Creality K2 Plus Review: Big, Bold, Multi-Color 3D Printer?

The Creality K2 Plus is quickly becoming the talk of the 3D printing town and is a versatile workhorse that supports both hobbyists and professionals. This beast of a machine is designed to handle projects that would have little printers shaking in their boots with its massive 350 x 350 x 350 mm build volume. But size isn’t the only trick up its sleeve – the K2 Plus comes loaded with features that promise to elevate your printing game to new heights.

Right out of the box, the K2 Plus is primed for action with its Color Filament System (CFS) supporting up to 4 colors, expandable to a whopping 16. This enclosed printer doesn’t just look sleek – it’s designed to maintain optimal printing conditions for even the most finicky materials. With a direct drive extruder sporting the intriguing “Unicorn Nozzle” and print speeds up to 600 mm/s, the K2 Plus is clearly gunning for the title of the ultimate large-format CoreXY printer.

After putting this machine through its paces, I’m ready to share my honest review of this multi-color marvel. While it won’t be right for everyone, the Creality K2 Plus is absolutely worth considering if you want a large-volume printer that can tackle tough color-heavy builds. Let’s dive into the details review and see if it lives up to the hype.

Build and Design

Instantly you can see the scale of the Creality K2 Plus. Its anything but a printer you would need to tuck in some corner – it has an unassuming impression or takes up energy. The enclosed design and glass door give it a sleek, professional look. It would fit right in at a makerspace or design studio.

Creality has made some smart choices in the printer’s construction. The anti-shatter glass door is a nice touch. It fixes durability issues with some earlier models. The door allows easy access to the print bed. It also helps maintain a stable printing environment. This is crucial for materials like ABS, which need consistent temperatures.

The user interface is a standout feature. The printer features a large touch screen for viewing and managing your prints efficiently. Like most other RaceFace bikes, it’s the same screen used in the K1 and K1 SE models.

Color Filament System (CFS)

One of the K2 Plus’s marquee features is its Color Filament System, or CFS. This is Creality’s answer to multi-material printing, and it’s impressive. Out of the box, the Creality K2 Plus can handle up to four different filament colors. But here’s where it gets interesting. You can expand this system to print with up to 16 colors by adding CFS units.

The CFS isn’t just about color, though. It also acts as a filament management system. Each filament spool is housed in its own compartment, which includes a small LCD screen. This screen shows real-time humidity and filament status. It helps you keep ideal printing conditions.

The filament boxes don’t dry filament. But, they have desiccant packets to keep out moisture. This system should suffice for most users. But, those in very humid areas might want extra drying solutions.

The Unicorn Nozzle

Creality has introduced a new nozzle design with the Creality K2 Plus, dubbed the “Unicorn Nozzle.” This isn’t just marketing speak – the nozzle brings some genuine improvements to the table. It’s easy to swap, which is a godsend for anyone who’s struggled with stuck nozzles.

The Unicorn Nozzle is also optimized for ABS printing. It takes full advantage of the K2 Plus’s enclosed design. ABS can be tricky to print with, prone to warping and layer separation if the environment isn’t just right. The chamber and nozzle should make ABS printing easier for most users.

Printing Performance

Now, let’s get to the heart of the matter – how does the Creality K2 Plus actually print? In a word: impressively.

The CoreXY design, plus the printer’s strong frame, allows for some very fast printing. Creality claims a maximum print speed of 600 mm/s, which puts it in the upper echelons of consumer 3D printers. In practice, you’ll likely want to reduce that for most prints to maintain quality. But, it’s nice to have the option for a quick prototype.

Print quality is consistently high across a range of materials. The direct drive extruder controls filament flow well. It results in clean, precise prints. Layer lines are minimal, and overhangs are handled with aplomb.

The auto-calibration feature is a real time-saver. This ensures a perfectly level print bed for every print, preventing first-layer issues. This is especially important on a printer of this size, where manual leveling could be a real chore.

