Go to homepage
35 / 36
Feb 2015

Hello,

I have a 3D Printing Shop in Amsterdam and we sell a range of printers including the Leapfrog. The Leapfrog has many advantages but simplicity is not one of them.

I highly recommend the Ultimaker 2, or the Original if you are on a budget. They are the best printer on the market for their price range. The only benifit the LeapFrog Creatr HS has over the Ultimaker is a slightly larger print volume and the dual extruder. However it’s faults definitely outweigh these two advantages. It is not easy to use or adjust and takes 30 minutes to heat up when the Ultimaker has already started printing for 28 minutes.

Come by the store if you would like a demo.

Print3D Matter

Ferdinand Bolstraat 182

1072 LV Amsterdam

020 470 2314

Hi, I have the leapfrog HS and the Ultimaker 2, if you look for a simple easy to use printer, the Ultimaker 2 beats everything… if size is important (the reason for me to buy the Leapfrog) then the HS is a nice choice , but … I have a little story to tell … I started with a prusa I3 … worked fine, but not as stable for large objects (movement of the frame)… I started building a MendelMax 1.5+, very stable, very good , but a lot of work to calibrate first time … then again, this printer, once good configured, gives the same quality as a Ultimaker 2 … (you only need to be a technical person to build/configure/calibrate).

I ordered the HS In june 2014, delivery time was estimated 3 weeks … it became 4 months… I received the printer in october, Unpacked it and tried to print in good quality (had a lot of experience with my own printers and had in the months I was waiting, ordered the Ultimaker 2 (I couldn’t wait, needed a second printer for customer object printing)). First problem, when starting the printing, connection fails sometimes, connection between computer and printer drops after heatup etc … for now, I have a very large support log with leapfrog, this problem still exists. Second problem, overextrusion. I got a new firmware but the problem stays … they are looking into it … ok, you can change extrusion multiplier on the slicing software but when I ask the printer to extrude 100mm, the HS delivers 111mm … not ok …

I managed to change the code and the printer now works like a charm … It’s really good, the hardware is very good calibrated and because of this, it makes it possible to print a very high speed. (my max is 320mm/s with good results, only larger objects of course). I really think this printer is one of the better on the market, only because of the new model, and having one of the first printers available in Belgium (where I live), I think it still has child diseases … but … if you’re a newbie, never worked with 3D printers, this can be your worst nightmare … one thing I have to say, Support at leapfrog is very good, they do everything to help and give good directions. They told me that a certain batch has this problem. I’ve heard a lot of good things about the creatr series … but, you need to know what you’re doing … as with everything…

So you see, all have differnt opinions. Plug and play does not excist because you have to know tour printer.

To work with simplfy3D software is very good and youl get the hang of it in a few months because every model you print will have tere own characteristics and you will become more experienced over time

The Leapfrog is good value for the money , i work with is one and an half year

I had a CREATR DUAL since April 2014. When arrived I was impressed by the construction, I started printing in very few hours. Unfortunately I had a big problem and they changed for free the complete printer, the replacement was not good as the first, it was clearly a refurbished one. I have also experienced problems with the fans of the extruders, it is difficult to perform maintenance since it is not engineered very well. It is noisy and only USB connected. On the other side I used to print some spare parts for a customer, it worked for many hours without a problem. Having an enclosure open to the top doesn’t help with the heated bed but it is possible to cover with little effort. It is not easy to set but with SIMPLIFY software you can have very good results, check some of what I did here:

What I strongly suggest is to use good quality filaments, those received with the printer where not exactly top of the pop…with VOLTIVO ABS it works like a charm, I am also very happy when printing with NYLON. All in all a honest printer, probably you can find something better on the market. One of the selling point is the large working area, it helps a lot.

Hi,

I’ve been using my creatr for a year now.

Reading the comment already posted i have little to add. I’ts a good machine but the leapfrog R&D can still do allot to improve. If you like to tinker with your printer than you can buy a creatr. If you have no mechanical skills maybe its not the printer for you. Can’t advice on what since i have no other experience.

As for the build size, yea its nice if you need it.

Personal i have good experience with the economy line filament of theirs, never had to try anything else.

Leapfrog support is good.

The guys and girls there really want to help you get your printer going again if anything go’s wrong.

My best advice is to really think about what you need and visit a trade show. Don’t believe the marketing wank they throw at you! Talk to the people that have used the printer and are printing the type of thing you want to print. (but i guess you’re already ding that)

Hi, I am the current Mayor of 3D Hubs in Seattle. I love the Leapfrog line of printers. I have a creatr, and an HS on the way. Solid workmanship, Made of metal. VERY easy to calibrate and many great features. I am also a reseller of Leapfrog 3D Printers and I off a package that includes live unlimited video and training and support. Let me know if I can assist you in anything at all. Craig@coho3d.com

Hi, I cannot comment on the Creatr, although I have heard very good stories about it,which was why I purchased a Creatr HS. I received the printer a few weeks ago and I must say I am very content with it. Standard settings are fine for some parts, which makes it very easy to use. For other parts they are not really sufficient and you really have to get into the Simplify3d settings to tune - it’s a trial and error process, but in the end my prints are high quality. My dad uses the printer in his school, he bought the Creatr as an education package and received a lesson plan with it, which supposedly is very clear and inspirational to the kids. I do recognize some of the overextrusion issues mentioned below: they are very good at dealing with it though, good support and new and better firmware and software keeps coming out. So far I am really happy with my choice. Funny thing: I thought the Creatr was just how a 3D printer was supposed to look since everything looks the same on the net, I just saw an Ultimaker (the normal one, not the mini one) and I thought it was just so overwhelmingly tiny hehe.

I own a Creatr single extruder and received my Creatr HS (for the dual head functionalities) early january. Where the Creatr defenetely had some startup issues, the HS is a well engineer piece of equipment competing with the other popular models out there because of its good price for dual extrusion and large print volume. I mean, it’s heavy and big, but this is a machine that will last for years to come in my workplace. With the Creatr I had to replace some bearing due to the axes being scewed (fast service), though the issues causing this was solved in the HS by applying some milling parts. really a second generation machine that is up for the future if you ask me.

9 days later

Hey,

I’m wondering what code you changed and which firmware version you have?
Also having some issues but when it prints, it prints very good.

since January we own a creatr HS, no breakdowns yet, and the quality is very good.

it prints very fast.

but its not recommended to print at the promised 300mm/s there is no filament witch can handle speeds like that.

we print at 60 tot 100mm/s this will give good prints.

It’s possible to print at 300mm/s … you only need to set the temperature of the nozzle higher so that it can follow the speed. (and the fan on 100%) … I managed to print at 330mm/s with good results. It all depends on the details you want. I print for 98% with a z layer of 100micron. Speed varies around 100 til 160 for good details.

Thanks for you reply, I will try that, What nozzle temperature do you recommend for PLA?

It depends on your fillament, it’s trial & error. but I would start at 220°, I think that I ended at 226° when printing at 300mm/s. Also, every fillament gives other temperatures (different colors etc…) … just test it … - YouTube :slight_smile: