SainSmart x Creality Ender-3 3D Printer Review

Whether you’re new to the practice of 3D printing or are a tech-savvy crafting master, purchasing these machines can be a hassle. To help you make a cost-effective and efficient, long-term decision, today we’re evaluating the SainSmart x Creality Ender-3 3D Printer.

This model promises to be easy to set up and use, inexpensive, and great for beginners. Since entering this craft or updating your device is often a complicated and pricy venture, those are notable advantages.

Even still, not everyone is after the same thing when it comes to crafting. Some users may have different preferences on durability, while others may want a machine with more simple and convenient options.

But is this the right 3D printer for you and your crafting needs? Let’s take a closer look at the SainSmart x Creality Ender-3 3D Printer, and then you can decide for yourself.

SainSmart x Creality Ender-3 3D Printer: The Details

Specs

• Weight: 17.1 lbs.
• Dimensions: 22 x 23.6 x 24.4 inches.
• Print Dimensions: 220 x 220 x 250 mm.
• Filament Types: PLA, PETG, ABS, flexible.
• Ready to Print? No.
• Compatibility: Mac and Windows.
• Warranty: One-year warranty.

How Does It Work?

No matter your level of experience, the SainSmart x Creality Ender-3 3D Printer is easy to figure out. After unboxing, plugging in, and starting the printer, your next step is to calibrate the bed.

Press ‘prepare’ on the LCD touchscreen. The build plate and nozzle will start moving, but when they stop, press the control knob on the front of the printer and tap ‘disabled stoppers’ on the touchscreen. Level the first adjustment point.

This may take a couple of tries before you get it exactly level, especially if you’re new to this. Once you’ve achieved the first point level, repeat this process for the other three points.

Next, bring the bed and extruders up to temperature. Once they are heated, insert whatever filament you prefer into the extruder. At this point, it’s time to visit your computer.

Either plug it into the printer using an ethernet cable or have your design stored on an SD card. If you’re working with a computer, choose the design file you intend on printing, send it through a slicing software, and transmit it to the printer.

Last, but not least, click the ‘print’ option on the touchscreen. The printer will do the rest from here!

Accessories

• USB stick (equipped with manual, test models, and more).
• Wrench.
• Hex keys.
• Small screwdriver.
• A sample of White PLA filament.
• Nozzle cleaner.
• Wire cutters.
• Zip ties.
• Assortment of nozzles.
• Spatula.

Features

Print Volume

The SainSmart x Creality Ender-3 3D Printer allows you to print an item up to 220 x 220 x 250 mm – or 8.6 x 8.6 x 9.8 inches.

With this degree of print volume, you can make a wide variety of things, from small figurines or parts for larger items. You aren’t as limited as with smaller models.

Filament

This Ender-3 3D printer accommodates a vast range of filaments. You can print with PLA, ABS, PTEG, flexible, and even wood filaments – and there’s no restriction on specific brands.

With other 3D printers, you’re typically limited to one or two types, or certain brands approved by the manufacturer. That’s not the case here.

You can dive into the project you want – not the one you’re restricted to.

Print Bed

The print bed on the SainSmart is heated. This ensures whatever filament you’ve chosen sticks securely to the bed, without shifting or peeling, so you gain the best results possible.

Paired with this is a BuildTak-like bed sticker, ensuring none of your designs become unstuck during the printing process. You’ll have to remove it manually – and not a moment sooner, limiting mistakes.

As a bonus, the heating process is timely – so you won’t be forced to kill time.

Open Design

This Ender-3 3D printer is completely open on all sides. This gives you a little more room to play with in terms of how tall your prints can be.

It also makes the printer very lightweight and allows you to watch the entire process without anything getting in the way.

Just make sure the area where you locate your printer is clear. You don’t want your item getting messed up because something was knocked over or dropped onto the bed.

SainSmart x Creality Ender-3 3D Printer Review

The Positives

Super Easy to Set Up

Even if you’ve never used a 3D printer before, with the help of the manual, you should have no problem setting up the Ender-3.

It requires very few steps, and the use of its intuitive touchscreen makes adjusting, leveling, and heating the bed straightforward.

It may require a few tries, but you won’t need an expert’s input. This means you can get to crafting your projects sooner than later, instead of fumbling about with a complicated device.

It’s easy to get daunted and discouraged by a machine that’s hard to set up right out of the box, fortunately, there’s little to worry about when it comes to getting the Ender-3 up and running!

