Introduction:
The Creality Ender 2 Pro, priced at $170, offers budget-friendly 3D printing with an emphasis on portability. While delivering quality prints, it lacks advanced features seen in higher-priced models like the Prusa MINI+. As part of the Ender 3 ecosystem, potential modifications are restricted due to Creality’s limitations on the V2.4.v4 motherboard source code. The printer’s 165 x 165 x 180 mm print volume may limit larger projects. Considering an $80 upgrade to the Ender 3 Pro provides a larger build volume and similar features.
Assembly:
The Ender 2 Pro’s setup kit includes essential tools like a nozzle cleaner, spare nozzle, Bowden connectors, and a microSD card with a USB adapter. A small sample of white PLA enables immediate printing. The absence of a squeegee to protect the bed’s soft surface is notable. However, instructional resources on the microSD card, including a video and PDF manual, guide assembly and initial prints. Creality Slicer 4.8.0 and various print templates offer experimentation options, featuring a rabbit, alternate handles, and a spaceship.
Before using the printer, correctly adjust eccentric nuts for smooth X and Y guide movement. With two eccentric nuts on the Y-axis and one on the X-axis, adjust by a quarter turn if any impediments are detected. Proper strap tensioning is crucial—tight enough to spring back when pressed but not excessively tight. Utilize the strap tensioning knobs for necessary adjustments.
Design:
Weighing 3.5 kg, the Ender 2 Pro’s compact, portable design includes a top-mounted handle for easy carrying. The X-gantry’s single Z-axis, utilizing a cantilever design, features a plastic base and an extruded aluminum frame. The Z-axis, secured with four screws and reinforced with a bracket, eliminates wobble. A handle loop on the back protects the Z-axis from accidental bumps. The power supply, base plate, and a convenient tool drawer are within the base.
The Ender 2 Pro ensures a user-friendly printing experience with adjustable belt tensioners and a magnetic bed for easy print removal. While the TMC 2208 drivers contribute to a quieter motherboard, the overall noise remains relatively high due to the motherboard fan. The side-mounted filament holder enhances balance and reduces vibration compared to the older top-mounted Ender 2, featuring the standard Creality hotend, extruder, and Bowden tube design found in the Ender 3. The machine’s LED screen, a monochrome display with a selector button, is conveniently detachable without screws for travel or storage.
Features:
Flexible and magnetic bed surface
- Heats up to 100°C.
- 5 mm thick, magnetic for easy print removal.
- Minimizes warping, extends filament options.
- Fragile surface; caution with nozzle contact.
Storage compartiment
- Base drawer stores included tools.
- Tools: imbus wrenches, screwdriver, scissors, eccentric guide wheel wrenches, hotend nozzle wrench.
By exploring these features, the Creality Ender 2 Pro strikes a balance between affordability, portability, and practicality, catering to the needs of 3D printing enthusiasts.
Sum up
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