Comgrow
Comgrow is a company that sells Creality products. They are a resale company for Shenzhen Creality Technology, the creators of Creality. Comgrow is an Amazon seller, which means that it is easy to find their Creality products and replacement parts if something untoward happens to your 3D printer.
Comgrow offers the Ender Series 3D printers, the LD-Series 3D printers, and the CR Series 3D printers, which means that you have fourteen different products to choose from when purchasing your 3D printer. Each series has a variety of strengths and weaknesses for you to consider when choosing your 3D printer.
Products
Comgrow does offer one unique product: its laser engraver. It is a small, portable engraving tool that works through an app on your phone. It can work with a range of materials, from certain metals to thick leather. With step-by-step instructions on their website, it is easy to start engraving things and let your imagination run wild.
Creality
Creality combines its expertise in 3D printing hardware and software to give its customers the product of their dreams. In 2014, Shenzhen Creality 3D Technology started to make a name for themselves with their superior 3D printing products, software, and hardware. They offer both FDM printers and resin printers.
Coining their name from a combination of the words ‘create reality’, Creality has stood out from their competitors with ease. In 2019, Creality earned the Best 3D Printer award for their Ender 3 printer from Forbes. Creality has won multiple awards from other notable reviewers in the field for their innovation and dedication to producing excellent 3D printers.
With five different series of 3D printers and 3D printing accessories, Creality has firmly established itself as a leader in the field of 3D printing. There is plenty to choose from for the casual buyer and the professional.
Ender Series
The Ender Series is Creality’s most popular series, and the 3D printers are all FDM or fused deposition modeling technology. FDM technology is best employed by people who want to do projects with holes or cubbies inside or have an idea with unusual shapes that would not be otherwise available with less complicated 3D printing technology.
Ender 3
If you are new to 3D printing and are looking for something that will give you a great experience without breaking the bank, the Ender 3 is under $200 and can create a wide range of projects. With a heated build plate and other features from higher-end 3D printers, you can achieve whatever kind of model you have in mind.
However, some people who have a fair amount of experience with 3D printing and are hoping for more complex models have noticed that the Ender 3 does have some shortcomings. Each machine must be manually calibrated, which is a time-consuming process that requires a lot of patience. The Y-axis is also somewhat narrow for many types of models.
Pros
- Affordable
- Heated build plate
- Can work for up to 200 hours without stopping
Cons
- Requires manual calibration
- Sometimes wobbles
- Y-axis a bit narrow
Ender 3 Pro
After Creality watched the Ender 3 do so well on the market, they reconsidered their structure and upgraded the Ender 3 Pro. One of those upgrades was to widen the Y-axis to accommodate larger models. They also increased the print bed’s stability to stop it from wobbling and possibly messing up your model.
While a bit more expensive than the Ender 3, many people have found that the advantages far outweigh the slight increase in cost. However, the filaments are so fine that some people have experienced issues with them being too brittle and breaking after extrusion. It is also somewhat tricky to manually adjust the level of the print bed.
Pros
- Easy to assemble
- Affordable
- High-quality printing
Cons
- Brittle filaments
- Must manually adjust print bed level
Ender 3 V2
Another improvement on the original Ender 3 model, the Ender 3 V2 took its aesthetic appeal into account and is a much sleeker model without wires and cables spilling out in all directions. Creality also upgraded the print bed to be made of tempered glass in this model, which allowed the model to stick more effectively.
However, some people have found that it is more difficult to add in the filaments with this model, which can be discouraging compared to the previous models. Additionally, while Creality made a big deal out of the fact that the 3D printing display could be removed and carried, most users did not understand why that was a necessary feature.
Pros
- Sleeker appearance
- Tempered glass print bed
- Quieter machine
Cons
- Hard to insert filaments
- Some unnecessary features
Ender 3 MAX
The Ender 3 MAX prides itself on being one of the largest 3D printers for offices or hobbyists at home. The expanded print bed and axes allow users to create much larger models than any other entries in the Ender 3 series. With two separate cooling fans under the machine’s bottom, there is plenty to love about the Ender 3 MAX.
