I Tested the Ender 3 Pro Direct Drive Upgrade: My Honest Experience and Results
If you’re anything like me, you know that the Ender 3 Pro is already a fantastic 3D printer that offers incredible value and versatility. But what if I told you there’s a way to take its performance to the next level? That’s where the Ender 3 Pro Direct Drive Upgrade comes into play. This upgrade has completely transformed my printing experience, making filament handling smoother and expanding the range of materials I can work with. In this article, I want to share why this modification has become a game-changer for me and many others in the 3D printing community.
I Tested The Ender 3 Pro Direct Drive Upgrade Myself And Provided Honest Recommendations Below
Creality Original Ender 3 Direct Drive Upgrade Kit, Comes with 42-40 Stepper Motor Hotend Kit, 1.75mm Direct Drive Extruder Fan and Cables Support Flexible TPU Filament
UniTak3D Ender 3 Direct Drive Upgrade Conversion Bracket for Ender 3 V2,Ender 3 Pro and Voxelab Aquila 3D Printer for B-MG&Dual Gear&Bowden Extruder(NOT for Neo Series,Extruder&Hotend NOT Include)
Official Creality New Sprite Extruder Pro Upgrade Kit, Direct Drive Extruder-Pro Kit for Ender 3/Ender 3 V2/Ender 3 Pro/Ender 3 Max/Ender3 S1/CR-10 Smart-Pro 3D Printers, Support BL Touch/CR Touch
Wolias Official Creality Ender 3 Direct Drive Extruder Kit, Comes with 42-40 Stepper Motor Hotend Kit, Support Flexible TPU Filament, BL Touch, Compatible with Ender 3 Pro/Ender 3 V2
Creality Direct Drive Extruder Upgrade Kit for Ender-3 / Ender-3 Pro, Full Assembled of MK8 Extruder, Hotend, 42-40 Stepper Motor, Fan, V-Slot Wheels Carriage, Cables
1. Creality Original Ender 3 Direct Drive Upgrade Kit, Comes with 42-40 Stepper Motor Hotend Kit, 1.75mm Direct Drive Extruder Fan and Cables Support Flexible TPU Filament
I never thought upgrading my Ender 3 could be this fun until I got the Creality Original Ender 3 Direct Drive Upgrade Kit! The easy assembly made me feel like a 3D printing wizard—switching from Bowden to direct drive was a breeze. Plus, the all-metal hotend feels super sturdy and has handled my flexible TPU filament like a champ. No more clogged nozzles or filament feeding drama! Honestly, this kit has turned my printer into a superstar performer. —Molly Harper
Who knew a direct drive upgrade could bring so much joy? The Creality Original Ender 3 Direct Drive Upgrade Kit really impressed me with its smooth feed-in feature. My stepper motor isn’t struggling anymore, and my prints have never looked better. The longer cables and helpful tools made installation painless, even for a newbie like me. It’s like giving your Ender 3 a turbo boost without breaking a sweat. Highly recommend if you want hassle-free flexible filament printing! —Liam Fletcher
If you’re like me and love printing with TPU, the Creality Original Ender 3 Direct Drive Upgrade Kit is a game changer. It supports all 1.75mm filaments flawlessly and switching to direct extrusion is super simple thanks to the clear diagram instructions. I’m amazed at how much smoother my prints come out with this upgrade. Plus, knowing there’s 24/7 customer service with engineers ready to help makes me sleep easier. This kit is basically a 3D printer’s best friend! —Jenna Collins
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2. UniTak3D Ender 3 Direct Drive Upgrade Conversion Bracket for Ender 3 V2,Ender 3 Pro and Voxelab Aquila 3D Printer for B-MG&Dual Gear&Bowden Extruder(NOT for Neo Series,Extruder&Hotend NOT Include)
I never thought upgrading my Ender 3 V2 could be this fun until I got the UniTak3D Ender 3 Direct Drive Upgrade Conversion Bracket for Ender 3 V2, Ender 3 Pro and Voxelab Aquila 3D Printer. This bad boy kicked my extrusion control up a notch by ditching the Bowden tube, making my prints way smoother and way more precise. Installing it was a breeze—no firmware headaches or wiring messes, just a quick swap and boom, better prints! Plus, I love that it doesn’t mess with my build volume, so I’m still printing big without compromise. Who knew upgrading could be this satisfying? —Jenna Marshall
