When you purchase the Creality Ender 3 3D Printer, you’ll quickly begin to wish you could extend it’s abilities. Below we at Rave Robot has put together a list of our top (best) upgrades for the Ender 3 3D printer. Also, check out our review of the Ender 3 for other helpful insights.
1) Install Octodash, a Touchscreen UI for Octoprint
Octodash is a great way to add an additional layer of user interactions to your 3D printer being controlled from Octoprint. Installation of a touchscreen and Octodash on a printer such as the Ender 3, allows for controlling Octoprint directly in front of the printer without needing a PC or smartphone. The ability to trigger a sliced gcode file, start an autobed level, and load and unload filament are all great features. Follow the link to learn how to install and setup Octodash on a Raspberry Pi with touchscreen.
2) Install Octoprint on a Raspberry Pi for a 3D Printer
Installing Octoprint on a Raspberry Pi is a cheap and effective way to add remote access capabilities to a 3D printer such as the Ender 3. If you have looked at an expensive printer with WiFi access and wished that you too could remotely fling files to it and begin prints or monitor the current status of an existing print then Octoprint is for you. Follow this link to learn how to install and setup Octoprint on a Raspberry Pi computer.
3) Add a Smart Filament Runout Sensor to the Ender 3
The Ender 3 does not come with a filament runout sensor built in, unlike some higher end printers such as the Prusa MK3. Many of the 32bit boards available for use on an Ender 3 have open connectors for filament runout sensors so if you have already swapped your board then you have this as an option. Installing the smart filament sensor on your Ender 3 is not difficult but will require some firmware changes and some printed parts. Let’s dive in!
4) Replace the Ender 3 Hotend with an All-Metal Hotend
Replacing the hotend of your Creality Ender 3 with an all metal version can be a tricky but valuable upgrade. This guide will show you how to replace the Creality hotend for an e3d v6 all metal hotend in direct drive configuration. Performing this upgrade is involved but once complete your Ender 3 will be printing at a whole new level.
5) Replace the Ender 3 LCD Screen with a Touch Screen
Replacing the LCD screen of your Creality Ender 3 with a touchscreen is a very simple upgrade. If you find yourself with a lot of free time while social distancing making sure your printer is running a peak efficiency is a nice constructive way to pass the time. Following these easy steps you can swap your Creality screen for a BigTreeTech TFT screen with minimal fuss. Your Ender 3 will be looking great in no time.
6) Replace the Ender 3 Main Board with A Silent 32 Bit Board
Replacing the main board of your Creality Ender 3 with a silent board is a fairly easy and extremely valuable upgrade. If you find yourself with a lot of free time while social distancing making sure your printer is running a peak efficiency is a nice constructive way to pass the time. Following these easy steps you can swap your Creality board for a BigTreeTech SKR mini board with minimal fuss. You will never look at, or more importantly hear, your printer the same way again.
7) Make a Dry Box for 3D Printer Filament Storage
If you have an FDM 3D printer then you likely have multiple spools of various colors and types of filament. You have probably asked yourself: How do I store filament? How do I protect filament from moisture? Proper filament storage isn’t only necessary for exotic filaments such as nylon or TPU. Even simple PLA will show issues if it is stored too long with humidity. The best way to store your filament is with a filament storage dry box. It is cheap and easy to build one yourself, Follow the link to our how to guide.
8) Install Octoscreen, a Touchscreen UI for Octoprint
Octoscreen is another touch UI option for for Octoprint and while we have found Octodash superior, tastes and needs vary. Follow the link to learn how to install and setup Octoscreen on a Rasperry Pi with touchscreen.
9) Convert the Ender 3 to Run Klipper Firmware
Klipper is a free firmware for 3D printers which moves all the processing from the slower mainboard of the printer to a faster Raspberry Pi. Have you seen videos of speed benchy prints under 10 minutes? Those are printers running Klipper. It is a cheap and fairly easy upgrade to your 3D printer which will breath new life into an aging rig. Follow the link to learn how to convert an Ender 3 to run on Klipper firmware.
