GoKawiilThe Flashforge Creator 5 is the least expensive tool changer on the market. It has a few quirks, and the slicer profiles need work, but otherwise, this is a good entry-level tool changer.
Why you can trust Tom's Hardware Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
The Flashforge Creator 5 is the best budget tool changer currently on the market. Of course, there are only two other true toolchangers out there right now, three if you include the Bambu Lab H2C nozzle swapper. At the time of this review, the Creator 5 is on sale for $699, after a $100 discount. For that, you get a solid, open-frame Core XY machine with a 256 mm cubed build volume and four speedy toolheads that won’t waste your filament budget.
The Creator 5 is not perfect. It purges an insane amount of material when it loads, and the required prime block is surprisingly large. If you don’t use the Flashforge filament profiles, you’ll be in for a shock at the heft of the prime tower. Why? They only adjusted the filament profile for their own material. Everything purges at single-nozzle AMS levels. This setting is buried pretty deep in the slicer, and it took some time for me to find and correct it.
The printer handle high temperature materials well, which is more relevant if you opt for the enclosed Creator 5 Pro. It's still useful on the open frame machine because it loads and unloads at a higher temp to avoid clogging.
Latest Videos From Watch full video here:
Being an open-frame printer, the Flashforge Creator 5 is limited in the materials it can print. We used the basics, PLA, PETG, and TPU for most of our prints. Since the hot end temperature can go all the way to 320°C and bed can get to 120°C we did try some higher temp filaments like PET-GF which printed fine at 310°C.
There’s no upgrade path to take the Creator 5 to an enclosed Pro, something that other companies might offer. Even though it looks like Flashforge uses the same case for both machines, there’s no fan behind the exterior grill for extra cooling, and no way to install one. However, if your plan is to print in multicolor PLA, PETG, and TPU, this is a good, no-frills machine for your workshop. It's one of the best 3D printers we’ve seen this year, and I highly recommend checking it out for your next multicolor machine.
Specifications: Flashforge Creator 5
Swipe to scroll horizontally Build Volume 256 x 256 x 256 mm (10.07 x 10.07 x 10.07 inches) Material PLA/PETG/TPU (up to 320 degrees) Extruder Type Direct Drive Tool Changer Nozzle .4mm stainless steel proprietary Build Platform Double-sided textured PEI steel flex plate Bed Leveling Automatic + Z height Filament Runout Sensor Yes Connectivity USB, LAN, Wi-Fi Interface 4-inch Color Touch Screen Machine Footprint 520 x 443 x 710 mm (20.47 x 17.44 x 27.95 inches) Machine Weight 14 KG (30.86 lbs) MSRP $799 Release Date for Pre-Orders June 2026
... continue reading