My Recommended Upgrades For Ender 3 - Transform A Budget 3D Printer Into A Truly Great One!

[@PhazerTech]

Looking for a Raspberry Pi alternative that's designed for 3D printers? Check out the BTT Pi 2! shrsl.com/4ncaz One of the key features is the ability to run directly off a 12V/24V PSU, so you can place it inside your printer and easily power it from your printer's PSU!

[@maffysdad]

At 0:30 I concure, I purchased mine in Jan 2022, set it up, and I've not had to do a bed level with mine since about then, even after lifting and moving it half a dozen times. If anything, I've had more issues with the filements than with the printer. At 6:39 I also concure, my front fan developed a failed bearing issue which created a noisy oscillation on star up. I could of course stop it with my fingers and eventually get it to spin evenly, but that was more of a challenge so I ended up replacing it just yeaterday. At 9:36 I printed that guide out, and it's been very useful, as well as the one at 09:40, and that indeed has been useful. I've heard about Klipper, and am looking into it, but that's as far as I've got so far. I don't really understand all the techy stuff, so I'm not really confident in that respect... I do use a filiment dryer though, and that has improved the prints massively!

[@lindeleasley]

I took a little bit different route. I started with an Ender 3 V1. I've installed a dual z drive, a Creality 4.2.7 board, a Sprite Pro direct drive, all metal hot end and upgraded the ducts and fans, a Meanwell power supply, a CR Touch and upgraded the display to a V2 type display. I also upgraded to the MRiscoc professional software, and lastly a Diamondback diamond 4mm nozzle. It's kind of a frankenstein Ender 3, but it works great.

[@PhazerTech]

Nice! That Sprite Pro DD looks like a solid upgrade. Did you see a noticeable improvement after installing it?

[@lindeleasley]

I installed it before I ever turned it on, because I knew from the beginning I was going to printing parts for outdoor and mechanical use. The truth is, I don't know if it was an improvement, but it does print well and the e-steps are on the money.

[@Mr.McWatson]

What's the dual z drive do?

[@lindeleasley]

It puts a worm drive on both sides of the x-axis, so there's no delay on the side that's usually undriven. Basically, it keeps the x-axis parallel with the print bed. Makes for better, more consistent prints. Still fairly cheap from Creality, at about $40.

[@Mr.McWatson]

@@lindeleasley Neat, you noticed a percievable difference?

[@pem428]

Yr old but automatic sub! Just ordered a Ender 3 for a decent price, had only played with a Sculpto before so still a noob, not having much knowledge immediately became curious about upgrades, this is awesome!

[@PhazerTech]

Haha thanks bud, happy to hear it was helpful!

[@georgemitchell2288]

Thanks!

[@PhazerTech]

Glad you found value in it. Much appreciated, thank you!

[@cypher7881]

Very useful video going to be looking into quite a few of these upgrades. Just got a glass bed installed today and that itself is such an upgrade best adhesion I’ve ever gotten. Think the probe is at the top of the list for upgrades.

[@07jofurc]

I'm gonna look into some of these upgrades including the springs and bl touch. Thanks for the recommendations

[@PhazerTech]

You bet! The springs are an easy upgrade. The bl touch takes time to get set up but luckily there's quite a few guides showing how to do it.

[@georgemitchell2288]

Good to see you doing 3d printer content again. I'm about to view your practical electronics & circuits video for some guidance on a few projects I've printed, but not finished building due to having to make electrical connections to motors and lighting. Keep up the good work. You could maybe think about publishing a video on how to design simple 3d parts (boxes, etc) for custom upgrades. Again, much appreciated content. Be Well and Happy!

[@PhazerTech]

My practical electronics & circuits videos should be extremely helpful for your projects. I'm planning to release the next one in about a week or so. Also I agree making a video about designing simple parts sounds like a great idea, I'll add it to the list. I'll probably be using Fusion 360 since there aren't any good FOSS alternatives that match its features, but they offer a free hobbyists license so I recommend taking a look at that. Thanks again, take care and have a great one!

[@georgemitchell2288]

@@PhazerTech I've already d/l it. Do you recommend any videos on remixing stl files?

[@PhazerTech]

Here's a good video that shows how to import STL files and convert them into an editable format. It's a bit more difficult on the free version, but still possible, depending on the object and what you want to do with it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/a3LEfomko9uqmKs Btw some makers provide the f3d files in addition to the stl files because it's much easier to edit an f3d file.

[@donut-r4s6z]

I would use petg for stuff that needs to near heat like making a petg hot end case

[@flawdaboifrank9496]

Hey I’m new to this I bought an ender 3 and Ik it’s old but thanks for the info

[@zk_6312]

I have the Ender 3 Pro which is heavily modded. New main board, dual z rods, auto bed sensor, silicon bed mounts, direct drive and all metal hotend. Though it prints well, it still has limitations which is mainly speed and cannot print faster than 60 or 70mm/s with the current hotend. I would need to go to a high flow hotend and I am not sure which one would be best. I recently bought a Ender 5 S1 and have not used the Ender 3 since. The Ender 5 S1 is at least 3 times faster. If I was to recommend an Ender 3, it would be the Ender 3 V3 KE model. While I don't have the KE model, the videos I have seen have impressed me with both the quality and the speed which seems to be on par with a corexy printer.