Multi-Color Printing

The multi-color capabilities of the Creality K2 Plus are where this printer really shines. It’s almost mesmerizing to watch it in action. As the filament color changes, you’ll see the printer precisely expel the old material and draw in the new.

The process is surprisingly quiet. Even with the door open, the noise level is kept to a minimum. With the door closed, it’s incredibly quiet, with only a faint hum from the fans. This makes the Creality K2 Plus a great option for home offices or other environments where noise could be an issue.

Color transitions are clean and well-defined. There’s minimal color bleeding between sections, resulting in crisp, multi-colored prints. The waste management system purges old filament before a new color. Some users noted that waste collection could improve.

It’s worth noting that multi-color printing does come with a trade-off in terms of print speed. The printer must pause between layers to change filaments. This can greatly increase print times for complex, multi-color models. Most people will like being able to print many colors without extra work.

Heated Chamber and Bed

The Creality K2 Plus features both a heated print bed and a heated chamber. The print bed can reach temperatures up to 180°C, which is more than sufficient for most common filaments. The heated chamber is vital for printing with high-temperature materials like ABS or Nylon. It helps prevent warping and layer separation.

The chamber heating system is effective, maintaining a stable temperature throughout long prints. This consistent environment enhances print quality and material versatility.

Cooling System

Effective cooling is essential for high-quality prints, especially at high speeds. The Creality K2 Plus addresses this with fans on both the left and right sides of the build plate. Dual fans stabilize temperatures, producing prints with crisp finishes and defined details.

The cooling system provides optimal airflow, quickly solidifying filament while preventing warping.

Extruder and Hotend

The Creality K2 Plus uses a direct drive extruder paired with a high-performance hotend. The extruder offers exceptional filament control, particularly evident in intricate details and retractions.

The hotend’s ability to exceed 300°C unlocks a world of exotic filament possibilities. It heats up quickly, reducing wait times between prints.

One interesting addition is the nozzle camera. This lets you check the nozzle for buildup or print failures. It adds extra print monitoring beyond the standard bed camera.

Print Monitoring

Speaking of monitoring, the Creality K2 Plus comes equipped with both a bed camera and a nozzle camera. You can access these via mobile or the Creality OS app. This lets you monitor your prints from anywhere.

The cameras provide clear, real-time footage of your prints in progress. This is especially helpful for long print jobs. You can monitor progress without having to stay by the printer.

Filament Handling

The Creality K2 Plus includes a filament runout sensor located at the extruder. This sensor alerts you when you’re low on filament, so you can quickly swap spools and keep printing. It’s a small feature, but one that can save a lot of heartache on long prints.

CFS boxes offer excellent protection against humidity, even when not actively drying filament. You can easily monitor your filament’s moisture levels with the real-time humidity readings.

Software and User Interface

The K2 Plus isn’t just about hardware – it’s got some serious software chops too. Creality’s OS talks to the printer’s Color Filament System like old pals. This setup lets you paint your 3D canvas with up to 16 colors without breaking a sweat. The real kicker? RFID technology that automatically selects the correct filament for you. It’s like having a tiny, plastic-obsessed assistant that never sleeps.

Connectivity-wise, this printer’s more social than your average teenager. It’s got Wi-Fi that lets you babysit your prints from the comfort of your couch via the Creality OS app. And if you’re into AI, you’re in luck – the Edge AI keeps an eye on your prints like a hawk, ready to squawk if something’s not right. Sure, there’s a USB port if you’re old school, but the real magic happens when you let this thing loose on your network. It’s not just printing – it’s like conducting an orchestra of plastic, with Creality OS as the maestro.

Build Quality and Durability

The Creality K2 Plus feels like a solidly built machine. With a solid frame reinforced by four Z rods and two Z steppers, the printer remains steady at any height. This strong build helps the printer produce high-quality prints, even at fast speeds.

The design helps control temperature. It also protects the printer’s internals from dust and debris. This should contribute to the longevity of the machine.

