Review: Creality Ender 5

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Creality Ender 5 Review – Is it Better Than The Ender 3?

Creality Ender 5

by Dylan Miller @io3dprint

Easy to Setup
Easy to Use
Print Quality
Value for Money
Features

Summary

The Creality Ender 5 has a tough act to follow as the Ender 3 has become so popular and highly regarded. However, with its sturdy boxed frame and CoreXY design, the Ender 5 offers something a bit extra for anyone brave enough to go against the crowd.  

3.9

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Creality’s latest 3D printer, the Ender 5, has a lot to live up to. Its little brother, the Ender 3, quickly became the World’s favorite budget 3D printer because of the bang for the buck it offers in the budget 3D printer category.

With its box-like frame and CoreXY design, the Ender 5 promises a more stable frame with less risk of vibrations causing print failures and quality issues.

With these improvements will the Ender 5 improve on the Ender 3? I take a look at what else it has to offer to find out.

I’ll give you a comprehensive review of the product, including some of its key features, specs, pros, and cons, as well as any other additional information you may need.

Features 

The Creality Ender 5 comes with an array of great features designed to make it easier to use and more reliable. Here are some of the most notable features:

  • It offers high precision printing with two dual Y-axis motors and a downshift Z-axis. This allows for smoother movement with a greater reduction of any possible errors. 
  • The Ender 5 also features a brand new redesigned cubic structure for added stability. The new cubic structure allows for a CoreXY design rather than Cartesian, which also plays a crucial role in enhancing overall print accuracy and speed.
  • It comes with a versatile 220mm x 220mm x 300mm built volume. This gives you more room to create large models or a wide range of models at once without the need for assembly. 
  • The Creality Ender 5 also comes with a Meanwell 350W/24V power supply. Although this is not a new feature since it was present in the previous Ender 3 Pro, it still contributes immensely to the overall performance of this printer. It ensures you can heat the bed to 110 Degrees Celsius in just five minutes. Note: it seems later models have shipped with an inferior Landy PSU 🙁
  • The Ender 5 also does well to upgrade the frame. Unlike its predecessor, the Ender 3 Pro, the frame on this unit is sturdy and easy to assemble. It’s relatively wide, too, and the Z-axis has been redesigned to create taller prints. With these upgrades, the printer should deliver good accuracy.

Pros 

Cons 

Specifications 

  • Build Volume: 220mm x 220mm x 300mm
  • Speed: 180 mm/Second
  • Layer Resolution: 0.1mm to 0.4mm
  • Filament Type: 1.75mm
  • Control: LCD screen 
  • Extruder: Bowden 
  • Connection: Online connections or SD cards 
  • Materials: PLA, Soft Glue, ABS, Copper containing, wooden 
  • Printer Size: 552 mm x 485 mm x 510 mm 
  • Printer Weight: 11.8 KG 

Unboxing 

Unboxing and assembling the Ender 5 is actually relatively easier compared to the Ender 3 and the Ender 3 Pro. You will notice that there is a printed instructions document in the box. 

The instructions give you a clear step by step guide on how to set up the Ender 5 and how to troubleshoot it if you should run into any problems. 

Creality has also done well to throw in a few tools in as well for you to use in the setup process. You will find a screwdriver and a wrench in there. Additionally, there are up to 200 grams of PLA filament, a spare nozzle, and a USB cable.

Setup 

It takes very little time to set up the Ender 5. This is because the axes on this unit all come already pre-assembled. 

The only thing you need to do is to mount the Z-Axis on the printer’s base and connect all the necessary wires. 

However, one slight challenge with the Ender 5 is loading the filament. The issue has been widespread with the Ender line since we still had the same problem with the Ender 3 and 3 Pro. 

This is because the Bowden tube in this model has a tiny entry.  The best way to get around this is to cut the end of the filament at a steep angle. This will make it easier and faster to feed it in. 

Additionally, the printing bed can be leveled manually at this stage. But in case you find this too cumbersome, you can actually use a simple menu option to get the job done.

In Use

The Creality Ender 5 is equipped with several features designed to make printing more accessible and faster. First, the unit comes with manufacturer-provided 3D slicing software on the SD Card. The Ender 5 uses Cura 15 slicing software which includes a profile for this machine. 

The Ender 5 is also relatively easier to use. The controls are readily displayed on a large LCD screen. The user interface is simple and less cluttered. This allows you to find the controls you are looking for faster. 

You also get online connectivity via WiFI and an SD card option for more versatility. 

Removing the print is also easy thanks to the magnetic bed. Although at first, you will need some time to fully adapt to how the Ender 5 works, eventually, you will get the hang of it.

Print Quality 

The print tests done on the Creality Ender 5 are good with no stringing and good accuracy and resolution. The CoreXY design and sturdy frame make the prints from the Ender 5 more accurate out of the box than comparable 3D printers in this price range. 

Some users have seen some issues with their first print like bobbing, however, this print quality issue seems to be related to the poor quality filament print material that is shipped with the Ender 5. This is often the case with 3D printers and is easily solved by buying a more premium branded filament like Hatchbox or Solutech. 

In general, the print quality of the Ender 5 is on a par with that seen from the Ender 3. However, the Ender 5 can print faster and should potentially be more accurate and reliable for tall prints due to the print bed being fixed in X and Y. 

Limitations 

For all its great features, the Ender 5 also has a few limitations. One thing that has been noticed is that, even though the print bed can be heated up to 100C, this is not practical because the print bed begins to lose its magnetism about 75C due to the Curie effect. This is, unfortunately, a common problem with magnetic print beds. 

Customer Service and Community

Creality offers lifetime technical assistance for all customers who buy the Ender 5. There is also a 24-hour professional customer service designed to help customers who ran into issues with the printer. The support is also offered promptly. Most users who reached out were able to get helpful responses within a very short time. There is also a 1-year warranty on the product.

Like the Ender 3, there is a growing community of owners online who are always more than willing to help any fellow owners, including a specific r/Ender5 Reddit board. 

Verdict 

The Creality Ender 5 is a good quality 3D printer that is based around a solid foundation and proven technology. At the price it’s being offered at, it gives us excellent value for money. 

The frame design provides high precision printing and comes with a relatively large built volume for extra flexibility. It is also easy to use. 

The Ender 5 is designed for beginners looking for an entry-level printer for everyday 3D printing needs as well as anyone looking to upgrade to a more reliable machine. 

At this price point, the Ender 5 is hard to say no to! 

-Dylan

FAQs

Does the Creality Ender 5 make a lot of noise?

It has a noise level similar to most 3D printers in this category. The cooling fans and stepper motors do make a noticeable sound. However, these noise levels are tolerable for a majority of people. If you are sensitive to the noise you can upgrade the fans to silent versions. Siting your 3D printer on a very sturdy desk can also help to reduce noise levels. 

Do I get a resume printing feature with the Ender 5?

Yes, the Ender 5 comes fully equipped with a resume printing feature. However, resume printing is only possible if you are printing from the SD card.

What should I do if my Nozzle and bed don’t heat up after set up?

The most likely explanation here is that the wires are not connected properly. Just go back to the setup manual and make sure you have set up the printer correctly. Check the power source as well to be sure it’s turned on too.

Last update on 2024-03-28 at 20:24

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