10 Must-Have Upgrades for the Creality Ender 3 S1 3D Printer
Ender 3 S1 3D Printer/Source: Creality
Looking for another 3D printer? Check out our guide on the best upgrades for 3D printers, our guide on the best Ender 5 upgrades, or our Ender 3 3D printer comparison guide.
Creality 3D printers are well-known for their low cost and reliability. If you own an Ender 3 S1 3D Printer, you're already on your way to producing stunning prints. But instead of limiting yourself to the default features of the printer, why not upgrade it to deliver even better performance? And so we've compiled a list of the top ten must-have upgrades for your Ender 3 S1 3D printer.
These upgrades will propel your 3D printing to new heights. We have everything you need, from precision-enhancing accessories to creative additions that push the limits of what your 3D printer can do. Whether you're an experienced maker or a beginner, these enhancements will improve your experience and open up new possibilities.
1. Fan Duct – For fast layer cooling
Ender 3 S1 Bolt-on Fan Duct/Source: Thingiverse
Cooling is just as important as heating in 3D printing. While the Ender 3 S1's fan duct does an adequate job, faster cooling can always yield better results.
It is critical to understand the drawbacks of slower cooling. Slower cooling causes the layer bonding to weaken, the parts to remain weak, and the overall durability to suffer. As a result, you can add a new fan duct to the print head to ensure successful prints.
A new and stronger fan will ensure that more air flows to the printed part, which cools it faster and allows the layers to fuse faster for a tougher print, ultimately building a more durable print and improving overall quality.
You'll be glad to know that this upgrade is completely free. All you have to do is 3D print the free fan duct model from Thingiverse. The setup may appear complicated to most, but the designers have uploaded an installation video just in case.
2. Laser Engraver Kit – For something more than a 3D printer
Creality Ender-3 S1/S1 Pro/Plus Laser Engraver Kit/Source: Creality
Most hobbyists and makers use a number of manufacturing machines right from 3D printing to CNC machines, wood-working and others. One such machine is a laser engraver. But instead of buying a new separate machine, you can just buy Creality’s laser engraver kit.
This laser engraver has a smaller light spot which makes it more powerful and so you will be able to engrave on a variety of materials like cardboard, wood, bamboo, rubber, leather, fabric, acrylic, plastic, etc. It also has a built-in air filter which effectively absorbs the smoke and odors generated by burning.
This upgrade for the Ender 3 S1 will help you save costs and also be quite useful.
3. Install OctoPrint with a Raspberry Pi – For Smart 3D printing
Obico software/Courtesy: Obico
Although 3D printers are useful for printing custom parts, they are not particularly intelligent. If you want to make them smart, use software applications that give them intelligence, which means they can detect errors, communicate status notifications, be controlled from anywhere in the world, record prints, and even make critical decisions like stopping prints in the event of potential fire hazards.
If you think this is all science fiction, think again. With our software Obico, you can do everything we mentioned above. You only need a Raspberry Pi with OctoPrint and Obico installed.
If you're new to Obico and OctoPrint, don't worry; we've provided a step-by-step guide on how to set up Octoprint on Ender 3 and the instructions are the same for the Ender 3S1.
4. Ender-3 S1 LED Light Strip - For safe night printing
LED light bar, a default feature on the Ender 3 S1 Pro printer/Source: Creality
The LED light bar is an essential upgrade for your Ender 3 S1 3D printer. It is a standard feature on the Ender 3 s1 Pro, but the light bar must be purchased separately for the earlier S1 model.
It goes without saying how useful these simple lights can be when printing at night or in low-light situations. It also looks pretty cool.
Most of us keep 3D printers in an attic, basement, or garage. Essentially, a location where light is generally quite dim. This means that you are constantly operating in low-light environments, straining your eyes for the majority of the time. Additionally, when it comes to 3D printing, we all know that many of our prints run late into the night or even run overnight. Instead of using a torch, it is preferable to place an LED light directly on top of the printer, allowing you to monitor the print in clear white light.
An LED light bar is the ideal upgrade for you. The LED light bar is available from Creality's official website and is compatible with an Ender 3 S1. It easily attaches to the frame and is powered by the printer. Even though it costs $25, it is still worthwhile to consider. Alternatively, you can save money by downloading a light bar design from Thingiverse and installing the light yourself.
5. Creality Large Size Warm Enclosure – For improving performance
Creality Enclosure/Source: Thingiverse
Ender 3 printers lack enclosures, and we all know how open framework printers are affected by their surroundings. You are constantly confronted with issues such as dust settling on the printer, flowing air cooling the prints, and cooling the print bed, which affects layer adhesion and thus fails the prints.
The warm enclosure offered by Creality is a simple upgrade for your Ender 3 S1 3D printer. The large 750mm x 700mm x 900mm enclosure can maintain a constant temperature printing environment, reducing the negative impact on printed models during low-temperature weather and improving printing stability. The interior is made of flame-retardant appearance material and pure aluminum film. Technically, if caught in a fire, it will melt rather than burn, and it will not spread as quickly.
