Table of Contents
Overview
Creality Ender 3 was one of the most talked-about 3d printers for a while. It’s mods and alterations have been extensive, with users improving upon its capabilities by making changes to suit their needs best!
With the success on its predecessor, Ender 3 V2* brings new standards to low-budget 3D printers. It is based off its predecessor and comes with many upgrades that make it easier for beginners or those without much experience in this field of work .
Unbox & Assembly of Creality Ender 3 v2
Creality Ender 3 V2 3D Printer comes packed similarly to other Creality printers, which means that it arrives in a cardboard box packed securely in foam padding. And like other Creality machines, the Ender 3 V2 doesn’t come fully assembled.
It is a value-engineered Cartesian-style desktop DIY 3D printer kit. Employing the FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) printing technology, it consecutively lays one layer of melting plastic atop another one, thus building a three-dimensional object using thermoplastic printing materials called filaments.
Creality Ender 3 v2 comes partially assembled, and you could build it in about 30-45 minutes depending on your experience. It’s not a difficult task. Instructions are clear and well explained, so don’t feel intimidated if this is your 1st time.
Once assembled, it’s clear that the design of the Ender 3 V2 is solid and does not present any apparent issues or concerns. This is a well-made printer that should be durable for thousands of hours of 3D printing.
User-Friendly Menu
The Ender 3 V2’s user interface is a major upgrade from the original. Gone are all text-based displays, and in its place you’ll find full graphical LCD screens that give off an attractive look with easily readable information!
Fast Bed Heating
The heated print bed is one of the most important features on any 3D printer. It allows you to print objects with super fast speeds and high quality, because it keeps your material at exactly where they need be for perfect printing every time!
The removable glass plate underneath provides even heating so that no matter how big or small an order might seem now – we can get everything done quickly while still producing top notch results thanks this well thought out design feature alone.
For a good comparison and to give you an idea of how long something like this takes, I timed it for the different temperatures.
| Nozzle Heat Up Time | Temperature [°C] |
|---|---|
| 00:15 | 60 |
| 00:23 | 80 |
| 00:30 | 100 |
| 00:39 | 120 |
| 00:52 | 150 |
| 01:02 | 170 |
| 01:14 | 190 |
| 01:25 | 210 |
| 01:39 | 230 |
| 01:59 | 250 |
| Print Bed Heat Up Time | Temperature [°C] |
|---|---|
| 01:01 | 40 |
| 01:49 | 50 |
| 02:47 | 60 |
| 03:59 | 70 |
| 05:27 | 80 |
| 07:31 | 90 |
| 10:39 | 100 |
Quieter Printing
The installation of the TMC2208 stepper drivers was an absolute necessity on our Ender 3. Not only are they much quieter than original equipment, but these new motorized wonders will guarantee that you get a smoother movement every time!
However, the built-in fans are not the best and the 3D printer reaches a total of approx. 41 dB during the printing of a PLA object (comparable to a quiet conversation).
Belt Tensioner
The X and Y toothed belts can be conveniently tensioned using a rotary wheel, so you don’t have take half the printer apart.
Ender 3 V2 Product Feature
- Upgraded Mainboard with Silent TMC2208 Stepper Drivers
- Smart Filament Run Out Detection
- Resume Printing Function
- Y-Axis 4040 Aluminum Extrusion
- Easy-to-Use Modern Color Screen Interface
- XY Axis Injection Tensioner
- Toolbox Insert
- Effortless Filament Feed In
- Quick-Heating Hot Bed
- Carborundum Glass Platform
- Integrated Compact Design
- Fully Upgraded Hotend & Fan Duct
- V-Profile Pulley
Printing Result
This is perhaps the most important part of the review—what is it actually like to print with the Creality Ender 3 V2 3D Printer? We’re glad to report that it’s a pleasant and enjoyable experience.
To put the Ender 3 V2 through its paces, I printed a few test pieces. The printer appears to be doing extremely well with retraction, overhangs, and general print quality. These prints required minimal cleanup and were not printed with any support material.
The print speed on this printer in general is average and equal compared to the previous models. You can go for 50 to 60 mm/s for the best results. Of course you can also print faster like 100 or 120 mm/s. This will degrade the quality of your prints – but that is expected.
Pros of Creality Ender 3D Printer
Great Upgrades: The Ender 3 V2 includes some important hardware upgrades that every user will want. It includes the textured glass print bed and the Meanwell power supply, user friendly touch screen, silent driver tmc 2208, tools box for user etc.
Relatively Affordable: The Ender 3 V2 may seem expensive compared to the Ender 3 or even the Ender 3 Pro. While it’s true that the V2 is about $80 more than its predecessor, this printer remains relatively affordable for what it provides. In addition to the upgrades mentioned above, the Ender 3 V2 includes some other handy features like an XY-belt tension.
Massive Support: The Creality has huge community at social media. Any support you need, from assembly instructions to troubleshooting tips are easy to find with a simple Google search. There are also plenty of printable upgrades available for this machine as well as hardware and precision tuning suggestions. All this doesn’t even count Creality’s own eager support staff.
Cons of Ender 3 V2
Cheap Extruder: Like the original Ender 3, the Ender 3 V2’s extruder and hotend aren’t designed for longevity. If you intend to print with more than PLA, or to run this printer long and often, you want to upgrade to a direct drive extruder and maybe invest in an all-metal hotend. At the very least, users commonly replace the stock PTFE tubing.
Specification of Creality Ender 3 v2 3D printer
- Display: LCD
- Extruder type: Single
- Feeder system: Bowden
- Firmware: Open-source
- Frame: Aluminum
- Max extruder temperature: 250 °C
- Max heated bed temperature: 212 °F / 100 °C
- Mechanical arrangement: Cartesian-XZ-Head
- Nozzle size, mm: 0.4
- Operating system(s): Windows, Mac OSX, Linux
- Outer dimensions millimeters (xyz): 475 x 470 x 620 mm
- Print recovery: Yes
- Slicing Software: Cura, Simplify3D
- Weight kg: 8 kg
- Build volume: 220 x 220 x 250 mm
- Layer height: 100 – 400 Microns
- Technology: FFF/FDM
Conclusion
Overall, Creality Ender 3 V2 is a fantastic printer for the price. Under $300, you get a machine that is well-built, quiet, and capable of producing high quality 3D prints. We would easily recommend this as a top pick for an entry-level 3D printer. Even advanced users will appreciate the capabilities of the Ender 3 V2 as long as the 8” x 8” x 10” (220 x 220 x 250mm) build volume is large enough. The Ender 3 v2 still has the same great community around it for upgrades. Most of the previous version’s parts that you find on Thingiverse and other places can be adapted to the v2 pretty much unchanged most of the time.
Although Ender 3 V2 model comes at a slightly higher price, it gives you a much quieter machine, improved user interface, better print bed, and a few small hardware improvements. We feel that these improvements are well worth the added cost of the machine and greatly improve its usability. While the original Ender 3 is an excellent machine and still the best choice if your budget won’t allow you to go higher, we’ll be recommending the V2 as a worthy upgrade pick.