The Ender 3 MAX also allows for personal customizations in addition to what you buy from Creality. There is plenty of room for you to add on particular features. However, some people were frustrated to find that it requires manual calibration, which has not been seen since the original Ender 3.
Pros
- Glass print bed
- Two cooling fans
- Accommodates large models
Cons
- Requires manual calibration
- Hard to insert filaments
Ender 5
As compared to the Ender 3, the Ender 5 offers you a large Z-axis to print taller models. It also looks very different because the entire machine has a frame that holds it firmly in place. While it may look more intimidating and might not align with everyone’s aesthetic, the thick frame keeps the machine from wiggling during the printing process.
This model also changed the motion control of the Y-axis, which allows for a sturdier build. Additionally, the Ender 5 saves your progress in the print, so if something like a power outage disrupts the printing process, the Ender 5 will pick up right where it left off as soon as it regains power.
However, the lack of a filament sensor means that you could end up with a messy project if you do not regularly monitor the process. The print bed also needs to be leveled and releveled during the printing process, which can be something of a pain.
Pros
- Not wiggly
- Increased Z-axis from Ender 3
- Continues after a power outage
- Easy to hack/upgrade
Cons
- Questionably aesthetic thick frame
- It does not include a filament sensor
- The print bed must be leveled frequently
Ender 5 Pro
The Ender 5 Pro once again improved upon the original by listening to the reviews and critiques that rolled in about the Ender 5. One of those improvements was the inclusion of thermal protection so that if your 3D printer starts to heat up to a temperature that could be damaging, the thermal protection kicks in.
The Ender 5 Pro also comes with Marlin installed, a popular open-source firmware that has a large community for you to seek out if you need advice about your projects or are looking for help with an issue. The motor is much quieter for the Pro than the original Ender 5 as well. You can also adjust the extruder width for filaments of different diameters.
Pros
- Thermal protection
- Quieter motor
- Adjustable extruder width
Cons
- Not much improvement over Ender 5
- More expensive for features offered
Ender 5 Plus
The Ender 5 Plus came out after the Ender 5 Pro and sought to improve upon the original design. Like the Ender 3 MAX, the Ender 5 Pro gives you plenty of room for creating larger models. The print bed has been made sturdier to stop it from wiggling during the printing process, which allows you to print more complex models.
It also lets you know in advance when you are running out of filament in the extruder so that you can pause the process and load more filament into the extruder through its filament sensor. While the Ender 5 Plus claims to have a fully automatically leveled print bed, the reality is that the sensor only measures ¾ of the print bed, so you will need to do some releveling.
Pros
- Accommodates larger models
- Sturdier print bed
- Filament sensor
Cons
- The print bed is only semi-automatic
- Requires some updates from firmware
Ender 6
The latest in the Ender series, the Ender 6, focused on speed and precision for its first iteration. The faster printing speed accelerates the timeline for printing models and allows you to work faster while still producing high-quality results. Additionally, they have scaled down the noise even further, not to be disturbed if you work while it prints.
The Ender 6 does not have an option for pre-ordering or a price tag yet, so it is difficult to know how it will be priced for these high-end features. Creality has not released any formal reviews of the product yet, so it is unknown whether there will be any downsides for this 3D printer.
Pros
- Faster printing speed
- Silent motor
- Carborundum glass platform
Cons
- Unknown
CR Series
The CR Series began with the CR 6 SE, which was funded through Kickstarter. Originally designed as an upgraded version of the Ender 3 V2, the CR series eventually became such a different entity that Creality decided to start an entirely new series for the expansions upon the 6 SE. Most of the entries in the CR series allow for larger models to be printed.
CR 6 SE
The original entry for the CR series, the CR 6 SE, allows for easier leveling of the print bed, which significantly improved Creality’s previous printers. Additionally, unlike other models that required extensive recalibration when you first set it up, most users find that the CR 6 SE often works just fine right away after purchase.
