I am new to 3D printing but after experimenting with a used Ender 3 V2 NEO, I decided to buy a newer Creality K1C. After a few weeks, my new K1C gets out of sync after the base is created and the speed increases. The print head gets off track and I must stop the print. I am using the Creality Print 6.0.2 and using Creality PLA. I am trying to get a resolution from Creality technical support, but they are only commenting on the symptoms. I have created this video for their use, but it’s their Lunar New Year and no resolution is offered.
Hey Cameron, First off welcome to 3D Printing and welcome to the K1C community. Im glad you decided to purchase one of my first and favorite printers (its nice to geek out with others about it). In terms of software Creality Print 6.0.X is unreliable and for all intents and purposes should be considered Beta software, not a full-fledged product like Creality is shipping it off as. I have taken the liberty of uploading the last and most recent stable version of Creality Print (Which was Creality 5.1.7). Use this software and if you need any help please dont hesitate to reach out. I occasionally check this forum every week so yea. Happy Printing Buddy Creality_Print-v5.1.7.10514-win64-Release.exe - Google Drive
On 6.x.x versioning, there are many options to alleviate the symptoms of poor printing…
slow down
do not allow that much air flow from your fans
make sure the firmware is updated
Do you have Wifi? I think the updates to the firmware are OTA. So, without Wifi, you might have to rely on a medium like a thumb drive or another type of USB device.
I had some errors at first too. I am not saying my errors are your errors or vice versa here.
I am just saying that with every “fix” of firmware updates, comes differences in board firmware and GUI, the front end, enhancements that are drastic in change (mostly). At least from my perspective, keeping up with the firmware should be priority and then the updates to the GUI should be reasonably cumbersome.
Thanks OPTIX. I tried Creality Print 5.1 and even ORCA. Creality told me to change some of the parameters that essentially dumb down 6.0.2. The last correspondence is for me to provide the motherboard model number. I’ll download your 5.1.7 as a last attempt.
That is a good gesture hosting version 5.1.7 for others to download.
May I suggest also 5.1.6.10470 as an alternative.
The reason is … I was using 5.1.6xxx for a while and then along came 5.1.7xx and although some others said they had trouble with it, I had no problems at all … untill yesterday !!
I loaded an stl file that was I suppose complex and when it went to slice it, it froze at 15%.
Tried the same file with same settings on another computer and it too stuck at 15%.
Tried it on Orca … no problems, tried it on CD 5.1.6xxxx and it was good also.
Mind you Orca was faster, but, 5.1.7xx simply refused to do it.
Brilliant OPTIX. I loaded Creality Print 5.1.7 from your Google Drive link onto another of my PCs. I then loaded the original .STL files that failed on Print 6.0.2. They all printed on my K1C with absolutely no problems or failures.
Normally the latest version of a program should be more stable and fix know issues. Funny, when I loaded 5.1.7 it asked if I wanted to load the latest version, that I declined. I have been trying to get Creality technical support and Creality Canada to fix what I assumed was a defective unit. As mentioned, they last wanted the motherboard serial number and asked me to video the failure and change several 6.0.2 parameters.
I’ll continue to use Creality Print 5.1.7 and be curious about what their support suggests next. So, thank you again for providing your own experience and getting my K1C back on track.
I spoke too soon. It seems that simple, small jobs did work with Creality Print 5.1.7. I decided to try the bigger job that initially failed, prompting me to contact Creality. It was looking good but after 25 minutes at 6% complete, the extruder lost its sync. with the typical noise that sounds like a slipping belt? I’ll still consider my K1C is defective and have to wait to see what Creality will do - Repair, Replace or Refund. Here’s the photos.
No, after I hit STOP and the display shows the cooling. Print 5.1.7 sets the temperature to 220℃ while Print 6.0.2 at 230℃. Everything looked positive until the random synchronization failure occurs. I did an experiment within Print 5.1.7 to set the 3D printer to Ender/Creality 3 V2 and this slows down any print on my K1C to twice the time. I believe I have proven there’s a problem with my K1C but Creality seem very slow to either diagnose or fix the problem, making me very unsatisfied. As stated earlier, I have a perfectly working Ender 3 V2 NEO but the same job takes 4-6 times longer to print but it works perfectly, even with Print 6.0.2. Go figure!