Amazingly Affordable

Throughout the shopping process, you’ve likely seen that 3D printers easily cost upwards of a thousand dollars or more. Luckily, that’s not the case with the SainSmart x Creality 3D printer.

You won’t have to be digging too deep into your pockets to get your 3D printing fill. This device is quite the steal! On Amazon, the Ender-3 has a price tag of under $200 which is much less expensive than other, comparable printers on the market.

If you’ve been interested in trying out this craft, but have lacked the budget, this is a great option. With this price, you’ll have some cash left over for other important things like crafting materials!

SainSmart also includes a 1-year limited warranty with the purchase of this 3D printer which helps stretch your dollar further. This warranty covers any errors caused in the manufacturing process, so if you were to find them, the company is responsible for replacing or repairing your device.

Very Versatile

We were super impressed with the broad list of projects you could tackle with this printer. Because of the print bed’s appealing dimensions, you can develop items of varying sizes.

Even better, the range of compatible filaments means your options aren’t limited when it comes to materials. If you want a larger, wooden design, that’s what you’ll get. If your budget can’t handle more pricy materials, you can shop around for the deals that suit you – not your printer.

With this price tag, this printer is surprisingly versatile. Whether or not you’re new to this hobby, you’ll find it hard to be bored with the Ender-3 3D Printer.

A versatile machine makes it easy to grow with your craft. You’ll be able to spread your creative wings without being slowed down by your machine (or your wallet).

Awesome for Beginners

Since this printer is so easy to set up and use, it’s great for beginners. While leveling the bed may require some trial and error, once that’s finished, you’ll be up and printing in no time.

The user-friendly touchscreen walks you through most of the steps, so you’re never left to guess. The price is also a great bonus for beginners since they won’t have to shell out a ton of money straight away on a new hobby.

This can certainly help you stay motivated in the beginning, while allowing you to put some money towards the materials you really want.

If this is your first foray into 3D printing or you’re after an easy printer to mess around with, this is definitely worth checking out.

The Negatives

Wobbly Base

You might find that when it first arrives, the base of the printer is very wobbly. If you print without fixing this issue, your final product may turn out less than perfect.

Prior to starting any design, you should tighten the screws on the base to ensure it’s stable. Unfortunately, the printer doesn’t arrive this way, but using your included wrench should have the issue fixed without complication.

While we wish we didn’t have to make this alteration upon unboxing, it’s super easy to fix!

Needs to Manually Calibrate

Most 3D printers calibrate and level the printing bed automatically; this model does not. Perhaps because of the low price, you’re left to manually level the bed – which can be incredibly difficult, especially if you haven’t worked with a 3D printer before.

The instructions do help and there are plenty of videos online, but it’s unfortunate that this otherwise great printer lacks this basic feature.

No Wireless Printing

Some crafters might be displeased that this printer lacks wireless connectivity. It must be connected with a cable to your computer in order to work.

You can also leverage an SD card for transferring your designs to the machine, but that can be seen as inconvenient. It’s not a deal-breaker, but you may find it annoying.

If you’re working in a classroom or office setting, this might not be ideal.

Here’s a video showing what the SainSmart x Creality Ender-3 3D Printer looks like out of the box.

Overall Verdict

After looking over all the positives and negatives, we do recommend the SainSmart x Creality Ender-3 3D Printer.

With the easy set-up, its generous compatibility with filaments, and its user-friendly LCD touchscreen, this is one of the better affordable 3D printers on the market.

If you’re willing to tighten up the screws and level the bed manually, there’s little else to dislike about this printer. The Ender-3 is definitely worth giving a shot.

Where to Buy the SainSmart x Creality Ender-3 3D Printer

SainSmart and Creality are no novices when it comes to manufacturing quality 3D printers. While they’re popular brands with strong craft lines, they also have a wide variety of crafting tools available from robotics to smart tech devices.

Thanks to the success of both brands, finding SainSmart x Creality items won’t be too hard including the SainSmart x Creality Ender-3 3D Printer available both in-store and online.

While it’s usually best to check tech and specialty stores, you can kick-start your search with the following online retailers.

• Creality 3D (from $229)
• Wal Mart (from $229)
• SainSmart (from $266)

And of course, you can also find this 3D printer on Amazon.

That’s the end of our SainSmart x Creality Ender-3 review. Tempted to give this a try?