Creality HALOT-MAGE S 14K 3D printer review

The HALOT-MAGE S 14K Resin 3D Printer is the evolution of the range, leaping in resolution from the 8K printer that impressed us so much earlier in the year. There are a few key differences beyond just the resolution between the HALOT-MAGE Pro and the HALOT-MAGE S, with this printer focusing more on high-quality sharp edges and resolution than the speed of the 8K version.

The HALOT-MAGE S again has a large LCD screen, impressive speeds, and a variety of options that enable you to upgrade certain features, such as the smart resin pump, as and when you need them. What is surprising is that the HALOT-MAGE S, offering a higher resolution, will create more detailed models than the Pro version. It also comes at a slightly lower price. Is it one of the best 3D printers you can get right now? We put it to the test.

Creality HALOT-MAGE S 14K: Design

This latest Creality resin printer follows a similar design that we've seen in previous HALOT printers, with the metal pase and flip top lid that looks perfectly at home in any design or art studio. On the front is a large LCD touchscreen that enables easy access to all features and settings including maintence, making it extremely easy to use. There's also a USB port on the front, so you can quickly transfer 3D files from your machine to the printer. Of course, there's also the wi-fi, utilizing Creality's superb soCreality'sutions for Mac and PC.

The printer itself is relatively large at 325 x 295 x 640 mm, though the footprint is small. The height means you need a bit of headspace to flip up the "MageArch" flip lid. The "soli" build features a metal base and vertical print platform, and the machine weighs 10.5 kg.

Inside, there's a bolted prithere'sform measuring 223 x 126 mm, featuring a lever-carved design on the build plate, offering better adhesion. The Plus Motion system helps improve print quality and control. The print area, slightly smaller than the 8K version, measures 218 x 123 x 230 mm, allowing decent-sized models.

For model transfer, you can use a USB key, Ethernet, or wi-fi, and you can even remotely control the machine using Creality Cloud. At the heart of the machine is the 14K 10.1-inch LCD screen, protected by a cover with tanks on either side. Like the 8K model, there is a smart air purifier, though not as advanced as the 8K version. It still helps minimize resin odour.

Creality HALOT-MAGE S 14K: Features

Taking a closer look at some of the HALOT-MAGE S 14K features and first up is the 14K ultra-high-resolution Mono LCD screen. At 13,320 x 5,120 pixels, with a 16.8 x 24.8μm pixel size and utilising the Light Source 3.0 screen it has 90%+ light uniformity. Essentially the resolution and quality of the illumination means that Creality state that it will enable a dimensional accuracy of between 0.02 and 0.09 mm, making it suitable not just for modelling but also for prototyping or any application where dimensional accuracy is essential.

One of the standout features of the range is the Dynax+ Mode, which enables fast printing at up to 150 mm per hour. In this mode, you can create a print up to 15 cm in height in as little as an hour. When activated, the build plate can be lifted and lowered in just 1.2 seconds—far faster than most other resin 3D printers.

To further enhance accuracy, the machine uses heavyweight linear rails and a rigid Z-axis, reducing wobbling so the outer surfaces of prints come out smoother. There's also a mighty closed-loop motor with fixed 1,300 Newton meters, enabling quick starts and stops with no vibration at low speeds and no loss of quality at high speeds, contributing to overall print quality.

A common issue with most 3D printers is the release of film, but Creality has worked hard to create a three-layer film that is durable and reduces peel force by up to 35%. This helps prevent punctures that can cause print failures or damage to the printer.

The build volume is 218 x 123 x 230 mm, and one of this model's innovations is the laser-carved build plate. This improves adhesion and makes removing prints easier—always a challenge with resin printers.

One standout feature is the activated carbon smart air purifier, which is 33% more efficient at removing fumes from resin—a common issue with resin printing.

As with all Creality printers, it's part of the Creality ecosystem. With access to the built-in cloud and personal model library, you can store, download, and print files either directly on the printer or through a mobile device or computer, providing plenty of options.

Although the smart resin pump isn't included as standard it is available as an option upgrade along with the Nebula camera. This pump essentially enables the resin tank to be filled automatically, helping to reduce the need for hands-on interaction with the resin itself, which is always a good thing. Once installed which should only take betweem five and ten minutes it can fill the resin tank at a speed of 13 ml per minute, and the withdrawal the resin back into the bottle at a speed of 45 ml per minute.

