08-04-2020: Creality 3D first unveiled the prototype of their belt-based 3D printer—the Creality 3DPRINTMILL (CR-30)
The 3D printer was a huge success on Kickstarter, but ultimately it didn't live up to expectations
On August 4, 2020, the YouTube channel NAK 3D Designs released the first video showcasing the prototype of the Creality 3DPRINTMILL (CR30) belt-based 3D printer. It officially debuted on November 18 of the same year on Kickstarter, with the famous (at the time...) YouTuber Naomi “SexyCyborg” Wu as the face of the project. The campaign was successful, and the 3D printers were brought to open sale. Unfortunately, despite the promise of revolutionizing the desktop FFF market, today we can say that this promise was not fulfilled...
In 2020, a 3D printer with a conveyor belt instead of a traditional build plate was not revolutionary in itself. It had already been produced by the Dutch company Blackbelt 3D, and Brook Drumm from Printrbot had also tried to develop it. However, Creality was expected to make a big difference here. On one hand, it guaranteed instant brand recognition, efficient marketing, and a ready-made global distribution network; on the other hand, it offered a flagship low price. In 3D printing, no one was cheaper than Creality.
Creality gained popularity by producing affordable, hobbyist 3D printers that quickly became successful due to their relatively good print quality and ease of assembly. Some of the most well-known models included the CR-10 and the Ender 3, which for a time was the most popular and widespread 3D printer in the world.
However, the design of the 3DPRINTMILL was entirely different from the previous models. The traditional print bed was replaced with a conveyor belt, which theoretically allowed for "infinitely long" prints. Instead of building an object in a vertical orientation, the object was printed at an angle of approximately 45°, with the conveyor belt continuously moving.
Unfortunately, it was not a perfect design... It suffered from several design or quality issues. For instance, users found it challenging to calibrate the conveyor belt in relation to the print head, as well as to adjust its tension. The surface of the belt had a specific texture that affected the underside of the prints.
While the print area was "infinite" along the Y-axis, it was limited to just 200 x 170 mm along the X and Z axes. While this was effective for mass-producing a large number of small objects, finding a single object that fully utilized the benefits of infinite length was simply difficult...
And finally, 3D printing at a 45° angle meant that the layer adhesion was limited, resulting in lower model strength.