Having an automatically leveling print bed saves a lot of time and effort, especially for beginners. However, like previous models, it is somewhat tricky to put the filaments into the extruder. This is a recurring problem with many of Creality’s 3D printers and will hopefully be addressed in future iterations.
Pros
- Larger printing space
- Works right away
- Automatic print bed leveling
Cons
- Hard to load filaments
- More expensive than Ender 3 v2
CR 6 MAX
The CR 6 MAX offers the same features as the CR 6 SE, except for the overall size. Unlike with the Ender 3 MAX, where other specifications were changed between the iterations, that was not the case with the CR 6 MAX. It is just like the CR 6 SE, except that it can accommodate models up to 400mm in all dimensions.
CR 10
The CR 10 took the 3D printing world by storm when it came out a few years ago because of its streamlined appearance, simple design that made it appealing for beginners, a removable print bed that made cleaning more convenient and affordable. People new to the 3D printing hobby did not have to clean out their wallets for the CR 10.
However, some users found that their filaments were more likely to become tangled in the CR 10, which damaged the printing process. Additionally, although more extensive than in other models, the printer bed took much longer to warm up, which means that the first few layers might not stick to each other as easily.
Pros
- Simple, easy to understand design
- Removable print bed
- Affordable
Cons
- Filaments tangling
- The print bed warms slowly
CR 10 V2
The CR 10 V2’s significant improvements over the original CR 10 are the same kinds of improvements that Creality had demonstrated with the Ender 3 and Ender 5 models. A filament sensor is added to alert you when you are running out of filament, a textured print bed for increased stability, and a print resume function.
While these are all excellent improvements, users were somewhat disappointed that they were not included with the original CR 10 and felt unsure about having to pay a lot more and wait three years for the version of the CR 10 that incorporated these features that are often standard on other models of 3D printers.
Pros
- Filament sensor
- Textured carborundum glass print bed
- Print resume function
Cons
- Expensive
- NO completely new features
CR 10 V3
The CR 10 V3 improved the model’s stability and the machine itself by changing the filament spool holder’s location. For many people, this change was positive, although it did restrict the available height for the printed models. It also decreases the amount of vibration that happens during the printing process.
Another feature that users enjoy is the fast heating of the print bed and the fact that it can more easily maintain the desired temperature. Stopping the print bed from fluctuating in temperature allows the bottom layer of the model to stick to the bed better, keeping the entire model stable throughout the whole printing.
Pros
- Increased stability
- Decreased vibration
- Consistent print bed temperature
Cons
- Reduced height of models
CR 10S
After the excitement of the CR 10, the CR 10 S was something of a disappointment for many users. Although it does have some improvements, they were not noticeable enough to encourage users to switch from the original model to the new one. The print bed took longer to heat, and the bed’s slipperiness made it hard for the model to stick to it.
Pros
- Accommodates large models
- Easy to fix
Cons
- The print bed takes a while to heat
- Requires print bed leveling
- Slippery glass bed
CR 10S Pro V2
While people looked forward to the next iteration of the CR 10, they had mixed feelings about the CR 10S Pro V2. One reason for those feelings was how sticky the print bed was. You want the print bed to be sticky enough to hold the model still during the printing process, but with an overly sticky bed, it can be challenging to extract the model later.
Creality does improve on some of their recurring problems. They made the machine easy to assemble so that beginners would not feel intimidated and simplified the filament insertion process while simultaneously smoothing it out. That way, you can avoid tangled messes.
Pros
- Easy to assemble
- Filaments easy to insert
- Automatic print bed leveling
Cons
- The overly sticky print bed
- Expensive
CR 10S5
With a huge improvement from the original model of a 500mm print bed in every axis, you can print much larger models with the CR 10S5. However, despite the increased size, Creality chose not to include one of their previously shown features, the golden triangle, that increased stability for larger prints in the CR 10 V2.
That is only the beginning of the CR 10S5’s disappointments, however. The print bed takes quite some time to heat and only partially heats the print bed, which means that printing larger models is made much more difficult since the outer edges are much cooler in temperature. Additionally, the print bed must be leveled manually, which is a huge time suck.