This 3D printer enclosure is foldable, making it easy to store and transport while saving you space. With pockets for the tools, you'll need. Unzip the front of the enclosure to gain access to the printer.
6. Klipper and install Obico for Klipper for full Remote Access and 3D Printing Peace of Mind
Klipper screen while printing is in progress/Source: Klipper
Marlin, as you may be aware, is the most popular and widely used 3D printer firmware. Your 3D printer or printers must, in fact, be running Marlin firmware. We have no doubt about it. Klipper, however, is one of several alternatives to Marlin.
Unlike traditional 3D printer firmware, which runs on a single mainboard, Klipper runs on multiple boards. Klipper is intended to work with a 3D printer mainboard and a single-board computer, such as a Raspberry Pi, to eliminate the problems associated with low computing power. Klipper works in tandem with the Raspberry Pi to assist the mainboard in processing commands, allowing you to print more quickly and precisely.
Klipper firmware can be controlled via OctoPrint, a local network utility with limited Klipper functionality. You can use the Mainsail or Fluidd web interfaces to get more features and functionality. These, too, are only appropriate for local networks. If you want to be able to control your 3D printer from anywhere, you'll need to look into a different solution.
Obico for Klipper is a universal solution that allows you to have more control over Klipper, allowing your 3D printer to perform better. Once you setup Obico for Klipper, you will have unprecedented access to and control over your 3D printer. Obico is an intelligent, open-source, all-in-one 3D printing platform that allows you to monitor and control your 3D printer from anywhere in the world. Furthermore, its AI Failure detection can detect hazards early, protecting you, your 3D printer from equipment damage, and even your home from potential fire. Obico also gives you full remote access to the popular Klipper web interfaces, Mainsail and Fluidd You can now operate and control your 3D printer from the comfort of your smartphone using its Klipper-compatible mobile app.
We also have a detailed guide on how to install Klipper on your Ender 3 S1 3D printer, in case you are interested in getting started.
7. Tool Organizer – For managing tools
Tool drawer/Source: Thingiverse
Ender 3 S1 has a dedicated tool drawer, but it is common to stuff so many tools into it that it literally overflows and does not close. Everyone has faced this situation on multiple occasions.
So, to alleviate your frustration and eliminate this unnecessary activity, we recommend that you 3D print this tool organizer to organize your workspace. It fits perfectly into the tool drawer and serves as a mold for all of the printer's tools. So, you simply place all tools in their proper locations. It also aids in finding the correct tool when you need to use it rather than searching for it among other tools. More importantly, there is some extra space for additional tools that can be organized.
This may appear to be a minor detail, but it is unquestionably significant.
8. Cable Guide: For better cable management
If you enjoy tidying up and organizing your workspace, we'll move on to another organizer option. For managing the printer's cables, we recommend using a cable guide.
Thingiverse has a plethora of free designs that you can download and use. Use just one design or several, but all of these will undoubtedly help to reduce the clutter that often surrounds our 3D printers.
Ender 3 S1 Cable Guide, Ender 3 S1 cable holder/guide or Creality Ender-3 S1 PRO - Cable holder Z-axis are some of the designs to consider.
9. PEI Flexible Build Plate Upgrade – For improving bed adhesion
PEI flexible build plate/Source: Creality
The Ender 3 S1 printer comes with a standard PC flexible build plate that is more than adequate. A new build plate, on the other hand, would be a good upgrade if you want better performance. A PEI flexible build plate is now essential for improving bed adhesion when working with difficult filaments. Furthermore, the plate's flexibility makes it simple to remove prints.
Creality provides its own PEI flexible build plate, but you can also look for cheaper third-party plates. These plates, too, function properly and do not cause any performance issues.
10. Heat Block Silicone Cover – For hotend insulation
Heat Block Silicone Cover/Source: Creality
The Kapton tape and heat-resistant cotton wear out over time and must be replaced. Instead of using the same solution, you could try using a silicone cover. This heat block cover is a much more durable and functional solution for hotend insulation.
The hotend sock will greatly assist in maintaining the hotend's temperature regardless of the temperature of the surrounding environment. Because the structure of the silicone inside the sock prevents heat from escaping quickly, Hotend Socks can be used to quickly heat the hotend to the desired temperature. It has a high heat resistance of 300°C and thus works well with the Ender 3 S1 printer.
Conclusion
In conclusion, these top ten must-have upgrades for your Ender 3 S1 3D printer will take your creativity to the next level. We've explored everything from performance enhancing upgrades to ones that will ease your experience, some that will help you get better results and some that will make your 3D printer smart, some just for tidying up things while others will make your printer run fast. We have tried to cover it all.
So, let us know which upgrades you tried and if you try one of these upgrades, leave a comment below with your thoughts! Don't forget to checkout Obico for OctoPrint or [Obico for Klipper(https://obico.io/klipper.html) to get remote monitoring and control from any device, AI failure detection and more!