Creality’s flagship K1 3D printers: Australian pricing and specs
The Creality K1 Series purports to offer print speeds up to 12x faster than a regular 3D printer - here are the specs and Australian pricing.
Creality has partnered with Finder to promote its new K1 printer series.
Fresh on the heels of the HALOT-MAGE resin 3D printer, Creality has released 2 new fully enclosed flagships into the wild.
Set to release in June, the Creality K1 and K1 Max are speed-oriented FDM 3D printers geared towards hobbyists with an eye for making larger models.
Boasting a maximum speed of 600mm/s, they purport to be the fastest 3D printers on the market. (By contrast, some models top out at just 50mm/s, albeit with a higher focus on precision and quality.)
The faster print speed is achieved via a G-sensor in the printhead. By measuring the printer's resonance frequency, the sensor effectively analyzes and mitigates any disturbances within the motion system even at high speeds.
It's worth noting that the typical speed for print jobs is actually cited at 300mm/s, but this is still a pretty impressive number.
Both models come with a ceramic heater encircling the hotend for instantly melted filament. It can heat the hotend up to 200℃ in just 40 seconds, ensuring the molten filaments keep up with the faster printing speed.
The K1 3D printer series are fully enclosed. Image: Supplied
As mentioned, both models are fully enclosed, providing a stable ambient temperature and draft-free printing environment. A pair of fans on the printhead and build chamber allows models to set instantly with next to no warping.
Here's how the two models compare.
K1 vs K1 Max: Price and features
The Creality K1, which retails for $599, has a 220×220×250mm build volume and an aforementioned max speed of 600mm/s.
To justify its $969 price tag, the K1 Max boasts additional features including an expanded build volume of 300x300x300mm and so-called AI-assisted printing - namely, AI LiDAR and an "AI camera".
The 1μm resolution LiDAR can map out the first layer on its own and will auto scan the bed tilt for more precise leveling. The camera actively monitors for common printing mishaps such as spaghetti failure, foreign objects and debris during jobs.
Needless to say, these AI functions will require testing to determine if they are worthwhile or not.
The K1 and K1 Max come with hands-free auto leveling, a beginner-friendly 4.3-inch color touch screen and the same dual-gear direct drive extruder. Air purification, built-in lighting, filament runout detection and power loss recovery are also included with both models.
Here are the core specifications for each model:
K1 | K1 Max | |
|---|---|---|
| Product Dimensions | 355x355x480mm | 435x462x526mm |
| Rated Power | 350W | 1000W |
| Build volume | 220×220×250mm | 300×300×300mm |
| Max Speed | 600mm/s | 600mm/s |
| Max Heatbed Temp | 100℃ | 120℃ |
| Printhead Extruder | Dual-gear Direct Drive Extruder | Dual-gear Direct Drive Extruder |
| Printhead maximum flow rate | 32mm³/s | 32mm³/s |
| File Transfer | WiFi, USB Drive | WiFi, Ethernet, USB Drive |
| Leveling | Hands-free Auto Leveling | Dual Hands-free Auto Leveling |
| AI Camera | Optional | Yes |
| AI LiDAR | Optional | Yes |
| Supported OS | Windows, MacOS | Windows, MacOS |
Out of the box, both printers use the propriety slicing software Creality Print. They are also compatible with Cura, Simplify3D and PrusaSlicer.
Which model should you buy?
Unless you require the extra build space, we'd go for the standard K1 model. It provides the same fully enclosed chassis, dial cooling fans and maximum speeds as its bigger brother at a much lower price.
Furthermore, the AI-assisted features are still optional extras for the K1 if you decide to upgrade at a later date.
Both models are available for pre-sale at the Creality website for delivery in late June.
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