3D printers are becoming more and more popular amongst consumers. Are you debating purchasing one? If so, you might want to consider what makes a great 3D printer.
You might be surprised to learn that there are loads of 3D printers currently available. So, making the right choice for your individual needs can be a little daunting.
One of the worst things you could do is invest in a 3D printer, only to find it doesn’t match your needs. After all, 3D printers can be quite expensive, depending on what type you get.
It is a good idea to think about what you need the 3D printer for. Do you need it for work? If so, you’ll want a 3D printer that can keep up with the demand.
What about if you want the 3D printer to use as a hobby? You might want to consider the price and quality of the 3D printer.
Research is so important. Don’t panic! We’ve written this handy review of the Creality Ender 5 Plus to help you with your decision.
What Exactly Is A 3D Printer?
If you are new to the 3D printing world, you might have a vague idea of what a 3D printer is. In a nutshell, a 3D printer is a machine that creates a physical object from a digital file. The way in which this is done is by working in layers.
Did you know that 3D printing was first coined in the 1980s? At that time it was known as rapid prototyping. Over the past few years, the process has become more efficient and is now available to the average consumer.
How Does 3D Printing Work?
Now, that you are aware of what a 3D printer is, it’s best to look at how they work. After all, if you decide to purchase this is information that you need to know.
As I mentioned briefly before, a 3D printer creates objects by working in layers. It uses molten plastic and adds layer after layer until the object is completed. The 3D printer waits for the layer it just printed to dry before adding another layer.
The thickness of the layers can also be adjusted, this is often called layer height. This can speed up the process of 3D printing. However, 3D printed objects with more layers often look better.
In order for this to happen, there needs to be a digital file telling the printer where to place the molten plastic. Most people use G-Code files for this. What this does is give the 3D printer coordinates on the Y, Z, and X axes. Once you have this sorted, you can start printing your 3D objects.
Why Should You Use A 3D Printer?
Many people use 3D printers in this day and age. All for different reasons. 3D printers are great for making prototypes in manufacturing. In fact, many car manufacturers use 3D printers for this exact reason.
But what about the average consumer? Well, if you are an artist – professionally or as a hobby – it is a great way to make figurines for your artwork. Those who make resin art or resin dioramas are known for using 3D printers. Some jewelry makers also use 3D printers so they can experiment with designs.
3D printers have started to be placed in schools for education purposes.
There are so many reasons as to why you should use a 3D printer!
Product Review
Now that we’ve explored 3D printers in-depth, it’s time to look at a specific 3D printer. So, I’ll introduce you to the Creality Ender 5 Plus 3D printer.
Creality is a brand that is very familiar with 3D printers. That is exactly why we decided to review the Creality Ender 5 Plus. This 3D printer was specifically designed for those who want to print large objects.
The dimensions of the printer are 350 x 350 x 400mm, making this 3D printer huge in size. It is also worth noting that the printer comes 80% pre-assembled.
Let’s have a look at some of the design features of this printer.
Build Space And Frame
We mentioned before that this 3D printer was built to make large prints. So what did they do to accommodate that? The first noticeable thing is the build space is very large.
The dimensions of the build plate are 350 x 350 mm and the height of this printer is 400 mm. This makes it so much easier for those who have large objects they want to print.
Whilst with smaller 3D printers it is possible to print large objects, you would usually have to split them into smaller parts and then assemble them. With this 3D printer being a larger model, it is easier to complete larger projects.
When you assemble this 3D printer, you’ll notice it has a cube frame. The frame itself is sturdy. Also, it is worth noting that the filament spool and power supply are within the frame.
Axis
The Ender 5 Plus 3D printer has a dual-axis setup. This printer has dual Z-axis lead screws. This design feature is great because it allows for a smoother layer movement, so you get a more accurate design. The Ender 5 Plus also uses Z rods so there is no wobble present.
In terms of the Y-axis, there is a dual shaft motor. This makes movement smoother on the Y-axis. This helps with the precision of the printer.
