There are lots of good 3D FDM machines in the market such as the Creality CR 6 SE Vs Ender 3. These affordable machines are suitable for almost all types of users who want to learn the additive printing process or make their product at home. They are also great for students but not very convenient for young owners. If you want to keep the budget low and get a reliable machine, let’s see what these options can offer to you.
In this comparison, we are going to talk about:
- What are FDM Printers
- What are Creality CR 6 SE and Ender 3
- How are the Design of Creality CR 6 SE and Ender 3
- How are the Build Capacity of Creality CR 6 SE and Ender 3
- How are the Building Bed in Creality CR 6 SE and Ender 3
- What else Creality CR 6 SE and Ender 3 can offer
- Creality CR 6 SE Vs Ender 3
FDM 3D Printer
Additive printing is very interesting because they can make a physical object out of the string like material that we can buy almost anywhere. The machine name is printer but they are not exactly the same as a paper printer yet also kind of similar. The most common type of 3D printer is an FDM of fused deposition modeling. As the name suggests, it is forming the object by depositing the molten material into a building base or multiple layers of them fused together. Read also: Creality CR 6 SE vs CR 10.
The machine itself is a tool to create the physical object but the process of 3D printing started earlier in the designing software or 3D CAD and then continued to a slicing software that divides the digital model into numerous slices or layers and produces a G-code file for the printer. The machine then works according to this file by heating the solid filament and melting it then extruding the molten plastic through a nozzle, layer by layer on top of your build plate.
Besides the fairly cheap material, the reason why people love FDM printers is because they can work with various different material types that can be heated and melted then hardened again without damaging the quality. The most common materials however are ABS and PLA which are also often found in typical tools or objects we own around the house. ABS has a pretty good strength and needs good ventilation as it emits strong odor while PLA is biodegradable but lacks strength.
The use and application of FDM printers are wide because it can be applied to various fields of business as well as learning situations while the machine itself is very popular among additive manufacturing enthusiasts or hobbyists. In the practical field, FDM printers were already used in the early concept of exploration and medium fidelity of prototyping stages. In the early exploration stage it allows you to print multiple concepts to examine form and fit the actual piece before you move on to further detailing.
There are lots of advantages to taking FDM printers in the professional and casual way. They used to be quite expensive but now almost every prominent company is making affordable FDM machines which is why it is easy to start with even if you can’t invest so much. Rather than purchasing the machine, we do think mastering the software and troubleshooting it later are the biggest challenges for new learners because there are lots of factors that can affect your 3D printing result.
| Creality CR 6 SE | Ender 3 | |
|---|---|---|
  |   |
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| Product Dimensions | 19.69 x 20.47 x 10.43 inches | 8.7 x 8.7 x 9.8 inches |
| Shipping Weight | 27.4 Pounds | 17.64 Pounds |
| Best offer | Check price | Check price |
About Creality CR 6 SE and Ender 3
If you are just starting the 3D printing hobby, it is wise to spend a little first because we never know what will happen later and if you decide to not continue using the machine, it is also less wasteful to get the entry-level options. But, if you already know what to look for or are planning to upgrade the older machine, it is also great to decide on the more capable options. Most FDM printers are very affordable but spending more will surely get you further.
There are more than plenty to choose from and we are not exaggerating here but, it is also more convenient to buy from well-known brands. They will have a huge customer base and this means a huge community as well for the machine so we can rely on them when it comes to troubleshooting or finding a solution for the possible issues later. Among the options, Creality is one of the most popular choices that you can always count on.
This is the company that released Ender 3 which is still among the best entry-level, affordable FDM printers in the market. The machine has aged and customers want more so Ender 3 V2 was launched not long after but, it is not exactly what many people want. The CR 6 SE is what answers this demand and while the machine is no longer included in the entry-level range, it is a great upgrade over the little brother if you are chasing more except for build volume.
Both machines are good options but it doesn’t mean the cheaper Ender 3 is a less reliable choice because this machine is working really well for the price. How we see the CR 6 SE is that this machine will be the new Ender 3 and how it should be after a few years being the same system. Ender 3 is also renewed and the machine is slightly improved, especially by increasing the build quality and making it easier for experienced users to tweak or upgrade the machine.
Creality CR 6 SE and Ender 3 Design
Just like most FDM printers out there, the design of these machines are very similar to each other. The details are different however so they are not exactly identical an if you will count the build quality, CR 6 SE is the sturdier one. We are unsure why they have a carry handle here but it is a welcomed addition if you will want to move this printer. The new CR 6 SE also has a small drawer below the heating bed to store some of your tools.
Our personal favorite upgrade from Ender 3 is the new control panel because while it is not colorful or fascinating, being large enough and touch-sensitive does improve the work flow and overall user experience. In addition, the hotend housing of this printer is also different from the Ender 3 but it is not all-metal housing yet so if you want to, there is a kit that we can purchase to upgrade this hotend. Additionally, we love the new housing because the power unit is placed in the mainframe.
Creality CR 6 SE and Ender 3 Capacity
Now for the most important part, let’s see what the Creality CR 6 SE and Ender 3 can offer starting from the capacity. The older Ender 3 was an impressive machine at the price point as it was capable of printing at 220 mm x 220 mm x 250 mm and on the higher model, you will get a slight bump up with 235 mm x 235 mm with the same height. We can bump up the capacity with the kit but out of the box the volume is restricted by the printer’s frame.
Creality CR 6 SE and Ender 3 Print Bed
Next for the most prominent upgrade, we have a new glass bed here instead of the removable layer. There is nothing wrong with the Ender 3 building bed because we do think it works well both in adhesion and just overall ease of use but this glass bed is claimed to provide better adhesion and easier removal as the model cools down. Our personal favorite is the new auto leveling which is a great addition in any printer because we don’t have to manually adjust it anymore.
Does it mean Ender 3 can’t do the same feature? Of course it can but it also requires you to upgrade the machine manually such as by using EZABL or BLTouch auto bed leveling for the printer. Any of these upgrades will need some wires attaching, screwing parts together and modifying the configuration files on the computer or printer.
Creality CR 6 SE and Ender 3 Features
Another important upgrade that you can see between Creality CR 6 SE and Ender 3 is the addition of dual Z axes which are only present in mid-range or high-end FDM printers. Since now each side has their own axis, both parts will stay at the same level and there is a sync belt as well to make sure the Z stepper drivers are always in sync with each other. It makes the machine overall more reliable and ideal for repetitive use by minimizing errors and time to fix related issues.
We are also glad to see belt tensioners on CR 6 SE because many use it to upgrade the entry-level machine so it is nice to have it on this machine. The feature gives you an access to adjust the belt tension on the printer without having to do a complicated process. We can use it to fix layer shift but, do not over tighten it as it can damage the print result as well.
Creality CR 6 SE vs Ender 3
Both Creality CR 6 SE and Ender 3 are good machines for different people because they can print really well. However, we do think the upgrades in CR 6 SE are worth the budget, especially the glass bed, dual Z axis, belt tensioner, slightly bigger volume, and the most convenient bed levelling. This system is ideal if you don’t plan to put much work into upgrading the Ender 3 later or just want a reliable machine out of the box.
Conclusion
Depending which seems to interest you better, there is no bad option here yet, we highly recommend investing in CR 6 SE if you want a more reliable machine or don’t plan to manually upgrade the Ender 3 later.