NFC tags for Anycubic ACE in SimplyPrint

Got an Anycubic printer with an ACE (Anycubic Consumable Ecosystem) box? SimplyPrint lets you read and write NFC tags that work with your ACE - whether you're using official Anycubic filament or want to make any filament brand work with your setup.

This article covers everything about using Anycubic ACE-compatible NFC tags with SimplyPrint. For a general introduction to NFC in 3D printing, hardware options, and step-by-step guides, see our main NFC article.

NFC support in SimplyPrint

SimplyPrint has deep NFC integration across our entire platform - both the web panel and mobile apps for iOS and Android. We support reading and writing NFC tags in multiple formats, allowing you to work with filament from various brands and make your spools work with different printer ecosystems.

What you can do with NFC in SimplyPrint:

• Read NFC tags to instantly identify spools and see their details
• Write NFC tags in various formats, including Anycubic ACE
• Link physical spools to their "digital twin" in your filament inventory
• Quickly assign spools to printers by scanning instead of scrolling through lists

How you can read and write NFC:

• Mobile apps (iOS & Android) - most phones have built-in NFC, making this the easiest method
• Desktop USB readers - for those who prefer working from their computer
• Web NFC - some browsers support NFC directly (Android Chrome, for example)

Good news for Anycubic ACE users: the tag format used by ACE works with iOS, Android, Web NFC, and desktop readers - so you have plenty of options.

For the full breakdown of hardware options, supported methods, and step-by-step guides, check out our main NFC article.

What can SimplyPrint do with Anycubic ACE NFC tags?

With SimplyPrint, you can:

1. Write ACE-compatible NFC tags for any filament - stick them on your spools and your Anycubic ACE will recognize them, even for non-Anycubic filament
2. Link existing Anycubic tags to your SimplyPrint inventory - if you buy Anycubic filament that already has NFC tags, connect them to your digital spool library
3. Quickly identify spools by scanning - no more guessing which spool is which when you have dozens of them

For hardware requirements and step-by-step instructions on reading/writing NFC tags, see our NFC hardware & methods guide.

Important: What SimplyPrint can and can't do with Anycubic ACE

Before diving deeper, here's what you need to know about the integration:

What works great

Your ACE will recognize the tags - When you write ACE-format tags via SimplyPrint, your Anycubic ACE reads them just like official Anycubic filament. The printer knows the material type, color, and recommended temperatures.

Fast spool identification - Scan any tagged spool with your phone or desktop reader to instantly see which spool it is in SimplyPrint. Way faster than scrolling through your inventory.

Wide device compatibility - ACE tags work with iPhones, Android phones, web browsers, and desktop readers. You're not limited to specific hardware.

What doesn't work (yet)

No automatic sync from the printer - Your Anycubic ACE doesn't tell SimplyPrint what filament is loaded. When you put a spool in your ACE, SimplyPrint won't automatically know about it.

You'll need to manually assign spools - After loading filament, you'll still need to tell SimplyPrint which spool is on which printer. The good news? With NFC tags, this takes seconds: scan the tag, tap assign, done.

About the Anycubic ACE standard

Now let's get into the details of how Anycubic ACE NFC tags work.

The Anycubic ACE (Anycubic Consumable Ecosystem) standard is a proprietary format developed by Anycubic for their multi-material system. It stores detailed information about each spool - material type, color, temperatures, weight, and more.

Who made it?

Anycubic - one of the largest 3D printer manufacturers, known for their Kobra series and Photon resin printers. The ACE format was developed for their multi-material boxes.

Documentation

Anycubic hasn't published official documentation for their NFC format, but the community has reverse-engineered it:

• GitHub (community): https://github.com/DnG-Crafts/ACE-RFID

What printers use this?

Any Anycubic printer that supports the ACE (Anycubic Consumable Ecosystem) multi-material system - this includes the ACE Pro and compatible Kobra series printers.

What data does an ACE tag store?

The ACE format stores detailed specifications about each spool. This helps your printer dial in the right settings automatically.

Do I need to worry about material and color matching?

Nope! SimplyPrint handles all of this for you. The ACE format supports free-form material types (up to 4 characters) and full RGB colors - so your exact material and color get written to the tag.

SimplyPrint also pulls temperature settings from your material profiles and writes them to the tag. When your ACE reads the tag, it knows the right nozzle and bed temps to use.

What NFC tags does it use?

The ACE standard works with MIFARE Ultralight-compatible tags, which includes several common and affordable tag types.

Compatible tag types

Where to buy compatible tags

Any of these options will work:

• NTAG216 tags on Amazon - Most storage space
• NTAG215 tags on Amazon - Popular, widely available
• MIFARE Ultralight C tags on Amazon - Native ACE format

Affiliate links - we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

We recommend NTAG215 or NTAG216 tags. They're affordable, widely available, and have plenty of storage for the ACE format.

Compatible hardware

Because ACE uses MIFARE Ultralight-compatible tags (NTAG family), you have lots of options for reading and writing:

For detailed hardware options, setup instructions, and where to buy readers, see our NFC hardware & methods guide.

Why write ACE tags via SimplyPrint?

So why bother writing ACE tags through SimplyPrint instead of some other tool?

1. Use any filament brand with ACE

The main benefit: you can make any filament work with your Anycubic ACE. Your ACE doesn't care where the filament came from - it just reads the tag.

2. Keep your inventory in sync

When you write tags via SimplyPrint, the spool is already in your inventory. The tag gets linked automatically, so there's no disconnect between your physical spools and your digital inventory.

3. Automatic temperature settings

SimplyPrint pulls temperature settings from your material profiles and writes them to the tag. When your ACE reads the tag, it knows the right nozzle and bed temps to use - no manual lookup required.

4. Accurate SKU generation

ACE Pro validates the SKU field on tags. SimplyPrint automatically generates valid SKU codes based on your material type, so your tags are always accepted by the printer.

Limitations of the ACE format

The ACE format is quite capable, but there are still some limitations:

Advanced: Technical details

This section is for the curious - you don't need to know any of this to use ACE tags with SimplyPrint.

Tag memory layout

ACE tags use "pages" of 4 bytes each. Here's where the data lives:

Version

The current ACE format is Version 2 (indicated by 0x65 in the version byte). SimplyPrint writes this version for maximum compatibility.

SKU format

Anycubic SKUs follow a pattern like AHPLLB-103. SimplyPrint generates valid-looking SKUs automatically based on your spool's material type.

Quick reference

Related articles

• NFC / RFID support in SimplyPrint - Hardware, methods, and step-by-step guides
• The Filament Manager feature - Managing your filament inventory