Flashforge Creator Pro
Researched by Ric Ruben · Dual extruder · Closed-chamber FDM
A closed-chamber dual extruder that's still going strong 5+ years on, with real material limits and manual leveling to weigh against it.
Full Review
The Flashforge Creator Pro was released in 2016 and is a desktop 3D printer based on FDM technology. As a successor to the initial Flashforge Creator, the Pro has managed to maintain its reputation many years later.
Designed based on MakerBot’s open-source Replicator, the Flashforge Creator Pro remains one of the more affordable and capable dual extrusion 3D printers on the market.
Flashforge themselves have advertised that this machine's frame gives it a 60% increase in print speed compared to the original model.
Why look at something that's five years old? Because it's popular enough to still have a very active, supportive consumer community — a real asset for hobbyists or small businesses wanting an affordable printer with good product support.
Specs
Design
As a closed printer, the Pro doesn't offer the same build volume you get with open models, but it holds a consistent temperature when printing and needs no constant ventilation. It arrives fully assembled, and a universal power supply means power compatibility isn't a concern wherever you are.
Machine controls now sit at a 45-degree angle instead of vertical, and the case is heat-resistant metal — a big step up from the original's wooden case. The front door opens to almost 180 degrees, making it easier to remove larger prints.
How Does It Print?
The dual extruders are useful for printing supports or different colored materials at the same time. Because the Pro can also print PVA filament, supports dissolve in water instead of needing to be snapped off. That said, the Creator Pro supports a small range of materials — besides PVA, only PLA and ABS — and layer resolution runs between 100 and 500 microns. Community feedback suggests it's better suited to medium and large prints, with more imperfections showing up on smaller ones.
Aluminum Build Plate
Part of the Creator Pro's appeal is its 6.3mm aluminum build plate. Being temperature-resistant, it holds its shape after repeated exposure to high heat. We recommend heating it to around 90°C to help prints release cleanly. One drawback: there's no automatic bed leveling, though the manual process is straightforward enough for beginners.
Dual Extruder
Both nozzles move independently along the X-axis, letting the extruders travel and print faster on that axis — though retraction timing may need adjusting to avoid oozing from the inactive nozzle. The dual-extrusion system combined with the closed chamber opens up a wider material range too, including ABS, PLA, HIPS, Flex, T-glass, and composites like Woodfill, CopperFill and BrassFill.
Closed Printing Chamber
The Creator Pro can't match the build volume of open-frame printers, but its closed, temperature-stable chamber keeps out dust and other particles, and contains more of the fumes given off when printing ABS. For PLA, removing the top cover improves airflow and print results. The closed design also cuts down on printing noise.
Advanced Mechanical Structures
Unlike other Flashforge models, the Creator Pro's foundation is a metal frame, adding stability to its moving parts during vertical movement. Flashforge advertises a 60% increase in print speed over the original model as a result, with print quality benefiting from the added stability too.
Heated Print Bed
The heated aluminum-alloy build platform holds its shape better at higher temperatures. Without automatic bed leveling, you'll use a 3-point metal leveling system to make the adjustments you need.
Open Source Technology
The Flashforge Creator Pro is open-source, so it works with more than one slicer — Simplify3D, ReplicatorG or Cura. Mods and upgrades for the printer are readily available, and some can even be printed on the Pro itself.
Related: read our full guide to FDM (Material Extrusion) 3D printing.