3D Printing Forum - Recent Threads

I am thinking to buy a 3d printer but my budget hangs around 200 dollars, i am a student and need it for small non-comlex designs

Aniket_kumar_raj — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 11:16:06 GMT

Any idea ,something which i can use for a long time

Experience with custom 3D-printed Raspberry Pi cases?

lichurbagan — Sat, 27 Dec 2025 07:12:59 GMT

I want a custom Raspberry Pi case. I found this open-source case design: https://github.com/marceloeatworld/OpenPiCase Has anyone used a service or printed open-source designs themselves? Any tips for modifying designs for Pi 4 or Pi 5?

I have an Ender 3 V2, but my bed and hotend temps sit prrox 15c higher than ambient... then dont heat

lethal350 — Sun, 09 Nov 2025 05:12:27 GMT

Hi all,

Im outta ideas trying to do this myself. So i hope someone can help./

I have a Ender 3 V2, well it was. Runs a SKR V3 Mini, Pi4 running Klipper, All metal hotend, Dual geqar extruder, plus a multiude of "self print" upgrades and a bunch of software and gadet upgrades.

I have basically replaced every wire on thje machone at one tim or another.

The other day my board crashed "Solid Red light" and no response(?) are cooked. I copuld work around it it just makes alot of noise like original.

But then sees died again, but still with most kmovement

I do notice that bothe the Bed and Hotend temps register around 40c and its about 25c inside here. Klipper is throughing a heatr error, but i cant seem to work out why...

Anyone help??

What is the best inexpensive metal 3D printer

Graffiti2graphics — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 02:22:33 GMT

What is a good carbon fiber 3D printer, in the North American market. Whom makes a good metal based 3D printer. Where to purchase a good carbon fiber 3D printer.

Ender 3 V2 rotary encoder issues

rsjawale24 — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 17:33:56 GMT

It's been 3 years since I bought my first 3D printer - Ender 3 V2. For the last 1 year, I didn't use it much and started using it again recently.

This time when I started the printer, I noticed that the rotary knob on the display unit is not following the proper steps. It randomly goes up and down the menu items even if I rotate it in one direction.

I'm not sure if the rotary encoder has gone bad or some other component on the PCB. I tried resetting the printer but still the issue persists.

Anybody has faced similar issues with ender3 printers?

ender 3 pro firmware

pmprusty — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 22:11:04 GMT

after 3 days I'm getting desperate. i have an ender 3 pro with the 4.2.2 board and the chip is marked as gd. i have been trying to install firmware nor sure which one. ever time i get success I'm told to delete the bin file. when i insert the sd card (tf) with a gcode on it. i am met with the blue screen. do i need all the other files on the ender 3 sd card to have a directory

A nice to know, if you are 3D printing.

colporteur — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 02:06:57 GMT

What is your 3D printing tip, trick or trap?

A friend of mine purchased a BIBO 3D printer three years ago. It stayed in the box until recently. The printer is now on my office floor as I learn to 3D print. A FREE 3D PRINTER YES!

Like all technology paths, with experience life becomes easier and without the experience, the response “I wish I had known that!” is common. I recently discovered glue sticks make a difference and the right glue stick even more.

I’m looking for tips, tricks, and traps E14 members have learned on their 3D printing journey. Maybe you have a tool that is indispensable for rooting out those support structures. I’ve cut my thumb once trying to clear a support structure and want to avoid that in the future. Do you have something, I would like to know about it?

I’m using Ultimaker Cura as slicer software and have started down the path of learning FreeCAD. I have created a few models in the CAD software and successfully printed them to solve problems I used to do in wood and metal. This has motivated me to continue.

If your suggestion is to throw the free 3D printer I have in the garbage because: 1) the manufacture has gone out of business: 2) newer printers do much more 3D heavy lifting than the dinosaur I have, don’t bother. I’m looking to tap into community experience without having to invest in cut thumb failures to learn it.

Which 3D Printing file format should I choose?

HKPhysicist — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 15:17:02 GMT

Hello Friends,

I am planning to hire a graphic designer to design an enclosure for my new battery temperature monitor.

Then, I will take the design file to a friend`s laboratory and print the enclosure.

As I am new to 3D printing, here are my questions:

Which file format should I choose so that it can be printed across most 3D printers?
Which material (plastic?) should I choose for my enclosure so that it can be considered robust, good looking and commercial grade?

