Uploaded August 2020 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
The budget Ender 3 from Creality costs as little as £150 or $150, making it one of the cheapest 3D printers available. But it can produce prints that look like they’ve come off a printer at least four times its price.
I’ll start with a brief introduction to 3D printing, explaining how it works, how much consumables cost and what it can be used for.
I’ll then provide an overview of assembling the printer and getting your first print.
After printing almost non-stop with the printer since I got it, I’ll go over its strengths and weaknesses and briefly discuss a few free and cheap optional upgrade options. I’ll also discuss a few other models you might consider, depending on your budget.
There’s a lot to cover and I didn’t really want to split the video but feel free to skip to the part you’re interested in.
If you want to skip forward or back at any time in this video, please use the chapter markers YouTube creates from the timestamps down below and in the pinned comment.
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Get 3 extra months of ExpressVPN FREE:
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If you want to support my channel, please consider using the link above to try one of the best VPN services I've tested. It doesn't cost you any extra - in fact you get an extra 3 months free with the link - and I get a small commission.
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Banggood links: (I bought mine from here - often cheaper than Amazon)
Ender 3: bit.ly/3kGL34t
Ender 3 V2: uk.banggood.com/custlink/vvDYCVUnJw
As an Amazon affiliate, I get a small commission from purchases made via any Amazon links.
Amazon links:
Ender 3: geni.us/D16WZ
Ender 3 V2: geni.us/8XlnvJ
Filament:
eSun PLA+ in black: geni.us/Vs9Jf (215°C/60°C first layer, then 205°C,60°C)
AmazonBasics PETG in orange: geni.us/gxcYnru (240°C/80°C first layer, then 230°C,70°C)
Eryone TPU in black: geni.us/8SMpwv (210°C/50°C)
Written article: thetechnologyman.com
--------
You can find most of the recent tech I've reviewed recently all in one place on my Amazon page. I also have a list some of my recommended tech and my current camera equipment for filming:
UK: amazon.co.uk/shop/thetechnologyman
US: amazon.com/shop/thetechnologyman
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Timestamps:
0:00 Intro*
0:48 3D printing for complete beginners*, how 3D printers work, FDM vs SLA
1:27 Build size, printing costs
2:08 Adding second colour
2:23 Layer height or resolution, nozzle size, Print speed
3:22 Heated bed, and bed levelling
3:53 Filament types: PLA, PETG
4:30 What to print: Thingiverse
4:46 How to send a file to the printer
5:14 Designing your own prints: 3D modelling software - Tinkercad, Fusion 360, Shapr3D
5:47 Ender 3 Overview*, unboxing, included accessories and tools, assembly guides
6:45 Printer assembly
8:04 Turning the printer on for the first time: Auto Home
8:29 Manually levelling the bed
9:53 First print - preheat nozzle and bed,
10:32 Loading filament, direct drive vs Bowden extruder
11:59 Downloading STL file from Thingerverse
12:13 Slicing in included Creality Slicer
13:13 Saving to microSD card and loading print on Ender 3
13:38 Print quality and performance*
13:39 Tests at various layer heights / resolutions, using Creality Slicer, adjusting skirt
14:55 Results with PrusaSlicer with test prints: Marvin and 3D Benchy
16:09 Printing PETG, temperature tower, prints releasing from bed
17:44 Printing flexible filament - extrusion multiplier
19:09 Build plate - prints sticking to and releasing from
19:30 Bed levelling with Gcode file
20:02 Printer noise
21:02 Power usage
21:13 Printer safety - thermal runaway protection
21:42 Upgrade options*
21:57 Free, printable upgrades
22:19 Calibrating extruder, setting e-steps
22:37 Optional upgrade options: nozzle fan, BLTouch levelling probe, new springs, EZR Studer, new hot end
23:13 Octoprint on a Raspberry Pi with webcam - for easy printing and monitoring
23:48 Conclusions*
*Sections
--------
Links mentioned in video:
Creality downloads: creality.com/download/32
Printer assembly videos:
Creality: youtube.com/watch?v=yxkwERZXfaQ
CHEP: youtube.com/watch?v=2Th2e7wTNV0
3D Printing Canada: youtube.com/watch?v=dQ0q9zLygTY
Printer upgrades:
Search CHEP & Teaching Tech on YouTube
Filament guide: thingiverse.com/thing:2917932
Fan cover: thingiverse.com/thing:2935204
Slicers:
PrusaSlicer: prusa3d.com/prusaslicer
Cura: ultimaker.com/software/ultimaker-cura
Bed levelling g-code:
thingiverse.com/thing:4091791/files
Temperature tower:
thingiverse.com/thing:3912855/files
E-steps calibration: youtube.com/watch?v=lH-RrjtiC8M&t
Article on calculating flow in PrusaSlicer: help.prusa3d.com/en/article/extrusion-multiplier-calibration_2257
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#ender3 #creality #3dprinting
The budget Ender 3 from Creality costs as little as £150 or $150, making it one of the cheapest 3D printers available. But it can produce prints that look like they’ve come off a printer at least four times its price.
