The Creality Ender 3 S1 Plus – A Top Choice for Beginner 3D Printing Enthusiasts

The world of 3D printing has exploded in popularity in recent years as the technology has become more accessible and affordable. One 3D printer that has emerged as an excellent entry-level choice for beginners is the Creality Ender 3 S1 Plus. With its combination of quality, features, and price point, it’s easy to see why this 3D printer has garnered so much attention.

Overview of the Ender 3 S1 Plus

The Ender 3 S1 Plus is an upgraded version of Creality‘s popular Ender 3 series of 3D printers. It retains the same sturdy, modular open frame design but with some key enhancements that improve print quality, safety, and ease of use.

Some of the highlights of the Ender 3 S1 Plus include:

• Build volume of 220 x 220 x 270 mm
• Direct drive extruder for flexible filaments
• CR Touch auto bed leveling
• 32-bit silent motherboard
• 5″ full color touchscreen
• Dual Z-axis rods for stability
  -resume print capability after power outage
• Enclosed electronics case

It is priced very competitively at $399, which makes it an affordable entry point into higher-end hobbyist 3D printing. The combination of features and price is whatreally sets the Ender 3 S1 Plus apart.

What Makes the Ender 3 S1 Plus a Great Choice for Beginners

There are several key factors that make the Ender 3 S1 Plus an excellent choice as a first 3D printer:

Easy to Assemble – The printer comes partially assembled but is designed to be put together fairly quickly and intuitively. The instructions are clear with photos, and all necessary tools are included. This makes setup simple for total beginners.

Reliable and Durable – The metal framing and overall construction feel sturdy and made to last through repeated printing. Owners report reliability even with frequent heavy use.

Good Print Quality Out of the Box – Many users achieve impressive print quality without any modifications or calibration. The printer is capable of 100 micron resolution right away.

Easy to Use Interface – The full color touchscreen is intuitive to navigate. It also supports firmware updates via SD card for new features and enhancements.

Active User Community – As a popular Creality model, there are tons of online guides, videos, and help available from other Ender 3 users.

Upgraded Features from the Ender 3 – The S1 Plus version adds key functionality like auto bed leveling, direct drive extruder, dual Z-axis and more that really improve the overall user experience.

Great Value for the Price – Considering the build volume, print quality, and feature set, the Ender 3 S1 Plus offers outstanding value compared to other printers in this price range.

Ender 3 S1 Plus Key Specs and Features

Here is an overview of some of the most important specs and capabilities of the Ender 3 S1 Plus:

Print Technology: FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling)

Build Volume: 220 x 220 x 270 mm (8.6 x 8.6 x 10.6 inches)

Layer Resolution: 0.1mm/100 microns

Build Plate: Carborundum glass

Nozzle: 0.4mm (interchangeable)

Filament Types: PLA, PETG, TPU, ABS, Exotics

Extruder: Direct drive with dual gear

Auto Bed Leveling: CR Touch

Stepper Motors: Ultra-silent TMC2208

Controller: 32-bit with silent motherboard

LCD Interface: 5″ full color touchscreen

Frame: Aluminum with dual lead screws

Enclosure: Integrated electronics case

Connectivity: SD card, USB

OS Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

Price: $399

Direct Drive Extruder

One of the biggest improvements on the Ender 3 S1 Plus model is the inclusion of a direct drive extruder. This does away with the bowden setup used on earlier Ender 3 versions.

With a direct drive, the extruder motor and drive gear are mounted right on the print head carriage rather than remote. This allows for more precise control and faster response time for the filament extrusion.

The key benefits of direct drive include:

• Better printing with flexible materials like TPU
• Reduced stringing and oozing
• Ability to print faster overall
• More consistent extrusion and smoother surface
• Retractions and fine details are handled better

For beginners still learning calibration, a direct drive can help achieve quality prints more easily and consistently. The Ender 3 S1 Plus extruder uses dual drive gears for added grip and a wider gear ratio for torque.

Dual Lead Screws for Stability

To improve stability and precision on taller prints, the Ender 3 S1 Plus uses dual lead screws on the Z-axis.

With just a single lead screw like on the original Ender 3, the gantry can sometimes wobble or shift at higher heights. Dual lead screws prevent this by keeping both sides tightly synchronized and aligned.

The result is excellent layer precision with no noticeable banding or artifacts. This also allows faster print speeds, enabling the Ender 3 S1 Plus to print quickly while still maintaining print quality.

For new users, this stability gives added peace of mind for printing larger, taller models without issues down the road requiring modding or upgrades to fix.

