Read our Creatbot F160 review to find out the features, specs and capabilities of this PEEK 3D printer.
The CreatBot F160, also known as the CreatBot F160 PEEK, is an affordable FDM 3D printer made from refractory materials. This PEEK 3D printer is capable of printing a wide range of engineering materials, such as carbon-fiber infused materials, as well as high-performance materials such as ULTEM.
And with the capability of printing high-performance materials, you can be sure that the printer will easily handle any filament brand you throw to it.
Read our CreatBot F160 review to find out the specs, features, and quality of print to expect from this 3D printer.
CreatBot F160 3D Printer Overview
The CreatBot F160 is manufactured by the Chinese company, Henan Suwei Electronic Technology Co., LTD. The company is known for its wide range of CreatBot printers, which are affordable and compatible with nearly all filaments.
The printers are also made of robust steel bodies and feature enclosed high-temperature chambers. The printers are remarkably reliable, given that the first batches produced in 2011 are still running (more than 30,000 hours of operation!).
CreatBot has a wide range of printers for consumers, small workshops and educational institutions. A good example of such a printer designed for these groups is the CreatBot F160 PEEK.
For advanced groups, such as health facilities, the company offers printers such as the CreatBot PEEK-300.
CreatBot F160 3D Printer Specs
| Operating temperature | 15-32°C |
| Package size, mm | 370x320x490 |
| Electrical supply | 100-240V, 50-60Hz |
| Dimensions, mm | 470 x 420 x 600 |
| Net weight, kg | 20 |
| Gross weight, kg | 25 |
| Number of print heads | 1 |
| Operating systems | Windows (7,8,10), Mac OS X |
| Build volume | 160 x 160 x 200 мм |
| Travel speed | 200 mm/s |
| Bed temperature | 130°C |
| Extruder temperature | 420°C |
| Technology | FDM |
| Minimum layer height | 40 µm |
| Positioning accuracy | X-Y: 12.7 µm; Z: 1.25 µm |
| Supported file formats | GCO, GCODE, STL, OBJ, AMF |
| Printable materials | PLA, ABS, Carbon Fiber, Wood, Nylon, PC, PTEG, HIPS, PP, Flexible, TPU, PVA, PEEK |
| Filament diameter, mm | 1,75 |
| Nozzle diameter, mm | 0.4 |
| Display | 4.3″ Touch Screen |
| Connectivity | USB |
| Print speed | 60 mm/s, max. 200 mm/s |
Unboxing the CreatBot F160
When you order the CreatBot F160 3D printer, this is what you will get in your package:
- CreatBot F160 3D printer
- A set of tools
- CreatWare slicer software
- Hot chamber
- Touch screen
- BuildTak print bed]
- Masking tape
- USB flash drive
- Manual
- Palette knife
- USB cable
CreatBot F160 3D Printer Review
The CreatBot F160 is a desktop FDM 3D printer that is suitable for both educational institutions as well as manufacturers.
One of the most notable features of the printer is its nozzle, which can heat up to 420 °C. At this high temperature, the printer can handle the strongest 3D printer filaments and polymers such as carbon fiber, PEEK and carbon-fiber reinforced materials.
Watch the video below to see the 3D printer in action.
This printer can handle both soft and hard polymers with a diameter of 1.75 mm. The maximum build volume is 160 x 160 x 200 mm, which means you can print small to medium parts.
Moreover, the printer’s horizontal resolution is 40 µm. At this resolution, models come out accurately, eliminating the need for post-processing tasks such as polishing.
The unit has a steel body with 4 acrylic doors and a fully enclosed high-temperature chamber. On the back wall inside the printer, you’ll find the spool holder.
The printer has a 4.3” touch screen at the front with all the controls you need. You can print your models through a USB flash drive.
Before starting to print, you have to set the temperatures for the build plate and the hotend. Check the manual for the optimal temperature for each of these pats.
Other features of the printer include Filament Detection and Outage Restore. These two features help to prevent failed prints in case the filament runs out or power is disrupted during a print job. When any of these two happen, the printer will stop processing.
After the problem has been resolved, the printer will resume.
You can also stop the process manually at any time.
See the printer in action in the video below:
CreatBot F160 Setup Instruction
Before you start printing, you have to level the build plate. This is an easy manual process that is accomplished in a couple of minutes.
