Reddit reviews Upgrade 3D Printer Parts MK8 Extruder Aluminum Alloy Block Bowden Extruder 1.75mm Filament for Creality 3D Ender 3,CR-7,CR-8, CR-10, CR-10S, CR-10 S4, and CR-10 S5

I have 22 spools of filament lying about and 4 more arriving today. Of those I think 6 of them are Solutech. While I have some problems with the color in a couple of cases, I've never had any issues with getting them to print. Only filament I have that prints better is the Amolen stuff, but it's expensive.

Your under extrusion issue is one that I've been fighting for two months now. I would get a couple of good prints, then would load a different filament and get the under extruded layers that look just like the ones you're getting. Finally got to the bottom of the problem a couple of days ago.

Try this as an experiment. Pick out a model with a large flat surface like this and print it with a raft. If you're having the issue I was then you'll see diagonal bands of under extrusion, with the bands getting wider as you print larger parts.

I discovered that there was a lot of play in the spring that applies tension to the extruder pinion and when I changed filaments it would change position. No amount of adjustment to the screw that holds it would give me consistent results. I installed this improved all metal version of the extruder from Creality and those went away entirely. Print quality now is at least as good, and maybe better, than I'm getting off of my Tornado and that's saying a lot.

Project for the holiday weekend is to install the BLTouch, and I'll probably swap the extruder out again for the same Titan clone that my Tornado has. If that didn't require a firmware change I probably would have installed it instead of the Creality one. I like the Titan design a lot better.

Good luck and have a wonderful holiday!

as someone brand new to 3d printing--

I just bought an ender 3 last week... I hear a glass bed and aluminum nozzle are crucial upgrades.. Looks like a couple third party ones are discounted for prime day-- are any of them worth while? Is there a difference?

https://www.amazon.com/Sovol-Creality-Replacement-Extruder-Aluminum/dp/B07KSS8FRQ/ref=sr_1_16?keywords=ender+3&psr=PDAY&qid=1563208182&s=prime-day&sr=1-16#customerReviews

https://www.amazon.com/3D-Extruder-Aluminum-Filament-Creality/dp/B07B96QMN2?tag=slicinc-20&ascsubtag=e4bbd68ca71e11e9b248d2e5958396b20INT

https://www.amazon.com/Extruder-Upgraded-Replacement-Aluminum-Filament/dp/B07NVBYKTY/ref=sr_1_22_sspa?keywords=ender+3&psr=PDAY&qid=1563208182&s=prime-day&sr=1-22-spons&psc=1#customerReviews

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https://www.amazon.com/DIYE-Premium-Printer-Borosilicate-Creality/dp/B07NDJTV3V/ref=sr_1_17?keywords=ender+3&psr=PDAY&qid=1563208182&s=prime-day&sr=1-17

https://www.amazon.com/CHPOWER-Creality-Platform-Upgraded-235x235MM/dp/B07GL2NMV5?tag=slicinc-20&ascsubtag=e135e994a71e11e9b972a6226f9167e90INT

I got my Ender 3 Pro about a month ago, performed some upgrades and ran into a few problems, but with some weird caveates.



I'm trying to print multiple miniatures on a single print, but seem to be getting a lot of oozing or stringing issues, but when I test with retraction tests, the test comes out perfect with identical settings. Additionally, when googling around, I couldn't find anything except for potentially a nozzle clog or potentially hydrated filament (possible, I'll test this later)

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I've tested a few other prints as well, a benchy and a testcube, they print fine. Really curious about what's going on. Do I need to spread the prints out more, use different settings, or is it more of a mechanical issue?

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I'd appreciate any help you guys have to recommend!

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So, lets get down to it:

Printer: Creality Ender 3 Pro

Surface: Creality Glass surface

Upgrades: Aluminum extruder upgrade

Capricorn Tubing

New bed springs



In addition to these, I've tightened the X and Y bolts on the runners to reduce wobble -- there's no more wobble, maybe they're too tight? I don't think so, I've had good prints with these settings, but not with a few things.



Settings:

Basically the same as the "normal" settings for the Ender 3 on Cura 4.0.0

But in addition: (And what I think may be important is bolded)

adhesion_type = raft

layer_height = 0.12

support_tree_enable = True

support_type = buildplate

brim_outside_only = False

fill_outline_gaps = True

infill_pattern = cubic

infill_sparse_density = 25

material_final_print_temperature = 180

material_initial_print_temperature = 180

material_print_temperature = 185

optimize_wall_printing_order = True

raft_margin = 10

retraction_amount = 7.5

retraction_speed = 20

speed_print = 30

support_angle = 40

support_conical_enabled = True

support_infill_rate = 50

support_interface_enable = True

support_pattern = lines

** NOTE ** Standard supports are turned off, I'm using the tree supports

support_tree_collision_resolution = 0.15

travel_avoid_supports = True

travel_compensate_overlapping_walls_enabled = False

wall_thickness = 1.2

Underextrusion. I had that same issue until I upgraded to an all metal extruder and calibrated my extruder.

Two things I would I highly recommend is to get a new extruder assembly and a new Bowden tube. I've had similar issues and they went away as soon as I changed these parts out.