Automatic Bed Levelling
A lot of 3D printer users have to manually level their work. This is fine for those with flat surfaces but can be slightly annoying. As a solution to this problem, the Ender 5 Plus has BL. What this feature does is measure the 3D printer bed surface. If it detects the surface is uneven it can ensure that there is compensation on the Z-axis.
Fail-Safe Features
What is great about the Creality Ender 5 Plus is the fail-safe features that it has. The first is filament run-out detection. When you are printing large objects, it is a no-brainer that you will end up using a lot of filament.
What this feature does is it tells you when the filament has stopped flowing. Then once this has happened the printer pauses whatever it is printing and waits for you to fix the filament.
When this has been fixed, the printer will pick up right where it left off.
Another fail-safe feature is the resume function. There is nothing worst than printing a 3D object, only for your power supply to be cut. Then when all is working, the printer doesn’t recognize it was in the middle of a project.
Well, the Ender 5 Plus has solved this problem. This 3D printer has a memory of the last location of the project you were working on prior to being shut down. So, you can resume your print when the 3D printer is turned on again.
Quality
There have been so many positive reactions to the quality of the 3D prints from customers. The 3D printer is precise and is able to capture the smallest details. Most customers reported that if they didn’t follow the instructions they would find issues with the model they printed.
One user found that there were some inconsistencies with the extrusions that could be seen on the model they printed. Others mentioned that with adjustments to the printer settings they were able to have better quality prints.
If you are considering purchasing this printer then we should look at some of the specifications.
Printing Method: FDM
Accuracy: ±0.1mm
Nozzle Diameter: 0.4mm
Nozzle Temperature: 260℃
Layer Thickness: 0.1-0.4mm
File Format: STL, OBJ, and AMF
Pros
So, before we wrap this up, it’s important to look at the benefits of purchasing this printer.
Assembly – The Creality Ender 5 Plus comes 80% pre-assembled. This means that assembling this machine and starting it is easy for you to do.
Durability – The cube frame of this machine makes it very sturdy. Also, the dual Y-axis shaft motors and the dual Z-axis make this printer more stable.
Quality – In terms of the quality of the prints, many customers have not complained. There are many examples of the prints this 3D printer has printed and they are amazing! The printer is very precise when printing which is fantastic for small details.
Auto-Levelling – This may be a favorite feature of ours. The auto-leveling feature of this 3D printer makes it easier for users to complete their projects without having to manually level them.
Size – Another feature designed to make 3D printing easier. Say goodbye to splitting bigger projects into smaller parts. You can now print big! Gone are the days when you would have to assemble the small pieces together. We love the size of this printer!
Cons
This wouldn’t be an accurate review unless we looked at some of the downsides to this printer.
Noise – If you are fine with noise, then this will not be a problem for you. However, many people have all agreed that this 3D printer is extremely noisy when printing.
Extruder – The filament can be a little tricky to change as the extruder is located at the back right corner of the printer. This means a simple task can become quite irritating to users.
Power – A complaint users have made with this 3D printer is about the power supply. Many agree that the power supply is undersized for this printer.
Cost – This 3D printer is on the expensive side. So the average consumer has to commit to this printer when deciding whether the cost is affordable for them.
Conclusion
That brings us to the end of our review of the Creality Ender 5 Plus 3D printer. Our final thoughts about this printer are that it is definitely a good quality printer. The printer has many positive aspects about it, such as the auto-leveling and the fail-safe features. So many users of this printer absolutely love it and have made no complaints.
We would suggest that if you are considering purchasing this printer to think about what you are using it for.
This printer is able to handle larger projects which is great for many users. The cost of this printer is also something to consider as it is on the expensive side.
We hope this review has helped you make up your mind about whether or not the Creality Ender 5 Plus 3D printer is for you. If anything, we hope this review has helped you on your journey to working out what you are looking for when purchasing a 3D printer.
We wish you the best of luck in finding a 3D printer!
Hi, my name is Michael Moore, and I have been 3D printing for a number of years now. I have created many cool gadgets over the years, but my current passion is creating one of a kind jewelry pieces. They can be so intricate and beautiful that many people wouldn't believe they are 3D printed.
Through Love and Robots, I hope to share my knowledge with others, and provide advice about everything 3D printer related.
