It's time......

[wunwinglow]

14 hours ago, Out2gtcha said:

 

 

Indeed, but what printer to use?   

 

Ideally I want an FDM printer that will print it all, PLA, HIPS, PETG, TPU, ABS, ASA, PVA, PET, you name it, and I would like one with a 350mm+ build area.  

Whichever. They all do the same thing. I get fantastic prints off an Ender 3Pro, OK I modified it a bit, but they all work the same way.  Just get the biggest you can for the model parts you want to build, and then some, because you always end up needing more capacity. If you are a farckles kinda guy, get one with the most farckles. Personally, I hate farckles, they just complicate stuff and add unreliability and expense.  But that is me. I understand for some 3d printerists, farckles, speed, 10,000 different profiles are where it is at, but that is a rabbit hole I chose to avoid!  Then, once you have it on your desk, avoid reading any reviews of new machines, because it will just depress you. Just use it to make models. Tape over the brand logo, and call it Susan or something. Get to know its funny little ways, and you and Susan will have a blast making stuff. Laugh at new plastic kit schedules! Ignore folks moaning about ill-fitting kit parts. Sneer at those bemoaning the lack of certain subjects, and the over-abundance of others, because..... You have the POWER!

 

Sorry. I get a bit carried away evangelising for 3d printing. Or maybe I SHOULD be carried away....

[scjh]

I picked the Creality K1 Max out of what was available at the end of 2023, and have been pretty happy with it for the main purpose of printing large parts in HIPS.  There are rough edges, but most had to do with slicer software and settings.  The bed could be flatter, the textured build plate works much better than the included smooth build plate, and slicer software is improving.  I would recommend waiting for the K2 Plus with the larger build volume and heated chamber if you are considering the K1 Max.  The bed frame and extruder/nozzles may have been improved from the K1 family.  I am not currently into multi-color prints, but printing with multi-material supports would be interesting.  The heated chamber seems nice, although for HIPS, pre-heating the chamber for a few minutes before printing has been working for me.  I believe the K1 Max has an AC bed heater, which would be faster than a DC bed heater in the K1.

 

SC

Edited May 21, 2024 by scjh

[Out2gtcha]

31 minutes ago, scjh said:

I picked the Creality K1 Max out of what was available at the end of 2023, and have been pretty happy with it for the main purpose of printing large parts in HIPS.  There are rough edges, but most had to do with slicer software and settings.  The bed could be flatter, the textured buid plate works much better than the included smooth build plate, and slicer software is improving.  I would recommend waiting for the K2 Plus with the larger build volume and heated chamber if you are considering the K1 Max.  The bed frame and extruder/nozzles may have been improved from the K1 family.  I am not currently into multi-color prints, but printing with multi-material supports would be interesting.  The heated chamber seems nice, although for HIPS, pre-heating the chamber for a few minutes before printing has been working for me.  I believe the K1 Max has an AC bed heater, which would be faster than a DC bed heater in the K1.

 

I've taken a close look at the K1 Max and you are right, the heated chamber and larger build area would be very welcome.

 

I've also been looking at the Sovol SV08, as well as the K1 Max and even been considering the Prusa XL, although the latter doesn't have an enclosure or heated chamber, but does have the very cool ability to print in 5 different materials not just colors in the same print.

It also has a variable and sectional heated base plate.

 

I'm still torn........is there a demo vid or pictures or specs for the K2+?

 

[Ryan]

48 minutes ago, Out2gtcha said:

 

I've taken a close look at the K1 Max and you are right, the heated chamber and larger build area would be very welcome.

 

I've also been looking at the Sovol SV08, as well as the K1 Max and even been considering the Prusa XL, although the latter doesn't have an enclosure or heated chamber, but does have the very cool ability to print in 5 different materials not just colors in the same print.

It also has a variable and sectional heated base plate.

 

I'm still torn........is there a demo vid or pictures or specs for the K2+?

 

 

I can only say the FDM and Resin printers I have from them (Creality) have worked flawlessly.

 

The only hiccup I ever had was some trapped air bubbles in the build plate covering and they replaced it no problem.

Edited May 21, 2024 by Ryan

[Ryan]

@Out2gtcha Here is my CR-10, I had just added those red stiffiners.

 

[scjh]

The printer I bought before the K1 Max is a Prusa Mk 3S, which I still use for smaller and more precise prints.  I really like the Prusa eco-system, the open source Prusa Slicer, the commitment to existing products, the innovations, and the company itself.  I followed the Prusa XL ever since it was announced in 2021, and the SL1S resin printer as well.  For better or worse, many of the innovations pioneered by the XL have shown up in other printers (load cell sensor for bed probing I believe is one of them).  The Prusa Slicer was the basis for Orca (indirectly), and I believe the new Creality Print 5.0 is also based on that.  Another consumer resin printer like the Prusa SL1/SL1S that lowers the resin vat for layer change instead of lifting the print bed has also been released finally.  The Prusa XL didn't really start shipping more widely until end of 2023 due to logistics, and it didn't come with a chamber, so I gave the K1 Max a go.  There are a couple of videos from "The Real Sam Prentice" about the K2+, and a new video from "Made with Layers" on the Prusa XL.

 

SC

[Out2gtcha]

On 5/21/2024 at 4:49 PM, scjh said:

The printer I bought before the K1 Max is a Prusa Mk 3S, which I still use for smaller and more precise prints.  I really like the Prusa eco-system, the open source Prusa Slicer, the commitment to existing products, the innovations, and the company itself.  I followed the Prusa XL ever since it was announced in 2021, and the SL1S resin printer as well.  For better or worse, many of the innovations pioneered by the XL have shown up in other printers (load cell sensor for bed probing I believe is one of them).  The Prusa Slicer was the basis for Orca (indirectly), and I believe the new Creality Print 5.0 is also based on that.  Another consumer resin printer like the Prusa SL1/SL1S that lowers the resin vat for layer change instead of lifting the print bed has also been released finally.  The Prusa XL didn't really start shipping more widely until end of 2023 due to logistics, and it didn't come with a chamber, so I gave the K1 Max a go.  There are a couple of videos from "The Real Sam Prentice" about the K2+, and a new video from "Made with Layers" on the Prusa XL.

 

 

Any idea when the K2+ is supposed to come out?

[scjh]

I have heard June announcement and maybe July availability?

[Out2gtcha]

50 minutes ago, scjh said:

I have heard June announcement and maybe July availability?

 

Sounds right from the very few pre-order adds I've seen which did mention June, but didn't get any actual get it in hand date from them.

 

Might be worth the wait........

[scjh]

Creality has announced the K2 Plus Combo with their multi-color unit for $1499, and is running Kickstarter style early bird specials (50% off, 40% off, etc.)  First units to ship starting Sep 20.

 

https://store.creality.com/products/creality-k2-plus-combo-3d-printer

 

SC

[Out2gtcha]

Haha, yeah.......I tried both June 5th and June 6th for a 50% and 40% off respectively, and didn't get in either time.

Finally, on the 14th I got my K2+ combo with 30% off!

Can't wait