Please give your opinions. 🙃

Ender printer upgrades

Umuju — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 14:24:45 GMT

I’ve been printing for several years now and am constantly trying learn more and improve my quality and speed. I have owned Qidi, Creality, Anycubic, and Bambu printers and done basic maintanence repairs to complete rebuilds on some of them. My two E3pro printers are my most reliable workhorses as they have been giving consistent prints for a couple years although they max at around 60-80mm/sec for quality prints of PLA. They have stock marlin firmware, dual Z, 4.2.7 boards, and one has a BLTouch and Bowden tube setup, the other is using a sprite pro extruder without auto leveling. I was able to get a couple E5+ printers at a steal knowing they would take some work to get going and was able to make my money back on selling the one that I kept stock but got running well. The one I kept has a silent 4.2.2 board and a Biqu H2 extruder. I’m waiting on the delivery of a sonic pad to convert the printer over to kipper. I know that I will get better speed and higher quality prints from this upgrade, but am curious if further tinkering would be worth the effort. I figured I would start up a discussion to see how many on here have done similar upgrades and see what kind of improvements can be gained to gauge how much further I take these printers instead of just selling and purchasing more of the newer technologies.

Ender 3 pro enclosure recommend

Hanhanna — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 11:20:29 GMT

Hi, I have an Ender-3 pro with the Sprite extruder, I want to buy an enclosure.

Is there an enclosure recommended?

How to find the wire combinations in a nema 17 stepper motor with six wires?

vami — Thu, 02 May 2024 19:25:08 GMT

I am making an open source 3d printer as my minor project for college but i am stuck as my motors are not functioning properly, either they are just vibrating at their place or not working at all. I am using Nema 17 motors with A4998 stepper driver and Aurdino Mega 2560. I googled how to know the correct Tx and Rx terminals, as I thought it was problem, but now my motor is not functioning at all when i run it individually with the Arduino, power supply and stepper driver. Can you please tell me how I should get my motors to run?

Also the motors are local and so are most of the components.

Ender 3 pro

Jokerschild666 — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 22:21:36 GMT

I have had my ender for about a year now and I just replaced the z motor on it the wires are good but when I try to home the motor just humms and doesn't move then a home error shows on screen and says reset printer is it a software issue help

What Type of 3D Printing Filament Material Do You Use?

rscasny — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 22:30:31 GMT

[Please visit the site to access the poll]

Printing issues with silk PLA

jamess2345 — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 22:56:59 GMT

I have an ender 3 and recently tried to run some silk PLA. I ran into issues with the print stopping part way through the print. It acted like it had a clog. But I could pull the PLA back and then it would move through the orifice when moving the axis. I tried different temperatures and retract settings. Has anyone had issues running silk PLA? If so were there special settings that had to be used? I appreciate your help;.

Ender 3 pro how to stop lifting prints and clogging.

Hfbhfb — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 20:12:39 GMT

I have been gifted an Ender 3 Pro for my art department. I’m completely new to 3D printing so having to learn from scratch, so please bear with me.

I tried one print and had some success but the first layer was a little rough. But every print since then hasn’t stuck to the plate. It will outline initially but then it starts pulling up. I read about levelling the bed so I have done this, then I also tried to upping the temperature of the first layer to see if it helped stick. But no joy. I seem to get an outline which lifts and then when it goes to print it clogs/ lifts and never settles. I’ve tried increasing/ decreasing the gap. But it doesn’t seem to help. Any advice would be really appreciated as I’m just stuck and frustrated! Thank you!

Ender 3 pro

Tattooscott — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 04:50:28 GMT

I just bought an ender 3 pro. And some people say u need a certain computer. Can u use a chrome book? Mac? Or u need a regular laptop. Like a dell. Or something. Im new to this. Thanks for the help

Ender 3 extruder randomly running backwards at the beginning of print

nowhere2194 — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 03:29:41 GMT

I have an ender 3 that sometimes will just randomly pull all the filament out at the beginning of the print. I have been just stopping the print, resetting the filament, and restarted the print and it works fine. what could be going wrong? any ideas

What is the best 3D printer for under 200 USD?

DeltaPi — Tue, 06 Jun 2023 21:59:24 GMT

Hello, I have recently been looking into getting a 3d printer for hobby engineering projects but am unsure of which printer is the best for my needs. My budget is 200 USD (+-

Qualities most important to me are:

1. Able to print strong sunlight resistant materials, so maybe needs a heated bed? (for PETG and ground up carbon fiber)

2. decent volume size (200x200mm?)

