Creality’s Ender-3 is a 3D printer that costs less than 200 euros and can be set up by beginners. It prints acceptable quality PLA out of the box. However, the company has thrown a confusing number of similar printers onto the market. Machines that look almost the same are lined up in the shop, but all models cannot keep up with professional devices in terms of stability and mechanical components.
The particularly cheap Ender-3 v2 has already attracted many hobby machine builders to impulse purchases with its seductively low price. However, it has some undeniable weaknesses. Luckily, there are various designs on Thingiverse and Printables to fix these weaknesses. With a bit of tuning, it can be turned into a pretty good printer.
Using a 3D printer to make it better yourself is a fun hobby in itself. With the Ender-3 v2, this led to a circle of angels. If you wanted to tune, you’d better buy an Ender-3 because there are already many good upgrade designs available for download. And if something doesn’t exist yet, one of the many Ender hobbyists usually designs it. This has led to a flood of options.
In order to provide an overview of which upgrades are worthwhile, we have collected some of the best upgrades. These include tips for the Ender-3 v2 printing plate, performance upgrades for more speed, and replacing the Marlin processor with a Clipper.
We provide offers on the components we bought at the end of the article. In the meantime, the parts may be cheaper elsewhere.
With more and more knowledge, the digital subscription for IT and technology is an excellent resource for anyone interested in 3D printing. All exclusive tests, guides and background information can be found in one subscription for all magazines: c’t, iX, MIT Technology Review, Mac & i, Make, read c’t photography directly in the browser. The first month is free, and then it’s only monthly from 9.95 €. Magazine subscribers enjoy even cheaper prices!
If you’re interested in the Ender-3 v2, read the article in c’t 8/2023 to learn more about how to make the most of this affordable 3D printer.
