r/ender3

My main ender3 had a rather bad accident after a print came loose ending with the entire hotend and microswiss direct drive covered in one giant glob of pla. I had updated the firmware to the jyers firmware with auto bed leveling mesh and a CR Touch and I loved it. Unfortunately it was never released for the ender3 max so I kinda just stopped using it as I never needed the size. Long story short, I went to blow the dust off the max and just deal with manual bed leveling only to find the board failed and all steppers just lock up. So my question is is there an aftermarket board I can swap in that supports bed leveling mesh with the CR Touch. Bonus if it works with the stock ender screen and controls.

I’m tired of leveling my bed. Should I just upgrade to the auto bed leveling and direct drive unit so it’s easier to do TPU or should I just buy a whole new machine ? Who have upgraded their machine how hard was it and was it worth the time? In about how much US did you spend?

I've been meaning to get into 3D printing for two years. Last time I looked, the Ender 3 seemed like the obvious starting point. Now Bambu Lab is everywhere.

Is the ease-of-use difference actually that significant for a first-timer, or is an Ender still valid if you're willing to tinker?

I just want to print functional parts and hobby stuff - not looking for a project in itself.

I have been keeping an eye out and wanting a 3d printer for a few years and a ender 3 pro popped up for $20. Hell yeah. It even completed a print with the leftover filament it came with. This seems easy. I heard that this was a printer that would cause me to learn alot about printing. Perfect that is what I want right?

Since then I have had nothing but problems. I am a handyman and have extensive proffesional experience fixing things. I have a full shop of tools and I am being driven crazy by this small vindictive machine. I have not completed a single print since the first that i am convinced it only spat out to give me false hope. I have replaced everything from the cooling fans, Bowden tube, nozzle like a dozen times, heat break, thermal paste, bought new filament, new fittings, just ordered new thermister since the wire broke. I moved the printer from inside to the shop and then back inside for heat and humidity reasons. I have calibrated the feed gear. I have scraped and cleaned every nook and cranny. Still failure after failure.

I went in pretty blind and am learning a ton about 3d printing but it feels like dark souls. I just keep failing in new and exciting ways making the smallest of improvements. Whenever I do eventually succeed again I am sure I will feel a sense of accomplishment but so far in the journey it is just starting to be a expensive cheap item.

Also I used the help flair. That is more a state of being than a specific question I need help with.

I was printing a camera part, a rectangular extension tube with connecting arms, and it was looking pretty good when I checked this morning when I woke up. As I was sitting at this computer, I heard a noise that sounded like it came from outside the house and I got up to look, and then thought to check the printer. What I saw was that the Y axis had shifted by about 2 inches and it was now printing in mid-air. It hadn't even done one slice yet like this so I paused it to see if there is something I could do to correct it, but couldn't come up with anything. Does anybody know what I could've done?

I eventually just stopped it thinking I could salvage what I have, but then found that the supports were a mess, and supports are always a mess. I'm rethinking the design so maybe the arms are printed separately and attached, removing the need for the supports. For that matter the prototype for this was done this way but made out of spare parts from the original camera build. I wanted a clean piece. Maybe I'll just clean the prototype up and paint it black.

I feel like I've gone through every step, every manual, every forum, every post, and every mention of an Ender 3 Max Neo and cannot find the answers I am looking for. I recently shorted out the board for my Ender3 Max Neo and figured I could just replace the board. I attempted to use a Big Tree Tech board but it wouldn't communicate with my sonic pad so that one was no good. Then I got a 4.2.7 creality board and now I can't find the firmware for the printer. I am about ready to commit heinous war/hare crimes against this printer. All I want in this world is to get this printer working with my sonic pad. Please help.

I've finally decided to upgrade my stock Ender 3 Pro. Everything else works, but the BL Touch. I believe I just need to install firmware for it, but unaware were to get the firmware.

Issue

When attempting to go home or level the bed from the menu, since the Z-stop button is no longer there, it continues going down. I've hooked up the 3d touch using the 3/2 method (black + white to Z-stop and green, orange, yellow to the 5 pin connection). The 3d touch lights up but doesn't deploy. Also seemed to have messed up my hotend fan but that not the main issue.

Upgrade list

-SKR Mini E3 V3.0 (Motherboard)

-3d Touch (BL Touch copy)

-Creality Hotend Upgrade kit

-Glass Bed

-Metal Extruder

-Bowden tube

I recently switched to direct drive using the SpeedDriveV1. It’s honestly been a nightmare. I finally got it dialed in enough to get prints that aren’t failing. I am so close to getting good quality. Wondering what I can do to get a cleaner surface. I was getting beautiful prints before switching to direct drive and now I’m getting bumpy surfaces.

I’ve done a PID tune on the bed and the Nozzle.

I’ve calibrated E-Steps.

My bed is leveled well.

Brand new brass nozzle and Bowden tube.

I’m using PrusaSlicer.

Running Marlin 2.8.1

Mods I have installed: Spider Hotend v1, Yellow springs, Dual-Z axis, Z-stabilizers, SpeedDrivev1, Creality Original Flex Plate

Settings: 0.5 Retraction, Flow 0.9, 180-185 Nozzle Temp, 60 Bed Temp, 120 Travel Speed, Default Speed-Acceleration-Jerk