Ender-3 S1 Pro, a mythical 3D printer that returns with improvements
At the time of writing this article, the Creality Ender-3 S1 Pro is the most recent model of the Ender 3 printer family, a very famous series in this market thanks to its excellent proposals and price-quality ratio, where we can highlight the Creality Ender 3 Pro S.
The Ender 3 series is often touted as the best entry-level option, so reputation precedes the Creality Ender-3 S1 Pro from the moment of its introduction, but is its family fame enough to justify its buys? Well, that is what we will see next.
To get into context, we can say that the Creality Ender-3 S1 Pro is objectively better than its past versions, such as the Ender 3 V2, Ender 3 or Ender 3 Pro. In this sense, all previous functions are updated and problems present in these versions are corrected. In addition, the machine is equipped with new features such as a 4.3” color touch screen, PEI steel spring, LED strip, and a titanium nozzle. Yes, we are dealing with a 220 x 220 x 270mm build volumeso there is no qualitative leap of great magnitude in this aspect.
Technical specifications of the Creality Ender-3 S1 Pro
Technology: Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)
Year: 2022
Assembly: Partially assembled, DIY
mechanical arrangement: Cartesian, spindle in XY axes
Filament: diameter 1.75mm
Third Party Filament: Yes
filament materials: PLA, ABS, PETG, PC, TPU, Wood
building space: 220 x 220 x 270mm
nozzle: temperature: 250°C
hot bed max temperature: 110°C
connectivity: SD card, USB-C
Print Recovery: Yes
Supported programs: Cura, Simplify3D, Repetier-Host, Creality Slicer
Operating systems: Windows, Mac, OS X, Linux
Structure dimensions: 490x455x625mm
Weight: 8.6kg
This is the Creality Ender-3 S1 Pro
In terms of build and design, it recycles a lot from past versions, but we have to admit, it looks a lot cleaner than other printers, and that’s thanks to the use of plain aluminum extrusions. In addition to giving the printer a cleaner look, these smooth extrusions also help keep the printer stable.
Creality Ender-3 S1 Pro - Design
In order not to repeat what we have said on previous occasions, we will focus on the novelties that this model brings to the table, starting with the sprite direct extruder, which promises better extrusion performance than the classic Bowden extruder found on the vast majority of budget 3D printers. Likewise, we can praise the presence of liquid cooling, which is more efficient and takes up less space than traditional fans. This is something you don’t see every day, not even on the brand’s older machines.
Another improvement over the standard Ender 3 S1 is the dual Z axis implementation. This is important to keep motion smooth and consistent, and luckily the S1 Pro has this advantage.
We can also emphasize the presence of a steel PEI magnetic build plate for springs that adheres magnetically to the print bed. Once the print is complete, we can remove the bed and flex it to release the prints with little effort.
Another notable improvement of the Creality Ender-3 S1 Pro is the 4.3 inch touch screen. The new user interface improves usability and that is something remarkable about this model.
The rest of the notable features are present on the standard S1, so not worth delving into, but in name they are: two Z-axis motors, license plate silent 32-bitand pre-assembled body that only requires following 6 steps.
3D printing and main features
As we anticipated at the beginning, the Creality Ender-3 S1 Pro offers a 220 x 220 x 270mm build volumenothing out of the ordinary for its range, but the upside is this printer also offers a nozzle that can print sensitive filaments like nylon and abrasives like carbon fiber.
To be specific, it has a titanium nozzle, high temperature resistant up to 300℃ which provides high filament compatibility and more printing options than any of the other models. Naturally, it works perfectly with PLA, TPU, ASA, PETG and other flexible materials.
Like its predecessor, the S1 Pro comes with a Creality CR Touch Sensor installed. This means that the bed can be plumbed and leveled using this sensor to compensate for small inconsistencies in the bed. In a nutshell, It has automatic leveling.
Having said all this, it comes as no surprise that a machine of this caliber is equipped with print resume and filament sensor.
To put the cherry on the cake, Creality has outfitted the Ender-3 S1 Pro with a LED strip that we can use to illuminate the prints and check their progress at night or simply to better visually detail them.
Additionally, the S1 Pro support laser engraving functionalthough yes, the laser module is sold separately.
However, not everything is rosy and if there is something we can criticize objectively, it is the mediocre Firmware configuration, a recurring fault in the printers of this brand. In this sense, it does not come with linear advance enabled from the factory and that is something that the community has been crying out for for years.
Connectivity and software
As cutting software, it is safe to expect the presence of Creality Slicera custom version of the popular open source Cura cutter. And when it comes to connectivity, well, it has a modern USB Type-C port and an SD-card slot Nothing out of the ordinary, but no complaints either. Wi-Fi connectivity can also be added for remote use, but that requires purchasing the Creality Wi-Fi Box.