Uploaded February 2019 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Here is a full video and list of my preferred mods for the Ender3!
*please note, the Ender3 prints great out of the box! You don't need mods to print PLA and simple hobby printing. Mods are a fun way of learning about your machine as well as adding performance.
One word of advice; add a single modification at a time, print and test, see if it made your machine better or worse, see if it did what you set out to do with the mod before moving on to the next.*
1. Extruder: I mount the SeeMeeCNC EZstruder on all my machines, it constrains filament path very well so you can print flexible with no problem, is easy to load, and requires no flashing of firmware or difficulty in mounting.
seemecnc.com/products/ezrstruder
2. Bed Springs: follow my instructions here to mount better quality bed springs and to block the screw, this will give you a more stable bed with less vibrations!
youtube.com/watch?v=-UL1d61HClo&t=111s
springs affiliate link: amzn.to/2WNTzCP
3. Insulate Bed:
I like to insulate the underside of the bed so it heats faster and contains the heat as well as keeping the heat more consistent across the full bed.
here is a pretty good video: youtube.com/watch?v=XBiIrSnM2Nw
I use insulation tape affiliate link: amzn.to/2SFfoFD
and metallic tape affiliate link: amzn.to/2tdIsoY
4. Wham Bam flexible Build Surface
when you are looking for the best solution to getting your prints to stick to your build surface and then being able to remove them effortlessly get the best- i developed this- Wham Bam flexible build system. You will need the 235 kit. The magnets were made to resist up to 130°C constant use so you can practically print any material! The PEX surface even surpasses the industry standard PEI for temperature resistance. wham-bam-systems.myshopify.com/collections/flexible-build-system/products/flexible-build-system-235-x-235
5. Extruder Knob: easy print and mod. this lets you see the movement of the extruder, manually feed or retract filament, and it has only 3 arms allowing for better visibility of the extruder gears.
thingiverse.com/thing:2799793
6. LED light bar: I can't live without this, easy print bar that mounts to the rear of your X gantry and puts light right where you need it. Wiring diagrams in thingiverse file.
thingiverse.com/thing:3292889
LED strips 24V for Ender 3 Pro affiliate link : amzn.to/2tboriX
LED strips 12V for Ender 3 affiliate link : amzn.to/2DXHhQW
can be used with this switch and housing or with next line item:thingiverse.com/thing:3315172
simple round Rocker Switch affiliate link: amzn.to/2CzkYQG
7. Full size SD card reader housing and light switch: I hate dealing with mini SD cards and trying to get them into the slot!
Use this to mount a full size SD card reader, stop stressing your PC board and reader connection, and it houses the light switch for the LED bar, and has a SD card holder for extra cards!
thingiverse.com/thing:3292867
or use this handy SD card converter holder: thingiverse.com/thing:3255028
SD card Converter affiliate link: amzn.to/2HXf14N
8. Fan ducts with blower 5015 fan: I like the design sensibility of this model, its easy to mount, and works very well
thingiverse.com/thing:3179892
24V blower fan for Ender 3 Pro affiliate link: amzn.to/2HXf14N
12V blower fan for Ender 3 affiliate link: amzn.to/2SsaQlR
9. Electrical connectors on all hot end components. On the first change of hot end parts or upon mounting your new fans, add connectors to every electrical lead to make changes and maintenance easy from then onward. Just connectors on low amp connections: fans, thermistor. XT30 on the heater cartridge. Heater Cartridge and thermistor have no polarity so dont worry about color of leads. fans all have polarity so match red to red and black to black.
XT30 connectors for heater cartridge affiliate link: amzn.to/2MRVdPb
JST connectors for fans and thermistor affiliate link: amzn.to/2MSljS3
10. Filament Cleaner: keep your filament clean with this simple print in place holder
thingiverse.com/thing:2723403
11. Spool holder washer: I hate when spools have a huge inner hole and can slip off over the nut, use this to hold any spool in place
thingiverse.com/thing:2665114
12 . Filament guide: this is a nice simple print to keep your filament path more aligned with extruder opening
thingiverse.com/thing:2917932
*please excuse my affiliate links, if I am going to take all the time to spec parts I hope Amazon appreciates my referrals, and you pay no more.*
Please let me know if this help and if anyone wants to see a video of my final set up!
