Braced Z-Axis

The quality of a cantilever 3D printer often hinges on the stability of its single Z extrusions, and it looks like Creality has put some good effort into a quality gantry here. The Ender 2 Pro features a Z-brace that’s attached to the printer’s base. The brace holds the Z-axis from the front while the extrusion’s bottom also attaches through the base from its bottom. It’s also done away with the top-mounted spool holder, which will reduce shaking by limiting weight on the tall axis. It’s an attractive system that’s clearly received more thought than many similarly priced cantilever systems.

Built-In Power Supply

The original Ender 2 had a separate power supply. It was an odd, clumsy design that solidified a feeling the printer was just made of spare parts. The Pro has integrated its power supply into the base, adding vital weight to the bottom for increased stability, and expanded the base to fill out the space below its build plate.

Creality also added a drawer to this base. While we usually think these are poorly implemented gimmicks to make some use of extra space, we can’t help but think it a handy tool space for a printer made to be moved around.

Highly Portable

Speaking of moving the Ender 2 Pro around, it’s highly portable. This is to be expected from a mini printer, but Creality seems to have made moving the Ender 2 Pro between a small storage space and desktop a genuinely attractive, relatively hassle-free notion.

The 12864 screen, rather than comprising the majority of the base, is a separated clip-on system. We’ve called this pointless on other Ender systems but it feels like there’s a genuine purpose here. We’d have liked to see something like clips on the screen’s back so it could be stored with a slim form but not loose, but that would be next level. The new bottom spool holder – which sits just behind where the screen clips on – is the same foldable spool holder we see on Ender 3s that folds behind the Z-axis to keep things compact without having to remove it. And, of course, the printer comes with a handy little carry handle. All told, the printer is just under 5 kg, so it won’t double as a dumbbell. Sorry.

Other Features

Bowden Extruder

The Ender 2 Pro uses a Bowden extruder, which is just a must-have on a cantilever printer like this. A direct extruder would add too much weight.

Magnetic Print Surface

Parts are printed on a magnetic print surface that should prove easy to take off and bend to pop prints off. We’re generally fans of this type of surface if material adheres well. If not, they’re pretty easy to replace.

Power Loss Recovery

Power loss recovery is standard at this point, but most of the Ender 2 Pro’s competition is systems that have been around for a while and are missing this. You won’t have to worry about power flickers killing your prints with this one.