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Creality K2 Pro
About the Creality K2 Pro
The Creality K2 Pro is a fully enclosed CoreXY 3D printer. Its maximum speed is 600mm/s and it's driven with 20,000 mm/s^2 acceleration by step-servo motors. The print volume is 300 X 300 X 300mm. The all-metal, dual hardened steel gear direct extruder has a quick change nozzle composed of a titanium heatbreak, a copper body, and a hardened steel tip, heated by a 70W heater to a maximum temperature of 300°C. The chamber is actively heated to 60°C and is ventilated through an air purification filter, making it compatible with ABS and ASA filaments. The build plate is removable PEI coated flexible magnetic steel and can be heated up to 110°C. There's a camera in the chamber and the extruder, focused on the nozzle. Automatic bed leveling and Z offset is by contact and uses a strain sensor built into the nozzle mount. The printer levels only where the model will be printed. The filament run-out/breakage sensor is inside the extruder, very close to the nozzle inlet, to reduce wastage if the filament breaks. The filament cutter inside the extruder is magnetically activated. A large auxiliary fan cools the print from the side. The printer runs Creality OS, derived from Klipper, and expert mode and root access are available for fine control. It interfaces to the network by Wi-Fi or Ethernet and is accessible via the Fluidd web interface or the Creality app. Print files can be loaded onto 32 GB of onboard storage. The K2 Pro is available as a "K2 Pro Combo" that comes with a four-filament feeder, the CFS (Creality Filament System). This system is sealed and doubles as a filament dryer - it's heated and ventilated by a fan and uses desiccant to absorb moisture. It has a temperature and humidity display. Each filament bay has an RFID reader and passes color and material data about the loaded Creality filament spool to the printer. Up to four CFSes can be connected to the K2 Pro, allowing up to 16 filaments at a time.
Benefits of the Creality K2 Pro
Modern mainboard features - Many 3D printer features relate to the version of the mainboard and firmware, including features like resuming prints after a power failure and support for silent stepper motor drivers for quieter printing. Newer boards also include safety features like thermal runaway protection which shuts the printer down if it detects issues with overheating.
Auto bed leveling - auto bed leveling will ensure your prints have perfect first layers every time and greatly reduce issues with bed adhesion. When using an auto-leveling system, the probe allows better tolerances for slightly warped print beds by measuring and compensating for any inconsistencies. Without this feature, you'll need to adjust the bed level manually using nuts on each corner of the print bed.
Has touch screen - having a touch screen isn't a deal-maker or breaker, but it is a convenient feature that makes it easier to navigate the interface when you are printing files and configuring 3D printing settings.
Fully assembled - This 3D printer is shipped completely assembled, and is ready to plug in and start using as soon as you unbox it. You will still need to follow the included calibration procedures, but this will not take a significant amount of time.
Direct drive extruder - Direct drive extruders are mounted right above the hot end, and push the filament directly into it, as opposed to a side mounted bowden extruder setup. We prefer direct drive extruders to bowden since they are less prone to jamming and typically require less maintenance. they also are much easier to use with flexible materials
PEI build surface has good balance of adhesion and part removal - PEI beds are one of the more premium build surface options, and for good reason. They offer great first layer adhesion with no spraysor other treatments, and can be flexed to quickly remove parts. You'll need to clean the bed with a solvent like acetone or IPA every so often to maintain the bed's adhesion.
Generous Build volume - A larger than average build volume means that you will be able to print larger parts without the need to split them into pieces and attach them together, which is especially useful with functional parts. If you have the room for the larger footprint, we definitely recommend going with a larger 3D printer, since you can always print small parts on a larger printer.
Wireless printing - In addition to the standard USB and SD card connections, you can connect wirelessly to this printer to print from your computer or mobile device.
Linear rail motion system - Linear rails provide added stability to the moving parts of the printer, allowing higher printing speeds without sacrificing quality. Keep in mind that the most important factor to consider when optimizing for print speed is the flow rate of filament, which depends on the hot end and nozzle size moreso than the motion system.
All-metal hot end - An all-metal hot end allows for printing at high temperatures up to 300C, while standard hot ends are capped at 260C before the PTFE material begins to degrade. All-metal hot ends are also less susceptible to jamming, and do not degrade as fast.
CoreXY Kinematic System - A CoreXY 3D printer kinematic system uses two stationary motors to move the print head in the X and Y directions, resulting in faster and more precise movements compared to traditional printers. By separating the movement of the print head from the movement of the build plate, the CoreXY system is able to avoid the added weight and momentum of a moving build plate. This results in less vibration and better control of the print head, allowing for faster and more precise movements. Additionally, the CoreXY system can print at higher speeds compared to H-bot systems because it only needs to move one motor for each axis of movement, reducing the overall weight and inertia of the system.
Enclosure - An enclosure seals air around the print area. This holds warm, still air around the print area and is essential for printing temperature-sensitive materials like ABS. Enclosures also prevent particulates and gasses from being emitted into the surrounding area, increasing safety. They also greatly reduce printer noise.
Dual gear extruder - A dual gear extruder grips filament from both sides and can exert much more force on the filament before slipping. It helps with all filaments but especially with flexible, slippery TPU.
Where to buy the Creality K2 Pro
Brand Summary: Creality
Creality is a well-known brand that offers a wide range of consumer 3D printers across all price points, from budget to higher end models. The Ender 3 is credited with originating the budget 3D printer market. While other brands now produce lower cost clones of the Ender 3, Creality remains the most established Chinese manufacturer of 3D printers. Creality uses off-the-shelf components and standardized aluminum extrusions on many of their printers to reduce costs, making their printers easy to repair and upgrade. Their official online community forums and manufacturer support are limited, but support can be found on communities on Reddit and Discord.
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