The FlashForge Adventurer 3 Vs 4 are perfect for users who want the best convenience. These printers are almost ready to use and simple even for beginners. They have a compact form factor and decent build volume. They share many similarities and some noticeable differences. If you wonder which printer to purchase, let’s see what to expect from the two here.
In this comparison, we are going to talk about:
- What to Consider in a 3D Printer
- What are FlashForge Adventurer 3 and 4
- How are the Machines of FlashForge Adventurer 3 and 4
- How is the Capacity of FlashForge Adventurer 3 and 4
- How is the Building Bed in FlashForge Adventurer 3 and 4
- How is the Extruder on FlashForge Adventurer 3 and 4
- What else FlashForge Adventurer 3 and 4 can offer
- How is the Performance of FlashForge Adventurer 3 and 4
- FlashForge Adventurer 3 Vs 4
Buying a 3D Printer
3D printers are convenient, and by convenient means, you can replicate almost anything using plastic. The machines are getting more affordable and widely available for the masses, but they are not easy to use. At least owners have to understand how the machine works, including using the slicer software to communicate with the printer. However, you don’t need to know how to design something because plenty of free downloadable designs are always ready to use. Price-wise the machines and materials vary.
When buying a 3D printer, the first factor is what to print. Most people will be satisfied with any machine that can produce their items. FDM printers such as Voxelab Aries and FlashForge Adventurer 3 are perfect for fuss-free applications. They are almost ready to use and simple that even beginners can get started in no time. But, if your project calls for high-quality prints such as character figures, liquid resin printers like Elegoo Mars are a suitable choice.
Next is the print capacity or maximum item size we will print. Like a paper printer, there is a maximum size we can make at once, so it is wise to consider how big the items you will make because capacity is usually not upgradeable. Another factor to consider is the ease of use. Affordable printers are suitable for experienced users as long as they are easy to mod. But, if your goal is creating printed items, it is best to get something we don’t need to tweak or provide lots of features and automation.
| FlashForge Adventurer 3 | FlashForge Adventurer 4 | |
|---|---|---|
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| Product Dimensions | 15.28 x 14.96 x 15.94 inches; | 26.5 x 23 x 22.5 inches |
| Shipping Weight | 22.05 Pounds | 44 Pounds |
| Shop now at Amazon | Check price | Check price |
About FlashForge Adventurer 3 and 4
Some machines are more fun to custom, and some are built to be relatively easy to use but not thinker able. Suppose your primary purpose for a 3D printer is to produce printed items. In that case, the perfect machines are easy to use and reliable, so we can spend more time making prints than figuring out errors. Various companies make printers specific for this type of user, such as FlashForge. This company has been around for quite some time and is one of the best in convenience.
The company carries several machines to match its users’ preferences. The FlashForge Adventurer 3 and 4 are suitable options for users who want to start right with their 3D printing journey. The best thing about these machines is that they are almost ready to use once you take them out. Most affordable FDM printers will require at least a little bit of assembly, such as attaching the frame and connecting some cables; it is not a concern for these printers.
Being almost ready to use saves time and confusion, especially if you don’t have an interest in building a 3D printer. The FlashForge Adventurer 3 and 4 are close siblings and have similar features with some noticeable differences. The main difference that makes up the price gap is print volume. The Adventurer 4 is a much bigger machine than Adventurer 3, so you need to pay for this extra capacity. The convenience, printing system, and features are very similar.
The capacity of FlashForge Adventurer 4 is similar to Voxelab Aries that we have talked about before, but this machine has more features, including a built-in enclosure. We recommend FlashForge Adventurer 3 for most people because the capacity should be adequate for most print jobs, but if you need a bigger printer, then FlashForge 4 is the option.
FlashForge Adventurer 3 and 4 Printers
Usually, you will have to attach several parts when unboxing a 3D printer but not with FlashForge Adventurer 3 and 4. Removing the Adventurer 4 from its box is more challenging because the machine is bigger, and there is no handle that we can use to pull the machine out. The dimension is about 30% larger than Adventurer 3, but the material seems identical. These printers use a plastic injection body with a full-enclosure style for versatility and safety. The plastic housing appears to dampen the noise of these printers.