[@PhazerTech]

I agree the Ender 3 V3 KE looks like a big step up from the Pro version. But for those who already own an Ender 3 Pro it's definitely worth it to upgrade. These things sold like hotcakes a few years ago so there's a lot of them out there.

[@zk_6312]

@@PhazerTech I agree. I origjnally bought an Ender 3 Pro because of the price and though I enjoyed using it, it can really be frustrating at times. I have even heard of people using klipper on it.

[@PhazerTech]

@@zk_6312 Yep klipper is awesome! I mentioned klipper towards the end of this video.

[@kylegriesser4281]

my bowden tube literally failed within 2 prints of me getting the gender 3, i took apart the whole heating area and cleaned it out entirely and even ran plastic through it by hand, couldn’t use the change filament option to push plastic out either, was jammed somewhere in the middle

[@PhazerTech]

Sounds like yours failed much sooner than normal, but yea its definitely something that should be upgraded!

[@Dj_jon]

Heads up microcenter will now be selling all ender 3 v2 for $49 till its phased out, I just picked up one, last week some guy bought 20 and the cashier didn’t realize it’s one per household

[@PhazerTech]

Thanks for the info, the v2 is definitely a better printer. Insane deal at that price.

[@Dj_jon]

@@PhazerTech I already own two but I’m thinking of buying a fleet of pure p1s and a fleet of A1 or A1 mini

[@PhazerTech]

@@Dj_jon Nice, those are quite a bit more expensive though aren't they? Are you a fan of Bambu Lab printers?

[@I000I]

I upgraded mine (Ender 3 Pro) with direct Sprite Extruder - not only it's better and not touching Z axes, but also changing filament has became very easy and almost instant. Then CR touch, PEI surface. And Klipper, of course. Too bad i never heard of this KIAUH before! 😁 And in the end i realized, i spent so much for those upgrades, that i could as well just sell my stock Ender 3 Pro, add what i spent on upgrades, and buy the new Ender 3 S1, and get all parts i upgraded, and even more. So be careful with those upgrades! 😆

[@PhazerTech]

Yea it makes more sense just to buy a better printer to begin with. But used Ender 3s don't sell for very much so for those who have one I'd argue it's worth it to keep it and do just a few key upgrades. And yes it's probably best not to go overboard on upgrades, however I do feel like I learned a lot about printers in the process 😄

[@nomadgamer168]

Thanks for a great video! +1 :D I've had my Ender 3 (v1 I believe) for several years now, but I only recently started printing again after a 1 year hiatus. There are several popular upgrades, or "upgrades", that I have not made. I'm glad that you mentioned the fact that a direct drive on this one will add substantial weight to the print head. Several people I know have gotten lower quality prints after installing a direct drive. I ended up replacing the bowden tube with one that flexes less, and have left it at that. I have a raspberrry pie laying around so I might look into getting octo print onto that. Or do you suggest just sticking to a laptop?

[@PhazerTech]

Thank you! Good info on the direct drive, I've definitely heard mixed results about doing it on the Ender 3. If you plan to use a Raspberry Pi I suggest model 3 or higher. RPi 2 might be fine but I definitely don't recommend RPi 1 or Zero. Also octo print is good but I prefer klipper, so you might want to consider that instead.

[@Factsfun-kg4xc]

Cant waith for my Ender 3 v3 KE to show up in the mail.

[@PhazerTech]

Nice! That version looks like a major step up from the original Ender 3 models.

[@Factsfun-kg4xc]

@@PhazerTech yeha. im new to 3D printing. so i hope its as user friendly too

[@PhazerTech]

Yep it should be very user friendly when compared to the older models. It has auto leveling built in which is a nice feature for new users.

[@JUSTTRYITDIY]

great video, I have just strated but see some of the short falls of the printer, I have some updates on order. will the auto level work with stock set up or will I need to update something

[@PhazerTech]

Thanks! To get auto leveling working you'll likely need to update the printer's firmware. There are several firmware options but most of them are based around the Marlin firmware. Personally I use klipper.

[@Shadowsrobotics]

What size filament are you supposed to use for an ender 3? is it 1.75mm?

[@PhazerTech]

Yes that's correct. It sounds like you're new to 3D printing. If you're looking to buy your first printer I highly recommend getting a newer version such as the Ender 3 V3 KE: amzn.to/3yRl06G It's a better printer so you won't need to do most of these upgrades

[@Shadowsrobotics]

@@PhazerTech I’ll look into that one I might just stick with the ender 3 idk though I’ll have to do some research

[@PhazerTech]

@@Shadowsrobotics Definitely! Research the differences and the upgrades they did for the newer version. But if you can find a good deal on the older Ender 3 then that might be better if you're on a budget.

[@SAMZIRRA]

Nice video, very thoughtful❤

[@PhazerTech]

Thank you so much, I'm happy to hear that!

