The Flashforge Creator 5 Multi Toolhead 3D Printer is $899 delivered from the Flashforge 3D Pro eBay store, down from $1,249.
This is a killer price for a multi-toolhead printer with the next option being the Snapmaker U1 at $899 USD (~$1300 AUD)
Those only have 1 nozzle so you mostly print with 1 filament, or have to use AMS to switch filaments which means 75-80% of your filament is turned into poop.
The creator 5 has 4 different nozzles so you can load 4 different colors in (or 3 color PLA with 1 PETG for clean support) and it takes roughly the same time as printing with one color, plus little to no waste. Super underrated about the different material support btw, I never got my P2S to cleanly do that.
With that said, at this point you are still somewhat beta testing their first toolchanger, and Flashforge historically had some issues at launch for their adventure 5 series. They absolutely remedied the issues for the early buyers for free, but if you want zero hassle and straight printing from day 1 then Bambu is your best bet
They're quite different printers. This has multiple nozzles so you can print different materials without purging and wastage.
P1/2 are enclosed, so better temperature control, can print engineering materials etc.
I think if you want multimaterial/colour then this is a no brainer but if you want engineering material prints then go P2 but that's just how I see it.
Bullet points at the end summarised it pretty well for me..
Shame they are still running a locked down klipper (and a min 300mm build plate would have been nice too)
Tool changer for under $1000, nice. Bring on the competition!
im very tempted but im holding out for a tool changer with a bigger build plate
whatever else is coming
Creality KliTek.
Also seems to be a raft a pre-kickstarter (like they need another stage of marketing pre kick-started) projects with companies jumping on the bandwagon.
Infimech MX
AtomForm Pallette 300
Creality K3
I'm holding out to modify my sv08 with whatever parts or kits will eventually become available. I think INDX will be too expensive.
Hell yeah. I've been waiting for this to come to a good price. Currently have a bed slinger, Anycubic Kobra 2 Pro. Mind you I've got that thing dialed in so tight and well that I now print flawlessly, but I haven't bothered with multi colour/material prints due to single print head. I'll be likely upgrading to the Creator 5.
FYI there is no upgrade path from creator 5 to creator 5 Pro.
Oh crap… just bought P2S combo for ~$950, is this better?
They are different type of printers so better is subjective.
AMS2 is also a dryer & filament feeder.
For multicolour, multifilament prints, this is much better since it wil have minimal purge & waste.
There is a enclosed version on the official site but not on ebay store. Can this unit be enclosed later?
you can probably buy kits for it later, for the front, rear & top cover.
Did see a Flashforge video review which stated it wasn't possible to upgrade (to the pro) due to some design differences making it impossible to retrofit the heater. But not sure where I saw it.
yeah, maybe matching the specs with heating element but an enclosure is probably possible.
How does it fall under computing tag?
Anyone considering if it's worth going from a machine with a filament changer vs. a tool changer, the upgrade is substantial. I had 4 printers
2 x CC1, 1 with a CANVAS fitted
1 x CC2
1 x K2 Plus
and recently added a Snapmaker U1. The reduction in print time and waste is absolutely insane. Depending on the number of swaps, filament usage drops by up to 60% for me and print time goes from days to hours. I used to avoid multi color print because of the waste.. plus kids love the colorful stuff, I'm more into functional prints but now find myself printing more of their stuff than my own simply because it's easier to do now. Also, if you haven't yet checked out full spectrum printing. That's pretty insane as well
I've got the snapmaker U1 as well but yet to do a proper multicolour print.
I might give it a go this weekend.
The eevee collection looks sweet
Shouldn't these filaments be in an enclosure to keep them dry?
Some filaments such as PLA doesn't absorb much fluid so it is fairly safe to leave the in the open. PETG, nylon etc need enclosures and dry boxes
My exact opposite experience with PLA.
Always dry filament.
By all means print with it straight away, but if you experience brittle filament, stringing, bad finishes, zits (not seams) etc. Just dry it.
I live about 20 metres from the water in Sydney Harbour. High humidity.
Also, watch any filament manufacturing video. They rapidly cool the filament by pulling it through a waterbath before spooling it.
Ordered this yesterday and arrived today in Sydney, ships from Melbourne.
Keen to try it out!
Super fast!
Tried it yet???
Yeah it's awesome, 66 hours so far! Colour swaps are super quick.
Deal is over. Thanks for your delayed reply, saved me $899 ;)
This or U1?
Both are good options
U1:
- enclosed ‐ with a top hat
- auto feeders
- larger 270mm³ bed
- open source klipper
Regardless of the Creator 5 or U1, check out this video on a new colour mixing technique that looks insanely efficient.
He takes his time speaking… 1.25-1.5x required.
yes, but just skim the video or go to the ImageMap fork
https://github.com/sentientstardust-dev/OrcaSlicer-ImageMap
Going to have to give this one a go.
I'm finding I'm viewing a lot of them that way these days.. not sure if they are doing it to pad the video length for monetization or I'm getting more impatient with age…
Got one. Couldn't resist. I'll have to sell off the Creality K1C.
I have a Creality Ender 3 v3. Still on the fence on this one. Help get me over the edge. Or is the Pro better?
You'll be printing a tonne more than you do on the 3v3 regardless of what printer you pick up next.
Pro adds enclosure and heated chamber
Mine got delivered today. I just put it together but I haven't printed anything meaningful yet. I have a P1S, which has been my workhorse, and I can't fault it. I'm just buying into the multi-toolhead gimmick. I'm likely to end up selling the Creator 5 eventually, unless it exceeds my expectations somehow.
Thoughts on the Creator 5?
@bongo007: Great unit, if you want enclosed and active heat chamber, wait for the 5 Pro which they said they are getting stock of soon.
I should wait until the pro version come on sale. Very tempted on this one. I have the P2S since November. I went from knowing nothing about 3d print and CAD to now able to use Freecad to design a lot of stuff for myself. I use it as a tool. I now wanting to print multicolour model etc for my misses.
or just get the U1 now
$200 code removed
It's available for $999.20 with the new 20% code if you still want to pick one up.
They brought back the $200 code and combines with 20% off
$839.20
So does the multi head actually reduce the print time significantly?
for multicolour/multifilament prints, significantly.
how is this compared to bamboo P1S/P2?