Creality brings color to their new Core XY lineup.
Tom’s Hardware Verdict
Creality’s K2 Plus 3D printer isn’t a mere clone of the Bambu Lab X1C – it’s better. It’s a larger machine with a heated chamber, an easier to use multi-spool holder, and higher acceleration rates.
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Pros
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Four color printing
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Large build volume
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Impressive speed
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Heated chamber
Cons
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Long preheat required for some prints
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Color unit wastes more than the competition
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The day has finally arrived for Creality’s entry into color FDM printing, and it’s been worth the wait. After a rather disastrous 2023 foray into speedy core XY machines – the K1 suffered from poor build quality – the team took their time working on the K2 Plus Combo. The results are a delightful, fully enclosed Core XY machine with a monster 350x350mm build plate that overshadows anything from the competition.
The most notable feature is a heated chamber that comes in handy when printing engineering filaments like ABS and nylon. It uses a Creality fork of Klipper, has tons of sensors for excellent bed leveling, and comes with two AI-driven cameras for monitoring prints. We were invited to test out the “combo” unit, which includes a four-color CFS (Creality Filament System).
The K2 Plus Combo could be called a clone of the Bambu Lab X1C. It is, but with some better features and others a bit worse. On the plus side, well, it’s PLUS. The 350 x 350 x 350mm is significantly larger than the X1C or P1S, which both weigh in at 256 x 256mm. On the negative side, Creality used a significantly larger high-flow nozzle, which wastes more filament between color swaps, and the heated build plate needs a good 15 minutes to warm up before printing.
It retails for $1,499 with the four-color filament unit and could also be purchased on your own for $1,299. We’re impressed by the overall capabilities of the Creality K2 Plus and consider it one of the best 3D printers you can buy.
- Creality K2 Plus at Amazon for $1,499
Specifications: Creality K2 Plus
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| Build Volume | 350 x 350 x 350 mm (13.78 x 13.78 x 13.78 in) |
| Material | PLA/PETG/TPU/ABS (up to 300 degrees) |
| Extruder Type | Direct drive |
| Nozzle | .4mm (Unicorn) |
| Build Platform | Coated steel flex plate, heated |
| Bed Leveling | Automatic |
| Filament Runout Sensor | Yes |
| Connectivity | LAN, Creality Cloud, USB Flash Disk |
| Interface | 4.3 inch Color touch screen |
| Machine Footprint | 495 x 515 x 640 mm (19.4 x 20.2 x 25in) |
| Machine Weight | 35 KG (77.16 lbs) |
Creality K2 Plus: Included in the Box
The Creality K2 Plus comes with everything you need to get your printer set up. You get tools to maintain the printer, side cutters, a plastic scraper, and a USB stick. There’s also a sample spool of white Creality Hyper PLA to start your printing journey.