Comparing the Ender 3 and Ender 3 Pro: A Guide for New FDM Printing Enthusiasts

Dear reader,

As someone new to the wonderful world of desktop 3D printing using fused filament fabrication (FDM) technology, you likely have many questions. Questions which models to consider, what key features matter most, where the differences lie in all the specs and terminology being thrown around. Not to worry! In this beginner-friendly guide, I‘ll provide all the details you need to decide whether the widely-popular Ender 3 or the upgraded Ender 3 Pro best fits your needs and budget as you embark on your 3D printing journey.

The Rising Prominence of Desktop FDM Printing

But first, what has driven the rapid adoption of compact FDM printers like those in the Ender series? In short – customization and creativity! Previously constrained to bulky, expensive industrial equipment, recent engineering breakthroughs have shrunk extrusion-based devices down to desktop scale while keeping costs affordable.

This has enabled a creative explosion – designers and makers are now able to turn digital files into physical objects with ease right in their own homes. No longer just conceptual, their wildest ideas can now be prototyped and iterated upon at unmatched speeds.

Creality, founded only in 2014, rode this wave early on. Their Ender model 3D printers have earned massive popularity as the "go-to" budget option. To date, over 1.6 million Ender 3 units have been sold globally, accounting for a sizable chunk of the ~5 million consumer/desktop 3D printers in operation worldwide.

How FDM/FFF Printing Works

But how exactly does extrusion-based 3D printing function? Here‘s a quick step-by-step:

First, plastic filament, usually ABS or PLA material, is fed into a heated nozzle assembly called an extruder hotend. This melts the material which can then be precisely "extruded" onto the print bed below.

Motors then move the extruder around the X and Y axes to fill each layer of the object per the digital design file‘s instructions. The print bed lowers and the next layer is added until eventually a complete 3D model is formed!

While very affordable and accessible, understand that FDM does have some drawbacks versus other printing methods like stereolithography (SLA), Multi-Jet Fusion (MJF) and more when it comes to certain metrics like precision and surface finish. For most hobbyists, though, FDM strikes the ideal balance of cost, customization and capability.

Breaking Down the Build Volume Specs

Now, onto the Ender 3 variants themselves! Given these machines are designed for desktop use, overall size and build volumes are constrained relative to their industrial-grade siblings. Both models offer identical 220 x 220 x 250 mm maximum print dimensions.

What does this cubic area enable you to create? While you won‘t be printing full-scale props or costumes in one go, it‘s still sufficient for a diverse range of applications – figures, busts, cosplay armor pieces, gadgets, household items, board game terrain, DIY parts and educational projects. Larger prints can also be broken into components and assembled post-production if needed.

Outside of build area, footprint and weights are nearly the same as well at ~410 x 410 x 465 mm and ~8-10 kg respectively. No major differences dimensionally. Much of the magic (and confusion) lies in the electronics. Let‘s move onto those next…

Feature Comparison – Where the Differences Emerge

Indeed, while remaining Constraints may apply on the build envelope, there‘s near infinite room for customization among the actuators and electronics with upgrades and tweaks. Out of the box though, here‘s how the Ender 3 and Ender 3 Pro compare feature-wise:

As shown above, out-of-the-box the printers share more commonalities in their extruders, hotends, kinematics and electronics. Where key differentiators emerge lie in the build surface materials, power delivery and physical layout.

Build Surfaces – Enabling "Sticktion"

A common upgrade path for users concerns build plate adhesives. The Ender 3 originally uses BuildTak-style sticker sheets. While decent, prints adhere too stubbornly for easy removal. The Ender 3 Pro thankfully incorporates a flexible spring steel sheet coated in magnetic PEI instead. This offers the same tackiness when hot, but pops off cleanly post-print once cooled.

Power and Noise – The Heart and Lungs

The Ender 3 Pro also benefits from a higher-grade MeanWell 24V 300W power supply versus the generic lower-rated unit in the base Ender 3. Reliable power delivery prevents frustrating shut-downs mid-print. Fan noise is also reduced thanks to a relocated control board fan.

Physical Layout – Preventing the Pitfalls

Subtle design tweaks like re-positioning the mainboard fan to the bottom reduce risks of loose filament strands falling onto electronics. Small updates, but important for durability!

Upgrades Roundup – Where the Magic Happens

Between build surface sheets, sound-dampening mods, clog sensors and more, the possible upgrades for Ender 3 series printers seem endless. When asked what their "must-have" mods are, here is what two experienced users had to say:

"The single best bang for buck upgrade is still replacing the mainboard with a 32-bit silent board. The TMC drivers give you super quiet steppers and much better transmission of signals. Pair this with some TL smoothers to reduce motor noise spikes and vibrations and you‘ve got an infinitely more pleasant machine to be around!"

– Bradley S. (Ender 3 Pro User, 12+ Upgrades)

"I refused to keep re-leveling manually given how frequently it goes out of whack. Splurged on a BLTouch auto-leveler after way too many failed first layers and it‘s been paying dividends ever since in time savings and better, more consistent bottom finishes. Expensive but worthwhile!"

– Leslie C. (Original Ender 3 Owner, 8+ Mods)

Given long-term owners advise focusing early upgrades on the mainboard and bed leveling, it seems Creality was prescient with the Ender 3 Pro changes!

Sample Use Cases – Pushing the Boundaries

So what have Ender 3 series owners actually created given a roughly 8.5 inch cubed build area?

Custom cosplay armor & helmet components are particularly popular. Sections printed at a time then assembled and finished with body filler, sanding and paint. A 250-300 hour Iron Man suit project has been done!

For miniatures fans and tabletop gamers, affordable and intricate custom sculpts as well as quick batch production of game pieces and architectural terrain are common. Detailed busts at 6 inches tall generally complete in under 2 days.

When it comes to more functional repairs and household items, oven knobs, cabinet hinges, brush holders and specialized tools top the list of handy prints. Scaled RC crawler chassis and flexible O-rings demonstrate the material versatility too.

While tiny compared to industrial equipment, the Ender series build capacity empowers impressive creativity!

Guidance for New Owners – Avoiding Pitfalls

If the Ender 3 or 3 Pro does become your first step into 3D printing, remember – patience and persistence pay off! Here are some top lessons learned from the community:

• Don‘t expect perfect prints immediately. Take time tuning settings. Tiny tweaks make big differences!
• Print some early upgrades for the machine itself before personal projects
• Quality filament is worth the few extra dollars. Cheap stuff gunks things up.
• Embrace the tinkering mindset rather than just "push-button" expectations
• Finding local makerspaces or classes accelerates the learning curve

While their sheer customization and community are huge assets, Ender printers do require more initial effort than consumer-grade plug & play devices. But in overcoming that brief learning period, a world of creative potential awaits!

The Verdict – My Recommendation to You

When it comes to striking that coveted balance of printer capability versus dollar investment as a novice, the Ender 3 series remains virtually unrivaled even today.

The base Ender 3 retains tremendous value as an entry point. However, for only ~$30 more, the Ender 3 Pro bumps you notably up the quality scale. Its upgrades directly target common short-term pain points like print adhesion and power stability. This helps new owners better ease into worrying less about the printer itself and focusing more on designing awesome stuff!

In closing, while no device is fully perfect out-of-box at this price point, I wholeheartedly recommend the Ender 3 Pro as the ideal starter model as you embark on your 3D printing adventure. Welcome to this wonderfully rewarding hobby and creative outlet!

Let the good times and prints roll 🙂

Sincerely,
[Your Name]