CR Touch and Auto Bed Leveling

One of the most tedious regular maintenance tasks on 3D printers is manually leveling the print bed. The Ender 3 S1 Plus makes this process completely automatic with the inclusion of the CR Touch auto bed leveling sensor.

The CR Touch is mounted to the print head carriage and uses a retractable probe to map the contours of the bed before printing. It automatically compensates for any unevenness in real time.

This means users don’t have to constantly check and tweak the bed knobs and re-level. Once calibrated, auto bed leveling works in the background to provide a perfectly even first layer.

For beginners, this takes a tricky manual task out of the equation resulting in faster, easier printing with no failed first layers due to improper leveling. The CR Touch is highly accurate and consistent for bed surfaces like the Ender 3 S1’s carborundum glass.

32-Bit Motherboard and Silent Drivers

Many budget 3D printers suffer from loud, distracting operation and repetitive noise. The Ender 3 S1 Plus uses a 32-bit motherboard paired with TMC2208 silent stepper motor drivers for whisper-quiet printing.

These upgraded electronics offer benefits like:

• Quiet operation around 30-35 dB vs 50+ dB
• Faster and smoother stepper control
• Support for advanced features like linear advance
• More memory for larger prints
• Better thermal management for electronics

For home and office use, the silent operation is a huge plus over the whining or grinding sounds emitted by other cheap printers. New users no longer have to tolerate loud distractions, especially for overnight prints.

5″ Full Color Touchscreen Interface

While many printers in this class rely on small black and white LCD interfaces, the Ender 3 S1 Plus features an upgraded 5″ full color touchscreen.

This high-visibility display shows rich graphics and makes navigation much simpler. Key info like the hotend and bed temperature are easily visible at a glance.

The touchscreen is very responsive and intuitive for beginners to find and change settings quickly. WiFi and camera integration in future firmware updates will further leverage the capabilities of the advanced interface.

For new users still learning the ropes, the well-designed touchscreen is a big asset and makes configuring prints more straightforward.

Open Frame Design with Electronics Enclosure

The Ender 3 S1 Plus uses the same open frame style as previous generations. This exposed design has some key advantages:

• Easy access for assembly, maintenance, and mods
• Better airflow and cooling
• Takes up less space than an enclosure
• Lower cost to manufacture

However, one downside is electronics being more exposed to dust and debris. To get the best of both worlds, the Ender 3 S1 Plus includes an integrated electronics case to protect the motherboard and PSU.

This helps prevent electrical shorts or damage from accidents for new users. The open frame is kept for access while critical components are now encased safely.

Reliability and Ease of Repair

A major concern when buying a new 3D printer is how reliable it will be over time. The Ender 3 S1 Plus uses quality components and materials that lend themselves to longevity and durability even with repeated heavy use.

The printer mechanics are precise but simple without overly complex arrangements that are prone to break. The modular design also makes individual parts easy to access or replace if needed.

For beginners, ease of repair is good peace of mind. Replacement parts are affordable and widely available. With basic tools and mechanical aptitude, most repairs can be done at home.

The large Creality user community also provides DIY guides and videos for virtually any repair or mod users may want to tackle.

Great for Beginners Getting Started with 3D Printing

While the Ender 3 S1 Plus has capabilities to grow with intermediate users, it’s particularly well suited for total beginners getting started.

It offers great print quality out of the box, unlike cheaper kits that require lots of modding and tweaking before achieving decent results.

The assembly process, while requiring patience, is straightforward enough for first-time builders new to 3D printer mechanics and electronics.

Once up and running, key features like auto bed leveling, direct drive extruder, and the color touchscreen minimize frustrations and create an easier overall user experience for novices.

There are tons of online resources from the established Creality community providing guidance for both setup and learning the ropes of 3D printing in general.

At $399, it’s a very affordable way to get started and learn the hobby while still offering room to grow printing skills and take on more ambitious projects.

For all these reasons, the Ender 3 S1 Plus hits a sweet spot between cost, reliability, ease of use, and print quality that makes it one of the best 3D printers currently available for beginners.

Wrapping Up

The Creality Ender 3 S1 Plus checks all the boxes as a top choice for users diving into 3D printing for the first time. It combines excellent print capabilities right out of the box with quality construction, smart features, reliability, and great overall value.

For beginners looking to learn the hobby without breaking the bank, it represents an affordable starting point that won’t immediately leave users wanting for upgrades or modifications. And with Creality’s track record, ongoing support and future enhancements will further extend the printer’s usefulness even as skills progress.

If you’re thinking about dipping your toes into the world of 3D printing, do yourself a favor and consider the Ender 3 S1 Plus. It just may be the perfect way to get started and open up new opportunities in this fun and engaging hobby.