Upgrade 3D Printer Parts MK8 Extruder Aluminum Alloy Block Bowden Extruder 1.75mm Filament for Creality 3D Ender 3,CR-7,CR-8, CR-10, CR-10S, CR-10 S4, and CR-10 S5 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B96QMN2/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_i_6tWTDb1JYN38X

Capricorn Bowden PTFE Tubing XS Series 1 Meter for 1.75mm Filament (Genuine Capricorn Premium Tubing) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079P92HN9/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_i_vvWTDbKY7ZVTY

These or any other should work

So far I’ve added
A MK8 aluminum extruder (amazon )
Aokin PTFE tube w/ fittings (amazon )
A printed Fan Cover (thingiverse )
Cable clips (thingiverse )
Tool holders (thingiverse
Z axis motor spacings were the first print too. (thingiverse )

You've absolutely chosen a perfectly good printer. The Pro is just sold with a few conveniences, nothing that will really change print quality and nothing that you can't make better yourself in the long-term.

I will be honest with you. There will be frustrating times ahead. Times when it feels like the bed won't level no matter what you do, when prints won't come out how you like them, when parts fail, etc. And that happens, and it's usually a good time to step away from it for a few days. Don't be discouraged!

Here's some planning ahead advice:

The Bowden Tube couplers that come stock are terrible. Absolutely terrible. They barely hold the tubes in and need plastic clips to function. Grab some replacements early. You may not need a 20 pack, but something in this vein.

The insulation on the heating block (yellow insulation cotton held on with tape) is a bit of a pain. Mine came off just by holding the heat block to change the nozzle. Some silicon socks are cheap as dirt and are easy to take on/off when you need to mess with the hotend.

If an electronic part fails (one of the fans, for example) and you don't want to go out and buy a soldering iron, solder sleeves are a quick and easy alternative.

And finally, the plastic extruder (the place where you feed the filament in) will 100% break. That is a promise. Save yourself some trouble and pick up a metal extruder to give you some peace of mind.

Keep in mind, these are absolutely not things that you need to go out and purchase right now, this is just some fixes to common problems you can reference should one of these issues crop up. You're entirely ready to print right out of the box!

Before you do anything else, order a new extruder kit like this one: https://www.amazon.com/3D-Extruder-Aluminum-Filament-Creality/dp/B07B96QMN2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1537687003&sr=8-3&keywords=ender+3+extruder&dpID=517S8mUQW-L&preST=_SX342_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

the spring that comes with the printer is weak and even if it's not causing a problem now, it will before too long. Plus the stock arm tends to bind up, also causing under extrusion. after that's installed, then calibrate the printer.

Not endorsing this specific seller, but this is the part:

Upgrade 3D Printer Parts MK8 Extruder Aluminum Alloy Block Bowden Extruder 1.75mm Filament for Creality 3D Ender 3,CR-7,CR-8, CR-10, CR-10S, CR-10 S4, and CR-10 S5 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B96QMN2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_sWAoDbM7TR505

Just search for Ender 3 extruder upgrade.

I have 3 Creality printers and fought this twice. On the third I just installed this aluminum extruder on day one and never had the issue.

The creality plastic extruder loses grip strength very quickly over time. This is the best $15 you can spend!

here you go

Extruder: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07B96QMN2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
you can probably find it cheaper elsewhere.


Micro Swiss hotend: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07NDL3PNX/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Got my printer in Jan, so still pretty new. I started having the same issue after doing a really long print. After messing with it for a few days and not getting anywhere I ended up replacing the entire extruder block with an all metal one. (
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07B96QMN2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

I feel like getting that gear off is going to be important, not sure i can give any advice as to how to get that off the motor shaft, but you will need to remove the gear to replace the block.

Here's the extruder I bought

And here's the bowden tubing and connectors

There's a lot of similar items on Amazon that will work; I just personally went after the popular ones with the highest reviews

Also, if you get the tubing, don't forget to get cutters if you don't have any already

Here's the aluminum extruder assembly. The plastic one that comes on the printer WILL break. It's just a matter of time. They crack from stress after a while and even before that they creep and you'll start getting missed extrusion.

Here's the stiffer bed springs. You won't have to compress these as much to get a good stiffness.

Another really popular upgrade is this glass build plate. It has a special coating that makes it so parts stick without adhesive, and it leaves a really smooth surface on your prints. Parts stick really well then when it cools down they self-release.

The 3 upgrades I linked are extremely popular upgrades. You can get by without the glass bed, it's just an option because the stock bed will wear out eventually.

I had the exact same problem with mine as well. Swapped out to an all metal extruded with a stronger spring.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B96QMN2

Would you recommend getting the upgraded aluminum extruder parts (like this one)? And could you explain what you mean by "spring tensioners"?

Get a all metal extruder top like this: https://smile.amazon.com/3D-Extruder-Aluminum-Filament-Creality/dp/B07B96QMN2

If you don't mind spending, consider just moving over to a direct drive setup like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omXgJT5V0D4

I have this one:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B96QMN2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_xMgsDbWPWZ891

The spring that came with it was too weak and so filament was slipping.

Here's the extruder: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B96QMN2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_uSFjDbRH4ZQE4

Here's the springs: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GXC1G2B/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_DTFjDb1KAPZ15

There's tons more. All you need to do is search Amazon. Glad I could help.