And what better a way to show how exceptional the CR-10 Smart is than by comparing it to it's older brother, the CR-10S Pro. To start, let's compare the raw specifications:
| CR-10S Pro | CR-10 Smart | |
| Price | $569 | $499 |
| Build Volume | 300 x 300 x 400 mm | 300 x 300 x 400 mm |
| Max Bed Temp | ≤110°C | ≤100°C |
| Max Nozzle Temp | ≤260°C | ≤260°C |
| 32 Bit Board | Yes | Yes |
| Reinforcement Struts | No | Yes |
| Belt Tension Knobs | No | Both X & Y |
| Touch Screen | Yes | Yes |
| Filament Sensor | Yes | Yes |
| Dual Z-Axis | Yes | Yes |
| RJ-45 Ethernet Port | No | Yes |
| Wi-Fi Capable | No | Yes |
| Storage Drawer | No | Yes |
As that data points show, the CR-10 Smart not only has improved capabilities compared to the CR-10S Pro, but is cheaper as well! This alone is a compelling reason to purchase a CR-10 Smart, but the advantages don't end there.
When you take a CR-10 out of the packaging, there is a story to tell there, of an attention to detail completely unheard of in the consumer 3D printing market and quality of life improvements. Let's take a look at some of the finer points:
Closing the Gap Between Industrial & Consumer 3D Printers
Much to our surprise, the CR-10 Smart came with a number of new features compared to the CR-10S Pro, with a few being virtually unheard of outside of industrial 3D printers made by Stratasys and the like.
Ethernet Port
The first such advance feature is the Inclusion of an Ethernet port so that your 3D printer can be networked right out of the box.
Magnetic Z-Axis Limit Switch
More reliable from having no moving parts, and more accurate than a normal limit switch sensor, having this for the Z-Axis really sets this printer's auto-leveling system apart from the rest of the crowd.
Quality of Life Improvements
3D printers have been a part of the consumer market since the early 2000's and for those of us who have been along for the entire ride, there are just some difficulties that you come to expect; not so with the CR-10 Smart! Creality has really outdone themselves in this aspect, leaving no stone unturned in the pursuit of a truly user friendly 3D printer.
Dual Z-Axis are Synchronized by a Belt
Now, of course, having two stepper motors, with two lead screws for the Z axis is nothing new in and of itself, but the introduction of the second stepper and leadscrew creates a new issues for users, requiring them to regularly make sure that each side of the x axis are level to the other. Even worse, various situations could cause one the X-Axis to go out of sync, even after you have calibrated it.
By adding a belt between the two you are able to force each side to stay in sync, and Creality even does the hard part for you, with the X-Axis arm being leveled between the two Z leadscrews out of the box.
Magnetic Tool Storage Drawer
Even after assembly you will usually have lots of tools and spare parts that you will know where to put. These will inevitably get lost over time and then you can't find them when you need them. Drawers have been added to printers in the past (although the CR-10S Pro does not have this) but many times the drawer would fall out, or all the parts would become a mess inside.
Refining their efforts from past attempts, they have strong magnets to hold the drawer in place, and a pre-cut foam insert to keep your tools organized within the drawer!
Slicer Software that Just Works
Conclusion
The CR-10 Smart is truly the first of the next generation of 3D printers, having every feature you could want, and more, installed and calibrated right out of the box; It took everything we loved about the CR10S Pro and improved on them further, all wrapped up in a more attractive package.
If you want to find out more about the CR-10 Smart, please see this article for further detail on its features.