Here is a full video and list of my preferred mods for the Ender3!
*please note, the Ender3 prints great out of the box! You don't need mods to print PLA and simple hobby printing. Mods are a fun way of learning about your machine as well as adding performance.
One word of advice; add a single modification at a time, print and test, see if it made your machine better or worse, see if it did what you set out to do with the mod before moving on to the next.*
1. Extruder: I mount the SeeMeeCNC EZstruder on all my machines, it constrains filament path very well so you can print flexible with no problem, is easy to load, and requires no flashing of firmware or difficulty in mounting.
seemecnc.com/products/ezrstruder
2. Bed Springs: follow my instructions here to mount better quality bed springs and to block the screw, this will give you a more stable bed with less vibrations!
youtube.com/watch?v=-UL1d61HClo&t=111s
springs affiliate link: amzn.to/2WNTzCP
3. Insulate Bed:
I like to insulate the underside of the bed so it heats faster and contains the heat as well as keeping the heat more consistent across the full bed.
here is a pretty good video: youtube.com/watch?v=XBiIrSnM2Nw
I use insulation tape affiliate link: amzn.to/2SFfoFD
and metallic tape affiliate link: amzn.to/2tdIsoY
4. Wham Bam flexible Build Surface
when you are looking for the best solution to getting your prints to stick to your build surface and then being able to remove them effortlessly get the best- i developed this- Wham Bam flexible build system. You will need the 235 kit. The magnets were made to resist up to 130°C constant use so you can practically print any material! The PEX surface even surpasses the industry standard PEI for temperature resistance. wham-bam-systems.myshopify.com/collections/flexible-build-system/products/flexible-build-system-235-x-235
5. Extruder Knob: easy print and mod. this lets you see the movement of the extruder, manually feed or retract filament, and it has only 3 arms allowing for better visibility of the extruder gears.
thingiverse.com/thing:2799793
6. LED light bar: I can't live without this, easy print bar that mounts to the rear of your X gantry and puts light right where you need it. Wiring diagrams in thingiverse file.
thingiverse.com/thing:3292889
LED strips 24V for Ender 3 Pro affiliate link : amzn.to/2tboriX
LED strips 12V for Ender 3 affiliate link : amzn.to/2DXHhQW
can be used with this switch and housing or with next line item:thingiverse.com/thing:3315172
simple round Rocker Switch affiliate link: amzn.to/2CzkYQG
7. Full size SD card reader housing and light switch: I hate dealing with mini SD cards and trying to get them into the slot!
Use this to mount a full size SD card reader, stop stressing your PC board and reader connection, and it houses the light switch for the LED bar, and has a SD card holder for extra cards!
thingiverse.com/thing:3292867
or use this handy SD card converter holder: thingiverse.com/thing:3255028
SD card Converter affiliate link: amzn.to/2HXf14N
8. Fan ducts with blower 5015 fan: I like the design sensibility of this model, its easy to mount, and works very well
thingiverse.com/thing:3179892
24V blower fan for Ender 3 Pro affiliate link: amzn.to/2HXf14N
12V blower fan for Ender 3 affiliate link: amzn.to/2SsaQlR
9. Electrical connectors on all hot end components. On the first change of hot end parts or upon mounting your new fans, add connectors to every electrical lead to make changes and maintenance easy from then onward. Just connectors on low amp connections: fans, thermistor. XT30 on the heater cartridge. Heater Cartridge and thermistor have no polarity so dont worry about color of leads. fans all have polarity so match red to red and black to black.
XT30 connectors for heater cartridge affiliate link: amzn.to/2MRVdPb
JST connectors for fans and thermistor affiliate link: amzn.to/2MSljS3
10. Filament Cleaner: keep your filament clean with this simple print in place holder
thingiverse.com/thing:2723403
11. Spool holder washer: I hate when spools have a huge inner hole and can slip off over the nut, use this to hold any spool in place
thingiverse.com/thing:2665114
12 . Filament guide: this is a nice simple print to keep your filament path more aligned with extruder opening
thingiverse.com/thing:2917932
*please excuse my affiliate links, if I am going to take all the time to spec parts I hope Amazon appreciates my referrals, and you pay no more.*
Please let me know if this help and if anyone wants to see a video of my final set up!