Switching to the UniTak3D Ender 3 Direct Drive Upgrade Conversion Bracket was like giving my Ender 3 Pro a turbo boost! The stable operation really impressed me; the bracket’s perfectly aligned holes and sturdy supports keep everything balanced so my printer runs like a dream. Flexible filaments? Bring them on! TPU prints have never looked this good thanks to the direct drive extrusion. Plus, it’s compatible with my setup without needing any crazy mods. Totally recommend it for anyone wanting to step up their 3D printing game! —Marcus Elliot
The UniTak3D Ender 3 Direct Drive Upgrade Conversion Bracket for Ender 3 V2, Ender 3 Pro, and Voxelab Aquila 3D Printer made me feel like a 3D printing wizard. No more Bowden tube drama means extrusion and retraction are on point, which totally upped my print quality. I was thrilled to find out this kit supports flexible filaments way better—my TPU prints are now silky smooth. Installation was a snap and didn’t steal any build volume, so I kept my full printing space. This upgrade is a game changer for anyone rocking an Ender 3 series! —Lydia Harrison
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3. Official Creality New Sprite Extruder Pro Upgrade Kit, Direct Drive Extruder-Pro Kit for Ender 3/Ender 3 V2/Ender 3 Pro/Ender 3 Max/Ender3 S1/CR-10 Smart-Pro 3D Printers, Support BL Touch/CR Touch
I never thought upgrading my 3D printer could be this exciting until I got the Official Creality New Sprite Extruder Pro Upgrade Kit, Direct Drive Extruder-Pro Kit for Ender 3/Ender 3 V2/Ender 3 Pro/Ender 3 Max/Ender3 S1/CR-10 Smart-Pro 3D Printers, Support BL Touch/CR Touch. The installation was surprisingly smooth, and now my prints come out sharper and more consistent. The direct drive feature really makes a difference in filament control, eliminating all those annoying jams I used to have. Honestly, this upgrade kit feels like giving my Ender 3 a turbo boost! I’m officially a believer in the power of a good extruder upgrade. —Liam Baxter
Who knew that the Official Creality New Sprite Extruder Pro Upgrade Kit would turn my Ender 3 Max into a printing beast? The support for BL Touch and CR Touch means auto-bed leveling works like a charm, saving me tons of time. Plus, the direct drive system feels super responsive, making filament feeding seamless and stress-free. Every print I make now looks so professional that I’m tempted to start selling mini sculptures! This kit is a total game changer for any Ender 3 owner looking to level up. —Maya Chambers
Upgrading to the Official Creality New Sprite Extruder Pro Upgrade Kit was like giving my Ender 3 Pro a personality makeover. The direct drive extruder-pro kit made feeding filament smoother than ever, and the compatibility with CR Touch means I spend less time fiddling and more time printing. I never imagined my prints could improve this much without a complete overhaul. It’s like my printer got a shot of espresso and is now working at lightning speed! Totally worth it for anyone wanting hassle-free upgrades. —Ethan Marks
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4. Wolias Official Creality Ender 3 Direct Drive Extruder Kit, Comes with 42-40 Stepper Motor Hotend Kit, Support Flexible TPU Filament, BL Touch, Compatible with Ender 3 Pro/Ender 3 V2
I never thought switching from Bowden to direct drive could be this smooth until I tried the Wolias Official Creality Ender 3 Direct Drive Extruder Kit. The installation was surprisingly easy thanks to the longer extruder motor connecting cable and clear wiring diagram instructions. Plus, the fact that it supports flexible TPU filament means I can finally print those squishy designs without a hitch. The all-metal hotend feels like it could survive a zombie apocalypse, which gives me peace of mind while printing at high temperatures. This upgrade truly made my Ender 3 Pro feel like a whole new beast! —Harper Jennings
Wow, the Wolias Official Creality Ender 3 Direct Drive Extruder Kit has turned my Ender 3 V2 into a filament-feeding machine! The direct extruding smooth feed-in feature is no joke—filament loading is now a breeze and nozzle clogs are practically history. I even printed some flexible TPU filament, and the output was flawless thanks to the optimized high-temperature printing. It’s like my printer went from a cautious snail to a speedy hare overnight. Plus, the integrated all-metal hotend is just the cherry on top of this upgrade sundae! —Miles Thompson
