Despite the massive growth in popularity of 3D printing for beginners, enthusiasts, schools and businesses, there are still few misconceptions about this technology that need to be tackled.
One of these misconceptions is around speed, or rather the lack of speed. The intricate work of turning regular old filament into a 3D print of just about anything you can imagine takes time, but not as much time as you may think.
Giant of the 3D printing industry, Creality, has worked tirelessly to push the boundary of just how fast you can print on a mass production 3D printer that is still easy to use, simple to set up, and reliable throughout.
The culmination of this work is the Creality K1 3D Printer, a true speedster that outpaces the competition from beginning to end.
That beginning starts with out of the box functionality with reduced steps between receiving your new printer and your first 3D print being completed. The self-test with one button press is aided by the hands-free auto levelling and AI LiDAR to start the print as accurately as possible.
Once things get going it takes just 40 seconds for the hotend to reach 200 degrees Celsius, and the heatbed needs only 90 seconds to get to 60 degrees Celsius.
The real magic, of course, starts when the filament starts to flow. With a 32mm³/s max flow hotend and printing speeds of up to 600mm/s. When you consider that a common 3D printer only works at around 50mm/s, the difference is printing speeds that are around 12 times faster than you may be used to.
Benchy, the classic 3D printed boat that is used to benchmark 3D prints (hence the name) can be printed in just 13 minutes. Another test print, the All-in-One, can be done in only 90 minutes. With other printers taking several times longer, eating up hours of time, the value of Creality K1 3D Printer really shines through.
The speed is even more appreciated here in South Africa, where you may need to get an important print done before loadshedding hits.
All this speed is kept in check with die cast elements to give a rock solid foundation for prints to be made on. Combine this with an AI camera to keep an unblinking eye on the progress of your work, and you have reliability on top of speed.
Housing all this speed is a very attractive design aesthetic of black and metal silvers. Those used to open air 3D printers may notice the outside housing of the Creality K1. This housing not only makes the Creality K1 more appealing to look at as it can easily blend into a modern home, but it also serves practical functions. The auxiliary cooling fan in the chamber means that prints can be kept at the right temperature, and the air purifier keeps fumes in check.
If you’re already planning to run out and get a K1, head on over to Takealot to buy online, or visit your nearest Makro branch for an in-person purchase.
The Creality K1 3D Printer usually sells for R12 999, but early birds with the fastest fingers will be able to nag it for R12 499 on Takealot. Only 40 units are available at this great discounted price, so act fast.
Don’t forget to stock up on filament too, especially at these prices of R349 per kilogram of Ender PLA, and R399 for Ender PLA+. With the K1 offering 3D printers faster than before you may find yourself printing more too, so make sure you have the filament to do it.
Also make sure that you check out the Facebook group for Creality official 3D Printing in South Africa. There you’ll find announcements of sales and offers for the upcoming holiday season, Cyber Monday, Black Friday and more.
