I have had a lot of people ask me lately if the Creality Ender 3 is still worth buying in 2020. The conversation usually begins by discussing the availability of the Ender 3 Pro and Ender 3 V2 and if Creality should even continue to sell the original. My short answer to them is, absolutely!
Why? Because the original Ender 3 is still a great machine and at the current sale price of $157, it’s a steal! Don’t get me wrong, I still own a Pro and a V2 but I got into this hobby because I am a Maker, a Tinkerer and the Ender 3 is this Tinkerer’s dream machine.
And yes, I know that I can go straight to a V2 for just $100 more. But, that’s not the point I am trying to make. As a tinkerer, even when I purchase a V2, I spend countless hours and dollars making and buying upgrades. From printing new upgrades like a Santana fan shroud or purchasing a Microswiss Direct Drive setup – maybe even increasing the build size with an Ender Extender kit. My point is, if I am going to upgrade the printer regardless, why not start from scratch with the least expensive option available?
That brings me to my latest project – taking an Ender 3 and making it the biggest, baddest machine possible. As I work through this project, I’ll be posting each upgrade as I complete it. In the end, I’ll compare my modified Ender 3 to the mostly stock Pro and V2 printers in my collection. Stay tuned!
