Affordable 3D printers are everywhere and they are often what is recommended for starters or budget shoppers. However, bare machines also have some drawbacks compared to the more expensive options such as how FlashForge Finder Vs Ender 3 are different from each other. These two are equally an entry level but for different types of user and also for what you want to achieve from them. If you are also considering getting one of the two, let’s see below about what they can offer here.
In this comparison, we are going to talk about:
- Is Affordable Printer Worth to Buy
- What are FlashForge Finder and Ender 3
- How are the Design of FlashForge Finder and Ender 3
- How are the Capacity of FlashForge Finder and Ender 3
- How are the Build Plate in FlashForge Finder and Ender 3
- How are the Experience with FlashForge Finder and Ender 3
- FlashForge Finder Vs Ender 3
Affordable 3D Printers
For the majority of people, we need to always consider the price to make a purchase. Considering whether the product is actually worth the amount we will be spending and this is the same when you want to buy a 3D printer. This technology has been around for quite some time but they are getting more familiar to the general public only in the last several years. Thankfully, today there are lots of more affordable machines to facilitate beginners or students and enthusiasts in getting started with the machine.
When scrolling on the list of good 3D printers, we will see an abundant amount of options from different brands, technologies, and even the size they can work with. Typically the larger the machine the costlier they get because chances are this is meant for professional use or to build something that has an economic value. On the other hand the affordable machine is the simplest based on how they work, how they offer the feature, and how large of an object you can make.
In comparison, the affordable machine is very interesting and ideal for new users because of various advantages. First, we never know what will happen in the future and if this is your first machine, there is a chance that you may not be as interested in the hobby in the near future which makes buying an expensive option a waste of budget. Second, as beginners we usually only work with low-cost material and make simple objects.
3D printing is not only the machine but also the software which plays a huge role in deciding the print result. With cheaper machines we are optimizing the budget and using the time to learn and understand how they work by experimenting and printing different objects whether it is just a figure of your favorite character or a model of a molecule for a school project. For this type of task almost any 3D printer in any price range can work really well, combined with the proper soft skills.
As our tech is getting more advanced, just like how 3D printers were made at a low-cost for the first time, today the higher options are getting cheaper as well. In the past bare machines were the cheapest but you can find some convenient features or even machines with larger build volume at sub $200. In addition, if you decide to get your hands dirty later, spending on a low-cost machine and using the rest of the budget to buy additional or loose components to improve the machine is also possible.
| Flashforge Finder | Ender 3 | |
|---|---|---|
  |   |
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| Product Dimensions | 16.54 x 16.54 x 16.54 inches | 8.7 x 8.7 x 9.8 inches |
| Shipping Weight | 24.25 Pounds | 17.64 Pounds |
| Best offer | Check price | Check price |
About FlashForge Finder and Ender 3
While they may be less interesting in the sea of larger or fancy 3D printers, as long as the machine can work properly we should be able to utilize it to the fullest. However, as tempting as it is to get a cheaper machine, do consider what you want to get from them. Capacity for example is the most important as we can’t bump it up so make sure the machine is capable of working on any of the designs you will be working on later.
When talking about cheap 3D printers, our minds always recall Creality with their Ender 3 which is probably the one that makes many more affordable machines showing up in the market. This famous company has the options whether you want the affordable or high-end machines, and on the other hand if you want a machine that is convenient out of the box then FlashForge is the perfect choice. In comparison they are making printers for two different types of users and what’s most important to you should help with the selection.
Both companies have their own version of an entry-level machine with FlashForge Finder and Ender 3 that are similar to a certain extent but also completely different from each other. These machines are made for beginners but if you are sacrificing more to get an easy to use machine with Finder, you are spending less for the “simplicity” of Ender 3. They are equally simple but with different meanings and for those who will want to tweak the machine, we recommend the Ender 3.
On the other hand, if what you are looking for is straightforward and a machine that is almost ready to use out of the box, we will recommend the Finder. In our opinion the Finder is more suitable for students when they need a 3D printer to make various objects for other learning processes and not learning the 3D printer to expand it or as a hobby itself.
FlashForge Finder and Ender 3 Design
Before moving further, let’s first see the machine because they are also very much different here. The type of machine FlashForge Finder and Ender 3 belong to is Cartesian. They will have a bed plate that moves in the Y axis while the X and Z movement is done by the extruder in Ender 3. In FlashForge, the bed is moving on the Z axis while the extruder is on the Y and X axis. Read also: FlashForge Adventurer 3 Lite Vs Adventurer 3.
What’s prominently different is Finder has a cradle that almost encloses the printing room. There is no sidewall however so the machine is not enclosed at all. As for the Ender 3, there is only the pillar that holds the extruder so the machine looks bare but also bigger in capacity. Another thing you may want to consider when getting this machine is it will come in a kit and we have to assemble it first. The manual will be very helpful but it will take some time, especially for a first time owner.
FlashForge Finder and Ender 3 Capacity
Now, let’s see what the FlashForge Finder and Ender 3 can offer starting from the basic which is capacity. What we love the most from Ender 3 is their capacity because Creality’s entry-level machines have medium sized build plates and should be able to work for school projects, models of your favorite game or even some tools to use around the house; all possible in one machine. It has a capacity of 220 x 220 x 250 mm while the Finder only at 150 x 150 x 150 mm.
This doesn’t make Finder a bad option however, because not all of us will use the machine for the same purpose and if what you will build is mostly small items, we do think this machine is more than capable for a wide range of users.
FlashForge Finder and Ender 3 Build Plate
The next difference is on the build plate and they are a bit similar here since the two use the same removable bed. What makes the Finder more convenient is because the machine can level the bed on its own. It is different from auto levelling which is based on touch sensors because this machine is based on the pre-programmed function. It may sound concerning but the build plate itself is very small so this system will be working reliably.
In Ender 3, this machine is manually leveled through the 4 large knobs below the bed. We can use paper to test whether the bed is in a perfect distance to the nozzle or whether it needs more adjustment. It is a tasking process but crucial to get the best print out of your machine.
FlashForge Finder and Ender 3 Experience
Lastly on the experience, overall between FlashForge Finder and Ender 3 the more convenient one will be your Finder printer. Another thing we love from this machine is the control panel because the color screen is simpler and easier to understand. The machine also looks good in case you need to put it in a visible place like in the lab. With Ender, there are so many possibilities to work on this machine but it is for people who are enthusiastic about the 3D printing mechanism.
The ability to tweak and improve the machine as you learn how it works is what makes Ender 3 a great value for hobbyists. On the other hand Finder is an end-consumer product, they are simple, working reliably, but also more limited.
Flashforge Finder vs Ender 3
Both FlashForge Finder and Ender 3 are amazing options for different types of users. Their printing result is on par with each other but the convenience is different. Overall the Finder is the easier to use and good looking machine compared to Ender 3 but, the latter is carrying a much bigger capacity, cheaper, but also opening a possibility for improvement if you will want to upgrade the machine later.
Conclusion
There is no bad option between the two and we can shop based on which seems more attractive to you. The Finder is a straightforward and convenient machine, perfect for users who just want a machine that works while on the other hand Ender 3 is great for enthusiasts who are also interested in the 3D printing itself.