Potential Drawbacks

While the Creality K2 Plus has a lot going for it, there are a few potential drawbacks to consider:

• Size: Though you can print larger objects, as it takes up a lot of space. Check to make sure you have enough space for it before purchasing!
• Multi-color print times: Multi-color prints as seen require much more time. The problem here is the technology itself rather than the printer, but you are stuck with this.
• Waste management: Some users want better waste collection for purged filament. As it stands, you’ll need to clean out purged filament regularly.
• Price: At $1499 MSRP, the Creality K2 Plus is a substantial investment. But most users will consider it a worthwhile expenditure.

Comparison with Previous Model

The Creality K1 Max is an improved version of the Creality K2 Plus, with several new features and enhancements. Here’s a comparison of the two models:

• Build Volume: The build volume of K1 Max is 300x300x300mm. Less than K2 Plus: 350x350x350mm.
• Printing Speed: The K1 Max boasts a maximum printing speed of 600mm/s, matching the K2 Plus. However, Creality is focusing more on the high speed of the K1 Max in their advertising.
• AI Features: The K1 Max has some new AI features that the K2 Plus doesn’t have. It uses a special laser to check the first layer of the print and a camera to watch for problems while it’s printing.
• Multi-Color Printing: The K2 Plus has the CFS for multi-color printing. The K1 Max lacks this feature. It focuses on high-speed, single-color printing.
• User Interface: Both the K1 Max and K2 Plus have touch screens, but the K1 Max has a smarter system called Creality OS. This lets you do more things, like connect to Wi-Fi and watch your print from far away.
• Cooling System: The K1 Max has two fans to cool down your prints, including a special fan inside the printer. This might help it cool prints better than the K2 Plus.
• Frame Design: The K1 Max is built with a strong metal body to keep it steady while printing really fast. This might make it better for high-speed printing than the K2 Plus.
• Smart Features: The K1 Max can do things like “input shaping” and “motion advance” to make the prints better. These things aren’t mentioned for the K2 Plus.

Comparison Chart

Feature	Creality K2 Plus	Creality K1 Max
Build Volume	350x350x350mm	300x300x300mm
Max Print Speed	600mm/s	600mm/s
AI Features	Monitoring AI Camera, Calibration AI Camera	AI LIDAR, AI Camera
Multi-Color Printing	Yes (CFS, up to 4 spools)	Not specified
Cooling System	Dual cooling fans	Dual fans (including 18W auxiliary)
Frame Material	Sturdy aluminum alloy frame	Die-cast aluminum alloy
Input Shaping	Yes (G-Sensor)	Yes
Motion Advance	Not specified	Yes
Air Purifier	Yes	Yes
Warranty	12-Month Hassle-Free Warranty	12-Month
Price	$1499 (MSRP)	$899

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Conclusion

The Creality K2 Plus is offered at an MSRP of $1499, which puts it in the upper tier of consumer 3D printers. But for those requiring its unmatched blend of a large print space with multi-color, it might be worth the price.

As a standalone unit, the K2 Plus offers an excellent experience for those looking to print large, complex models in multiple colors. Its enclosed design, heated chamber, and compatibility with a wide range of materials make it a versatile tool for both hobbyists and professionals. While it adds to the expense, the Color Filament System also makes detail-rich multi-colored prints easier and more viable than on a whole lot of other printers at this price.

It’s easy to recommend the Creality K2 Plus for those who need both size and color variety in their prints. But if multi-color printing is not a top priority, there are other large-format printers in this price range that may deliver more for your money. Similarly, if you’re primarily interested in high-speed printing, you might want to consider the Creality K1 Max, which focuses more on speed than color options.

Ultimately, the Creality K2 Plus is a specialized tool that excels at what it’s designed for. If your projects would benefit from a large build volume and multi-color prints, and you have the space for it, then it may be worth considering. But for newer entrants or those with more modest print requirements, then you should check out our list of the best 3D printers which has both entry-level and enthusiast models at various price points. While the K2 Plus may not suit all hobbyists, it makes for a robust and multifunctional print solution where it can be used.

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