Follow the steps below:
- Switch on the printer and select “All Home” on the display menu. Doing this will bring the extruder to its minimum position
- Check that the distance between the plate and the extruder is 0.2 mm (200 µm). You can do this by placing to standard sheets of office paper between the plate and the extruder.
- Next, move the extruder consecutively into each of the plater’s corners. If you notice that the distance between the nozzle and the plate is incorrect, readjust the plat position using some screws.
For your prints to stick to the plate, you have to use adhesive tape or hard glue on the print bed. Before starting to print, make sure the filament is well-secured inside the extruder guide. Apart from this, warm up the extruder.
CreatBot F160 3D Printer Features
Design
The CreatBot F160 comes in black and looks stylish. The 3D printer will easily complement a home, school, office or workshop setting.
This peek 3D printer measures 370 x 320 x 490 mm (14.6 x 12.6 x 19.3 inches) and weighs 20 kg (44 lbs.).
Build Volume
The F160 has a build area of 160 x 160 x 200 mm (6.3 x 6.3 x 7.9 inches). With this build volume, you can print small- to medium-sized items.
If you want to print large models, you will have to print them in parts and later assemble them together.
Printer Controls
The peek 3D printer has a 4.3-inch touchscreen with the controls. The controls are self-explanatory and will help you get started printing quickly, even if you are a beginner.
With one click, you can set the default print settings and be ready to see your first model coming to life.
The printer has a USB port through which you can print files from an external U disk or a networked computer.
CreatBot F160 Slicing Software
The CreatBot F160 comes with a proprietary software known as CraftWare. This is the same software that is used in all of CreatBot range of 3D printers.
The slicing software is easy to use and compatible with both Windows (version 7 onwards) and Mac OS. With the software, you can export your models to the most common 3D file formats (AMF, OBJ and STL).
If you are already proficient at third-party slicers, such as Cura and Simplify3D, this printer also supports them.
CreatBot F160 Materials
The CreatBot F160 is fitted with a standard metal hotend that heats up to 260°C. At this high temperature, the hotend can process a wide range of materials, including PLA, ABS, Nylon and others.
The hotend of the F160-PEEK reaches even higher temperatures of 420°C. Therefore, the hotend can handle high-performance materials such as Ultem and PEEK.
PEEK (Polyetheretherketone) is an engineering polymer that is highly durable. This material has a melting temperature of 343 °C and is used in a wide range of industries.
ULTEM (PEI, Polyetherimide) is not as durable as PEEK. However, it is more affordable and can be printed using the CreatBot F160.
The printer can also handle carbon-reinforced filaments, such as CF-PEEK (Carbon Fiber reinforced PEEK) and its cheaper alternative, PA-CF (Carbon fiber reinforced Nylon). These thermoplastic composites comprise of 30% carbon, and this explains why they are durable and rust-resistant.
CreatBot F160 Heatbed
The printer has an enclosed chamber and its heated bed can manage temperatures of up to 150°C. The enclosure helps to keep the temperature in the chamber more evenly distributed, which in turn helps to reduce instances of stringing or warping of the models.
The enclosure is also critical when it comes to printing ABS and other temperature-sensitive materials.
This machine prints the standard 1.75 mm filaments. Moreover, you can use any filament brand you prefer.
Print Quality
The CreatBot F160 FDM 3D printer produces models that have fine details and smooth surfaces. This machine is fast, accurate and can print layers at 40 microns.
The printer features a custom filament feeding system that helps to prevent clogging. The system ensures that filament is uniformly and smoothly extruders for quality print results.
The printer’s nozzle is 0.4 mm in diameter. This provides a good balance between detail and speed.
The print head also runs on linear guide rails, which makes printing fast, accurate and reliable.
CreatBot F160 3D Printer Price
The CreatBot F160 goes for about $1000 (check current price here). This is a reasonable price considering the features and capability of the printer to handle high-temperature materials.
CreatBot F160 Review: Our Verdict
The CreatBot F160 is a budget PEEK 3D printer that allows to take your printing to the next level. This 3D printer can handle high-performance and composite materials, allowing you to build lightweight parts for various industries.
The printer’s settings are easy to adjust while the overall build of the unit is sturdy.
