The Prusa Mini provides a hassle-free experience for beginners but at a higher price tag.
One cheaper alternative is the Ender 3 V2, which is the updated version of the commonly known Ender 3 and Ender 3 Pro.
The Ender 3 V2 is cheaper than the Prusa Mini and sports a larger build volume but at the sacrifice of higher-temperature printing, auto-bed leveling, reliability, and customer support.
Prusa Mini
$429/459
Assembly: Kit or Fully
Extruder: Bowden
Auto-Leveling: Yes
Max Nozzle Temp: 280°C
Max Bed Temp: 100°C
Print Volume: 180mm (L) 180mm (W) 180mm (H)
Ender 3 V2
$250-280
Assembly: Partial
Extruder: Bowden
Auto-Leveling: No
Max Nozzle Temp: 230°C (250°C)
Max Bed Temp: 100°C
Print Volume: 220mm (L) 220mm (W) 250mm (H)
Photo credits: (c) Prusa Research - prusa3d.com
Creality Ender 3 V2 and Prusa Mini
- Both printers have a bowden extruder.
- Both printers can be connected locally and networked. The Ender 3 V2 has a micro-SD and micro USB - the Prusa Mini has a USB A, micro USB, and Ethernet port.
Prusa Mini
- The Mini comes with a build volume cube of 180x180x180 mm.
- What filaments can it print at 280°C? PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, PC (low temps), and even flexibles like TPU.
- The printer comes with automatic mesh bed leveling.
- The Mini has a magnetic PEI steel sheet for the print surface.
- Prusa has a fantastic track record for customer service and quality - any issues you have should be solved by their 24/7 support + their warranty + the community.
- The Prusa Mini is the printer for you if: you are new to 3D printing and want to avoid tinkering, are wanting to start a print farm, or are an institution that wishes to implement FDM printers in the classroom or lab.
Prusa Mini Specifications
- Release Year: 2019
- Assembly: Kit or Assembled
- Build Volume: 180 x 180 x 180 mm
- Extruder: Bowden
- PTFE-Lined: No
- Max Nozzle Temp: 280°C
- Max Bed Temp: 100°C
- Bed Material: PEI Spring Steel Sheet
- Auto-Leveling: Yes - Induction
- Z-Axis: Single
- Connections: SD, USB, and Ethernet
Ender 3 V2
- The Ender 3 V2 comes with a build volume of 220x220x250 mm.
- What filaments can it print at 250°C? PLA, PETG, ABS/ASA (low temps), and flexibles with some tweaking.
- The printer comes with a tempered glass bed attached to an aluminum plate.
- There is not an all-metal hotend, which means that the PTFE tube will begin to off-gas above 230°C.
Ender 3 V2 Specifications
- Release Year: 2020
- Assembly: Partial
- Build Volume: 220 x 220 x 250 mm
- Extruder: Bowden
- PTFE-Lined: Yes
- Max Nozzle Temp: 230°C (260°C)
- Max Bed Temp: 100°C
- Bed Material: Glass
- Auto-Leveling: No
- Z-Axis: Single
- Connections: microSD & USB Type B
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