Creality K1C review
Introducing the Creality K1C: The Latest Addition to the K Series 3D Printers
Creality's brand-new K1C is the latest addition to their fully enclosed K 3D printer line. Keeping the same high-quality, rigid frame and tinted transparent part-glass enclosure as the rest of the line, this machine is designed to heat the inner chamber for specialist materials.
The K1C comes with additional features compared to its predecessors, the K1 and K1 Max. Despite having similar size and mechanical specifications, the K1C has incorporated some advanced features from the larger machine, including an AI camera.
What's really exciting about the K1C is the revamped tool head, featuring a 300° hotend with a hardened steel nozzle tip specifically built to handle specialist materials like carbon fiber. This enhancement makes the machine much more appealing to industry professionals, reminiscent of the impressive Cel-Robox Dual from a few years ago.
Although the K1C is not intended to replace the K1, the price difference between the two is minimal, making it difficult to understand why anyone would prefer the older model now. We were thoroughly impressed with the K1 and K1 Max, ranking them as two of the best 3D printers we've reviewed. With the main mechanics of the K1C remaining the same, the true test lies in how well the new tool head and AI camera are integrated and if there is an improvement in quality.
At first glance, the K1C closely resembles the K1. However, the K1C outshines its predecessor when it comes to handling carbon fiber filaments like PLA-CF, PA-CF, and PET-CF. Its hardened steel nozzle is part of the new tool head design developed by Creality, incorporating a "clog-free extruder kit" with a "Unicorn" tri-metal nozzle made from copper, titanium, and steel. This combination ensures excellent resistance to abrasive materials such as carbon fiber.
To enhance reliability, the K1C includes an integrated AI camera, unlike the optional add-on for the K1. The machine's cooling system has also been upgraded with print head fans and an additional 18W fan in the build chamber for better cooling when necessary.
Similar to other K series printers, the K1C utilizes a CoreXY design known for its speed but also notorious for being noisy. However, Creality has made design changes to the pulley gears, making them smaller and improving the printer's precision. Precision is further emphasized with the inclusion of a flexible PEI build plate and a hands-free auto-leveling system, both of which have garnered exceptional feedback so far.
The fully enclosed nature of the K1C's case is one of its standout features. Compared to the K1, it now has a better handle, an improved door hinge with a magnetic closure, and an anti-shatter film on the glass, enhancing safety.
The touchscreen, although appearing similar on the surface, has undergone some changes to accommodate the AI camera and improved hot end.
When it comes to performance, the K1C shares similarities with the K1 in terms of high-speed printing up to 600mm/s, the CoreXY motion system, and input shaping. However, the K1C has seen stability improvements and weighs slightly less at 12.4kg.
The most notable feature of the K1C is its extended material compatibility. While the nozzle and hotend temperature ranges remain the same, the new nozzle and extruder allow the K1C to handle a wider variety of specialist materials, including PLA-CF, PA-CF, and PET-CF, and any material with abrasive properties.
To accommodate the new materials and specialist options like nylon and ABS, the K1C features a reworked cooling system. This dynamically balanced system ensures effective cooling where needed, resulting in reduced stringing and warping.
With its direct drive, clog-free extruder kit and unicorn tri-metal nozzle, the K1C promises higher durability and performance. It excels in handling high-temperature and abrasive filaments.
One of the features that caught our attention in the K1 Max and the K1's upgrade kit was the AI camera. With real-time print monitoring, timelapse recording, and failure detection, this camera fully integrates with Creality Print software. Additionally, the wireless connection enables remote print monitoring and control.
The enhanced touchscreen interface is a standout feature across the range of K series printers. It offers real-time adjustments and print time monitoring, making it intuitive and easy to navigate.
The K1C maintains the same print area as the K1, measuring at 220x220x250mm with a PEI flexible build plate that supports input shaping.
A nice touch with the K1C is the option for a side-mounted spool holder, providing more flexibility in machine positioning.