3. Good print quality

4. Quick-ish printer (no more than two days for one print)

I don't mind having to put together the printer, but don't want to have to deal with a lot of print problems after I get the print settings figured out. If there is any printer in my budget range close to these perimeters, please let me know. (My needs might be too much for under 200 USD)

Thanks, - Delta Pi

Ender 3 Pro continual issues after initial successful prints - Updated

opalko — Sun, 14 May 2023 21:48:28 GMT

Hi folks, I have an Ender 3 Pro that I bought about a month ago. Stock machine. I have successfully printed using PLA and PETG filament initially. I am using stock settings for PLA and PETG in Cura on a Linux machine for slicing.

The last thing I printed was a case, in PLA, for a transistor tester, one of those cheapee ones that work well. The outside of the case printed fine but the screw holders on the inside were a loose nest of filament that had no cohesion. They would just snap off with the touch of the finger. It would never hold screws. So I tried printing the lower half again. This time the bottom layer did not even go down well. Tried again. This time even worse!

Ok after consulting different forums, I was first told my extrusion temp was too low - stock Cura setting is 200. I bumped it 210. Nope. Then I was told to clean the extruder nozzle, which I did. Nope. Then I was told to check the z step. So I went through the process of calculating that and adjusted it. No difference.

At this point I started over. I

- leveled bed again (still didn't work)

- cleaned nozzle again (still didn't work)

- tried different extraction settings (on/off, speed etc) (still didn't work)

Today I went back to the default settings and tried printing it one more time (and then a second and third attempt..). Now the skirt won't even lay down properly. Any guidance for what is going on or where to start (again) with this? I keep the PLA and PETG in the foil pouches they came in with dessicant but I don't have a dryer or use the oven before printing.

Here is a link to the photo album of first good prints and then the degradation over time to the last picture which is from today of the bottom of the tester case I am trying to print again.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/PmBKJQojMPebxnpJ8

Thanks

Robert Opalko

Ender 3 Pro

02Kitch — Wed, 12 Apr 2023 09:01:08 GMT

So tired of screwing around with this printer. First off, head was rubbish, so new head, head better.

blow head element, get new element, goes after 2 weeks, replace again.

figure the new E3 board, NFG myself of the repair guy cant find firmware. get the shits.

buy a 4.2.7 board, install, X axis not triggering switch, check all wiring, all is ok. showing ender 3 not pro, go to upgrade, find file, no luck installing through usb slot.

turning into 1 *** way to pass my time and to make broken things.

Zoom view in Cura ?

ntewinkel — Tue, 21 Feb 2023 21:30:31 GMT

Silly question...

Is there a way to zoom into the "prepare" view in Cura?
Specifically, I'm using Ultimaker Cura on a Mac.

I'm printing some tiny parts for lego figures, and I would like to see things a bit closer to make sure all is set up correctly.

I don't see any options in the menus (but I might be looking right past them, wouldn't be the first time 🙄)
And the usual Mac-type pinch zoom, or mouse double-click, or click drag, does nothing.

Thanks!
-Nico

What 3D Printer Accessories Do You Wish You Had in Your Tool Cabinet?

rscasny — Thu, 09 Feb 2023 22:03:49 GMT

So you purchased a 3D printer for your project-builds, prototypes, and repair jobs. That's usually the big investment when it comes to these kind of design and build tasks. But what about accessories like filaments, printer cores, resin, maintenance kits, adhesion sheets, and more. What kinds of tools and accessories for your 3D printer do you wished you had but don't have in your tool cabinet? Tell us about it.

Is this the sound of a dead linear bearing?

baldengineer — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 19:20:23 GMT

This video is from a Prusa MK3. It used to be intermittent. But now, whenever the y-axis moves, it makes this zip-tie noise.

I think the source is this bearing, but the high-pitched sound makes it difficult for me to localize.

Does it sound like a dead bearing to you?

community.element14.com/.../ded-bearing.mp4

What's the important point for a 3d printer beginner

Downdy — Thu, 10 Nov 2022 07:01:43 GMT

As a beginner, when you prepare to get a new printer, what's the key point, speed? core xy? Marlin or klipper? price?

I want to learn to 3D printer and to have it as a hobby I do in joy it

Adding supports in 3D prints

rsjawale24 — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 10:10:28 GMT

I'm still new to 3D printing and I need a little help for adding supports in my 3D models.

I was trying to print a model which has some hanging (in the air) parts that do not have any contact with the base plate.

Now I know for such cases one needs to generate support to support the overhangs. I have been using the support generator in Ultimaker Cura but recently when I did that for a 3D model,

there were supports everywhere around the printed model and it was extremely difficult to break the supports and get the model. Some of the model was surrounded by support material from all side.

(Imagine a cylindrical shaped support and the model is inside the support). How do I get the model out of this support?

Is there any other method for generating support to prevent such a situation? I would also like to know what methods do you use for support generation in your 3D model.