<blockquote>
<p>I'd like to get a printer that is as least as good as what he's using (feature-wise):</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Then you need to modify one yourself, a basic Ender 3 could be the base machine. But the all metal hotend and auto bed-levelling are not stock for it or the Ender 3 pro. They're addons of dubious value which need to be purchased and installed.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-09-07T05:37:22.400Z
2022-09-07T05:37:22.400Z
Kilisi
<p>I am thinking of getting a 3D printer for general tinkering and as I've very interested in the <a href="https://medevel.com/microscope-using-raspberry-pi/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">MicroscoPy project</a>. The printer mentioned in the project is &quot;Creality Ender 3 Pro printer with a metal extruder and a BLTouch auto bed-leveling sensor&quot;, which when I looked was out of stock. However, it's not clear to me that I need to get this particular printer. My understanding is that Creality makes decent printers for the beginner so I was focusing on those (other suggestions welcome). I wanted to stay at \$200−\$300. I'm having a heck of a time figuring out the differences between different models. A simple comparison spreadsheet seems hard to find. I've seen this at various sites</p>
<ul>
<li>Creality3d Upgraded Ender-3 V2</li>
<li>Creality Ender-3 S1 3D</li>
<li>Creality Ender-3 S1 Pro</li>
<li>Creality Ender-3 Pro</li>
</ul>
<p>Part of the problem is that I think different sites (Amazon, Creality) use slightly different names. For example, the last two printers I listed might be the same printer.</p>
<p>I realize any information given here will be quickly out of date as new models are introduced, but perhaps links to comparison sites or review sites would serve a larger audience. Or perhaps even documents on how a newbie to 3D printing can get started.</p>
<p>Again, my end goal is the project I mentioned.  I'd like to get a printer that is as least as good as what he's using (feature-wise): &quot;Creality Ender 3 Pro printer with a metal extruder and a BLTouch auto bed-leveling sensor&quot;</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-09-06T17:24:29.873Z
I would suggest going to the [official Creality website](https://www.creality3dofficial.com/) because, as you pointed out, different sites will use different wording. Be aware that Creality has different series of printers (Ender 2, 3, 5, 6; CR 6, 10, 30) and different variations within that series (Pro, Plus, Max, Neo, V2). This is probably the main cause of your confusion.
agarza
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-09-06T18:16:18.163Z
Also, not all iterations are numbered: there are at least half a dozen different Ender 3 without any extras that differ by production months.
Trish
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-09-06T19:28:45.930Z
Don't look at the typical auction and Eastern webshop sites (as these are flooded with clones and different versions) and go directly to the official Creality website and browse the printers there. Order your printer at a respectable seller nearby or from a trustworthy online printer store in your country. I'd probably vote to close this question as this is close to a recommendation question which are not allowed and summing up all the differences is something you could do yourself by using their official website.
0scar
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-09-07T13:46:32.943Z
Thank you all. I'm focusing on Ender-3 V2 and Ender 3 Pro, both about the same price. Still trying to figure out the differences....
Dave
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-09-07T22:11:26.463Z
Most of that project uses Lego.  The rotary table and gears would be the most demanding 3DP parts.  For that project, any perceived benefits of the bed leveling and metal extruder over the normal models might be offset by the learning curve required to take advantage of those upgrades.
Dave X
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-09-08T14:32:57.280Z
@DaveX Yes, it's quite an involved and expensive project. The legos alone are over $50.  But if it's fun and I learn a lot, it's worthwhile. I've been thinking of a 3-D printer for some time but put it off due to thinking "what's the practical use?". This project provides a practical use. Thanks for the info on bed leveling and metal extruder. I was coming to the same conclusion on bed leveling. I'll have to research what are the pros of a metal extruder!
Dave
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-09-09T22:08:38.937Z
@Dave -- for tech stuff, I like deciding on the budget first, and then getting the best you can get for that budget.  If you are looking for an opinion, then  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yFd4Df6Sow talks about the differences and costs.
Dave X
<creality-ender-3><creality>
Figuring out differences between Creality Printers
Dave
# Figuring out differences between Creality Printers

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-09-06)

I am thinking of getting a 3D printer for general tinkering and as I've very interested in the [MicroscoPy project](https://medevel.com/microscope-using-raspberry-pi/). The printer mentioned in the project is "Creality Ender 3 Pro printer with a metal extruder and a BLTouch auto bed-leveling sensor", which when I looked was out of stock. However, it's not clear to me that I need to get this particular printer. My understanding is that Creality makes decent printers for the beginner so I was focusing on those (other suggestions welcome). I wanted to stay at \$200−\$300. I'm having a heck of a time figuring out the differences between different models. A simple comparison spreadsheet seems hard to find. I've seen this at various sites

* Creality3d Upgraded Ender-3 V2
* Creality Ender-3 S1 3D
* Creality Ender-3 S1 Pro
* Creality Ender-3 Pro

Part of the problem is that I think different sites (Amazon, Creality) use slightly different names. For example, the last two printers I listed might be the same printer.

I realize any information given here will be quickly out of date as new models are introduced, but perhaps links to comparison sites or review sites would serve a larger audience. Or perhaps even documents on how a newbie to 3D printing can get started.

Again, my end goal is the project I mentioned. I'd like to get a printer that is as least as good as what he's using (feature-wise): "Creality Ender 3 Pro printer with a metal extruder and a BLTouch auto bed-leveling sensor"

**Tags:** creality-ender-3, creality

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I would suggest going to the [official Creality website](https://www.creality3dofficial.com/) because, as you pointed out, different sites will use different wording. Be aware that Creality has different series of printers (Ender 2, 3, 5, 6; CR 6, 10, 30) and different variations within that series (Pro, Plus, Max, Neo, V2). This is probably the main cause of your confusion.  
> **username_2**: Also, not all iterations are numbered: there are at least half a dozen different Ender 3 without any extras that differ by production months.  
> **username_3**: Don't look at the typical auction and Eastern webshop sites (as these are flooded with clones and different versions) and go directly to the official Creality website and browse the printers there. Order your printer at a respectable seller nearby or from a trustworthy online printer store in your country. I'd probably vote to close this question as this is close to a recommendation question which are not allowed and summing up all the differences is something you could do yourself by using their official website.  
> **username_0**: Thank you all. I'm focusing on Ender-3 V2 and Ender 3 Pro, both about the same price. Still trying to figure out the differences....  
> **username_4**: Most of that project uses Lego.  The rotary table and gears would be the most demanding 3DP parts.  For that project, any perceived benefits of the bed leveling and metal extruder over the normal models might be offset by the learning curve required to take advantage of those upgrades.  
> **username_0**: @username_4 Yes, it's quite an involved and expensive project. The legos alone are over $50.  But if it's fun and I learn a lot, it's worthwhile. I've been thinking of a 3-D printer for some time but put it off due to thinking "what's the practical use?". This project provides a practical use. Thanks for the info on bed leveling and metal extruder. I was coming to the same conclusion on bed leveling. I'll have to research what are the pros of a metal extruder!  
> **username_4**: @username_0 -- for tech stuff, I like deciding on the budget first, and then getting the best you can get for that budget.  If you are looking for an opinion, then  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yFd4Df6Sow talks about the differences and costs.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_5 on 2022-09-07. Score: 1

> I'd like to get a printer that is as least as good as what he's using (feature-wise):

Then you need to modify one yourself, a basic Ender 3 could be the base machine. But the all metal hotend and auto bed-levelling are not stock for it or the Ender 3 pro. They're addons of dubious value which need to be purchased and installed.


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