Creality is one of the most popular 3D printer brands in the market, well known for their affordable yet reliable machines, this brand also has a lot to offer for their customers ranging from beginner to intermediate users such as the well-known Creality Ender 3 Vs Ender 5. As the name suggests they are close brothers so in general there will be so many similarities but they are also different and for those wondering which of them will be the better choice, do check our comparison below.
In this article, we are going to give you information about:
- What are 3D Printers
- What are Creality Ender 3 and Ender 5
- What Creality Ender 3 and Ender 5 Look Like
- How are the Volume and Print Bed of Creality Ender 3 and Ender 5
- How are the Performance of Creality Ender 3 and Ender 5
- What Features Creality Ender 3 and Ender 5 Come With
- Creality Ender 3 Vs Ender 5
3D Printers
Our technologies have improved so much from the day calculators were invented to now we can carry a small computer whenever and wherever we go. They are making our life more convenient and technologies also make lots of things possible nowadays, those that we can only dream of in our parents or grandparents era. One of the fancy technological advances we can utilize for productivity is a 3D printer machine. They may look intimidating at first but the mechanism is quite simple.
As the name suggests, a 3D printer is a machine that will create a 3D model of an object based on a digital file saved in a memory or computer. These machines may be named printers because of the similar way a regular paper printer is used to print digital files like documents and pictures into a sheet of paper or material. However, in some sense many of us also think that the word “print” can’t describe the real process happening. The prominent difference is because 3D printer build a three-dimensional object.
| Creality Ender 3 | Creality Ender 5 | |
|---|---|---|
  |   |
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| Product Dimensions | 8.7 x 8.7 x 9.8 inches | 21.89 x 21.26 x 9.29 inches |
| Shipping Weight | 17.64 pounds | 29.6 pounds |
| Best offer | Check price | Check price |
With this the object is not at the same level as the medium and most likely will be thicker following the design or machine capacity yet, the way they are placed on top of a printing bed itself is almost the same which as a thin layer. The technology used for 3D printing can vary widely depending on what the users are trying to achieve and which seems best for their application but in general, the type we mostly used at home is either FDM or an SLA printer.
FDM is the most popular and probably what the majority think when you mention a 3D printing machine. This technology is using solid filament which is thermoplastic which is then heated until soft and then deposited on top of a building media that can be glass, magnet sheet or a metal. Using slicer software, the 3D file is sliced so the machine can work on it layer by layer until it finishes the whole model. Each machine has capacity so the size will depend on the file and machine as well.
The other type of machine is SLA known as the liquid resin type because they are using a liquid photosensitive material rather than a solid plastic. The liquid also hardened layer by layer using light that comes from below the vat. Unlike an FDM which building plate is facing upward, in this type of machine the plate is installed upside down and will be submerged in the vat as it moves higher after a layer is cured.
About Creality Ender 3 and Ender 5
There is no one best machine for everyone because our application may call for different purposes and what each machine shines the most can be different as well. Both FDM and SLA are ideal for crafty people or if you need something to work a model with such as making a plastic model of characters, costumes, a product prototype, a component, etc. They used to be quite expensive back then but nowadays, there are even small 3D printers that cost less than $100.
Currently, there are quite a lot of 3D machines sold around $100 to $500 depending on the size and various aspects such as component qualities and features. Most of them are about the same and probably need some tweaking or upgrade to different levels but for new enthusiasts, Creality is a good brand to start the journey with. This company is probably among the most well-known in the market for their beginner friendly machines but also good products in general.
Among their machines, both Creality Ender 3 and Ender 5 are two amazing options if you want to keep the budget low but still getting a decent machine that can work well without much fuss. These machines are sold around the $200-$300 range depending on the discount and sales happening or stores where you purchase the machine. Creality has made various beginner machines and these two are giving you ease of use but also only the basic points.
In comparison it is easy to say that Ender 5 is the better machine because it is an improved version of the lower machines in the range but the difference is not that far apart, depending on what is more important based on your preference. Additionally if what matters the most is cost then Ender 3 is probably the better choice based on the size and price point but we also agree the big brother can be seen as a more rugged option especially if you like the machine’s design.
Creality Ender 3 and Ender 5 Design
As you can see from the sample picture above, the most prominent difference between Creality Ender 3 and Ender 5 is the machine’s design or system as the little brother is using the more common CoreXY while the Ender 5 uses the H-bot style. In comparison, it is still widely arguable but personally we like the CoreXY better because this type’s movement is not only very precise but also linear and reputable which is probably why it is more popularly being used.
However, when it comes to material, these machines are about the same to each other because the metal used are the same and very robust yet, just like most machines in this price range, they are coming in parts so we have to spend quite the time to install and screw everything together. What we love more about Ender 5 is the design itself as it tucked away the processing and power housing inside the machine which makes the machine itself more compact and looks clean.
Creality Ender 3 and Ender 5 Capacity and Print Bed
One of the most important parts to consider when buying a new 3D machine is the capacity because we can’t bump them up and it is necessary to think about what you will be building with the machine. At first we thought the Ender 5 will be much bigger but turns out they are about the same size and the Ender 3 is only 50mm shorter in capacity as it can deliver 220mm by 220mm by 250mm as opposed to 300mm tall.
Another difference is on the bed because while all 3D printers have heated beds to make sure the model can stick, both Creality Ender 3 and Ender 5 are using different layers with the latter having a magnetic one. This can help in removing the model from the heated bed but tends to be flimsy while the Ender 3 used a regular bed that suffers a bit from adhesion. Read also: FLSUN QQ Vs Ender 3 here.
Creality Ender 3 and Ender 5 Performance
The most important is still performance and in this part both of them are as good as most machines in the price range as well. It is difficult to get a perfect model from the first print because chances are we will need to tweak the machine to a certain level and first try with Creality Ender 3 and Ender 5 are a bit different yet, texture on the surface is what stands out from both of them which can be caused by the bed yet, there is no stringing issue.
We can say that to get a desirable result users will need to run a few test prints and make adjustments on the machine to address the problem depending on what the machine’s suffer because the issue we met can be different across the models. However, with some effort or changing materials, these printers run very well and give good printed models.
Creality Ender 3 and Ender 5 Features
Features are very minimum or nothing fancy from either of these machines. We do hope they will have automatic bed levelling especially the Ender 5 but none of these printers have any convenience features besides resume printing. The leveling is taking quite the time and the two are using the same manual system. But, while not mentioned, the Ender 5 actually runs faster and while there is a cost gap between the two, their print quality will look the same.
Creality Ender 3 Vs Ender 5
What we usually want from a bigger 3D printer is their capacity and various features that made the machine even easier to use but between Creality Ender 3 and Ender 5, the latter only shines when it comes to additional capacity especially at height and speed. It has no features to let users use the machine right after assembly and some setup but for the price both of them are great choices for beginner and enthusiast alike.
Conclusion
There is no bad option between the two as they are equally affordable and capable of delivering good printing results yet, will still need some tweaking. Personally we like the Ender 3 better, mostly because of the compact size and cost efficacy.