Creality announced a new desktop 3D printer with a color-changing attachment.
The K2 Plus 3D printer seems to be an improved version of the company’s popular high speed K series. The device includes a number of improved features and a massive actively heated 350 x 350 x 350 mm build volume, but the most interesting feature is the multicolor accessory.
In the image at top you can see the “Creality Filament System” sitting beside the K2 Plus, and it can contain up to four spools. In operating mode the CFS would sit on top of the K2 Plus. The idea here is that the machine will be able to swap filaments in mid print, enabling multicolor 3D prints.
Does this look a bit familiar? You bet it does — it looks very much like rival Bambu Lab’s AMS system used on their X1 and P1 series. The Phrozen Arco also has a similar accessory. Those machines have demonstrated the popularity of the concept, so it seems Creality wants to join the party.
Why would multiple spools be so popular? There are several reasons in addition to the multicolor capability. One is that it’s far easier to select different materials because you don’t have to unmount the old spool and mount a new spool. They are already in the switcher, just select them.
Some switching units are able to detect the type and color of inserted spools via RFID tags embedded in the spools. Creality will be doing this on their color management system for their own filaments.
Another benefit is the use of soluble support material. Soluble support allows operators to print extremely complex geometries because the support structures simply dissolve away. Normally this requires a dual extrusion 3D printer, but a in a spool switcher the soluble support is just another spool.
The CFS, although visually holding four spools, actually supports up to sixteen colors. This is presumably done by daisy-chaining four CFS units together. Hopefully these can be stacked together.
Unlike competing switchers, the CFS seems to be an environmental chamber for the material. It includes both humidity and temperature monitoring.
Creality plans to make the CFS a standard feature for every K2 device in the future, which is quite interesting. Their competitors offer it as an optional accessory, but perhaps Creality knows more about what customers may require.
For now, however, Creality intends on offering the K2 Plus on July 31 in both combo and standalone versions.
Via Creality
