Chinese 3D printer manufacturer Creality has released a new system that’s poised to ramp up the pace of FDM additive manufacturing for designer-makers everywhere.
Designed to set a ‘new speed benchmark’ in the FDM space, the Ender-7 is the firm’s latest addition to its long-running Ender range, and is capable of printing at up to 250 mm per second. Aimed towards designers and hobbyists, Creality’s fastest ever Ender also packs a dual motor-equipped Core-XY structure with linear rail positioning, allowing adopters to print at pace without sacrificing model accuracy.
Creality’s FDM printing expertise
Since 2014, Creality has established a reputation for building low-cost easy-to-use FDM 3D printers. Although the company does now offer its resin-based LD and HALOT series of systems, as well as its filament-fuelled CP-01, CR-6, CR-10, CR-X Pro and conveyer-fitted CR-30 machines, it’s best-known for its core Ender line of printers.
Owing to its open nature and affordability, Creality’s Ender-3 enjoys continued popularity among the maker community, thus the firm still markets the system in various forms. With the Ender-3 Pro, the company has fitted its machine with an enhanced power supply, while adopters of the Ender-3 Max can now benefit from a larger, more stable build plate.
In more recent iterations, such as the Ender-5 Plus and Ender-6, Creality has switched things up with the introduction of larger cubic platforms, but with the Ender-7 the firm has reverted to type by returning to a traditional rectangular unibody structure, choosing instead to focus on providing hobbyists with a new turbo-boosted entry-level alternative.
A new turbo-boosted Ender
Built to meet the need for speed among its consumer and engineering users, Creality’s new machine is capable of printing much faster than conventional FDM systems, which are often limited to 150mm-200mm per second. The Ender-7’s rapid top speed is enabled by its 42-60 stepper motor and Core-XY structure, which prevents it from leaning while printing, helping it maintain stability and precision during production.
Thanks to its cooling fans with unique butterfly-shaped wing ducts, the new Ender also takes in 169% more air than previous models, providing it with the cooling needed to ensure print quality, while its customized nozzle is capable of holding up to 50mm³ within its melt chamber, allowing it to feed material smoothly even when printing at high speeds.
In terms of layout, the Ender-7 maintains the minimalist aesthetic seen within prior Ender machines, and it features familiar dual support frames that continue to provide print platform stability. Compared to the cubic Ender-6, Creality’s latest system is fitted with a smaller 250 x 250 x 300 mm build volume, but this still makes it larger than that of the Ender-5, and the Ender-7 brings other upgrades as well.
With the addition of a precision linear rail, Creality has provided its printer with a simplified means of lowering abrasion and achieving greater stability, and it can now deal with torque from multiple directions. Due to these upgrades, the firm says that the Ender-7 is ultimately able to “dynamically adjust” its acceleration and deceleration algorithm, “guaranteeing the quality and efficiency” of print molding.
Technical specifications and pricing
Below are the technical specifications of Creality’s new Ender-7 3D printer. The system is available to order now for $699.
Build Volume | 250 x 250 x 300 mm |
Frame Dimensions | 430 x 560 x 570 mm |
Weight | 17.2 kg |
Mechanical Arrangement | Core-XY |
Max Bed Temperature | 100oC |
Max Hot End Temperature | 260oC |
Material Compatibility | PLA, ABS, PETG |
Connectivity | USB, TF Card, Creality BOX |
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Featured image shows a father and son using an Ender-7 3D printer. Image via Creality.