Creality CR-20 Review: Specs, Software, Preparation

Updated Jul 08, 2020 8670

The prices of the FFF/FDM 3D printers have been consistently going down over the last several years. Despite this, useful features and convenient design still usually cost premium. But there are exceptions. The Creality CR-20 is one of those: it’s a low-price machine that is well-built, user-friendly, and offers good quality of printing.

Source: top3dshop.com

Creality CR-20 Overview

Source: creality.com

The CR-20 features the same rail-based modular design of the CR-10 series that offers infinite ways to upgrade and mod the machine. The frame is made of metal and the controls (a monochrome LED screen and the rotary wheel) are now integrated into the base of the machine, as well as the mainboard that is hidden inside. All of this makes the CR-20 look more elegant, modern, and less bulky.

The machine features a heated printing platform. Instead of the glass bed (a popular solution used by a predecessor), the printer now implements a bendable removable one. So now detachment of the prints is going to be much easier.

A Bowden-style short tube allows the printer to work with a variety of filaments.

A power resume option will continue printing after a power failure.

The build volume has been reduced but it’s still not small (220 x 220 x 250 mm). Another feature that is missing but would be nice to have is automatic bed leveling.

Technical Specifications

Technology: FFF FDM
Assembly: Semi-assembled
Frame: Aluminum
Closed print chamber: No, an open structure
Mechanical arrangement: Cartesian-XZ-Head
Build volume: 220 x 220 x 250 mm
Extruder type: Single
Feeder system: Bowden
Nozzle size, mm: 0.4
Max extruder temperature: 491 °F / 255 °C
Max heated bed temperature: 212 °F / 100 °C
Layer height: 100 - 400 Microns
Bed leveling: Manual
Print bed: Heated bed with adhesive print surface
Connectivity: SD
Print recovery: Yes
Outer dimensions inches: (xyz) 16.5 x 16.1 x 18.5 inches
Outer dimensions millimeters: (xyz) 420 x 410 x 470 mm
Weight: 9.5 kg
Price: $509.99

What’s in the Box

The CR-20 comes semi-assembled (a user only needs to work with 6 screws to get everything connected). It’s packaged in a relatively small box.

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The contents of the box include: two pre-assembled main frame parts of the printer, some filament, a filament spool holder, cables, some tools (including a screwdriver and a spatula), spare parts, a user manual, warranty, and an SD card.

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Preparation

Assembly

The machine comes partially assembled, so getting it ready to work is just the matter of connecting all the cables, screws and parts together.

The first step would be to place an upper part of the frame on top of the base.

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Align the top parts with the holes on the side of the printer.

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Then take the screws that come with the printer, turn the machine upside down and tighten four screws.

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Now connect the cables. They are labeled so you shouldn’t have a problem with getting them wrong.

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Lock the motor and endstop connectors.

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Place the spool holder on top of the printer. It’s held in place by two screws.

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The printer is now ready to do its job.

Preparation, bed leveling and test printing

Connect the power cable and turn on the CR-20.

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Tighten the extruder carriage connection if it wobbles.

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Now let’s calibrate the bed.

Select the ‘Auto home’ in the main menu.

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Place a piece of paper between the nozzle and the bed.

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Rotate the nut until the paper is only slightly touching the nozzle.

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Repeat the process for all of the corners.

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Now the bed is properly leveled.

The next step would be to find ‘Preheat PLA’ in the menu and select it.

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Insert the PLA filament.

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Insert the SD card and select the file from the menu.

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Now the machine will print its first work.

Software

The machine is compatible with Cura (as well as its fork called Creality Slicer), Repetier-Host, and Simplify3D.

Applications

A portable speaker enclosure prototype by leonbora

This prototype shows how functional the models printed on the CR-20 can be.

Source: instagram.com

The GRAMiPhone Iphone 6/7 stand by 3dbrad

Based on the design found on Thingiverse, this phone stand is a relatively simple print that nevertheless can show the impressive surface finish of the CR-20’s prints. This is a very useful and good-looking model.

Source: instagram.com

A lightsaber model by t_vec3d

This Instagram user wanted to build his own lightsaber. He printed the three components separately. Despite the 3D printing characteristic layered texture, they look really nice.

Source: instagram.com

A Medieval Castle by t_vec3d

Printed with at a layer height of 0.2 mm, this medieval castle showcases how detailed and high-quality the prints done with the Creality CR-20 can be.

Source: instagram.com

A Clock by hockeydamian

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The F5 Tiger Aircraft by parkozheng

Look how smooth the model turned out to be!

Source: instagram.com

Pros and Cons

Pros

Low price
Partially assembled
Sturdy metal build
Good quality of printing
Open-source and modular nature makes the device easy to mod and upgrade
Easy to pop off finished prints thanks to a bendable bed
Low levels of noise

Cons

Lack of automatic or assisted bed leveling
Reduced build volume (compared to the CR-10 series)
Dated control interface that lacks touchscreen input

Conclusion

The Creality CR-20 is a continuation of Creality’s tradition to produce a simplistic and low-price FFF/FDM machine. The design is sleek and more functional than before, but the build volume — a selling point of the CR-10 line — was reduced. The sturdy all-metal frame makes up for that. It also allows to work various filaments and significantly reduces the noise levels. Not to mention, that it looks better and more professional.

The shortcomings include the lack of assisted calibration and touchscreen. Some users won’t be happy with the change of the print plate type — from the glass plate to a flexible bed, but it’s a matter of preference.

Overall, the CR-20 is a budget machine that is easy to work with, offers enough functionality, is well-built, and produces prints of rather good quality.