Printing surfaces on 3D printers have been improving since FDM printing was first conceived. Now, magnetic beds are the new standard on many modern 3D printers because they’re straightforward to use, allow for good adhesion, and when a print is finished, it’s easy to pop right off.
Creality’s Ender 3, Ender 3 Pro, and Ender 3 V2 are some of the most popular 3D printers available to hobbyists. But that doesn’t mean they can’t be enhanced.
Since we’re focusing exclusively on build surfaces in this article, let’s take a look at what Creality gives you out of the box for each model: The Ender 3 comes with a polypropylene build plate, while the Ender 3 Pro has a C-Mag magnetic platform sticker on its build surface. Switching it up from its predecessors, the Ender 3 V2 ships with a textured glass bed.
Now that we know what we’re working with, let’s take a deeper look at the Ender build surfaces and go over the best options for adding a magnetic build plate to your beloved Ender 3, Pro, or V2.
The Originals
While the original Ender 3 comes with a basic polypropylene build plate, its successors both made upgrades to this surface. Before we get into the magnetic upgrades, let’s review what comes with the Ender 3 Pro and V2.
Ender 3 Pro
The Ender 3 Pro comes with a similar build surface to that of its predecessor, just slightly softer. The build surface is attached to the build plate by magnets. The surface itself is very flexible and has a grainy texture (similar to BuildTak, discussed below). In most cases, the bed does its job well and users are content with its consistent results.
Pros
- Flexible enough to release prints easily
- Works exceptionally well with PLA
- Cheap to replace, if necessary
Cons
Ender 3 V2
Unlike the original and Pro versions, the Ender 3 V2 comes with a tempered glass build plate, known for its excellent adherence properties with most printing materials. This glass bed is also textured, with small dips and rises along the surface that essentially grip the first layer of prints to help them stick better. When heated, due to the thermal properties of glass, this build plate tends to expand, so it’s important that you only level the bed when it’s heated to printing temperature.
Pros
- Most materials stick to the build plate
- The textured surface better grips the first layer of prints
Cons
- You can only level the bed when it’s heated
- Glass is fragile
With the above in mind, we’ll be looking into some alternatives that improve upon the shortcomings of the Ender 3s’ stock build surfaces. In particular, we’ll highlight some magnetic build surfaces that are durable, can increase your bed’s temperature range, are simple to use and install, and stick to and easily release prints.
Wham Bam
The Wham Bam system started as a project on Kickstarter, and after being fully funded by interested purchasers, it became very popular in the 3D printing community.
The Wham Bam system is widely customizable, and the price is reasonable considering the features it provides. It consists of three parts: the magnetic sticker, a spring steel flexible build plate, and a smooth PEX (cross-linked polyethylene) coating sticker that goes onto the flexible sheet.
PEX coating is designed as an improvement on a PEI sheet because it can withstand higher temperatures, meaning it can be used for printing a wider range of materials. As a bonus, the PEX coating can be easily replaced in case of any damage.
Pros
- Easy to install and use
- Wider material compatibility with consistent results
- Available in a variety of sizes
- Parts sold separately
Price
The Wham Bam starts at $29 for the smallest bed size (Ø115 mm) and goes up to $202 for the largest (510 x 510 mm).
BuildTak FlexPlate
BuildTak has built (pun intended!) itself a reputation for making some of the best 3D printing surfaces. Its FlexPlate system is similar to the stock surface on the Ender 3 Pro, though it can withstand higher temperatures.
BuildTak, like Wham Bam, consists of three parts: a magnetic mounting base, a spring steel sheet, and a sticker. However, its surface sticker is textured, unlike Wham Bam’s smooth PEX sheet. The other two parts are pretty much the same.
If you want more detailed information, you can read our full review of the BuildTak FlexPlate.
Pros
- Durable and resistant to higher temperatures
- Easy to use
- Provides better first layer adhesion
- Available in all standard sizes, covering the majority of 3D printers
Price
A BuildTak FlexPlate starts at around $22 for the smallest size (219.96 x 219.96 mm) and goes up to around $205 for the largest (500.38 x 500.38 mm).
Easy-Peelzy
The Easy-Peelzy magnetic bed is the closest thing to the stock Ender 3 Pro bed surface in touch, material, and use. Like the Ender 3 Pro’s stock surface, it consists of a two-part system: a magnetic base and a build surface. Unlike the previous two magnetic beds, there’s no spring steel sheet involved.
There are just a few sizes available, so you may need to cut it to fit your build plate. The price is certainly attractive, and if all you’re planning to print is PLA, this could really meet your needs.
For even more information about this magnetic build surface, check out our full review of the Easy-Peelzy.
Pros
- Easy installation and use
- Slightly more durable
- The price is relatively cheap and offers excellent results for PLA printing
Price
The Easy-Peelzy’s smallest square (200 x 200 mm) is around $15, going up to approximately $50 for its largest (500 x 500 mm).
Ziflex
The Ziflex system, put out by the company Zimple, is another example of a successful Kickstarter campaign. Their product is fairly similar to Easy-Peelzy, being a two-part system that also doesn’t use a spring steel sheet. Indeed, the Zimple team has avoided the use of spring steel by developing stronger and temperature-resistant magnets.
The Ziflex offers a choice of getting either a low-temperature kit (bed temperatures of up to 70 °C) or a high-temperature kit (bed temperatures of up to 150 °C). This choice allows users to get what they need without paying extra.
Pros
- Available as a low- or high-temperature kit
- Available in custom sizes
- Easy installation and use
- Stable positioning from strong magnets
- Reasonably priced
Price
The Ziflex’s smallest size (128 x 128 mm) starts at around €18 (~$20) and goes up to approximately €26 (~$30) for the largest (220 x 220 mm).
The Strongest Magnetic Field?
Which bed you are most attracted to? The good news is that all of the options we’ve covered can be great additions to your Ender 3, Pro, or V2 and make your prints stick and come off with ease.
The first and main thing you’ll need to figure out is how satisfied you are with your Ender’s stock build plate. If you’d like something different, you’ll need to consider which material(s) you’ll use for printing (i.e. the highest temperature you’ll need your bed to withstand) and, of course, how much extra money you’d like to spend. Once you decide though, we’re confident you’ll enjoy your new bed!
Lead image source: All3DP
License: The text of "The Best Ender 3 (V2/Pro) Magnetic Beds" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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