The front cowling printed, but the base was next to impossible to remove (not unlike the same job on my Ender 3 V2 NEO). Regardless, I tried to print the larger cowling twice and both needed to be stopped. I guess using another machine’s GCODE is not a viable workaround?
I realized the jobs using the recommended Creality Print 5.1.7 had an Ender 3 V3 KE as the default printer. Consequently, my print jobs I thought indicated a resolution, in fact had a slightly different GCODE and print speed. Those last failed pictures were using the K1C configuration.
Right now, I decided to print the front cowling with the Ender 3 V3 KE configuration. Strangely, the print time is exactly double the same file for the K1C configuration. What does this help to point to my K1C problem?
Before buying my K1C I did some research and realized this was the 3rd or 4th iteration of a problem plagued K1 design. The last correspondence I received from Creality (CS@creality.com) was to identify the motherboard’s serial number. I wonder if I have the older motherboard? My firmware is at the current level.
Once my cowling front finishes successfully in 35 minutes, I will start a 9 hour job to print the larger cowling. I have printed several cowlings on my Ender 3 V2 NEO but that was an 18 hour print duration.
May I mention although I’m a 3D print novice, I started my IT career as a programmer analyst in 1971. I have managed many large projects and my last job before retiring almost 22 years ago was to evaluate and recommend emerging technologies. Consequently I have excellent problem management skills and try to identify the true problem and not get distracted by symptoms, as the Creality technical support seems to be heading.
Some models import into Creality’s Slicer pre-associated with a machine, but this can be changed. I’m still a bit of a noob at printing despite owning a printer for two months. If the issue persists, it could be a motherboard problem, though fixing it with G-code is unlikely if it’s hardware-related.
Of Course. I will go through my files later to see if I have a copy of 5.1.7 and any other version and add them to the folder. If theres ever any other software you guys need I def dont mind. I think until 6.0.X gets fixed its necessary to host these older version
My K1C problems persist, including the lack of support from Creality. I compare the results I achieve with my older and slower Ender/Creality 3 V2 NEO. This indicates to me a serious issue with my K1C. Although Print 5.1.7 did allow smaller jobs to print on my K1C, anything larger fails when the extruder goes out of sync. I’ll use this thread as well as “Has Creality Gone MIA?” to share my experiences.
Today I had to escalate my problems to the US Customer Services. Funny how Creality Canada claim “Free returns and exchanges” in their advertisements? I guess this does not translate into Chinese?
Latest frustration. I did receive a replacement motherboard yesterday, sent from Texas. The mailing label had the city as WASHINGTON DC but with my Canadian postal code. I give Canada Post and USPS credit for overcoming this mistake.
Today I planned to replace my K1C’s motherboard, but every one of the 13 wire connectors has been epoxied to the motherboard that are impossible to remove without damaging the connector or the wires. I decided to give up and contact PayPal to initiate a dispute.
Creality also is sending me X and Y drive motors, but they are stuck in Hong Kong. I did view a Creality YouTube video on the replacement procedure. It involves completely disassembling the upper frame and belts, with literally hundreds of screws. I am not prepared or willing to waste my time fixing their problems.
I have no other recourse but to re-initiate my ultimatum. This time, with no satisfactory resolution, I will compile the dozens of e-mails, images and videos. PayPal have reassured me I have a very legitimate complaint and they will take the appropriate action to refund my purchase price.
I have given Creality one last chance to redeem my complaint and prove their customer service is in fact capable of dealing with these issues. I now seriously regret purchasing a Creality K1C and wonder what the competition offers.
Qidi make excellent printers and without all the failures of other companies.
Qidi slicer is good also. Not bugged like some others…
Their price is also better for what you get
Thoroughly recommend one. I have the Q1Pro and love it.
