Kingroon released its first-ever KP3S model in March of 2021. The Kingroon KP3S is one of the most popular Cantilever cartesian design 3D printers available today, because of its reliable great quality out of the box, and you’ll be hard to find any other machines of this Cantilever cartesian type in the same price range. Ever since the company's released improved models, which retain the original KP3S's form factor but come with a few of impressive features and upgrades.
Some of the printers have similar features to the previous generations, while others are entirely upgraded with a slight price bump. it’s gotten more confusing to determine which one best fits your needs. In this article, we'll clear out this confusion and understand the similarities and differences between all these printers. Our hope is that you’ll be able to choose which Kingroon KP3S model is best for your needs and budget.
Choosing The Right KP3S Model
Before getting into the details, we have listed each of the versions and their release dates below. Before making our recommendations, review the differences for yourself in the table below:
| KP3S | KP3S Pro | KP3S Pro S1 | KP3S Pro V2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Release Time | Released March 2021 | Released August 2022 | Released October 2022; Stopped Production in late 2023. |
Released April 2023 |
| Price Range | Price range: ~ 119-179USD | Price range: ~ 139-209USD | Price range: ~ 179-229USD | Price range: ~ 229-279USD |
| Print Bed Size | 180*180mm | 210*210mm | 210*210mm | 210*210mm |
| Linear Guide Rail | X & Z-axis linear guide rails | X & Z-axis linear guide rails | X, Y & Z-axis linear guide rails | X, Y & Z-axis linear guide rails |
| Extruder Type | Direct drive extruder | Direct drive extruder | Direct drive extruder | Direct drive extruder |
| The original printer of the KP3S line is still the most affordable, but lacks some nice-to-have features of the newer models. | The KP3S Pro has larger print size compared to KP3S. Tempered glass has heat bed. | The KP3S Pro S1 is an upgraded version of KP3S Pro with Y axis linear guide rail. | KP3S Pro V2 is only structure similar to other KP3S series printers. On the software, KP3S Pro V2 is completely different. It has Klipper firmware for high speed print. |
KP3S Shared Features
Before getting into the differentiating aspects of the Kingroon KP3S, KP3S Pro and KP3S Pro V2, we’ll take a look at some of the features that are shared by all of these printers, which is also a good way to understand the capabilities of the base model. Once you are acquainted with the features in the KP3 series, we’ll outline the upgrades and whether we think they are worth the extra cost.
Assembly Complexity
Kingroon KP3S series printers require little assembly, but it has 180mm - 210mm small print size. If you are looking for the best low-cost small 3D printer, Kingroon KP3S series printers are excellent choices.
Print Bed Surface Comparison
| Print Bed Size | Build Plate | |
|---|---|---|
| KP3S | 180*180mm | Removable Magnetic Sticker |
| KP3S Pro | 210*210mm | Tempered Glass |
| KP3S Pro S1 | 210*210mm | Tempered Glass |
| KP3S Pro V2 | 210*210mm | Texture PEI |
While all four KP3S printers feature a heated print bed, the bed material is different across the machines. The KP3S 3D printer features a magnetic removable matte build surface, which has very good adhesion, and easy to remove prints, however often reported uneven leveling, like the middle point is lower, etc. Additionally, the beds are prone to damage if a print sticks too well, or if the nozzle ever gets too low.
The KP3S Pro and KP3S Pro S1 both somewhat addresses these issues by using a coated glass build plate, which can print high-temp materials, and no worries on the uneven surface. The bed coating helps with adhesion, and parts can be removed easily once the bed has cooled. The bed is also less prone to damage.
On the latest KP3S Pro V2, which released in the middle of 2023, PEI coated build plate is adopted.
Filaments Capabilities
All the four models have a direct extruder. The hot end is capable of getting up to 260C, hot enough to print any common materials such as PLA, PETG, TPU and ABS. The KP3S, KP3S Pro, KP3S Pro S1 share the same Titan drive extruder, while KP3S Pro V2 features a 5:1 Gear Ratio all-metal direct extruder, along with a 8000 ring 5015 fan, and a smart micro processor, that espically designed for fast speed printing.
The extruder is a single gear drive with a plastic body, which we suggest upgrading to a metal one for improved reliability. All KP3S also include a heated bed capable of reaching 100C, which is hot enough to print ABS parts (though each has a different type of bed surface).