The Kobra 3 ships mostly assembled, with the extruder and gantry already mounted. That still leaves foam blocks, zip ties and shipping screws in spots that matter, including around the bed’s full 250x250x260 mm travel.
Set the printer on a flat, rigid table with clearance behind and in front for the bed. It weighs about 9.2 kg, so use a surface that stays steady once you add filament and, later, an ACE Pro unit. The 4.3 inch touchscreen tilts between 30 and 60 degrees; angle it before you start.
Unbox in the order shown in Anycubic’s current Kobra 3 setup material. Cut zip ties rather than pulling them, and free the bed and extruder carriage without tugging on a cable. The quick release nozzle can loosen slightly in transit, so check it’s seated.
Decide how you’ll load filament before powering on. A single spool of PLA, PETG or TPU goes on the built-in holder. Multicolor printing needs an ACE Pro, sold separately: one unit gives four colors, two give eight with synced smart filament ID. TPU only runs single-color through the direct holder; it isn’t compatible with the ACE Pro.
Connect power and the screen once the mechanical work is done. Install any Kobra OS firmware update offered, then run the initial LeviQ 3.0 leveling and Z-offset. The bed and nozzle move through their full range, so keep hands and tools clear.
Wash the PEI plate with warm water and dish soap if it has fingerprints, dry it, and reseat it on the magnetic spring steel base. Setup is finished once leveling passes, the plate sits flat, and the bed can travel its full range without catching on a cable or a bracket you missed.
Once leveling passes and the plate sits flat, treat this as the first checkpoint rather than the finish line. A broader first-print checklist covers what to expect next, and the Kobra 3 first print guide walks through that first controlled run. If multicolor printing is the goal, setting up the ACE Pro is the next step before loading a multi-spool job.