Tech Breakdown: Creality CR-10S
The internet’s favorite hobbyist-level 3D printer comes to MatterHackers.
MatterHackers is proud to announce that we are now carrying Creality’s printers, starting with the CR-10S and it’s bigger brother the CR-10 S5. The Creality CR-10 is one of the most popular 3D printers in the world. It is famous for being one of the best bang-for-your-buck deals on the market right now because it offers high print quality and a large print volume for just $549.
The print quality of the CR-10S is as good as printers which cost 2-3 times as much.
The CR-10S already has a large print volume (300 mm square by 400 mm tall), but we are also selling it’s bigger brother the CR-10 S5, which has an absolutely enormous 500 mm cubic build volume. The CR-10 S5 costs $939.
Shenzhen Creality 3D Technology Co., Ltd, is a Chinese company which focuses on inexpensive 3D printers. It was founded in 2014 and since then they have rocketed to success with their simple but highly capable machines.
The CR-10S is the latest revision of the CR-10 and includes a number of improvements over the original, including dual Z lead screws and a new controller board which makes it much easier to install upgrades and do modifications. But here are the most exciting features.
Features
- Filament runout sensor
- Print recovery after power loss
- Easy assembly
- Huge community and highly upgradeable
- MatterControl Compatibility
- Cr-10 S5 large print volume
Filament Runout Sensor
With the CR-10S you no longer have to worry about how much filament is left on your spool. The filament runout sensor detects when there is no more filament entering the feeder. If you are running a print from the SD card, the printer will pause automatically and allow you to change spools.
Print Recovery After Power Loss
The CR-10S remembers how far into a print it is. If the printer loses power for some reason then when you turn it back on it will automatically try to pick up the print where it left off.
Easy Assembly
To make shipping easier, the CR-10 is sold as a kit. However all of the hard work is already done for you. The assembly process just consists of bolting the two parts of the frame together and connecting all of the wires. You should be able to do it in less than an hour.
Huge Community and Highly Upgradeable
The CR-10 is already an immensely popular printer and has gathered a huge community of users. There are plenty of people out there sharing information on how to get the most out of this printer, and also how to upgrade and customize it.
The CR-10 is not only a good entry level printer, it is also an excellent platform for upgrades and customization. Your CR-10 can grow along with you as you embark on your 3D printing journey. Here are a few of the most popular upgrade options.
- Upgrade to an E3D v6 All Metal Hot End for high-temperature printing. Have a look at our thorough installation guide for the E3D v6 on the CR-10.
- Switch to an Olsson Ruby Nozzle for printing NylonX and other abrasive materials.
- Upgrade to a Bondtech BMG feeder for printing flexible filaments.
- Install a BLTouch probe for automatic bed leveling.
Compatible with MatterControl 2.0
MatterControl is a free, open-source, all-in-one software package that lets you design, slice, organize, and manage your 3D prints. MatterControl has built-in profiles tuned for the CR-10 line of printers.
MatterControl’s software print leveling makes it easy to get your first layer right, even on printers without a probe. No manual adjustments are necessary. The software automatically accounts for variations in the level of the build plate while printing.
Make Giant Prints with the CR-10 S5
In addition to the regular CR-10S, we are also carrying the CR-10 S5. This printer has an enormous 500 x 500 x 500 mm build volume. This makes it the fattest printer we sell. If you combine it with an E3D Volcano hot end then you will have the best setup for large volume 3D printing.
Open Source Firmware
The Creality CR-10S uses open source firmware based on Marlin, which is licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL). You can download Creality’s firmware source code here. This makes it easy for you to modify and make upgrades to your printer.
See our article on How To Successfully Flash Your 3D Printer’s Firmware.
Conclusion
If you are looking for an inexpensive, highly-modifiable 3D printer, the CR-10, S and CR-10 S5 may be right for you. They do take a more hands-on approach for care and maintenance, but they can produce high-quality 3D prints once they are tuned correctly. The huge build volume and open-source capabilities are very desirable traits, but the execution of getting consistent 3D prints does take work.
Request a Quote
To learn about available discounts, training, and maintenance options, please use the form below and a MatterHackers Expert will contact you within one business day. Alternatively, you can always feel free to give us a call at +1 (800) 613-4290 or email sales@matterhackers.com.