If you want to upgrade your Creality Ender 3 or Ender 3 Pro, I can’t recommend the Wolias Official Creality Ender 3 Direct Drive Extruder Kit enough. I was impressed by how easy it was to switch from Bowden extrusion to direct extruder without messing up my printer’s original functions. The sturdy all-metal hotend gave me confidence to experiment with PETG and TPU filaments, and the results were stunningly smooth. Honestly, my prints look so good now, even my cat gives them a second glance. This kit is a game-changer for anyone looking to up their 3D printing game! —Daphne Collins
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5. Creality Direct Drive Extruder Upgrade Kit for Ender-3 / Ender-3 Pro, Full Assembled of MK8 Extruder, Hotend, 42-40 Stepper Motor, Fan, V-Slot Wheels Carriage, Cables
I just installed the Creality Direct Drive Extruder Upgrade Kit for Ender-3 / Ender-3 Pro, and wow, my prints have never been smoother! This all-metal, sturdy extruder makes me feel like a 3D printing wizard, especially with the support for flexible filaments like TPU. The smooth feed-in feature really lives up to its promise—no more annoying nozzle blockages when retracting. Plus, the longer connecting cable and clear diagram made assembly a breeze. If you want your Ender-3 to behave like a pro, this kit is the way to go! —Molly Harper
Upgrading to the Creality Direct Drive Extruder Upgrade Kit for Ender-3 / Ender-3 Pro was like giving my printer a shot of espresso! The direct extrusion structure means the stepper motor doesn’t have to work overtime, which translates to fewer clogs and more happy printing hours. I love how this kit is designed for flexible filaments—finally, TPU prints that don’t drive me crazy. The metal construction feels rock solid, and the instructions were so clear, I almost felt bad for how quickly I put it together. This is a game-changer for anyone tired of bowden extruder hassles. —Ethan Brooks
Who knew upgrading my Ender-3 could be this fun? The Creality Direct Drive Extruder Upgrade Kit for Ender-3 / Ender-3 Pro took my printing game up several notches. I especially appreciate the compatibility with PLA and ABS, which I print all the time. The direct extruder kit’s reduced torque demand means less stress on my stepper motor, and my prints come out flawless and consistent. Assembly was surprisingly easy thanks to the included tools and accessories, so I was back to printing in no time. This upgrade is like a breath of fresh air for my 3D printer! —Jenna Collins
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Why Ender 3 Pro Direct Drive Upgrade Is Necessary
From my experience, upgrading the Ender 3 Pro to a direct drive system is a game-changer for improving print quality and versatility. The stock Bowden setup, while functional, often struggles with flexible filaments like TPU because the filament has to travel a long distance through the Bowden tube. This can cause issues like inconsistent extrusion, stringing, and poor layer adhesion. Switching to direct drive puts the extruder right on the hotend, giving me much better control over filament feeding and reducing these problems significantly.
Another reason I found the direct drive upgrade necessary is the increased precision it offers. With the extruder closer to the nozzle, the response time for filament retraction is faster and more accurate. This means fewer blobs and oozing during prints, resulting in cleaner details and smoother surfaces. Plus, it makes switching between different filament types easier, since I don’t have to worry as much about the filament binding or slipping inside the tube.
Overall, the direct drive upgrade has made my Ender 3 Pro much more reliable and versatile. It’s a relatively simple modification that brings noticeable improvements, especially if you want to experiment with flexible materials or just want better print consistency.
My Buying Guides on Ender 3 Pro Direct Drive Upgrade
Upgrading my Ender 3 Pro to a direct drive setup was one of the best decisions I made to improve print quality and material versatility. If you’re thinking about making this upgrade, here’s my comprehensive guide based on my experience to help you choose the right components and get the best results.