Pros
- Even larger print bed
- Good at fine details
Cons
- Less sturdy than the CR 10 v2
- Outdated knobs and firmware
- The print bed takes a while to heat
- Requires manual print bed leveling
CR X Pro
The CR X Pro comes with two extruders so that you can feed in multiple filaments simultaneously. The filaments meet and fuse by melting together before being printed. That does not mean that you can mix filaments to achieve a different color or texture, but it does mean that you are unlikely to run out of materials mid-printing.
It also means that you can incorporate multiple colors into your model. If you use a red and white filament, you will end up with distinctively red and white layers, not pink layers. This is fun for people who want to print multi-colored models. The print bed also automatically levels, so you do not have to worry about doing it manually.
Pros
- Two extruders for two colors
- Automatic print bed leveling
- Quiet motor
Cons
- Expensive
- Cannot mix filaments
CP Series
The CP Series comprises a single entry, a 3-in-1 3D printer, a CNC cutter, and a laser engraver. If you have been looking for a machine to accomplish all of your diverse production needs, the CP-01 might be helpful. If you have a need for laser engraving or CNC cutting in addition to 3D printing, the CP series is a great way to go.
CP-01
The CP-01 is capable of handling a diverse number of plastics so that you can have more versatility with the types of models you are capable of printing. However, some users have found that since the CP-01 handles so many different functions, it cannot perfect any of them. That can be an issue if you are trying to do something intricate.
Pros
- Affordable
- CNC cutter, laser engraver, and 3D printer
Cons
- Does not have a specialty
LD Series
The LD Series differs from the Ender, CR, and CP series because they are made up of resin 3D printers. If you want to print using resin instead of filaments, you should take a look at Creality’s resin printers in the LD series. You should have no problem finding the right machine for your printing needs with three different entries to choose from.
LD-002R
Unfortunately, while Creality saw a lot of success with their FDM printers, their resin printers have not seen the same kind of commercial success. These MSLA printers, or masked stereolithography, have faced serious competition from other companies and have not frequently topped award lists.
The LD-002R, however, does offer some unique features for people interested in MSLA 3D printing. For one thing, it offers a resin tub that has markings to show how much resin you need for a certain project, as well as if you are running low. In addition, the print bed has tiny holes and texturing that helps the model grip the bed firmly.
Pros
- Marked resin tub
- Textured print bed
Cons
- The resin included is of low quality
LD-002H
With the enhancements seen in the LD-002H, you can cut your printing time down considerably. This is because the layers cure in a fourth of the time it used to take so that you can continue on with the next layer in a much shorter amount of time. Although a few seconds here and there might not seem like a big difference, it quickly adds up.
Like with the previous model, the LD-002H includes an air filter to decrease the strong smell associated with resin 3D printing, but it does not really work very well. You will still need to open a window during the printing process.
Pros
- Faster layer curing
- Increased lifespan
Cons
- So-so air filter
UW Series
With only one entry in the series, the UW is an accessory meant to be used after you have finished 3D printing your model. It washes your model and cures the filaments which were used in the modeling. At the moment, Creality has not released any information about including subsequent entries into this series.
UW-01
The UW-01 serves as a kind of washing machine for your 3D printed model. It only works with resin 3D printed models. After you have finished printing your model, this machine allows the resin to set properly and to wash off any extra particles or drips that might still be cooling down after the printing process has finished.
You can also set it just to cure the resin, which is when the UV lamps shine brightly down onto your model, and the platform rotates so that the light can cure all parts of your model, even the tiny crevasses. Depending on your model’s size and shape, this process can take up to an hour and a half to finish.
Pros
- Neatly washes your model
- Holds up to a 7.6” model
Cons
- It only works with resin models
- Can take up to 90 minutes
In Conclusion
Comgrow is not a competitor of Creality, but it does resell their products for foreign export. If you have been considering purchasing a 3D printer, why not think harder about Creality’s wide variety of products? They offer multiple types of 3D printers as well as a large selection of accessories for any kind of project your heart could desire.