As a fully enclosed printer, the K1C is almost ready to use right out of the box, only requiring a few minutes of setup before you can start printing. The full metal frame, glass door, and acrylic sides contribute to its overall quality and make it stand out even compared to the K1 and K1 Max machines.
Both the K1 and K1 Max impressed us with their print quality, scoring well at 26.5 in our reviews. The K1C follows suit with slight improvements in some areas. During real-world tests using PLA, PETG, and Carbon Fill, the prints exhibited exceptional quality, despite the machine's impressive speed. The new cooling system effectively minimized stringing, and while the dimensional accuracy was good, the benchmark test showed slight variation.
While the K1C performs admirably and would have set itself apart if launched alongside the other two machines, there are now competitors like the Qidi Tech Q1 Pro 3D that offer slightly better print quality but lag behind in terms of machine build quality and features.
However, the K1C's main focus is on carbon filaments, notoriously difficult to work with and capable of damaging a standard machine. The K1C, on the other hand, handles these specialist materials with ease, producing durable and high-quality prints. It excels in creating workable prototypes rather than generic models.
The K series of Creality's 3D printers has established a benchmark for build quality. The machines have a sleek appearance, and the company has made great efforts to appeal to a wider audience beyond just enthusiasts. Compared to the Ender-3 series that initially put Creality in the spotlight, the K series is significantly more refined and professional, breaking away from the DIY form many 3D printers originated from. With its CoreXY design, speed, Klipper firmware, and exceptional overall package, the K1C is currently one of the most refined printers available.
Benchmark scores indicate that the K1C performs well, ranking among the top FFF printers we have reviewed. However, in terms of print quality, there are now some serious contenders. While printers like the QIDI and AnkerMake M5C might have a slight edge in print quality, they fall behind in terms of the complete package.
While the QIDI's software is good, it lacks the integration of Creality's software, and the build quality needs improvement. On the other hand, the AnkerMake M5C produces outstanding prints but remains an open system that is slower overall. The Creality K1C offers the best of both worlds -- it is a printer that will interest educational enthusiasts and professionals alike. The only downside at the moment is the lack of multi-material support from Creality, although this is likely to be addressed in the future.
Creality's brand-new K1C is the latest addition to their fully enclosed K 3D printer line. Keeping the same high-quality, rigid frame and tinted transparent part-glass enclosure as the rest of the line, this machine is designed to heat the inner chamber for specialist materials.
The K1C comes with additional features compared to its predecessors, the K1 and K1 Max. Despite having similar size and mechanical specifications, the K1C has incorporated some advanced features from the larger machine, including an AI camera.
What's really exciting about the K1C is the revamped tool head, featuring a 300° hotend with a hardened steel nozzle tip specifically built to handle specialist materials like carbon fiber. This enhancement makes the machine much more appealing to industry professionals, reminiscent of the impressive Cel-Robox Dual from a few years ago.
Although the K1C is not intended to replace the K1, the price difference between the two is minimal, making it difficult to understand why anyone would prefer the older model now. We were thoroughly impressed with the K1 and K1 Max, ranking them as two of the best 3D printers we've reviewed. With the main mechanics of the K1C remaining the same, the true test lies in how well the new tool head and AI camera are integrated and if there is an improvement in quality.
At first glance, the K1C closely resembles the K1. However, the K1C outshines its predecessor when it comes to handling carbon fiber filaments like PLA-CF, PA-CF, and PET-CF. Its hardened steel nozzle is part of the new tool head design developed by Creality, incorporating a "clog-free extruder kit" with a "Unicorn" tri-metal nozzle made from copper, titanium, and steel. This combination ensures excellent resistance to abrasive materials such as carbon fiber.
To enhance reliability, the K1C includes an integrated AI camera, unlike the optional add-on for the K1. The machine's cooling system has also been upgraded with print head fans and an additional 18W fan in the build chamber for better cooling when necessary.
Similar to other K series printers, the K1C utilizes a CoreXY design known for its speed but also notorious for being noisy. However, Creality has made design changes to the pulley gears, making them smaller and improving the printer's precision. Precision is further emphasized with the inclusion of a flexible PEI build plate and a hands-free auto-leveling system, both of which have garnered exceptional feedback so far.
