What arrived today?

[Coyote]

Treated myself to a Creality Ender 5 after my CTC again destroyed its own motherboard while printing.



The kit looks really well made, I've ordered some modified parts to bolt to it while I build it including BLTouch self bed leveling, Capricorn PTFE tubing to replace the bowden tube already on it, stepper TL smoother boards.

Also bought some PETG to give that a try with it as ABS is sooo last year apparently :)

The CTC ( RIP ) I still have plans for, I think I will replace the board eventually and maybe strap a laser or a drill to it but seems a bit small for CNC work.

[ched]

Let us know how you get on with the printer.

[Coyote]

This printer so far is very impressive. I'm so glad I went with the Bltouch auto bed level sensor, the first layer is brilliant although getting it to work took several firmware versions eventually settling on TH3D. The first layers are the best I've ever seen. Fairly quiet, sturdy, well made, wires too short and terrible cable system in general. I'll be printing some track system to neaten / hide them.

[ched]

Good to know. I have an ender 3 and it's OK. I must try the glass bed at some point.

[BigT]

This guy has some really good video mods for the ender3 https://youtu.be/Hi7uPYJ_q-U

Also look for Luke Hatfield on Facebook. He is the man when it comes to mods and fixes. Especially Hot End ones.

[BigT]

This printer so far is very impressive. I'm so glad I went with the Bltouch auto bed level sensor, the first layer is brilliant although getting it to work took several firmware versions eventually settling on TH3D. The first layers are the best I've ever seen. Fairly quiet, sturdy, well made, wires too short and terrible cable system in general. I'll be printing some track system to neaten / hide them.

Ender 3 or 5?

[Coyote]

Ender 5 bud

I'll take a look at the links thanks :)

[ched]

This guy has some really good video mods for the ender3 https://youtu.be/Hi7uPYJ_q-U

Also look for Luke Hatfield on Facebook. He is the man when it comes to mods and fixes. Especially Hot End ones.

He does have some great vids. I have watched way too many  :D :D

[Coyote]

Ah yes ! That's who Ive been following with the tips and tricks, I like his students F1 project they are doing as well. I was watching a few of his videos with the notion of building a home made CNC too soon :)

Edit :

I did follow his flashing tutorial for the Ender 5 to go with newer Marlin and BLTouch however every time I tried the flash worked but the printer / BLTouch didn't so I gave up and flashed with TH3D instead which worked first go no problems. A lot of his links in his videos are also bad now which is a shame.

[Shikra]

What do you think about the ender 5? I am tempted to update my ancient Creator X.

[Coyote]

I am really impressed with it, a few points :

Pro's :
Very well built
Easy to level and clean
Sturdy
Easy to build
Really quick to remove prints straight after printing
Easy to adjust components
With BLTouch I have never levelked the bed since and every fist layer has been perfect.
Vast improvent over my CTC

Cons :
Noisey in use ( £30 silent board fixes this )
Salmon skin on prints ( silent board apparently fixes this also without the need for TL smoothers )
Stock firmware is pants ( I have flashed with TH3D )
The backlash mechanism on the Z axis is not effective
Should have a Z min endstop due to the design
The extruder platform crashes into the frame while homing, Y is sorted by simply bending the switch metal out a bit, the X needs the same but needsa  tiny print to activate it.
SD card slot is terrible ( Already printed an adaptor to fix that )
Build plate sags under weight ( Again printing leg to solve that )

So far all the cons I have found can be fixed with the Silent Board 1.1.5 being fitted instead or as with most printers a 3D printed part will sort it out. Prints well stright out the box, PETG strings a bit but 5mm retraction sorts thats out. ABS printing due to the magnetic bed is a no go unless you change it out but its not enclosed either so just easier printing PETG instead which after using it for a week seems miles better than ABS anyway to me.

I would highly recomment one, with a silent board, all other tweaks are based on how increadibly fussy you want to be :)

[FPVSteve]

They look very good for the price compared to what you used to get.

[Coyote]

They are really good value IMO, my little CTC you can now get for just £167 nowon fleabay so it really is affordable for anymone, but the CTC just doesn't get close to the quality of the prints I am getting out of this already without some serious modifications.

[Shikra]

Thanks Ian. I may have to because last night my creator seems to have stopped heating up.
Would really like a Prusa, but so much more £££

[Coyote]

I should make a new thread in 3D printer and split this lol

But installed the Silent 1.1.5 board today, wow what a difference, can't hear the printer anymore, just the fan on the extruder ......... Hmm I wonder if I can get a quieter fan :Dumbfolded: