Creality K1 vs K1 Max-Which is the Better 3D Printer?

Last time we review Creality K1 and the K1 vs Bambulab P1P, today, we’ll dive deep into the comparison of two highly popular 3D printers from Creality – the Creality K1 and its bigger brother, the Creality K1 Max. By the end of this post, you will have a better understanding of Creality K1 vs K1 Max’s features, benefits, and limitations, so you can decide which one is the perfect fit for your needs.

Product Name

Creality K1

Creality K1 3D Printers, 600mm/s Max Speed 20000mm/s² Acceleration 32mm³/s Max Flow Hotend Hands-Free Auto Leveling Dual Cooling

Creality K1 Max

Creality K1 Max 3D Printers, 600mm/s Printing Speed Smart AI Function 300 * 300 * 300 Large Build Volume Dual Hands-Free Auto Leveling Dual Cooling

Image

Price

Price not available

Price not available

Prime Status

–

–

Star Rating

–

–

Reviews

–

–

AI Camera

AI Radar

Auto Leveling

Printing Size

220*220*250mm

300*300*300mm

Speed

max 600mm/s

max 600mm/s

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Official Store

Buy on Creality Store

Buy on Creality Store

Creality K1

Product Name

Creality K1 3D Printers, 600mm/s Max Speed 20000mm/s² Acceleration 32mm³/s Max Flow Hotend Hands-Free Auto Leveling Dual Cooling

Image

Price

Price not available

Prime Status

–

Star Rating

–

Reviews

–

AI Camera

AI Radar

Auto Leveling

Printing Size

220*220*250mm

Speed

max 600mm/s

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Official Store

Buy on Creality Store

Creality K1 Max

Product Name

Creality K1 Max 3D Printers, 600mm/s Printing Speed Smart AI Function 300 * 300 * 300 Large Build Volume Dual Hands-Free Auto Leveling Dual Cooling

Image

Price

Price not available

Prime Status

–

Star Rating

–

Reviews

–

AI Camera

AI Radar

Auto Leveling

Printing Size

300*300*300mm

Speed

max 600mm/s

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Official Store

Buy on Creality Store

Similar Features

Both the Creality K1 and K1 Max are known for their reliability, versatility, and user-friendly design. Let’s explore some of these outstanding features:

1. Fully Assembled

Both 3D printers are shipped fully assembled. You just need to remove the packing foam and connect the touchscreen interface. This process shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes.

2. Automatic Calibration and Self-testing

Both printers have an automatic calibration and self-testing feature with a One Touch button on the touchscreen. This feature tests the extruder heat bed fan leveling for any abnormalities, and if detected, will prompt you on the display to proceed with your printing project with confidence that there are no issues.

3. Aluminum Alloy Heated Bed

The heat bed is an aluminum alloy for quick and uniform heating, reaching 140 degrees Fahrenheit or 60 degrees Celsius in 180 seconds.

4. Power Loss Recovery

Both printers support power loss recovery, meaning that in case of a power outage, the print job will continue from where it left off.

5. Advanced Filament Sensor

The Creality K1 and K1 Max are equipped with an advanced filament sensor that detects when your filament runs out or gets jammed, pausing the print and preventing potential print failures.

6. Dual Cooling Fans

Both printers are equipped with dual cooling fans, one on the printhead with air ducts that cool the model directly, and the second auxiliary fan in the build chamber to enhance the cooling effect, allowing the printed model to harden before any stringing and warping can occur.

K1 Max Upgrades:

1. Print Size:

The K1 offers a print size of 220x220x250mm, which is suitable for a wide range of projects. However, if you have specific requirements for larger prints, the K1 Max with its expanded print size of 300x300x300mm is an excellent choice. With the K1 Max, you can bring your grand-scale creative ideas to life and explore new possibilities in 3D printing.

2. Upgraded to Glass Top Cover:

One notable upgrade in the K1 Max is the replacement of the PC top cover with a glass top cover. This enhancement provides several benefits. The glass top cover offers better visibility during the printing process, allowing you to monitor your prints with ease. Additionally, it improves heat distribution and ensures more consistent temperature control within the printer, resulting in improved print quality and reliability.

3. Internal Placement of Filament Runout Sensor:

In the K1, the filament runout sensor is positioned at the back of the machine, while the K1 Max features an internal placement. This upgrade enhances convenience and accessibility, as the filament runout sensor can now be easily accessed from the front of the printer.

4. AI Laser Radar and Camera Included as Standard:

K1 Max comes equipped with AI laser radar and a built-in camera, providing advanced features and functionalities. The AI laser radar helps in precise leveling, ensuring that your prints adhere to the build plate accurately. The integrated camera enables remote monitoring of the printing process, allowing you to keep an eye on your prints from anywhere, anytime, through a connected device. This enhances convenience, control, and peace of mind during your 3D printing projects.

5. Carbon Filter Included:

While the K1 is equipped with a fan for ventilation, the K1 Max takes it a step further by including a carbon filter. The carbon filter efficiently absorbs and filters out potentially harmful particles and fumes, creating a cleaner and safer printing environment. It helps to minimize odors and reduce the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during the printing process, ensuring a healthier and more pleasant working atmosphere.

6. Ethernet Connectivity Supported:

K1 Max features Ethernet connectivity, allowing you to connect the printer to your local network via a network cable. This enables seamless integration into your existing network infrastructure, providing stable and reliable communication between the printer and other devices. With Ethernet connectivity, you can conveniently send print jobs to the printer from your computer or control and monitor the printing process remotely, enhancing workflow efficiency and productivity.

7. Upgraded Nozzle:

The K1 Max comes with a set of hardened steel nozzles as a bonus, in addition to the copper alloy nozzles that come with the K1. The hardened steel nozzles offer enhanced durability and wear resistance, allowing you to print with various reinforced and engineering materials over an extended period. These upgraded nozzles ensure consistent and reliable extrusion, even with abrasive filaments, expanding the range of materials you can work with and unlocking new possibilities for your projects.

8. Power Supply and Bed Heating:

The K1 utilizes a toggle switch power supply and a DC heated bed, providing reliable and stable power to the printer. On the other hand, the K1 Max features a wide-voltage power supply and an 800W AC heated bed. The wide-voltage power supply ensures compatibility with different power systems, making the printer suitable for use in various regions. The 800W AC heated bed offers rapid and efficient heating, reducing the waiting time before printing and enabling faster project completion.

These upgrades and additional benefits make the Creality K1 Max a powerful and versatile 3D printer, empowering you to bring your creative visions to life with ease, precision, and efficiency.

K1 VS K1 Max: Differences

Now let’s discuss the Creality K1 first, then move on to the K1 Max.

Creality K1:

The Creality K1 offers a generous build volume of 220*220*250 millimeters, allowing you to print larger and more complex objects. The overall cabinet’s dimensions are 355*355*480 millimeters.

The K1 can print at a top speed of 600 millimeters per second, which is up to 10 times faster than a regular 3D printer’s print speed. A comparison to the Bamboo Labs p1p printer, well known for its speed, has a top print speed of 500 millimeters per second.

The Creality K1 delivers these speeds at a price about 40 percent below the cost of the Bamboo Labs p1p. So if price is an important factor in your purchase decision, then the K1 may be what you are looking for.

The K1 simplifies the leveling process with its hands-free automatic bed leveling feature, ensuring optimal bed alignment, and saving you time and effort.

The K1 is designed with modularity in mind, allowing you to easily upgrade or replace various components such as the hot end extruder or bed to enhance its capabilities as your needs evolve. You can upgrade the K1 with an AI camera and AI lidar as they do not come standard with the K1 model.

The printer features a user-friendly interface with a color 4.3-inch or 109 millimeters color touch screen, making it easy to navigate through settings and monitor the printing process while also being software compatible with Cura, Simplify 3D, and Prusa Slicer.

Thanks to its high-quality components and precise calibration, the K1 delivers consistent print results with impressive detail and accuracy. The K1’s power consumption is up to 350 watts, and it weighs in at 27.5 pounds or 12.5 kilograms.

Creality K1 Max:

This printer takes all the great features of the K1 and brings them to the next level. The K1 Max offers a larger build volume than the K1, with 300×300 by 300 millimeters, giving you the freedom to print even bigger objects or multiple smaller prints simultaneously. The overall cabinet’s dimensions for the K1 Max are larger than the K1, being 435*462*526 millimeters. The K1 Max also prints at a top speed of 600 millimeters per second.

The K1 Max simplifies the bed leveling process with its dual hands-free automatic bed leveling feature, ensuring optimal bed alignment, and saving you time and effort. The K1 Max comes standard with an AI camera and AI Lidar, unlike the K1, where you have the option to upgrade to obtain these.

The printer features a user-friendly interface with a color 4.3-inch or 109 millimeters color touch screen, making it easy to navigate through settings and monitor the printing process while also being software compatible with Cura, Simplify 3D, and Prusa Slicer. A unique feature of the K1 Max is its air purifier, which may be a requirement depending on your workspace. The K1 Max’s power consumption is up to 1000 watts, and it weighs in at 39.6 pounds or 18 kilograms.

K1 VS K1 Max:

Which One to Buy – Creality K1 or Creality K1 Max?

If you prioritize affordability and versatility, the Creality K1 is an excellent choice. It offers a solid set of features and a more budget-friendly price point, making it suitable for beginners and intermediate users who want a reliable and versatile 3D printer without breaking the bank.

If you are seeking a larger print volume and crave more advanced features like an AI camera and Lidar, the Creality K1 Max is the way to go. It’s ideal for experienced users, professionals, or those who want to push the boundaries of their 3D printing projects.

Both printers shine in terms of speed, thanks to their enhanced frame and motion system. If you frequently handle time-sensitive projects or want to maximize productivity, the K1 Max can significantly reduce printing time while maintaining excellent print quality. Both printers offer upgradeable options, but the K1 stands out in this regard. Its modular design allows you to easily upgrade components and adapt the printer to future advancements or changing needs. If you’re someone who loves tinkering and wants a printer that can grow with you, the K1 is an excellent choice.

In conclusion, both the Creality K1 and K1 Max are impressive 3D printers with their own unique strengths. If you prioritize affordability, versatility, reliability, and speed, the Creality K1 is an excellent choice. If you require a larger print volume and advanced features like AI camera and Lidar, the Creality K1 Max is the perfect fit for you. Ultimately, the decision boils down to your specific needs and budget. We hope this comparison has helped you make an informed choice. Regardless of which model you choose, you’re selecting one of the best 3D printers released this year.