Here are some of my conclusions on the Creality K2 PLUS and the filament swap system (CFS).
Creality makes a great number of printers. I believe they make good to high quality printers for the hobbyist.
The K2 PLUS is in a competitive group with Bambu Labs and Prusa who both make a similar (yank and push) filament change system.
K2 PLUS CFS is a direct copy of Bambu. The Prusa is different as it is open frame (no cabinet) add-on changer system. It changes the filament right on top for the support frame. Very simple. Not sure how rugged it may be.
Another Prusa printer is their XL that swaps the complete print head (with filament connected) for each filament change. Very complex and large. Less or no yank and push. Not as many filaments on-line as the Bambu and K2Plus but a lot less time swapping colors with minimal material waste. Looks like a high maintenance system to me. Just my SWAG.
If you look hard, there are various other add-on filament change systems on the market. No opinion on them from me other than I know they exist. They must need to use a good (large) purge tower to clear nozzle.
My take on any “Yank and Push” change system is that it is extremely slow and wasteful because of the purge. Huge “POOP’ pile created from the purge.
It gets the color swap done but extremely slow with lots of mechanical action.
My J1s IDEX (Independent Dual Extruder) is far better system for 2 colors,
The primary good that comes with the CFS is that there are few other hobbyist grade choices for making auto filament color changes of more than 2 or 3 colors (Geeetech has a 3 color single nozzle printer. I have one)
Best qualification for the K2Plus/CFS is that it is a very high quality, large, enclosed printer, for making larger prints. 350mm^3 volume, AND… If you make many single color prints and change the filament type often between prints, it’s very convenient to have 1 to 16 filaments connected and ready to go with just a software selection.
Automatic changing filaments vertically in layer height whilst printing is a bit slow but very doable. Far better than manually swapping spools with a pause command. (Like for HueForge)
BUT! !!! Changing filaments multiple times PER LAYER in a print is a real OLD DOG. Extremely slow and material wasteful.
It works until it doesn’t . (So much complex swap action that must work correctly perhaps hundreds of consecuative times.) Yes – Just say’n
K2Plus is a great printing, 3D FDM printer. The CFS is an added feature.
Buy it for the high tech features & quality build printer features, not the for the CFS system. The CFS system is very nice addition, and needs to be there.
It comes down to… why have a 600+mm/s fast printer if it takes 60+ seconds for each color change…,
BUT, If your design has four or more color changes per layer, this may be to only and perhaps best way to do it without building separate parts and then assemble after printing.
It is what it is. It’s not a fault that color or filament change is slow.
Just know that all the colorful 3D prints shown in the Creality marketing of the K2Plus with CFS are absolutely possible. Not lies told. But no mention of the time required and the complexity of the (thankful) automatic change operation.
Yes, over all, I am completely satisfied with my K2PLUS with CFS!
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