TL;DR, this Ender 2 Pro is amazing. I set it up and got it printing while I was playing a board game.
The major selling point of the original Macintosh computer in 1984 was that “it was just like an appliance.” Meaning, the “how to use it” was simple, clear and intuitive. You just knew, because it made sense. This was a computer that was just like your toaster, microwave, blender, refrigerator, and so on. You took them out of the box, put it on the counter, plugged it in, turned it on, made a couple of minor adjustments and it just worked.
I remarked in my book “See Mark Paint,”
Right now, the 3D printer revolution is in its’ infancy. Kind of like computers were in the 1970’s. Sure the Big Guys had the big computers, however for everyone else, we had… kits. Yes, assembly and sometimes even soldering was sometimes required to get these working. These nascent computers were barebones and at the same time customizable. 3D printers today are the same way. The aftermarket modifications are plentiful because no one knew with the first home-use printers, what features or capabilities they should have.
I found such a 3D printer, the Ender 2 Pro.
I have been futzing (yes, that is a specific technical term) with my Ender 3 on-and-off for months. The BLTouch suddenly required a double offset (I didn’t move it, but I had to go from a -4.3mm offset to an -8.3mm offset), I couldn’t get it to level, the Ender 3 would just not do what I wanted it to do. So, I saw an Ender 2 Pro on special and jumped on it.
After pulling the parts out of the box, I followed the instructions (GASP! A Man following instructions?!?), screwed four screws to secure the arm to the base, plugged the connectors into the X and Z motors, adjusted the Z-stop, leveled the bed and I was done. I sliced Chuck Hellebuyck’s concentric squares function print for the Ender 2 and printed it twice to fine-tune the leveling. The next print was a calibration cube that measured 19.97mm x 20mm x 20.3mm. I didn’t have to calibrate the e-steps for the extruder or the XYZ movement motors.
More things I like: It has a handle to carry it if you need to, and it has knobs to set the tension on the X and Y belts.
The things I don’t like is the print head is not easily accessible, and the available printing area for the Ender 2 is 1/3rd that of an Ender 3, 4,500 cubic centimeters versus 13,806cc. Which is only a big deal if you’re printing big things like a ‘Mech scale dropship, or a company of ‘Mechs at one time.
How long will this last, before the Bowden tube needs trimming, the nozzle starts clogging, etc.? I don’t know. I am just enjoying this “honeymoon phase” of this printer, which I never had with the Ender 3. I fought with that one right out of the box and most every time I’ve turned it on.