How to Setup Creality Ender 3 - 3d Printer

In this blog post, we will learn to assemble and setup creality's ender 3 - 3d printer.

Hardware:

• Ender 3- 3D Printer ( Amazon India Purchase Link )
• Ender 3- 3D Printer ( Gearbest International Link )
• Ender 3- 3D Printer ( Creality Official Store )
• Ender 3- 3D Printer ( Bangood International Link)

Software: ( Any Slicer )

• Prusa slicer

I have documented this post quite well yet the video representation would really help you more.

also for my Indian Audience here is a Hindi video!

first and most important thing for this setup is tools!

In this kit, we get all required tools are standard like

• 5 Allen / socket keys
• 2 wrench
• 1 flathead screwdriver ( - )

grab these tools and prepare a desk or space sufficient to place all parts and enough room for you to move.

At this point of assembly, we haven't installed Z & X axes. Flip the printer as so to get access to bed which has 4 rollers and 4 adjustment points which are mounted on acentric nuts.

We need to adjust these acentric nuts using provided wrench until there is no wobble.

Pro Tip:

Don't over tighten else it would result into layer shift or strange stringing in prints.

Let's start with left side since it has most parts like z stepper, extrusion gantry, etc. Slightest error here would cause bad print quality so its a good to start from this part.

Steps:

1. take 20-40 ( large ) aluminum extrusion profile.
2. gather 2- M5-45mm bolts ( its easy to identify since they everything is labelled correctly)
3. align and bolt the left side of aluminum extrude loosely ( since we will use set square and tighten up later).

Pro Tip!

the left extrude has only 2 holes that too in parallel as seen in above pics.

next we need to add "Z Axis" stepper motor, for which we will need Z Stepper motor, M4*18mm CSK bolts, Z end stop switch.

we will follow the following steps:

1. gather Z stepper motor.
2. add M4*18mm CSK bolts into attachment bracket mounted on Z stepper motor.
3. tighten the bolts with stepper on left side from behind.
4. add Z limit switch to left side on rails facing switch upside.

Pro Tip:

Level Z limit switch with nozzle and bed in later stages for better homing.

Also, make sure T nut inside Z limit switch line up and hold properly, if not loosen up a little and tighten it again.

generally we would install right side Z aluminum extrude, but if X axis isn't aligned correctly with Z axis, it will be quite tight on hot end, in simple words to avoid misalignment we choose to install X axis first.

for this step, we will follow:

1. identify the 20_20 Aluminum extrude, which has 6 holes in it.
2. acquire M4*16mm Bolts ( again included in package and well labelled)
3. identify gantry assembly with extruder and X stepper motor.
4. place the 20_20 Aluminum extrude on gantry assembly and align holes.
5. using allen wrench and M4*16 bolts tighten the extrude. (consider bolting from middle closing in towards gantry side.)
6. align the extrude horizontal ( Flat ) to x stepper motor.

Pro Tip:

use set square to make sure everything is aligned accurately.

After the last step, we need to insert the hot end and complete remaining X axis assembly.

step:

1. identify the Hot End.
2. slide hot end assembly into X axis extrude from previous step.
3. gather the Vslot dolly for X axis end structure.
4. use M4*16mm bolts to mount Vslot dolly at back side. (one wheel section goes inside and two wheel section goes outside).

pro tip:

( not really a pro tip ) don't put the Hot End upside down.

also untangle the Hot End before inserting it into X axis.

since our Z axis travels on M8 Threaded rod via Z stepper motor, we need to insert M8 threaded rod into motor coupling.

Steps.

1. identify M8 threaded rod.
2. insert M8 threaded rod onto Z stepper motor coupler.
3. slightly tighten the Grab screw inside of Z motor coupler.
4. insert X axis assembly via lead screw on X axis to M8 threaded rod.
5. slide the X axis down by moving the Z stepper down. ( this will evenly spread the pre applied grease on Z axis.
6. move the X axis on top and tighten the Z motor coupler.

steps:

1. identify the correct orientation ( holes come on left side when viewed from front and are at shorter distance from bottom.
2. slide the aluminum extrude through dolly.
3. use M5*45mm bolts to slightly tighten up the extrude profile from bottom.
4. use set square to orient and align all sides correctly.
5. repeat alignment and tighten the right side of frame as well.

at this point of assembly, we need to complete X axis by adding the last mechanical element of this build.

steps:

1. identify the Timing belt ( easy peasy since there is only 1 belt included in kit ).
2. pass the belt through X axis stepper motor via drive gear.
3. pass the belt under the groves of X profile and under Vslot wheels.
4. fasten the belts under slots of Hot End.
5. add tension ( included in kit) at end of profile at right side.
6. use screwdriver to tension the belt.
7. identify the feeder nut ( it looks like golden nut with white rubber ends ).
8. screw the feeder nut into extruder as shown ( don't tighten it since we might need to remove it to feed PLA)
9. push the PTFE tube inside and add lock ( blue part )
10. add lock on nozzle side ( blue part ).

Pro Tip:

don't over tension the belt or under tension, since either of that will cause either fault in prints of quick wearing of parts.

at this stage we are almost done with mechanical build ( ALMOST!)

steps:

1. identify the 20_20 aluminum extrude ( one with 2 holes).
2. gather M5*25mm bolts ( included in pack )
3. bolt the upper frame ( extrude ) with bigger hole on top ( such that allen bolt head goes inside ).
4. identify and preassemble the spool holder.
5. gather M5*8mm bolts with T nuts and prepare them by loosely threading them at bottom of spool holder.
6. tighten the spool holder on left side of top extrude as shown in picture.

Pro Tip:

don't use provided spool holder, rather print this part and get 4 x 608 bearings to make this awesome spool holder which reduces load on your printer frame.

These are misc. parts not useful for mechanical quality of printer, thus uses silver bolts, in this part, we will add power supply, screen and end caps to our machine.

Steps:

1. get M4*20mm bolts and mount the power supply at right side, such a way that power supply stays behind.
2. switch the Power Mode to 120v or 230v depending on your country ( this switch can be found behind the power supply ).
3. get M5*8mm bolts and mount the LCD screen at right side of aluminum extrude.
4. use the profile covers at top right and left to cover aluminum extrudes.

connections couldn't be easier than this! everything is labelled and connectors are used to avoid reverse polarization.

steps:

1. connect XT-60 to power supply.
2. connect Z end switch and Z Stepper connector ( labelled as Z, Stepper connector is 6 pin connector ).
3. connect Extruder Stepper.
4. connect X stepper motor.
5. connect X end switch.
6. connect main power cord to the power supply.

leveling a 3d printer is definitely far most important task and is critical for successful prints.

steps:

1. turn OFF the printer.
2. take a piece of paper and slide it under nozzle.
3. adjust the screws until the paper is slightly snug.
4. repeat the process for all 4 corners.

you can also checkout this video by chep who has done wonderful job explaining how to level bed.

finally after almost an hour, you should be ready to print.

you can use prusaslicer to slice the .stl ( 3D files ) and convert the .STL files to .GCODE which is the file printer understands.

for starters, i printed out Callibration Cube using my printer.

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