The Moisaic Palette 3 is the simplest way to upgrade the Ender 3 with a dual extruder solution without pulling your Ender 3 apart in the process. The best part: you don’t have to actively modify your printer to get multi-color and multi-filament printing.

The BigTreeTech SKR Mini V3.0 Mainboard stands next to Creality’s own option as one of the best ways to upgrade the Ender 3 controller board.The difference between a direct drive and a Bowden extruder (Bowden drive) is all about the placement of the extruder assembly in relation to the 3D printer’s hot end. Moreover, a direct drive system features the extruder placed directly above the hot end, while a Bowden extruder setup has the extruder separated from the hot end, with a PTFE tube (AKA a Bowden tube) connecting the two entities. A common manifestation of a Bowden system struggling with materials other than PLA and ABS is excessive oozing and stringing, the latter producing wispy strands of filament on prints, which require substantial post-processing. To disassemble the old extruder from the X-axis, you must first remove the toothed belt tensioner on the right side. As stringing is linked to the behavior of melted plastic, filaments that print at higher temperatures are more susceptible.

The hot end also benefits you by removing the notoriously unreliable internal PTFE tubing on the Ender 3, which reduces maintenance needs and improves overall retraction thanks to a smoother inner surface. If you don’t have the original tools that came with your printer, just make sure you have a full set of Allen keys, the two-sided spanner wrench for the Ender 3, and a pair of pliers, just in case. Alternative: All-in-One Printhead However tempting it may be to save money by buying cheap filament, we recommend spending a little more on a proven, quality brand. Though present, these issues can largely be sidestepped with correct slicer settings and printer tuning. But, direct drive printers don’t offer the same quality at higher speeds as Bowden extruders. Extrusion

Manual leveling adds extra time, hassle, and generally having auto-leveling improves your 3D printing experience. Having to manually re-level your printer every few prints is an annoyance, and human error can affect prints. In most cases, the retraction extra prime amount is best left at its default settings of 0 as it tends to leave blemishes and blobs on your prints when the retraction speed and distance are set correctly. Retraction Minimum Travel A Bowden extruder setup is typically less expensive than a direct drive system because direct drive extruders need to be lightweight so that they don’t limit the print speed of the 3D printer. That’s why you see a lot of budget 3D printers, like the Creality Ender 3, use Bowden extruders and not direct drive extruders. And that’s it! You’ve successfully upgraded your Ender 3 (Pro/V2) to direct drive extrusion! Now you can peacefully print flexibles and benefit from accurate extrusion. Direct Drive VS Bowden Extruder

It also pops up in gaps (or open air) between two separate vertical parts of a print or any area where no active printing (or deposition) happens. Because the machine is open-source and has a large community following, there are tons of available modifications and upgrades for the Ender 3 and its offspring, like the Ender 3 Pro and Ender 3 V2. It’s directly related to retraction distance: how fast the defined length of filament travels when retracted. Higher speeds reduce stringing because the filament is whipped up into the nozzle before stringing can occur. This premium kit delivers a superb extruder grip on the filament, leading to precise control, responsive retractions, and near-flawless print quality. In a direct drive system, the extruder is attached to the print head assembly and feeds filament directly into the hot end, hence the name ‘direct’.We recommend dropping it down to around 25 to 30 mm/s for the best results, as the slower speed allows the filament to create a much stronger and more durable bond to the bed and between those first few layers. Direct drive recommendations: The write up recommends some of the best direct drive kits and DIY solutions, such as the E3D Hemera, the Micro Swiss Direct Drive Kit, and the Petsfang Direct Drive.