Creality Ender 5 Review: Huge build volume and unique axis movements

The world of 3D printing has become increasingly more exciting over the past few years or so. This has a lot to do with the fact that an increasingly larger number of highly affordable 3D printers are being released into the market at an unprecedented rate. One of the most exciting printers today is the Creality Ender 5, which will learn about in this Ender 5 review.

Creality is one of the most well-known companies out there and they have been making some really big waves in this industry. They are the favorites in the quality and cost-conscious segment of this steadily increasing market.

This is largely due to the really amazing price and quality ratio of their printers. One such product is their newly released and upgraded Creality Ender 5. In this review well will see why it is such great value for money. Not only do people like it for amazing hackability and upgradability, but also its affordable price tag.

They really burst on the world stage with their top of the line flagship Ender 3 series with its great extruder setup.. Now they want to fine-tune perfection itself, via their Creality Ender 5 machine. We will see how in this printer review.

Once we started this review; we saw that this new printer boasts of a very large box-shaped aluminum metal frame. This allows it to very easily expand upon the markedly limited build volume of its erstwhile predecessor printers.

In the frame department, it closely mimics many other printers in its category. A close relative would be Tronxy X5S that is also available in the same box configuration instead of the open style often preferred by its contemporaries.

This 3D printer measures at around 440mm x 410mm x 465mm. This is very big; in fact, we would venture to surmise that it is one of the largest printers around, in its price range. When the overall size is so large, it is axiomatic to assume that there is plenty of build volume space as well. Here too, the Ender 5 does not disappoint as it clocks in at 220mm x 220m x 300mm.

This model also has a more powerful power supply that delivers 24V at a steady 350W to the machine. This will let you heat up the print bed of the machine considerably faster than most of its competitors.

The cable management is also spot on and there are no loose or frayed ends anywhere. The Ender 5 3D basically runs via a modified version of the Marlin firmware. In a nutshell, this is one solid entry into the 3D printer world.

Overall Setup of this Machine

If you have worked with the Ender 3 series or the CR-10 (or even when you do an Ender 3 vs Ender 3 Pro comparison), you would easily be able to breeze through the whole set up procedure. Once done, there won’t be any issue with getting your Ender 5 up and running in no time at all.

However, even if this is your first rodeo, no need to fret because the twin axes already come pre-assembled as it is. This means that even a relative newbie should be able to safely and easily get everything up and ready for their very first print in no time at all.

This 3D printer uses FDM 3D printing and this is a good reason why Ender series 3D printers aren’t prone to problems or failures.

Included Software

The Ender 5 is shipped with an SD card that includes the Cura 15 software, which can take care of all of your printing needs and wants. However, it is pertinent to note here that this version of the Cura 15 works exclusively with a Windows-based system.

In case your system works around the Linux or Mac OS exoskeleton, you will have to take a few more steps to first access the software and then secure its compatibility with your original system.

However, once you are done, you are in good hands because this software is very easy to use and manage. It has a very user-friendly interface. This means that even a person new to the world of 3D printers would have no trouble using it within minutes of booting up the system.

Tech Specs

• Mode of operation: FDM
• Print volume: 220 x 220 x 300 mm
• Filament: 1.75 mm
• Nozzle: Single 0.4 mm
• Layer resolution: 0.1-0.4 mm
• Heated bed temperature: 110 ℃
• Max. print speed: 180 mm/s
• Print precision: +/- 0.1 mm
• Connectivity: SD card, USB
• LCD screen: Yes
• Product weight: 11 kg
• Package size: 500 x 500 x 420 mm
• Total package weight: 12 kg
• Product size: 400 x 380 x 400 mm

Mode of Operation

This printer uses Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) technology and it is not prone to problems or failures unlike many other 3D printers in its class. Great reliability is the hallmark of most Creality printers and the Ender 5 series seems all set to continue along with this same legacy.

Features

This printer comes bundled with a veritable plethora of functionalities and capabilities. Taken together, they help ensure that this printer is right up there with some of the very best 3D printers available in its class.

Thanks to its rock-solid frame design, Ender 5 not only offers tremendous offers precision but also detailed models too. Taken together, these value-added features easily lead to excellent stability as well as overall design quality.

In fact, the engineers at Creality HQ have taken great pains to help ensure that the unit’s design is one of the key features of its resounding success. Add to that the fact that its build plate is very big. Let us check out some of its stellar features in more detail:

Very High-Quality Surface Movement

Most of the commonly available 3D printers typically use a horizontal (side to side) movement; however, the Creality Ender 5 is equipped to rely on a vertical (up and down) set of movements. This ensures a very high quality3D printed object.

Dual Shaft Equipped Y-Axis

Once you start using this printer you will see the obvious difference in print quality when compared to other printers in the same price range. This is due to the fact that the dual shaft Y-axis adds printing stability to the printer. As a result, you would be less likely to incur any sort of imbalances while you are in the process of printing an object.

