Anker, Bambu, Prusa, Creality: 3D printers suddenly have a need for speed
![](https://tarekeless.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/creality_k1.0-rnNglS-780x470.jpeg)
The $599 Creality K1. | Image: Creality
3D printers can take hours or even days to produce simple parts — but it only took two weeks for the biggest names in consumer 3D printing to declare that era is over.
On March 29th, Prusa announced the $799 Prusa MK4, its first new printer in four years. The company boasts it can print a “draft mode” 3DBenchy boat in under 20 minutes, four times faster than the 80 minutes it took with the previous generation.
Image: Prusa
The Prusa MK4 has a new mainboard, firmware, quick-swap nozzles, load cell sensor for a “perfectly smooth first layer without user interaction,” LCD screen, more precise stepper motors, and more.
On April 8th, Anker responded by doubling the speed of its already fast 250mm/s printer to…