NFC tags for the ELEGOO Canvas in SimplyPrint

Got the ELEGOO Canvas - ELEGOO's RFID multi-material module for the Centauri Carbon? SimplyPrint lets you read and write the NFC tags ELEGOO spools use - whether you are running official ELEGOO filament or want to make any filament brand work with your setup.

This article covers everything about using ELEGOO-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 the mobile apps for iOS and Android. We support reading and writing NFC tags in multiple formats, so you can work with filament from any brand 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 the ELEGOO format
• 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, via the SimplyPrint NFC Agent

What can SimplyPrint do with ELEGOO NFC tags?

With SimplyPrint, you can:

1. Identify ELEGOO spools instantly - scan an official ELEGOO spool and SimplyPrint reads the tag, recognizes the brand, material, color, diameter and weight, and matches it to the ELEGOO entry in the filament database
2. Write ELEGOO-format tags for any filament - stick them on your spools and the ELEGOO Canvas will recognize them, even for non-ELEGOO filament
3. Link existing ELEGOO tags to your SimplyPrint inventory - connect a spool's tag to its digital record so usage tracks automatically

How to put this into your workflow

Knowing how the tags work is one thing; folding it into how you actually run your filament is another. These workflow guides walk through it end to end:

• Filament system workflows by printer - the practical, by-your-hardware walkthrough, with a section for the ELEGOO Canvas: writing the tag, scanning to identify, and the fact that it works from your iPhone since the tags are NTAG.
• Write your own NFC tags for any filament - the write-and-assign workflow, which is how you make any filament brand work with your ELEGOO Canvas.
• Filament tracking workflows: static materials, tracked spools, labels and NFC - the bigger picture: whether to track individual spools at all, and how labels and NFC compare.

Important: what SimplyPrint can and can't do with ELEGOO tags

Before diving deeper, here is what to know about the integration:

What works great

Instant spool identification - Scan any ELEGOO spool with your phone or a desktop reader to instantly see exactly what it is - material, color, diameter and weight - and pull it straight into your inventory.

The Canvas will recognize written tags - When you write an ELEGOO-format tag via SimplyPrint, the ELEGOO Canvas reads it just like an official ELEGOO spool and knows the material, color and temperatures.

Standard, open tags - ELEGOO uses ordinary NTAG213 tags with no encryption and no password, so reading and writing them is simple and reliable.

What doesn't work (yet)

A full Canvas multi-material integration is not available yet - Today SimplyPrint supports the ELEGOO Canvas as an RFID tag format: scan a spool to identify it and add it to your inventory, and write tags for any brand. A deeper integration that reads the Canvas's loaded slots into SimplyPrint - mapping, syncing, and hands-free auto-create / auto-assign - is not available yet. ELEGOO Canvas mapping is planned; sync and auto-create / auto-assign are not yet confirmed.

Scanning is always there - However the integration shakes out, you can identify and add any ELEGOO spool in seconds by scanning its tag: scan, tap assign, done.

Important: two things to know before you write a tag

ELEGOO's firmware treats the brand and material on a tag as fixed lookup keys, not free text. SimplyPrint handles both for you, but it helps to know how they behave:

About the ELEGOO format

Now let's get into how ELEGOO NFC tags work.

The ELEGOO format is a proprietary format ELEGOO uses on their filament spools. It stores the spool's identity - brand key, material type and variant, color, diameter, weight and recommended nozzle temperatures - on a small chip stuck to the spool.

Who made it?

ELEGOO - a major 3D printer and filament manufacturer, known for the Neptune and Centauri printer ranges. The RFID format is read by the ELEGOO Canvas, ELEGOO's four-spool multi-material module for the Centauri Carbon.

Documentation

ELEGOO published a tag specification, but it didn't match what the hardware actually reads, so the community reverse-engineered the real format. SimplyPrint follows the community-verified format:

• GitHub (community): https://github.com/DnG-Crafts/ELG-RFID
• GitHub (community editor): https://github.com/Savion/elegoo-rfid-editor

What reads these tags?

The ELEGOO Canvas - ELEGOO's four-spool multi-material module for the Centauri Carbon - reads the RFID tag on each loaded spool.

What data does an ELEGOO tag store?

The ELEGOO format stores the key specifications of each spool so the Canvas can identify it and dial in the right settings.

Do I need to worry about material and color matching?

Nope! SimplyPrint handles it for you. We match your spool to the closest ELEGOO material and write your exact color, so the tag the Canvas reads is one it will accept. If a material has no ELEGOO equivalent, we fall back to the closest base type automatically.

What NFC tags does it use?

ELEGOO spools use NTAG213 tags, a common and affordable type. SimplyPrint can also write the ELEGOO format to the larger NTAG215 and NTAG216 tags if you prefer more room.

Compatible tag types

Compatible hardware

ELEGOO uses NTAG213 tags written with raw page data, so you write them from the SimplyPrint mobile app or the desktop NFC Agent.

Why write ELEGOO tags via SimplyPrint?

So why write ELEGOO tags through SimplyPrint?

1. Use any filament brand with the ELEGOO Canvas

The main benefit: you can make any filament work with the ELEGOO Canvas. Write an ELEGOO-format tag for your cheaper or specialty spool and the Canvas identifies it like an official roll.

2. Keep your inventory in sync

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

3. Automatic material and color matching

SimplyPrint maps your spool to the closest ELEGOO material and writes your exact color, so you never have to look up a material code. If something has no equivalent, we pick the safest fallback.

4. Automatic usage tracking

Once a spool is in your inventory, SimplyPrint deducts filament as you print by analyzing the G-code - so remaining weight stays accurate whether or not the spool carries a tag.

Limitations of the ELEGOO format

The ELEGOO format is simple and reliable, but it has a few limits worth knowing:

Quick reference

Related articles

• NFC / RFID support in SimplyPrint - Hardware, methods, and step-by-step guides
• Multi-material printing in SimplyPrint: mapping and syncing your AMS, ACE or CFS
• The Anycubic material standard: NFC/RFID for the Anycubic ACE
• The Creality material standard: NFC/RFID for the Creality CFS

Updated on: 26/06/2026