Creality’s latest iteration of the popular Ender 3 3D printer is the Ender 3 S1. The original Ender 3 was released in 2018 and was a massive hit in the consumer 3D printing sector thanks to its low cost and ease of upgradeability.
Creality has launched several Ender 3 variants, including the Ender 3 Pro and Ender 3 V2. More pre-installed features are added with each new version, usually based on popular community upgrades for the previous version. The Ender 3 S1 is the latest printer in the series. It comes with a filament runout sensor, a direct drive extruder, an automatic bed leveling sensor, belt tensioners, and other extra features.
While the Ender 3 S1 costs slightly more than the Ender 3 V2, the enhancements significantly improve the printer. Despite this, a 3D printer can never have enough improvements, and there is always a potential for improvement. We’ll go over several fantastic Ender 3 S1 improvements in this article that will further improve the machine’s performance and usability.
Fabulous Ender 3 S1 Upgrade On A Tight Budget Ribbon Cable Holder
Due to the usage of a ribbon cable for printhead wiring, the Ender 3 S1 has particular benefits in cable management. When the Z-axis carriage goes up and down, this ribbon wire is susceptible to being grabbed by the printer’s frame. You can print this ribbon cable holder to keep the printhead’s ribbon cable and the X-axis endstop, and stepper motor cables out of the way.
According to the designer, they printed the part with a 0.2-mm layer height and a 20% infill density. They also mentioned that they utilized PLA filament and activated supports for the print job. No additional screws are required to install the update beneath the X-axis stepper motor.
What it does: It keeps the ribbon cable and other wires out of the way, preventing them from becoming tangled in the frame.
Ribbon cable holder using 3D printing
- What it improves: Keeps the ribbon cable and other wires out of the way, so they don’t get caught on the frame
- Parts used: 3D printed ribbon cable holder
- Download: Ribbon Cable Holder
- Designer: alei100 (ribbon cable mount)
Fabulous Ender 3 S1 Upgrade On A Tight Budget OctoPrint
OctoPrint, a remote printer control hub, is one of the most popular upgrades for the Ender 3 and other open-source budget 3D printers. OctoPrint is commonly installed on a single-board computer, such as a Raspberry Pi, and communicates with your printer through USB.
You can use the server’s online interface to control your printer remotely, such as adjusting temperatures, starting prints, and shifting its components, once it’s been installed. You can download Extra OctoPrint plug-ins from the plug-in library to enable additional capabilities like BLTouch control, AI-based print monitoring, etc.
Because the Ender 3 S1 is such a young printer, there aren’t many guides for installing OctoPrint on it yet. However, the procedure should be nearly comparable to installing the application on another Ender 3 version. The Creality Wi-Fi Box is a beautiful alternative to a Raspberry Pi board if you don’t want to spend the money on one.
- What it improves: Enables remote printer control, monitoring, and other applications
- Parts used: Raspberry Pi board (or other SBC), 3D printed case, USB cable
- Download: Octoprint
- Designer: Gina Häußge (OctoPrint), dubs49 (integration for printer)
Fabulous Ender 3 S1 Upgrade On A Tight Budget Webcam
One of the most excellent advantages of OctoPrint and comparable systems (e.g., Creality Wi-Fi Box, AstroPrint) is attaching a web camera to your machine and monitoring it remotely. You can still record your prints using a camera (and specific other hardware) if you don’t have a remote printing server like OctoPrint that connects to your camera. This upgrade is especially beneficial for long prints while away from home because you can check to see if your printer is operating correctly.
Webcams come in various shapes and sizes, and most function with a USB connection that you can attach to your OctoPrint host computer. The Raspberry Pi camera module, Logitech C920, and Logitech C270 are three popular options for the Ender 3 S1 because of their frames-per-second and video quality. You’ll also need a suitable camera location, which you can do with a couple of 3D printed camera mounts for the Ender 3 S1, such as this bed-mounted alternative.
- What it improves: Allows you to watch your 3D printer at work remotely and record prints
- Parts used: Web camera, 3D printed mount
- Download: Webcam
- Designer: TSDano (mount)
Fabulous Ender 3 S1 Upgrade On A Tight Budget Fan Duct
A fan duct may not appear to be very important on a printer at first appearance, but airflow to the material going out the nozzle is critical. The extruded filament will remain melted for longer if it is not cooled correctly, reducing print quality (e.g., curled corners). Using a regular 5015 blower fan, this bespoke fan duct was developed for the Ender 3 S1’s “Sprite” printhead.
While this means you’ll have to replace the Ender 3 S1’s factory part blower fan, a 5015 fan is a better option for part cooling and is relatively inexpensive. According to the project page, you can attach the fan duct to the printer with a few screws, and you do not need further adjustments to the extruder or hot end are required. The designer advises viewing their instructional upgrade video to install the fan duct on your Ender 3 S1.
