Tech Breakdown: Creality Ender 3 V2 Bundle 3D Printer Review
From the creators of the CR-10 and the ubiquitous Ender 3, the Ender 3 V2 improves on its predecessor in every way.
Since their outrageously successful introduction of the CR-10, Creality has developed and released new exciting printers year after year; they’re no one-hit-wonder! Following the CR-10 was the Ender 3: a smaller machine built off the lessons learned from the CR-10 and reassembled into a compact and affordable package. With such a low cost of entry, the Ender 3 V2 is a fantastic way to dip your toe into the 3D printing waters and start yourself off right. Creality has done it again with their latest Ender 3 V2, with several new quality of life upgrades and some major improvements as well.
Let's break it down-
Quality of Life Upgrades
For many people using the original Ender 3, upgrading it with aftermarket components and open-source designs was a regular part of the 3D printing process. Creality cut out the middleman and rolled some of these ideas into the V2. Previously, manually jogging filament through the extruded was slow and tedious, but with the new injection molded wheel, it’s simple and easy to load your new spool of filament. To keep the X and Y axis belts under proper tension, injection molded knobs now allow for easy adjustment to tighten them up and eliminate running artifacts. To improve quality of life, a silicone sock wraps around the heater block to keep it warm and printing temperatures stable and a small drawer hides away under the printer bed to store all your spare accessories and tools to keep them at the ready. These are just a handful of the small improvements Creality has made, but each of them will make getting used to your new 3D printer an incredibly easy task.
Major Upgrades and Features
From the start, the Ender 3 has been a fantastic 3D printer for beginners and proficient 3D printer users alike. The aluminum extrusion construction is dual purpose: the frame is rigidly assembled which prevents artifacts in your 3D prints and provides a smooth surface for the V-slot wheels within each carriage to ride on, making every movement consistent and repeatable. The newly developed motherboard is quieter than ever! With a TMC2208 stepper driver for every axis, the loudest part of an Ender 3 V2 are the fans, a considerable update from the reliable yet noisy stepper drivers of old. A full color LCD allows even the newest of users to intuitively navigate through each menu, foregoing previous two color interfaces. The carborundum glass bed uniformly distributes heat while printing and uniquely contracts just enough for your 3D prints to easily separate when cooled. Creality made sure to listen to the praise and critiques of the 3D printing community to bring this incredible machine to market.
Bundled Upgrades
As part of the Maker Bundle, the Ender 3 V2 includes several upgrades to unlock even more functionality. MicroSwiss is known for their high quality 3D printer accessories and components, and their drop-in hotbed replacement is no exception. The original PTFE lined hotend has a maximum printing temperature of 255°C, but the MicroSwiss replacement can reach as high as 300°C, a necessary improvement to use advanced materials like PETG or nylon. To install, simply unscrew the old hot end, remove the electrical components, and install the MicroSwiss All-Metal hotend. Uptime is key, and if you want to go from “print finished” to “print started” as fast as possible, the BuildTak Flexplate System can make that possible. A plate filled with an array of neodymium magnets is attached to the bed of the Ender 3 V2 and a spring steel sheet with a BuildTak adhesive sheet applied to it is all it takes. Simply print, flex, and start the next. Of course, any 3D printer needs quality filament to produce quality prints, which is why this bundle includes spools of MatterHackers PRO Series PLA in a variety of colors. Altogether, this bundle truly has what you need to get started on your 3D printing journey.
Creality has made themselves an integral part of the 3D printing community with their affordable and accessible options for every maker. From the robust Ender 3 V2 to the trusted CR-10 and its derivatives, you can find the printer you need with the upgrades you didn’t know you need, all at MatterHackers.com.