Creality CR-10 Smart Pro 3D Printer

We are surrounded by a fair number of smart devices in the modern world from cell phones to entire smart houses, but it’s the Maker’s dream to have a 3D Printer that can truly be considered smart. Creality stepped up to the plate when they provided the first CR-10 Smart printer in 2021. Now, they’ve hit the ball out of the park with the CR-10 Smart Pro 3D Printer which offers not only an exciting suite of new smart upgrades but also an extraordinary presentation with LED lighting and HD camera included! The ever-expanding CR-10 series has held the attention of the 3D Printing world with constantly improving releases. This is why we simply love the Creality brand. In addition to bringing in entirely new designs and models to the market, Creality 3D also puts in a lot of work in improving previous models and proving their desire to improve, upgrade and refine to perfection. The CR-10 Smart Pro is especially exciting for the fact that it arrives almost fully upgraded and ready for high-precision printing right out of the box.

Before we take a deeper look at the special bells and whistles incorporated into the Creality CR-10 Smart Pro, it’ll simply be impossible not to mention the great fundamental similarities it inherits from its closest predecessor. In all practicality, the Creality team took the CR-10 smart, a reliable and sturdy 3D Printer, and heavily upgraded it to create a premium sparkling version that is the CR-10 Smart Pro. The 300 x 300 x 400mm build volume is the perfect middle-ground size that has become a favourite among Maker fans of the CR-10 series. In the same vein, the dual Z-Axis diagonal support bars stabilize the entire frame and we have greatly enjoyed their effectiveness in previous models, reducing vibrations and Z-wobble. An optimized 3D Filament runout sensor sits at the top of the CR-10 Smart Pro, and other precautionary features are also incorporated into the build such as automatic shutdown to save power and the print resume function after a power failure. The CR-10 Smart Pro gives the welcoming gift of silence with an original Creality silent motherboard and ultra-silent stepper drivers. However, all of this was already a part of the CR-10 Smart. It’s time we really dive into the unique features of the CR-10 Smart Pro that you’ve been waiting to hear about.

So, What New Brainy Features are Inside the CR-10 Smart Pro?

• Sprite Direct Drive Extruder and High Temperature Hotend – Usually, CR-10 printers are known for the Bowden drive style, but this time Creality has changed things up by designing a new all-metal dual-geared direct drive extruder. This specialized extruder withstands high temperatures and smoothly feeds any 3D Filament, even flexible types. The hotend itself contains a titanium-alloy heatsink and copper nozzle so you can safely reach temperatures up to 300°C. With this much heat power, it’s possible to print other materials such as ABS and Nylon Filament. However, keep in mind that those are advanced materials, and we recommend carefully regulating your print environmental using an Enclosure.
• Remote Monitoring Camera and LED Lighting – Perhaps the most eye-catching and interesting choice from Creality is the inclusion of an AIoT HD camera and LED strip along the top Z-Axis. Externally set up using a small stand, the camera is accessible through the Creality Cloud App and allows you to monitor your print from anywhere at any time, as well as create videos of your 3D prints. The LED lighting thoughtfully gives you light on the build area for your camera during nighttime as well.
• Network Remote Control and WiFi connectivity – Remote monitoring is fun, but it would be pointless without the ability to remote control your 3D printer to stop, start or resume a print from afar. The CR-10 Smart Pro comes with a large 4.3-inch multi-colour touchscreen, complete with an intuitive UI system that includes the option to hook up your WiFi and Bluetooth to the 3D Printer. Besides the convenience of slicing and sending your files straight from your computer, the Creality Cloud App makes the process even more mobile. Connecting through the cloud network is quick and easy, granting you the freedom of total control over your 3D Printer while you are out and about.
• Flexible Spring Steel PEI Magnetic Bed System – This change to a metal print bed is definitely one of the most exciting upgrades on the CR-10 Smart Pro! Fast heating to up to 100°C, the powder-coated spring steel PEI Plate is the ultimate asset to great adhesion. Easily remove your prints by peeling off the magnetic bed sheet and popping them off with a simple flex. The CR-10 Smart Pro is the first CR-10 printer to have a bed system like this, while past models had coated glass beds. The convenience of having a removable flexible bed sheet cannot be matched and the rough texture of the PEI forms a unique feel and look to the bottom to your prints.
• Dual Smart and Manual Levelling – When considering the best of both worlds, automatic and manual levelling was not the combination we ever thought we wanted. However, the CR-10 Smart Pro succeeded in surprising us with a smart dual-mode levelling system that combines their CR-6 SE style auto levelling with four sturdy manual levelling wheels. With a useful visual guide on the Creality UI system, you can level your bed quickly exactly where you want while the CR-touch sensor compensates for any slight variations. The interesting hybrid does bring control back into the user’s hands while speeding up the levelling process if you want to get to printing swiftly.

Topping off its numerous great features, the CR-10 Smart Pro showcases a very futuristic look and feel. Taking the fundamental design of its close sibling, the CR-10 Smart, Creality added a strip of LED lighting on the top Z-Axis that we couldn’t resist as well as a splash of race car red for the handles and adjustment knobs. We simply couldn’t walk by the Creality CR-10 Smart Pro 3D Printer without a second glance.

Our Verdict on the Creality CR-10 Smart Pro:

If the CR-10 Smart was an all-inclusive printer, the Creality CR-10 Smart Pro is a 3D Printer that very nearly achieves the user-friendly plug and play machine beginners long for. While the CR-10 still requires partial assembling, initial bed levelling with a new interesting dual-system and tightening of screws to ensure it runs smoothly, the time it takes from out the box to printing can be a mere 10 minutes. And wow does the CR-10 Smart Pro deliver on stunning print quality right out of the gate. Unsurprising that a printer so full of wonderous upgrades would reliably produce stunning 3D Prints and become a breeze to work with for all Makers.

If you are interested in seeing a handy unboxing and assembling video as well as a second-opinion review on whether this printer lives up to its name, have a look at this great video on the Creality CR-10 Smart Pro by Gomeow Creations:

Although Creality 3D have been working within the industry since 2014, their addition of the Creality CR-10 series is what really catapulted them to the front line of competition, as it offered substantially better quality compared to other 3D printers – while simultaneously reducing the cost and complexities of the machines.

The quality of Creality’s 3D Printers and accessories shows through in their market history, with the brand selling around 3000 printers in their first year on the market, followed by about 10,000 sales over the next year. Now, Creality easily sells around 30,000 or more 3D printers each year, with sales continuously rising as they bring out more models. These are impressive numbers when considering the fact that they entered the industry as unknown competitors, quickly rising through the ranks and now even competing with Wanhao and similar top brands.

If you are looking for excellent 3D Printers that offer affordability without compromising on quality, Creality 3D is certainly a brand that you should take note of. From the basic Creality Ender 2 all the way up to the large build volume Creality CR-10 S5, there are few other brands who are capable of offering such a refined package while still maintaining some of the most enticing prices in the industry.