- What it improves: Provides better part cooling for the hot end
- Parts used: 3D printed part, 5015 blower fan, screws
- Download: Fan Duct
- Designer: NathanBuildsRobots
Fabulous Ender 3 S1 Upgrade On A Tight Budget Printhead Cable Holder
As previously indicated, the printhead on the Ender 3 S1 now uses a ribbon connection to power its components. If the ribbon wire becomes loose, the printhead’s electronic components turn off. And this would result in a print failure. Therefore, you may print this mounted cable holder to prevent this from ever happening.
The ribbon cable is supposed to run through the little slot at the front of the model. This upgrade should prevent the ribbon cable from quickly pulling from the printhead. The designer did not provide much additional information, but the modification should only require a few threaded inserts, screws, and the printed plate.
- What it improves: Keeps the printhead ribbon cable connected to the printhead
- Parts used: 3D printed part, threaded inserts, screws
- Download: Printhead Cable Holder
- Designer: dubs49
Fabulous Ender 3 S1 Upgrade On A Tight Budget Filament Sensor Holder
The filament runout sensor for the Ender 3 S1 is pre-installed on the printer’s stock spool holder on the top of the machine. This filament sensor holder allows you to transfer the filament sensor and attach it to the 3D printer’s top gantry, making it less inconvenient. However, this placement isn’t optimal because the sensor precludes you from using your filament spool holder or putting extra-large spools on the stockholder.
There are three variations of the model, each with different tolerances for sliding into the gantry and holding the sensor. According to one manufacturer, the model was printed with no supports using a 0.2-mm layer height and a 15% infill density in PLA filament. The sensor is attached to the mount with a single screw in this case.
- What it improves: Moves the filament runout sensor, so it’s out of the way of the spool holder
- Parts used: 3D printed mount, screw
- Download: Filament Sensor Holder
- Designer: pakkko
Fabulous Ender 3 S1 Upgrade On A Tight Budget Lights
Working without sufficient lighting, particularly in the small and tight locations on a 3D printer (for example, the extruder), can be a hassle. Adding an external lighting system to your printer will make working on it more straightforward and allow you to observe how your printer is printing from a distance.
There are a variety of lighting alternatives for a 3D printer, but the most straightforward is to utilize a USB-powered light bar or LED strips, which you can find for a reasonable price online. Many LED strips include glue for attaching the lights to your printer’s top extrusion, but you may instead use a 3D printed light mount for your Ender 3 S1. When it comes to mounting the lights, it’s best to start at the top of your printer and work your way down.
- What it improves: Illuminates your printer’s build space so you can better watch prints and fiddle with your machine
- Parts used: Lights, 3D printed holder
- Download: Lights
- Designer: Surnds0und (mount)
Fabulous Ender 3 S1 Upgrade On A Tight Budget Drawer Inserts
One of the most popular additions for the original Ender 3 was a 3D printable drawer to store tools and replacement parts (such as nozzles) for the printer. Creality included a tool cabinet in the Ender 3 V2 and preserved it in the Ender 3 S1. You may take it a step further by 3D printing this tool drawer insert to further organize your printer’s tools and parts.
The model fits into the space reserved for the pre-installed drawer and divides the space into five distinct portions. As seen in the image above, the parts are ideal for storing some of the accompanying tools, such as pliers, wrenches, Allen keys, and spare nozzles, without causing the pieces to overlap.
- What it improves: Keeps your tools and spare parts organized
- Parts used: 3D printed part
- Download: Drawer Inserts
- Designer: gumo_design (mount)
Fabulous Ender 3 S1 Upgrade On A Tight Budget Squash Ball Feet
Squash ball feet are a common addition for Ender 3 printers since they can lower their noise output. Squash balls are rubber spheres with a hollow core that, when used as feet for a 3D printer, help reduce the machine’s vibrations.
Purchase some squash balls online and place them on a 3D printable mount (compatible with the Ender 3 S1) that attaches to the bottom corners of your printer to add them to your Ender 3 S1.
- What it improves: Reduces the noise output of your printer
- Parts used: Squash balls, 3D printed mount, screws
- Download: Squash Ball Feet
- Designer: NathanBuildsRobots (mount)
Fabulous Ender 3 S1 Upgrade On A Tight Budget Build Plate Handle
- What it improves: Keeps your hands away from the hot build plate.
- Parts used: 3D printed handle
- Download: Build Plate Handle
- Designer: ko3Des
Fabulous Ender 3 S1 Upgrade On A Tight Budget Knurled Knob
- What it improves: Improve the usage of knob
- Parts used: 3D printed knob
- Download: Knurled Knob
- Designer: ko3Des
