Creality K1 vs K1 Max
The Creality K1 Max Speed is now here to complement it’s little brother Creality K1. But which one should you get and what are their differences?
Creality Adapting to the market
Creality targets bambu labs huge success of fast printers. Both K1 and K1 Max promises print speeds of up to 600mm/s with incredible acceleration at 20 000mm/s2. They are both bringing speed to the market at a great price, with some drawbacks. The biggest being that they don’t have the AMS-option like bambu labs printers does. Update: This new kickstarter from CoPrint might change that! read more here.
However, the K1 Max offers something bambu labs don’t. Large build volumes.
The K1 Max offers a whopping 300x300x300mm build volume. Which is incredible capable combined with the faster printing speeds. Specially for simpler shapes, where less acceleration is needed, this printer is FAST.
With 32 cubic millimeters of filament per second, you can really lay some plastic down and see your model grow fast.
Drawbacks of speed
The speed is again one of the major benefits, but it requires the other components to be strong enough.
Creality are using the now proven Core XY design, that let’s the build plate focus on being stable, and move in Z, while the extruder head moves in X/Y, freaking fast.
This construction combined with a light extruder and solid parts makes the print speeds go.
A G-sensor (measuring G-forces I assume) helps calibrate the particular machine, and the surface it rests on, to almost completely remove surface ringing. You can see some example on the product page.
To back it up, you need to control the extrusion and melting. Although the K1 Max also uses “AI Lidar" and “AI camera”, similar to Bambu labs X1C, you’re just scratching the surface. The Motion advance, helps optimize how much force the extruder is pushing out filament with, resulting in better finish.
The ceramic heater provides control of extrusion, and can melt filament fast. up to 32mm cubed per second. It also let’s you print up to 300℃.
Creality K1 vs K1 MAX Speed compared
Below are all the specs that are different listed and compared. Further down you’ll see all the specs that are similar.
Creality K1 3D Printer
Product Size: 355 x 355 x 480mm
Build Volume: 220 x 220 x 250mm
Heated Bed temp: 100℃
Heating bed to 60℃: 180s
Net Weight: 12,5kg
Rated Power: 350W
Nozzle: Copper Alloy
Air purifier: none
Connectivity: WiFi, USB drive
AI Camera and AI Lidar: Optional
Creality K1 MAX Speed 3D Printer
Product Size: 435 x 462 x 526mm
Build Volume: 300 x 300 x 300mm
Heated Bed temp: 120℃
Heating bed to 60℃: 90s
Net Weight: 18kg
Rated Power: 1000W
Nozzle: Hardened Steel
Air purifier: Included
Connectivity: WiFi, USB drive, Ethernet
AI Camera and AI Lidar: Included
K1 and K1 Max Speed additional specifications
Display: 4.3” Color Touch Screen
Layer height: 0.1 - 0.35mm (standard nozzle)
Printing Accuracy: 100 +/- 0.1mm
High-Speed Filaments: ABS, “Hyper PLA”
Regular Filaments: PLA, PETG, PET
Flex Filaments: TPU
High Strength Filaments: PA, ABS, ASA, PC
Wear-resistant Filaments: PLA-CF, PA-CF, PET-CF
Typical Print speed: 300mm/s
Max Speed: 600mm/s
Max acceleration: 20 000 mm/s2
Extruders: 1 Dual-gear Direct Drive Extruder
Printing Temperature: 300℃.
Heatbreak material: Titanium alloy
Nozzle size: 0.4 mm (with 0.6 and 0.8 optional)
Construction: Enclosed CoreXY Design
Auxiliary Cooling Fan: Included
Build plate: Flexible Build plate
Filament Runout Sensor
Power Loss recovery
Lighting Kit
Remote control
Input shaping
Sleep mode
Self testing
Error Notifications
Log Management
Printer OS: A modified (non open) Klipper. Exact date will come in september 2023
Slicer software: Creality Print and compatible with Cura, Simplify3D, Prusaslicer
OS Supported: Windows, MacOS
Creality Cloud application
Which one should you buy?
Before you decide on these two machines. Are you comfortable without a AMS-option like the Bambu lab printers can offer? Although there are rumors of alternatives (see 2023 updates below).
There have been a few hiccups with the K1 first released. Hopefully most are solved in the K1 Max, but they still don’t have the same track record as the machines they are challenging.
There’s different versions of the K1 printers, where first gen have more flaws. The generatinos are fairly discret and not “commonly refereed to”, but anything from Creality directly should be last iteration, and the best performing one.
Considering that you get a few extra accessories and a larger build volume, the K1 MAX Speed looks like the better choice right now, if you can spare the extra few bucks and a place to put it. See below for some deals to help with the price.
Don’t forget to add some extra nozzles and try the high-speed filament.
When it comes to comparing Creality K1 (and K1 Max) to the competition, namely Bambu Labs, I’ve written a more detailed artilce about that here. For most users, it still comes down to Build volume and/or AMS or not.
Creality K1/K1 Max updates September 2023
In a AMA-thread on reddit, Ralf Luo, the RD director at Creality answered tons of questions about Creality K1 and K1 Max commitment to Open Source.
One of the main questions is when Klipper will be opened up. The answer is in September 2023, and the files are now available at github.
Ralf also says “Dont limit your imagination in ams, why we can’t have more?” when asked directly about an Bambu lab AMS alternative. This sounds interesting and could mean a new add-on product is coming.
A pinout diagram for the K1 board is now available here.
On top of that, Creality again puts focus on that they are improving and optimizing the machine, to further position themselves against the competition.
“AMS” updates - November 2023
An interesting kickstarter has emerged, where a K1 is using CoPrint’s ChromaSet, that for a price similar to an AMS, adds support for 4 materials, even up to 20 materials with additional upgrades. Read more about the kickstarter campaing here.
Creality K1 and K1 Max Prices
The Creality K1 3D Printer starts at $599 and the K1 MAX Speed starts at $899. Note: aff links here and below.
BLACK FRIDAY 2023 DEALS:
SAVE $200 on these printers using this link. For K1 MAX use code: WV59JUL
Normally 3DpTD can offer you a $50 discount on K1 MAX using code TIER50 and this link (creality store).
Currently Creality are also running campains for EU-stores. So EU/DE stores get a K1 Max for €799! using code KM99
If you are looking for a simpler Creality 3D Printer at a lower price, have a look at my article about what Ender 3 model you should buy. Or just go directly to the Creality Ender 3 V3 SE here.