[@SAMZIRRA]

@@PhazerTech No, thank youuii. I just ordered my first printer this morning and have been scouring the internet for information. Your video and one other person’s were the most helpful in helping me figure out what to buy. It can be quite overwhelming with so many options out there. Anyways, your video really helped me make a final decision and I will keep watching your channel from now on. Take care and have an awesome New Year :)

[@PhazerTech]

@@SAMZIRRA I agree there's a ton of options today and it can be overwhelming for new users. I'm curious which printer did you end up getting? And thanks, same to you and happy New Year!

[@Vistal11]

No yellow springs. Use Silicon. About the only thing i disagree with. Yellow springs will lose there tension faster then the silicon

[@PhazerTech]

Thanks for the suggestion. I wasn't aware of silicone spacers as an alternative, they look nice!

[@DemonDNF]

I have an Ender 3 S1 Plus that I'd like to completely upgrade; especially the motherboard and hotend. I'm fed up with that "random abnormal runaway problem". The only good thing about this printer is the direct drive and print size. Do you have suggestions for a better quality wiring harness? Or am I better off fabricating my own?

[@PhazerTech]

I don't have experience with that particular version but it looks like you can purchase a new harness. Your issue might be because of a loose or broken wire. It also might be helpful to try a PID calibration. Just a few suggestions you can try before upgrading the hotend.

[@Shadowsrobotics]

I was your 1,000th like!

[@PhazerTech]

haha lucky number 1,000! It's awesome this video is getting lots of views

[@carlyuilan2471]

May I ask is your PEI sheet on top of your glass bed?

[@PhazerTech]

Yes the PEI sheet is on top the glass bed.

[@juxlambo]

Great video ❤❤❤

[@PhazerTech]

Thank you!

[@ClutchMc]

Is it possible to upgrade the Ender 3 to a level where it's comparable to the Ender 3 V2?

[@PhazerTech]

Yes definitely, the V2 only has minor upgrades. In fact I think my Ender 3 is better than a stock V2. However the Ender 3 V3 KE, which is the latest version, has major improvements. So for those looking to buy a new printer I highly recommend that one as opposed to upgrading an older model.

[@ClutchMc]

@@PhazerTech Thank you! I'll try some of your upgrades :)

[@jcandy5799]

Hi, your liink for the Bigtreetech board includes a touch screen, do you recommend the touch screen or just the board (it looks like your Ender does not have one)?

[@PhazerTech]

Originally the link had different "styles" of the board, including one without a touchscreen. Looks like that particular seller ran out of the non-touchscreen style. I've updated the link to a different seller that includes a non-touchscreen style. Thanks for noticing that. And to answer your question I don't recommend the touch screen for the Ender 3 since the stock screen is compatible. Not every printer will have a compatible screen, but Ender 3 does.

[@clb1024]

I have a question about the filament roller guide and spool location. When printing taller prints it looks like the guide would put a hard bend on the filament with it being located on the side have you had any issues? I have the same roller on mine, but my filament is still on the top. With the encloser I'm getting I will have to move my spool location.

[@PhazerTech]

I haven't ran into any issues with that. For extremely tall prints the filament might rub against the bottom a little bit instead of the wheel but I don't think that would prevent the print from finishing. The angle of the filament going into the guide seems fine, it's gradual and not very sudden but to be honest I haven't done extremely tall prints in recent memory on this printer so it's probably something you'll want to test yourself.

[@Los3140]

Wanted to say Thank you, I found the answer to what I thought was an Extruder problem. The issue turned out to be my Bowden tube was not propberly installed into my nozzel. I corrected all in accordance with this video. Once again Thanks.

[@PhazerTech]

Glad it helped!

[@justbubba4373]

I have two ender 3's and the stock exruders on both of them broke within a few months. Very cheap and not great.

[@PhazerTech]

Yep, it was a bad move to make that part out of plastic. Don't know what they were thinking!

[@gamezmeow]

I cant for the life of me get my ender 3 pro go without clogging every print, going to cheat and upgrade to the sprite pro direct extruder

[@paciuuu_6350]

holy.. i must get a lot of money for this upgrades :(

[@PhazerTech]

Haha well not all of these upgrades are necessary to make it a decent printer. I think the PEI sheet and extruder are good to start off with and maybe the springs and hotend too.

[@Scouter5050]

Flawless prints everytime? Hohoho, let me introduce you to my printers.

[@PhazerTech]

lol which printers do you have?

[@Scouter5050]

@ Ender 3 pro, got silicone spacers, cr touch, yet the z axis is nowhere near the bed / 0.00mm level. I took off the 0mm switch for that I think for when I was installing the spacers and now I have to figure this out after not being familiar for over half a year.

[@andrewpotter5956]

Mine didn't autohome would not read the card, replacement board, original loom not compatible,sourcing replacement loom,plugs came off the thermistor,sourcing new thermistor kit...etc etc etc,still hasn't printed anything......after a month.....

[@jcritch42]

Did not describe how these add ones improved print quality or speed.