Creality Unveils Its New High-Speed K1 and K1 Max 3D Printers

Creality unveiled its K1 series on April 9. It includes the K1 and K1 Max models, designed with high-speed printing capabilities and advanced features. The K1 boasts a blazing speed of 600mm/s, hassle-free leveling, and reliable print quality, all at an affordable price. The K1 Max builds on that with even more features, like a larger 300x300x300 mm build volume and AI-assisted 3D printing.

For users of FDM 3D printers, speed is a highly sought-after feature. When they need to print larger models that can take days or even months, the desire for faster printing becomes even stronger. Increasing the speed of a regular 3D printer often leads to a decline in print quality, so this is not always an option.

Recognizing the market saturation of slower printers, many manufacturers, including Creality, are keen to address this challenge and offer solutions.

Creality’s professional CoreXY machines are designed to support their mission of spreading the benefits of 3D printing and making high-speed, high-quality printing accessible to users of all skill levels.

And thus, the K1 series came into existence, positioned strongly amidst the ongoing pursuit of speed. With the K1 priced at $599 and the K1 Max at $999, there is no denying their competitive edge in the market.

Creality K1 and K1 Max Features

High-speed 3D Printing

What truly distinguishes the K1 series is its exhilarating maximum speed of 600mm/s, surpassing regular 3D printers by 12 times and even outpacing the fastest 3D printers currently available on the market, which clock in at 500mm/s.

This remarkable series employs the highly acclaimed CoreXY structure, where the integrated XY gantry carries the printhead, while a separate motor drives the Z-axis along with the heavy heatbed.

Additionally, the printhead itself weighs a mere 190g, enhancing its agility. Both printers are capable of achieving impressive maximum print speeds of up to 600mm/s in just 0.03s, with a maximum acceleration of up to 20000 mm/s, perfectly tailored for swift and efficient printing.

High-flow (32mm³/s) Print Head

Ample filament flow is vital for achieving faster printing speeds, as it requires a greater amount of filament to be extruded through the nozzle every moment. To address this need, the K1 series introduces an ingenious solution in the form of a new ceramic heater that wraps around the hot end. This innovative heater can rapidly heat the hot end to 200°C in just 40 seconds, enabling it to instantly melt various types of filaments.

This ensures that the molten filament can keep up with the high printing speeds of the machines, resulting in an impressive flow rate of 32 ㎣/s. Additionally, the series incorporates a dual-gear direct drive extruder and a titanium alloy heatbreak to enhance extrusion performance.

Fully Enclosed with High-Performance Cooling

One can immediately notice that both the K1 and K1 Max are fully enclosed, including the top section. This comprehensive enclosure effectively prevents drafts and maintains a stable ambient temperature, making these printers particularly suitable for printing materials such as ABS, Polycarbonate, and PA that are prone to warping.

To ensure better model cooling, Creality has incorporated two fans into the K1 series. One fan is positioned on the printhead, while another is located in the build chamber. This arrangement allows freshly printed models to cool rapidly as they exit the nozzle. The result is minimal stringing and warping, enabling the creation of support-free bridges and overhangs with ease.

Integrated Acceleration Sensor

The K1 series is equipped with a G-sensor integrated into the printhead. This sensor plays a crucial role by measuring the resonance frequency of the printer and making necessary adjustments to the motion system.

By doing so, it effectively reduces the occurrence of ringing or ghosting artifacts that are typically associated with high-speed printing. This advanced feature, often referred to as input shaping, ensures smoother and more precise movements during printing.

Furthermore, the K1 series boasts a robust frame and a meticulously engineered Z-axis, contributing to consistent high-quality output and a flawless finish for every model produced. These design elements work in tandem to maintain stability and accuracy throughout the printing process, resulting in impressive print results.

Carefree AI-assisted Printing (K1 Max Only)

The competition among 3D printer manufacturers in the realm of automation is fierce, and Creality has made its own significant strides in this area. In the case of the K1 series, specifically the K1 Max, Creality offers additional optional features such as AI LiDAR and an AI camera.

The AI LiDAR, with an impressive 1μm resolution, is capable of independently mapping out the first layer of the 3D print. It can promptly pause printing and provide immediate feedback if any issues arise.

The K1 Max also utilizes an AI camera to monitor potential concerns such as spaghetti failures, foreign objects, and debris. These functions are undoubtedly intriguing, but further evidence is required to ascertain their effectiveness and real-world impact.

Out-of-the-box 3D Printing

Prior to shipping, the K1 series undergoes meticulous assembly and calibration. It simplifies the setup process by providing a boot-up quick guide and enabling self-testing with a single tap.

The heatbed incorporates strain sensors that facilitate efficient multi-point auto leveling, ensuring optimal printing conditions. For even greater precision, the optional AI LiDAR (available for K1) scans the bed tilt at numerous points, further enhancing the leveling process.

These methods are hands-free and require minimal attention from the user. Additionally, the K1 series features a flexible build plate, enabling swift and effortless removal of prints once they are completed.

Print Farm Capability

Users have the convenience of connecting multiple K1 or K1 Max printers to the same network using either Ethernet (exclusive to K1 Max) or WiFi. This enables centralized control and monitoring of all printers through a single PC equipped with the latest Creality Print slicing software.

Additionally, the printers can be grouped together for enhanced management and organization.

Price and Availability

In addition to its impressive capabilities, the Creality K1 series incorporates various notable features such as air purification, lighting, filament runout detection, and power loss recovery. These enhancements further enhance the overall user experience. Considering the competitive price of $599 for the K1 and $999 for the K1 Max, the appeal of these printers becomes even more enticing and difficult to overlook.

You can now find the K1 available for purchase in the official Creality online stores. Here are the links for your convenience:

• US
• UK
• EU
• DE
• CA
• AU

For those eager to be among the first to own the K1 Max, a pre-sale will be held at the end of May. You can secure your K1 Max by visiting the following links:

• US
• UK
• EU
• CA
• AU
• DE

K1 vs K1 Max