Best upgrade was a $7 bi-metal heat break, copper and titanium, installed in my stock Ender 3. Since the addition first layers are consistently perfect and stringing has been reduced. I did use heat sink transfer paste on the break when installing in the hot end.
I do change the stepper drivers, I need them to be quiet. Also change the spring for stiffer one (the orange ones). Listening to Richard, I make sure i'm on the right track ! Feels great :)
Totally agreee. You hit it spot on. I usually do mods when I have a problem with a printer or somteimes if it looks fancy. :) With my Prusa MK3S I didn't have to mod anything... This was boring and I sold it. :) Withy my Biqu B1 I had a lot of fun modding. Really important were: extruder upgrade (orbiter direct drive), sturdier spring steel sheet build plate, 3d touch, firmware and better filament spool holder. I modded this printer to a workhorse and don't want to miss it. With my Ender 3 Max there was more to do. Most important mods: upgraded PSU cover (really dangerous if not modded), extruder, mainboard (not enough modding potential with stock one), firmware with manual bed leveling and magnetic spring steel sheet buildplate. This printer is WIP (work in progress) and there is much work to be invested for a good printer. If you like to mod you printer and printing mods for your printer is fun to you, don't buy a Prusa. :) If you want to use a 3d printer for your work to be done: buy a Prusa and don't buy an Ender. :)
Hi Richard. Great vid and I also bought your book. On page 124 of your book you write that you have many ender 5's. You must have a stock upgrade list so that every one has the same upgrades. I would love to see the upgrade parts list that you use for your enders :-) One very long question I would ask is: If the Prusa has everything out of the box, and is a faster printer and more cost effective in the long run, why did you continue with ender 5 pro with stock upgrades to base your farm on? Apologies for the bluntness of the questions. signed a fan :-) ps whens the next book coming out?
Hi Boyd, sure: i started out with E5 and with many gcodes (300+), swapping to different printers would required a lot of time slicing and printer optimization. upgrading to prusa would required several days just on slicing and a limiting height (i have many objects that require above 250mm height). Nowdays i prefere to think "production line" meaning if i develop a product i asses the best printer for the job. es: if i have many small parts i could thinker on a prusa mini shelf (good room volume/printer ratio) instead of adding other "bulky" enders. maybe in the future i will release a video on the ende 5 mods, didn't have the time to do it yet. what works well for me doesn't mean it works well for someone else, it is how things go :) no book for 2022. working on an App for the 3d printing market, and just a ton of printing jobs!
Hi Walker, thanks for the feedback! A mainboard upgrade is going to be worth the money only if you need a quieter printer (with trinamic drivers) or need to heavily mod the machine. in my farm i change boards only if they fry.
Best upgrade was a $7 bi-metal heat break, copper and titanium, installed in my stock Ender 3. Since the addition first layers are consistently perfect and stringing has been reduced. I did use heat sink transfer paste on the break when installing in the hot end.
I do change the stepper drivers, I need them to be quiet. Also change the spring for stiffer one (the orange ones).
Listening to Richard, I make sure i'm on the right track ! Feels great :)
Grazie Riccardo! I can´t wait for the Octoprint video.
Totally agreee. You hit it spot on. I usually do mods when I have a problem with a printer or somteimes if it looks fancy. :)
With my Prusa MK3S I didn't have to mod anything... This was boring and I sold it. :)
Withy my Biqu B1 I had a lot of fun modding. Really important were: extruder upgrade (orbiter direct drive), sturdier spring steel sheet build plate, 3d touch, firmware and better filament spool holder. I modded this printer to a workhorse and don't want to miss it.
With my Ender 3 Max there was more to do. Most important mods: upgraded PSU cover (really dangerous if not modded), extruder, mainboard (not enough modding potential with stock one), firmware with manual bed leveling and magnetic spring steel sheet buildplate. This printer is WIP (work in progress) and there is much work to be invested for a good printer.
If you like to mod you printer and printing mods for your printer is fun to you, don't buy a Prusa. :)
If you want to use a 3d printer for your work to be done: buy a Prusa and don't buy an Ender. :)
Totally agree Markus! Way to go, let me know how the Ender 3 Max will evolve. Always curious of new setups!
Really interesting 🧐
great video lots of good info
Thanks for the feedback Richard!
Hi Richard. Great vid and I also bought your book. On page 124 of your book you write that you have many ender 5's. You must have a stock upgrade list so that every one has the same upgrades. I would love to see the upgrade parts list that you use for your enders :-) One very long question I would ask is: If the Prusa has everything out of the box, and is a faster printer and more cost effective in the long run, why did you continue with ender 5 pro with stock upgrades to base your farm on? Apologies for the bluntness of the questions. signed a fan :-) ps whens the next book coming out?
Hi Boyd, sure: i started out with E5 and with many gcodes (300+), swapping to different printers would required a lot of time slicing and printer optimization. upgrading to prusa would required several days just on slicing and a limiting height (i have many objects that require above 250mm height). Nowdays i prefere to think "production line" meaning if i develop a product i asses the best printer for the job. es: if i have many small parts i could thinker on a prusa mini shelf (good room volume/printer ratio) instead of adding other "bulky" enders. maybe in the future i will release a video on the ende 5 mods, didn't have the time to do it yet. what works well for me doesn't mean it works well for someone else, it is how things go :)
no book for 2022. working on an App for the 3d printing market, and just a ton of printing jobs!
Great vid! Do you think a mainboard upgrade is worth it on something like an Ender 3?
Hi Walker, thanks for the feedback! A mainboard upgrade is going to be worth the money only if you need a quieter printer (with trinamic drivers) or need to heavily mod the machine. in my farm i change boards only if they fry.