I recently got i fingers on a Creality CFS for my K1C. I have actively printed with it for little under a month now, heres my opinion on the CFS, with upgrade kit, so it could fit my K1C.

How and why i decided to get the CFS.

I have printed for a long time, only using Creality Printers. I was watching Crealitys competitors release filament systems that allowed you to change filaments mid-print fully automatic, enabling you to print multicolored prints. I hate to paint my models, so I patiently waited for Creality to release their version. And it came. I got so excited and sad at the same time. Finally Creality was releasing the CFS, but i would have to purchase the K2Plus just to utilize it. With the K2Plus being a bit over my budget😅, i was so happy when Creality announced the upgrade kits. I could keep my K1C, AND make it multicolor.

It took a bit of time to release, and since i am me, I always wait at least a few months for the userbase to figure out and report all the small kinks and issues to Creality, so they could fix it. Unfortunately I kept hearing bad things about the CFS, especially with the upgrade kit. That kept me back and a bit unsure if to buy it. Suddenly Creality Lauched the incentive system. I was on immediately. over a few months I accumulated the 32.000 points for me to get the CFS for "free". At the same time i orderes the upgrade kit so i could assemble it immediately.

Assembly and first impressions.

It arrived within 3 Days!! I was so happy for that. I could almost immediate get to assembling it and printing multicolor. Still one of the things that chocked me the most was the lack of Assembly Instructions. The user-manual only contained a qr-code which showed me how to install the CFS, not the upgrade kit. That was a bummer from Crealitys side of things. I had to rely on youtube videos of people installing the kit, which were, not gonna lie, good tutorials, but Come On Creality, we should not have to rely on youtube videos from comsumers just to install the upgrade kit.

Though after that first small hiccup everything went smoothly, i had no problems while installing the kit and CFS. The software included in the flash drive was quick and easy to install. Creality slicer also quickly adjusted to me having a CFS. Bravo Creality. The first model i printed was a benchy with a different colored roof, that i had painted in the slicer.

It failed.

I had expected no less, things like that always has to be dialed in, so after playing with some setting and watching some videos, i tried again, and it worked. I was so happy. After years of wanting to print multicolor, i finally could. Though i was a bit discouraged to try big and complicated models, since it took around a minute to change filaments, which without chamber heating could cause the prior layer to shrink and making the model look worse. Though since i always turn chamber heating on when printing multicolor objects i have yet to encounter the issue.

Time to design my own multicolor models.

After printing models i downloaded from the cloud, i decided i wanted to design 3D Models utilizing the CFS Myself. I decided it would be the perfect opportunity to upload my NFC Vinyls which are somewhat older designs of mine, i didn't have time to upload. The one designed for the occasion was the Scorpins Vinyl.

Scorpions Vinyl

1.16MBRelated 3D Model

It is one of the latest of my vinyl designs, but it gave me the motivation to upload the rest. Most of the models require no CFS, but a few either needs a CFS or a pause and manual filament change, thats how i made some of the older vinyls. The scorpions one was printed with the CFS, but i still upload the models with instructions on how to do it manually, since most people don't have a CFS. It worked great and i began looking for new things to print.

The next multicolor thing i designed myself was the "Eat Sleep Print Repeat Clock" for the clock contest. I utilized all of the CFS capability, printing with all four colors at the same time. it worked amazingly. I got the clock for my desk, and another model for my page.

Eat Sleep Print! Repeat Clock

260.21KBRelated 3D Model

My Opinions:

After a good month with the CFS and upgrade kit i have really only encounteres one major problem, and that is with cardboard spools, morre about that later. Other than that it has worked flawlessly without any software issues or compatability issues.

Here is my pros and cons for the CFS.

Pros:

Great Looking Models:

The CFS produces som great looking models, i can't tell a difference between now and before, even though the filament has to travel through a long PTFE tube, it does not impact print quality, which i consider a major win for Creality. They managed to release a working multi material changer which is just as capable as others on the market, even though they were a bit late to the game.

Price:

I got the CFS pretty much for free, which most consitent designers will be able to in a relatively short amount of time. But even if you have to buy it, i think it is pretty affordable. The upgrade kit doesn't cost very much and makes it a much more appealing alternative to upgrade your excisting printer compared to buying a K2Plus or a Creality HI. i think that is great, cause it will make older printers last longer and not be fazed out by newer ones. Upgradeability is always a huge plus.

Ease Of Use:

Though minor assembly issues, the Creality CFS is really easy to use when installed and dialed in correctly. It took me a surprisingly low amount of failures before i got great results. That is great, and i think Creality is great at designing user friendly printers, even though i still am a bit sour over the missing assembly instructions.

Cons:

TPU Filament:

One of the major downsides of the Creality CFS is the missing ability to print with TPU or other flexible filaments. Yes, when i bought the CFS i knew the CFS itself would unable to support flexible filaments. But i hoped for a system like most other multicolor printers, where i would be able to move the PTFE tube to the old filament sensor which i have relocated to the side of the printer with the spool holder, and then be able to print just like before with my flexible filaments. All Creality needs to do to make this a possibility are some software updates. Theres no hardware needs beyond what you can print yourself at home. That is a pretty big issue for me, since i like printing with TPU.

Cardboard Spools:

Another big issue for me is the CFS' inability to print with cardboard spools. Everytime i tried printing with a cardboard spool it has ended up looking like the one you see below here. The spools edge gets completely destroyed. It is a shame. Other filament changers handle cardboard spools fine, i have multiple friends who easily can print with cardboard spools, using systems form Creality's Competitors.

The cardboard spools also has no grip, when the filament tries to retract when changing filaments the spool simply stays in place, and i get an error message. Fortunate there is an easy solution to this problem. Printing your own filament spools.

Filament spool for CFS

1.56MBRelated 3D Model

This amazing design by @country66 has the ability to fit most cardboard spools, and with carefull fingers you are able to move to a printed spool, without the filament getting destroyed.

I myself have printed this model and it works just as great as a normal spool, and it is reuseable.

https://youtube.com/shorts/2Gaa2DVAaxA?feature=share

This is short video of mine displaying the printed spool.

My Last Words:

Overall the CFS has a long way to go. I think in the future Creality will make a better version, or at least fix a lot of the issues i have described here. I will only give the CFS a 3.6/5 Stars since i believe there are issues which are easily fixable that creality simply has ignored, or by some miracle didn't find or think about.

The CFS also has its good sides, and is at least, if not more good than bad. I will definitely not revert back to a normal K1C, though it will hurt not being able to print TPU.

Thanks for reading, i hope you learned something and that you will take my thoughts and experiences into consideration when buying the CFS.

-Capspam3D