Creality finally released the K2 Pro 3D printer, something we’ve anticipated for a while.
The machine was announced months ago at a special event in Detroit. We happened to be in attendance and saw the machine up close. (See image at top.)
The K2 Pro now appears on Creality’s web store, but curiously there doesn’t seem to be a non-Combo option, at least not yet. The Combo bundles the printer with a single CFS (Creality Filament System) accessory. This allows the K2 Pro to print in up to four colours in each job by swapping filaments dynamically. Up to four CFS units can be attached, meaning a 16-colour 3D print job is quite possible.
The K2 Pro builds on the earlier K2 Plus 3D printer, which offers a massive 350 x 350 x 350 mm build volume. The K2 Pro is a bit smaller, but still large at 300 x 300 x 300 mm. After looking at the specifications, there are very few technical differences between the two, aside from the larger build volume on the K2 Plus. As far as I can tell, the motion and extrusion systems are the same, although the K2 Plus has five servo motors, while the K2 Pro has three. Both have a 40 cubic mm/s flow rate, for example.
One difference is “smart auto leveling”, where the system performs leveling touches only in the target print area on the plate. This can significantly speed up the start of a print job.
It seems that the K2 Pro is mostly a smaller version of the advanced K2 Plus model, but in a different price bracket.
That’s the real benefit of the K2 Pro: the Combo price, which includes a CFS, is only US$1049. This compares to the larger K2 Plus, which is priced at US$1099 — without a CFS. If you added a CFS to the K2 Plus, that bundle would cost US$1354.
In other words, if you don’t need the 350mm build volume of the K2 Plus, the K2 Pro would provide all the same features for US$305 less.
During the first month of K2 Pro Combo sales, Creality is also offering some perks for buyers. These include T-shirts, a two-year warranty, and a one-year premium membership to Creality Cloud.
It seems to me that the K2 Pro is designed to compete against Bambu Lab’s popular X1C device, which has somewhat similar features but a smaller build volume. That machine, with the filament swapping AMS accessory, currently lists for US$1679, far more than the K2 Pro Combo.
If you’re looking for an advanced 3D printer that’s less expensive than the X1C, the K2 Pro Combo might be the right fit for you.
Via Creality
