Creality is a renowned and reliable brand for getting a 3D printer. Two popular choices from Creailty are Cr 6 SE and Ender 3 V2. Now, things get difficult when you try getting one for your 3D printing needs.
That’s why, to help you out in choosing one of these printers, I am here with a comparison guide. I will go through both these printers and see how they stand out. Then, I will make a bit of comparison between the printers to let you know which one excels in particular aspects.
So, let’s not waste any more time and get right into it.
Overview of the printers
Here, I will start with an overview of both the printers. This will give you a clear picture of these pictures individually. Let’s get going with it.
Overview of Creality CR-6 SE
The CR-6 SE is the first printer that comes from Creality. They funded it through a Kickstarter campaign. Later on, the printer performed so well that it got pretty popular amongst the 3D printing enthusiasts.
Regardless of the size of the matter, you are printing; you have pretty high-quality prints from this one. It brings those intricate details to the prints, making them look quite realistic. And the finishing on the prints is also very smooth to touch.
This printer has an automatic bed leveling system, making it much more user-friendly. Especially as a beginner, you will love to have this feature. Leveling a bed manually can be quite a daunting task.
Another great thing about the printer is the ease of assembly. It doesn’t take too long to set this one up. You can even complete the whole assembly process within 5 minutes of unboxing. Altogether, it’s an excellent printer for beginners.
Now, diving deep into a bit more technical stuff, you have the built-in tensioners for both the axes. This is paired up with a dual lead screw for giving the printer an extra bit of stability. The build on the printer is aluminum, so you don’t need to worry about damages on this one either.
The printer’s reliability goes up when you get to the Z-wobble part. It has a very low Z-wobble which makes the printer much better. While it has an 8-bit motherboard for powering the printer, it doesn’t almost make any noise at all. You may not even hear a single thing coming from the printer.
Related: Ender 3 max vs Ender 3 v2
Adding to that comes the photoelectric filament sensors that provide a quality printing experience. Also, the print power recovery is always helpful in a sudden power failure.
On top of everything else, with the LED touchscreen panel, you get a pretty easy-to-navigate user interface. This is great for people who have no experience operating a 3D printer.
Lastly, coming to the price aspect, it’s a reasonably priced 3D printer you can get. It’s undoubtedly a value-for-money printer with all these features and print quality. Considering the price, the performance will surely exceed your expectations.
Related: CoreXY vs. HBot
Specifications of CR-6 SE
Here are the printer’s technical specifications that you might want to check out.
- Build Volume: 235 x 235 x 250 mm
- Frame: Aluminum
- Print technology: FDM
- Nozzle size: 0.4mm
- Feeder system: Bowden
- Compatible materials: PLA, PETG, TPU, ABS
- Filament diameter: 1.75mm
- Bed leveling: Automatic
Overview of Ender 3 V2
Ender 3 V2 is the latter version of Creality’s most popular entry-level 3D printer Ender 3. It comes with a lot of upgrades over the original Ender 3.
First of all, the design of this printer is pretty different from the base Ender 3. It looks and feels much more premium than the other one. And to make the printer look more professional, they have added plastic coverings across the printer. It gives the printer that slightly more professional vibe.
The bed adjustment on the printer is manual. However, it doesn’t take too much effort, which is excellent considering the usage. The print results you get from this printer are almost flawless, and you have a great range of filaments to work with.
Compared to the Ender 3, the Ender 3 V2 has a better print bed. It has got that glass tempered bed that provides an excellent level of adhesion. This adds up to making the print quality even better.
Related: In-depth Review of CREALITY Official Ender 3 V2 3D Printer
You get a 32-bit motherboard on the printer. This boasts in providing printing operation with the least amount of noise out there. The noise can go as low as 50dB. For easier user experience, the printer offers an LCD screen. You can use the printer much more quickly with this display option.
You might want to be aware of some other additional features. Such as belt tension adjustment knobs. Also, there is a toolbox where you can store all the tools, nozzles, and needles with ease. It also has a print recovery function that you can use for a sudden power outage. You don’t have to restart the printing process.
Related: DIY; Ender 3 dual extruder upgrade
Specifications of Ender 3 V2
Now, let’s take a quick look at the technical specifications of the Ender 3 V2.
- Build Volume: 220 x 220 x 250 mm
- Frame: Aluminum
- Print technology: FDM
- Nozzle size: 0.4mm
- Feeder system: Bowden
- Compatible materials: PLA, PETG, TPU, ABS
- Filament diameter: 1.75mm
- Bed leveling: Manual
Creality cr-6 SE vs. ender 3 v2
Here’s the real thing, the comparison between the printers. Going through the comparison will help you see which one works out the best for you.
I will go through different factors for each printer and see how they compare based on those factors. Let’s get started with it then.
Print Speed
When it’s about printing speed, there are some things you have to go through. You have to understand that having a higher speed doesn’t work out all the time for 3D printers.
A higher speed will give quicker results but sacrifice the quality of the prints because the prints don’t get enough time to settle in for the best possible result.
On the other hand, a slower speed provides excellent print quality, which can have a longer print time. So, you have to find a balance there.
Now, in print speed, the CR-6 SE has a speed of 80 to 100 mm/s, which is pretty slow. As for the Ender 3 V2, it’s 180 mm/s which is quite fast. Whether you want accuracy in the prints or quick results, you can easily choose between these two.
Print quality
For the print quality, both the printers are almost the same. Since the CR-6 SE has a slower speed, you get better accuracy on the prints. But the difference isn’t that much between the two.
There is still a difference that makes the CR-6 SE a better choice than the Ender 3 V2 in print quality.
Price
Most of the time, choosing to buy one of these printers comes down to the price difference. There is a price difference between the two. The CR-6 SE is a bit more expensive than the Ender 3 V2. So, if you have a lower budget, you will go for the Ender 3 V2. Although the difference between the prices isn’t that much, you may still end up getting the CR-6 SE if it suits your needs better.
Features
In terms of features, both these printers are pretty close to each other. You can hardly get any extra advantage over the other printer on these. For example, they both come with low-noise motherboards. They both have the print resume or print power recovery function.
Both the printers have belt tensioner systems for the sake of stability. The only difference you may find and affect your decision is the bed platform. While the V2 has a magnetic bed platform, the CR-6 SE comes with a carborundum glass plate. So, you can decide based on this factor as well.
Ease of use
Here is a factor that will surely help you choose one or the other. Several things make CR-6 SE much easier to use than the Ender 3 V2.
One of the most crucial parts of that is the bed leveling or bed adjustment. While the Ender 3 V2 has a manual bed leveling, the CR-6 SE features automatic bed leveling.
This is why the CR-6 Se is much easier to set up and use. Even though the manual bed leveling on Ender 3 V2 is comparatively easy, it’s not easier than automatic bed leveling.
Now, these are the differences, and you can decide on one printer based on these.
Related: How to Update the CREALITY End3 Firmware
Verdict
All in all, choosing between the Creality CR-6 SE vs. Ender 3 V2 won’t be that difficult. The reason is that there are some significant differences between them, that can make the decision very easy for you. All you have to do is consider your needs and how these printers deliver to those needs. Now that you know how each printer performs, figuring that out won’t be that difficult.
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