The fully enclosed nature of the K1C's case is one of its standout features. Compared to the K1, it now has a better handle, an improved door hinge with a magnetic closure, and an anti-shatter film on the glass, enhancing safety.
The touchscreen, although appearing similar on the surface, has undergone some changes to accommodate the AI camera and improved hot end.
When it comes to performance, the K1C shares similarities with the K1 in terms of high-speed printing up to 600mm/s, the CoreXY motion system, and input shaping. However, the K1C has seen stability improvements and weighs slightly less at 12.4kg.
The most notable feature of the K1C is its extended material compatibility. While the nozzle and hotend temperature ranges remain the same, the new nozzle and extruder allow the K1C to handle a wider variety of specialist materials, including PLA-CF, PA-CF, and PET-CF, and any material with abrasive properties.
To accommodate the new materials and specialist options like nylon and ABS, the K1C features a reworked cooling system. This dynamically balanced system ensures effective cooling where needed, resulting in reduced stringing and warping.
With its direct drive, clog-free extruder kit and unicorn tri-metal nozzle, the K1C promises higher durability and performance. It excels in handling high-temperature and abrasive filaments.
One of the features that caught our attention in the K1 Max and the K1's upgrade kit was the AI camera. With real-time print monitoring, timelapse recording, and failure detection, this camera fully integrates with Creality Print software. Additionally, the wireless connection enables remote print monitoring and control.
The enhanced touchscreen interface is a standout feature across the range of K series printers. It offers real-time adjustments and print time monitoring, making it intuitive and easy to navigate.
The K1C maintains the same print area as the K1, measuring at 220x220x250mm with a PEI flexible build plate that supports input shaping.
A nice touch with the K1C is the option for a side-mounted spool holder, providing more flexibility in machine positioning.
As a fully enclosed printer, the K1C is almost ready to use right out of the box, only requiring a few minutes of setup before you can start printing. The full metal frame, glass door, and acrylic sides contribute to its overall quality and make it stand out even compared to the K1 and K1 Max machines.
Both the K1 and K1 Max impressed us with their print quality, scoring well at 26.5 in our reviews. The K1C follows suit with slight improvements in some areas. During real-world tests using PLA, PETG, and Carbon Fill, the prints exhibited exceptional quality, despite the machine's impressive speed. The new cooling system effectively minimized stringing, and while the dimensional accuracy was good, the benchmark test showed slight variation.
While the K1C performs admirably and would have set itself apart if launched alongside the other two machines, there are now competitors like the Qidi Tech Q1 Pro 3D that offer slightly better print quality but lag behind in terms of machine build quality and features.
However, the K1C's main focus is on carbon filaments, notoriously difficult to work with and capable of damaging a standard machine. The K1C, on the other hand, handles these specialist materials with ease, producing durable and high-quality prints. It excels in creating workable prototypes rather than generic models.
The K series of Creality's 3D printers has established a benchmark for build quality. The machines have a sleek appearance, and the company has made great efforts to appeal to a wider audience beyond just enthusiasts. Compared to the Ender-3 series that initially put Creality in the spotlight, the K series is significantly more refined and professional, breaking away from the DIY form many 3D printers originated from. With its CoreXY design, speed, Klipper firmware, and exceptional overall package, the K1C is currently one of the most refined printers available.
Benchmark scores indicate that the K1C performs well, ranking among the top FFF printers we have reviewed. However, in terms of print quality, there are now some serious contenders. While printers like the QIDI and AnkerMake M5C might have a slight edge in print quality, they fall behind in terms of the complete package.
While the QIDI's software is good, it lacks the integration of Creality's software, and the build quality needs improvement. On the other hand, the AnkerMake M5C produces outstanding prints but remains an open system that is slower overall. The Creality K1C offers the best of both worlds -- it is a printer that will interest educational enthusiasts and professionals alike. The only downside at the moment is the lack of multi-material support from Creality, although this is likely to be addressed in the future.