I’ll start with a brief introduction to 3D printing, explaining how it works, how much consumables cost and what it can be used for.
I’ll then provide an overview of assembling the printer and getting your first print.
After printing almost non-stop with the printer since I got it, I’ll go over its strengths and weaknesses and briefly discuss a few free and cheap optional upgrade options. I’ll also discuss a few other models you might consider, depending on your budget.
There’s a lot to cover and I didn’t really want to split the video but feel free to skip to the part you’re interested in.
If you want to skip forward or back at any time in this video, please use the chapter markers YouTube creates from the timestamps down below and in the pinned comment.
--------
Get 3 extra months of ExpressVPN FREE:
expressvpn.com/thetechnologyman
If you want to support my channel, please consider using the link above to try one of the best VPN services I've tested. It doesn't cost you any extra - in fact you get an extra 3 months free with the link - and I get a small commission.
A VPN lets you browse the Internet securely and privately and access services like Netflix free of georestrictions.
--------
Banggood links: (I bought mine from here - often cheaper than Amazon)
Ender 3: bit.ly/3kGL34t
Ender 3 V2: uk.banggood.com/custlink/vvDYCVUnJw
As an Amazon affiliate, I get a small commission from purchases made via any Amazon links.
Amazon links:
Ender 3: geni.us/D16WZ
Ender 3 V2: geni.us/8XlnvJ
Filament:
eSun PLA+ in black: geni.us/Vs9Jf (215°C/60°C first layer, then 205°C,60°C)
AmazonBasics PETG in orange: geni.us/gxcYnru (240°C/80°C first layer, then 230°C,70°C)
Eryone TPU in black: geni.us/8SMpwv (210°C/50°C)
Written article: thetechnologyman.com
--------
You can find most of the recent tech I've reviewed recently all in one place on my Amazon page. I also have a list some of my recommended tech and my current camera equipment for filming:
UK: amazon.co.uk/shop/thetechnologyman
US: amazon.com/shop/thetechnologyman
--------
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro*
0:48 3D printing for complete beginners*, how 3D printers work, FDM vs SLA
1:27 Build size, printing costs
2:08 Adding second colour
2:23 Layer height or resolution, nozzle size, Print speed
3:22 Heated bed, and bed levelling
3:53 Filament types: PLA, PETG
4:30 What to print: Thingiverse
4:46 How to send a file to the printer
5:14 Designing your own prints: 3D modelling software - Tinkercad, Fusion 360, Shapr3D
5:47 Ender 3 Overview*, unboxing, included accessories and tools, assembly guides
6:45 Printer assembly
8:04 Turning the printer on for the first time: Auto Home
8:29 Manually levelling the bed
9:53 First print - preheat nozzle and bed,
10:32 Loading filament, direct drive vs Bowden extruder
11:59 Downloading STL file from Thingerverse
12:13 Slicing in included Creality Slicer
13:13 Saving to microSD card and loading print on Ender 3
13:38 Print quality and performance*
13:39 Tests at various layer heights / resolutions, using Creality Slicer, adjusting skirt
14:55 Results with PrusaSlicer with test prints: Marvin and 3D Benchy
16:09 Printing PETG, temperature tower, prints releasing from bed
17:44 Printing flexible filament - extrusion multiplier
19:09 Build plate - prints sticking to and releasing from
19:30 Bed levelling with Gcode file
20:02 Printer noise
21:02 Power usage
21:13 Printer safety - thermal runaway protection
21:42 Upgrade options*
21:57 Free, printable upgrades
22:19 Calibrating extruder, setting e-steps
22:37 Optional upgrade options: nozzle fan, BLTouch levelling probe, new springs, EZR Studer, new hot end
23:13 Octoprint on a Raspberry Pi with webcam - for easy printing and monitoring
23:48 Conclusions*
*Sections
--------
Links mentioned in video:
Creality downloads: creality.com/download/32
Printer assembly videos:
Creality: youtube.com/watch?v=yxkwERZXfaQ
CHEP: youtube.com/watch?v=2Th2e7wTNV0
3D Printing Canada: youtube.com/watch?v=dQ0q9zLygTY
Printer upgrades:
Search CHEP & Teaching Tech on YouTube
Filament guide: thingiverse.com/thing:2917932
Fan cover: thingiverse.com/thing:2935204
Slicers:
PrusaSlicer: prusa3d.com/prusaslicer
Cura: ultimaker.com/software/ultimaker-cura
Bed levelling g-code:
thingiverse.com/thing:4091791/files
Temperature tower:
thingiverse.com/thing:3912855/files
E-steps calibration: youtube.com/watch?v=lH-RrjtiC8M&t
Article on calculating flow in PrusaSlicer: help.prusa3d.com/en/article/extrusion-multiplier-calibration_2257
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#ender3 #creality #3dprinting