The printing mechanism is the same where a building plate stays at the same level and the hot end moves in both the Z and Y axes. These printers have a color touch panel, and the Adventurer 4 also has a wider screen than Adventurer 3. These printers receive data through a USB port, Ethernet port, or wirelessly through Wi-Fi. The spool holder is on the right sidewall, and as expected, the Adventurer 3 has a smaller spool holder. This panel also houses their extruder, where you feed the filament into the hot end.
FlashForge Adventurer 3 and 4 Capacity
Print capacity is crucial when you buy a 3D printer because usually, they are not upgradeable, so you will be stuck with the same capacity until purchasing another machine. Think about what you will print using the machine and, if necessary, measure the item. The main difference between FlashForge Adventurer 3 and 4 is the capacity because the former model is only 150 by 150 by 150 mm, while the new model increases the volume 25% to 200 by 200 by 200 mm. They are not huge but should be ideal for most people.
FlashForge Adventurer 3 and 4 Print Bed
The next part is a print bed or where your printed object sticks. The texture on your print bed is to help the first layer stick to the surface. This point is crucial because if it moves around, then the hot end won’t be able to deposit the next layer at the correct position, leaving you with something like a tangled strain of filament. The build plate is removable from the base and easy to use to help detach printed items without a scrapper.
The FlashForge Adventurer 3 and 4 bed is heated, and the maximum temperature is 100 degree Celsius which is standard and works well with most filaments. The main difference is that Adventurer 4 uses two rails to support the building bed while Adventurer 3 only uses one, located slightly to the left side. You can almost flip the right side because it has no support. But, the building bed of Adventurer 3 is small, so this issue doesn’t seem to affect printing performance.
FlashForge Adventurer 3 and 4 Extruder
These machines use a Bowden-style, separating the extruder and hot end. This mechanism is better because it can feed filament more consistently and make the hot end lighter for improved stability. The hot end’s maximum temperature is 240 degrees Celsius for Adventurer 3 and 265 degrees Celsius for Adventurer 4. The temperature difference makes Adventurer 4 more versatile for different filament types, including PETG, PC, PLA-CF, and PETG-CF. Unfortunately, this printer is not suitable for nylon filament.
FlashForge Adventurer 3 and 4 Features
Because FlashForge Adventurer 3 and 4 are built for convenience, these machines have some exciting features. One of the features is bed leveling which is not actually leveling the bed but only the distance of the hot end to the bed. The bed stays at the same level, so users can only tweak the nozzle’s height from the setting. This mechanism is straightforward but also has a drawback. The difference between calibration in Adventurer 3 and 4 is that the former only measures a single point in the middle.
The Adventurer 4 detects 9 points across the print bed, which is more accurate because sometimes we find the distance on these edges is different from the center. However, we still have a complaint about Adventurer 4. The distance adjustment is only in 0.1 mm increment, meaning it is impossible to get a precise distance between the 9 points to the nozzle. Still, it is an improvement over the older printer.
In addition, these printers also offer a detachable nozzle, which is excellent because there is no need to open the housing; it is effortless, like changing the cartridge in your paper printer. The FlashForge Adventurer 3 and 4 have wireless connectivity to print wirelessly, internal memory, and a camera to monitor the printing process.
FlashForge Adventurer 3 and 4 Performance
Lastly, we want to talk about the performance. FlashPrint is a very easy-to-use software to start with, and we think most people will agree that it is beginner-friendly. The software offers basic settings for your material type, so we don’t need to tweak it further. We noticed that stringing is quite an issue with Adventurer 3, probably due to the cooling system. The details are about the same, and they turn out well for most materials. The Adventurer 4 is more versatile if you want to print with varying materials.
FlashForge Adventurer 3 Vs 4
The FlashForge Adventurer 3 and 4 are similar yet different machines for different users. The main difference is the capacity, as you can print larger items with Adventurer 4. But, upon closer look, we also realize that this printer has some improved features. The Adventurer 4 adjusts the nozzle distance in 9 different points rather than just one for more accurate calibration. The printer can heat the nozzle at a higher temperature, making it more versatile for various materials, including flexible.
Conclusion
We think the price gap between FlashForge Adventurer 3 and 4 can make a noticeable difference in the overall performance and experience. We recommend beginners who only need a compact, reliable printer to choose Adventurer 3 and those who can invest more or need the extra capacity to choose Adventurer 4.