<h1 id="my-new-3d-printer---impressions-of-the-creality-ender-3">My new 3D printer - impressions of the Creality Ender 3</h1>
<h2 id="introduction">Introduction</h2>
<p>I have been thinking of buying a 3D printer for a year or so. I had thought of getting a <a href="https://www.prusaprinters.org/prusa-i3/" title="Prusa i3 MK3">Prusa i3 MK3</a> in kit form, but although it's cheaper than the built form this printer is not cheap, and I doubted my ability to build it. I was also unsure whether there was a real need for the capabilities of a 3D printer in my life, and whether such a purchase was justified.</p>
<p>I had noticed the Chinese <a href="https://www.creality3d.cn/creality-cr-10-3d-printer-p00096p1.html" title="Creality CR10">Creality CR10</a> printer in the recent past, and wondered about buying one of these at about half the price of the Prusa. This is a good-sized printer which comes fully-assembled as I understand, and it has had many good reviews.</p>
<p>When the <a href="https://www.creality3d.cn/creality-ender-3-3d-printer-p00095p1.html" title="Creality Ender 3">Creality Ender 3</a> was released in April 2018 for around half the price of the CR10 it looked worth the risk to see if I really needed a 3D printer. So I bought one (from Amazon) in June.</p>
<p>As I write this (2018-06-10) it's been less than a week since it was delivered, so this is a very preliminary look at the printer.</p>
<h2 id="long-notes">Long notes</h2>
<p>For the rest of the notes for this episode <a href="https://hackerpublicradio.org/eps/hpr2581/full_shownotes.html">look here</a>.</p>
<h2 id="links">Links</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3D_printing">Wikipedia definition of 3D printing</a></li>
<li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowden_extruder">Wikipedia article on the <em>Bowden extruder</em></a></li>
<li>Printers mentioned:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.prusaprinters.org/prusa-i3/">Prusa i3 MK3</a></li>
<li>Creality CR10
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.creality3d.cn/creality-cr-10-3d-printer-p00096p1.html">Website</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.banggood.com/DIY-Creality-CR-10-3D-Printer-300300400mm-Printing-Size-1_75mm-0_4mm-Nozzle-p-1085645.html?cur_warehouse=USA">Buy on Banggood</a></li>
</ul></li>
<li>Creality Ender 3
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.creality3d.cn/creality-ender-3-3d-printer-p00095p1.html">Website</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.banggood.com/Creality-3D-Ender-3-V-slot-Prusa-I3-DIY-3D-Printer-Kit-220x220x250mm-Printing-Size-p-1278399.html?cur_warehouse=CN">Buy on Banggood</a></li>
<li><a href="https://all3dp.com/1/creality-ender-3-3d-printer-review/">All3DP Review</a></li>
</ul></li>
</ul></li>
<li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DIN_rail">Wikipedia article on DIN Rails</a></li>
<li>Thingiverse items:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2874536">Ender 3 bed levelling GCode</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2610621/files">DIN Rail fittings</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.thingiverse.com/3DMakerFun/collections/creality-3d-ender-3-upgrades">Printable upgrades for the Ender 3</a></li>
</ul></li>
</ul>