Creality HALOT-MAGE S 14K: Performance

One of the first things that strikes you about the Creality HALOT-MAGE S 14K is just how simple it is to use. The resin auto feeder might be an optional extra, but still, without it the simplicity of manually pouring the resin directly into the tank isn't too much of an issue, as long as you keep an eye on the level, especially during longer prints.

The machine's setup is relatively straightforward. It comes preconfigured from the factory, meaning you can pretty much get up and running as soon as you remove the printer from the box. The on screen instructions guide you through the setup process, and detailed instructions are in the downloadable manual if you need to re-level the print platform.

When it comes to printing, once the resin tank is bolted into place and filled to the max fill mark, the first few prints ran through without issue, displaying great detail and a smooth, high-quality finish on all surfaces.

Dimensional accuracy appears to be spot-on, confirming Creality's claims. After trying out a series of models, it doesn't take long to find the right settings for support structures and when you can get away with activating the Dynax+ print mode to speed up the print times.

When it comes to preparing models Creality supply the specially developed HARLOT BOX slicer software that comes with the printer. It's incredibly intuitive, but if you need more advanced features, you can upgrade to Chitubox Pro for an additional $45.99. Adjusting prints and adding supports is simple within the software, and transferring files to the machine via USB or wi-fi is quick enough and straightforward

Once printing begins, it's surprising how fast this machine is. Like the 8K version, the HALOT-MAGE S and its active carbon filter effectively keep odours low. Through the test we used the Creality high-quality resin and this also seemed to produce fewer fumes than some of the cheaper resins on the market.

As the first few prints are removed from the platform, the advantages of the quick-release build plate quickly become evident. The textured base helped release the prints more easily than the equivalent smooth plates while still providing excellent adhesion during the printing process.

Throughout testing, the printer proved extremely reliable, with HALOT BOX providing the necessary support for superb speed and quality. Using the Dynax+ Mode does increase print speed, and with high-speed resin, there is little noticeable difference in quality compared to the normal mode in the most part. However for more detailed figures, reducing the print speed from the maximum of 150 mm/h is definately recommended and whatever the print ensuing that the support structures for faster prints is definitely advised. For the most part slowing down the print speed enabled lighter weight supports to be used, which both reduces the amount of clean-up after the print process and also produced cleaner prints due to the reduced contact surface. So while the print may be produced faster, after the clean-up process the slower print is actually faster in the long term.

After several weeks of use, the printer it remained reliable, with very few failed prints and over 5L of resin processed before the release film needed to be replaced. One great feature is the maintenance mode, which makes it easy to clean the tank and maintain the release film's quality. We found that running the maintenance mode every four to five prints helped to remove any debris that might have fallen into the tank and ultimately helped to prevent punctures or scratches to the film.

After running multiple prints through the machine it was apparent how the relative simplicity helped to ensures reliability. The14K resolution screen boosts the print quality over the 8K version which was already superb and helps to develop prints with high quality and detail. Once the supports are removed and the models are cleaned, the results are among the best seen from any resin 3D printer in this price range, even rivalling the excellent FormLabs Form4.

Creality HALOT-MAGE S 14K: Final verdict

The HALOT-MAGE S 14K is an absolutely superb resin 3D printer at a very reasonable price. Positioned in the mid-range, many users may see this as an upgrade rather than a starter printer. However, for the money, you get exceptional reliability. While it might not have the auto-feed system (available as an optional extra), along with the camera, this helps keep the base price of the printthere'stively low compared to the features it offers

Creality has worked hard on the ecosystem, from the direct print approach using USB or networking to the wi-fi cloud solutions, giving you plenty of options. It's worth noting that Creality also produces a range of high-quality resins, which we used through this test and are worth investing in when using this printer as they gained the best results.

When it comes to print quality, this printer should appeal to anyone wanting to print models for tabletop gaming. It should also appeal to product designers who are looking for their first step into resin 3D printing with the ease of use, quality of print and ultimately dimensional accuray making this and ideal choice for anyone looking to prototype.

Should You Buy the Creality HALOT-MAGE S 14K?

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