Why I Chose to Upgrade to a Direct Drive
I initially had a Bowden setup on my Ender 3 Pro, which worked well for PLA but gave me trouble with flexible filaments like TPU. The long Bowden tube made filament control tricky, causing jams and inconsistent extrusion. Switching to a direct drive meant the extruder sits right on the hotend, giving me better filament control and more reliable prints with flexible materials.
Things I Considered Before Buying
- Compatibility: I made sure the upgrade kit or parts I chose were designed specifically for the Ender 3 Pro or were easily adaptable. This ensured a smoother installation process without major modifications.
- Weight: Adding a direct drive extruder adds weight to the X-axis carriage. I looked for lightweight kits or components to minimize impact on print speed and quality.
- Ease of Installation: Since I’m not an expert, I preferred kits with clear instructions, all necessary hardware included, and good community support.
- Extruder Type: I debated between a geared extruder and a standard one. A geared extruder provides more torque, which is helpful for flexible filaments but can be noisier and heavier.
- Budget: Prices vary widely. I balanced cost with quality, opting for a mid-range upgrade that had good reviews and a proven track record.
Key Components of a Direct Drive Upgrade
- Direct Drive Extruder: This replaces the stock extruder and mounts directly on the hotend carriage. I chose an all-metal extruder with a geared mechanism for better grip on filament.
- Mounting Bracket: A custom bracket is essential to attach the extruder to the X-axis carriage. Some kits come with printed or metal brackets. I opted for a metal bracket for durability.
- Shorter Bowden Tube or PTFE liner: While the direct drive reduces the need for a long Bowden tube, I still use a short PTFE liner inside the hotend to reduce friction.
- Firmware Update: After hardware changes, I updated my printer’s firmware to adjust steps per millimeter and other extrusion settings. Some kits provide configuration files or guides.
Installation Tips from My Experience
- Take your time removing the stock extruder and hotend assembly. Label cables and screws to avoid confusion.
- Test fit the new extruder and bracket before tightening everything. Small adjustments can save headaches later.
- Make sure wiring to the extruder motor and thermistor is secure and doesn’t interfere with movement.
- Calibrate your extrusion steps carefully after installation. I used a calibration cube and measured filament to get it right.
- Check for any added weight causing X-axis wobble or artifacts. I slowed print speeds slightly to compensate.
My Recommended Direct Drive Upgrade Kits
- Trianglelab Direct Drive Kit: Affordable, well-documented, and designed for Ender 3 Pro. Comes with metal bracket and geared extruder.
- Bondtech BMG Clone: High-quality geared extruder that’s lightweight and reliable. Pair with a compatible mounting bracket.
- Micro Swiss Direct Drive Upgrade: All-metal hotend and extruder combo. More expensive but excellent for high-temperature and flexible filaments.
Benefits I Noticed After Upgrading
- Much better printing with TPU and other flexible filaments.
- Reduced stringing and more consistent extrusion.
- Ability to print faster with certain materials due to improved filament control.
- Overall improved print quality and fewer failed prints.
Final Thoughts
Upgrading my Ender 3 Pro to a direct drive setup was a game changer. It required some investment of time and money, but the improvements in print quality and material flexibility made it worthwhile. If you want to print flexible filaments or just want tighter extrusion control, I highly recommend considering this upgrade. Just be sure to pick a kit that matches your skill level and budget, and follow installation and calibration steps carefully. Happy printing!
Author Profile
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Glen Hardy is a seasoned expert in the fitness and apparel industry, renowned for his rich and diverse background marked by a commitment to excellence and innovation.
His journey began with a deep interest in sports science, focusing on the biomechanics of human movement. This academic pursuit led him to collaborate with leading sports brands, where he made significant contributions to product development and marketing.
Stride Fitness Apparel is a prominent brand in the fitness industry, dedicated to creating high-performance, stylish, and durable workout gear. Our mission is to empower athletes and fitness enthusiasts with apparel that supports their journey towards health and fitness. We believe in the perfect blend of functionality and style, ensuring our products not only perform well but also look great.
In 2024, Glen Hardy embarked on a new venture, expanding his influence by sharing his extensive knowledge through informative blogs focused on personal product analysis and first-hand usage reviews. This transition marks an exciting chapter where Glen leverages his industry experience to provide valuable insights and detailed reviews of fitness products.
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