966 delivered, the P2S remains the most balanced family choice. The X2D is the polished dual-nozzle step-up; the A$1,249 Creator 5 Pro is the specialist for frequent three- and four-colour work.