Easily Removable Build Plate

Fixed build plates can be a major headache in case you want to cut out the printed object, however, a removable plate can make it considerably easier for the user to remove the printed object once the entire printing process is complete.

Very Powerful Charging Option

The printer’s 24v power supply allows you to heat the print bed far more quickly than most other models out there. As a result, not only would you see more consistent prints in comparison to slower heating printers, but you won’t have to wait for longer periods of time as well.

In-Built Magnetic Bed

A magnetic bed can be extremely helpful if you want to ensure an additional level of stability for any 3D object you are printing. The Ender 5 has been thoughtfully equipped with an in-built magnetic bed. One that you insert or remove very easily indeed.

Super Quiet Operation

The Ender 5 family of Creality printers are some of the least noisy printers available in the market today, at this price range. Noise may not matter much when you buy a printer for the very first time, but the constant racket in the background can become quite annoying, once all that initial excitement has worn off. Here too, the Ender 5 does not disappoint as it can easily get the job done without cranking up the decibels.

Overall Quality

This is one feature that really enables the Ender 5 to shine ahead of the pack. It offers exceptional accuracy right down to 0.05mm. This is something not available in most of the other 3D printers currently available in the market. At least not in this price range.

Wide Frame

The unit’s Z-axis typically clocks in just a taller than other printers. This means that now you can also create and print considerably larger 3D objects. And why not? After all, the build frame is large enough to handle them.

Manual Leveling Capabilities

Ender 5’s overall calibration and leveling process are both very quick as well as simple. This comes in particularly handy and useful, especially when you decide to calibrate just prior to printing your work.

Resume Print Option

This s a very important feature in case there is a power outage during a print job. If you run into any sort of power-related problems while your machine is in the middle of a print job, it will automatically save all of your progress. Once the power comes back on again, your print job will simply continue from where it had left off, prior to the outage or fluctuation in the power lines.

Customer Support

The good people at Creality HQ offer 24/7 customer support to their valued patrons. This way, you can rest assured that there will always be someone at hand in case you run into a problem during assembly or even during a print job.

Which Is Better Ender 3 Or Ender 5?

This is not a revamped Ender 3 system, but more of a completely different model that has been created from the ground up. From its large size to its power supply to its wide box frame, this is a completely different machine in its own right.

Apart from the fact that it is a bigger and taller machine with an enhanced power supply, the Ender 5 family is very easy to assemble.

Even if you are a complete newbie and are not even remotely tech-savvy you would still find the experience pretty easy. You will just need to find, and tighten a few screws into their allotted slots and the machine will be up and running in no time at all. The whole process would not take more than half an hour at most.

Once the assembly is complete, you can start printing your first 3D objects right away, on your brand new 3D printer. Creality provides the screws and the tools required to fix them so that you won’t have to look for anything when you start assembling the printer.

This is in stark contrast to Ender 3. This printer does not come pre-assembled and even if you are expert you can still expect to spend a few hours assembling it and tying up any loose ends before you can get to printing anything.

IF you are not a ‘do it yourself (DIY) kind of person, you are fresh out of luck and you can easily spend at least 6-7 hours trying to assemble the Ender 3 printer.

Read our detailed Ender 3 vs Ender 5 comparison here.

Pros

• This Ender 3D printer is very easy to assemble in comparison to many other printers
• This 3D printer model can easily deliver very high-quality prints
• It is capable of achieving higher print speeds of up to 80mm/s without suffering from any quality problems
• The 3D printer has a magnetic bed that allows you to remove the print, safely and easily
• Very hackable
• Very large build plate
• A veritable plethora of upgrades are available for this machine

Cons

• The magnetic bed is flimsy and ill-made and does not seem to be durable
• Loading filament can be very tricky
• The printer menu is very basic and lacks a few key functions
• There is no auto-leveling option with the standard Ender 5 3D printer as it is shipped from the factory.

Is the Ender 5 Worth it?

Let us summarize this printer so that you can make an informed purchase decision:

Cost of the Machine

This is arguably one of the least expensive machines at its price and well within the budget for individuals who want a high-quality machine at a low price.

Overall Quality

This printer can create truly amazing builds thanks to its highly accurate designs. Not surprising, considering the fact that it has a resolution of 0.05 mm.

Capability and Speed

The Ender 5 3D printer can easily create some truly complex and yet highly accurate designs at high speeds. All of these traits combined effectively ensure that this is the one really capable printer, to say the least.

Ability to Execute Its Tasks

Every printer is designed while keeping in mind its tasks as well as the needs of the target market. Ender 5 is no different and it is the ideal solution for students and beginners alike. Apart from that, it will also work well with any dedicated hobbyist.

Is it a Worthwhile Investment?

If you are in the market for your very first printer than the Ender 5 can be the best deal out there for you. In this price range, it has few equals and hardly any superiors.

Frequently asked questions