I run a small print farm for my business, fordworks3D, LLC. It is currently made up of 4 Ender 3 Pros, and this is where you can find my project upgrades, Octoprint network setup, Marlin configurations, and more.
These are the things I buy when I want to add another printer to the line. Things not included are JST connectors, solder, wire, filament, labels, and other supplies. This list is ordered by priority of what I personally feel are the most to least essential upgrades to your Ender 3. In total, each printer costs ~$700.
| Type | Item | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 3D Printer | Creality Ender 3 Pro | $249 |
| Control Board | BIGTREETECH SKR Mini E3 V2.0 | $35 |
| Build Plate | 235mm x 235mm x 3mm Borosilicate Glass Bed | $20 |
| Extruder | E3D Hemera | $110 |
| Leveling Probe | Differential IR Height Sensing Probe | $16 |
| Cooling Fans | 24V Brushless High Speed Radial Fans | $10 |
| Hotend | E3D Supervolcano Kit with Extra Nozzles | $117 |
| Octoprint Host | Raspberry Pi 4 B, 4GB RAM with Heatsinks and Power Supply | $78 |
| Mini USB | USB Type A to Mini B Cable, 3ft | $10 |
| Camera | Raspberry Pi Camera, 1080p, 5MP | $10 |
| Smart Outlet | Wemo Mini Smart Outlet | $20 |
| Table | (x2) Ikea Lack Endtable | $20 |
Relevant files and setup instructions are linked accordingly.
| Category | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Firmware | Marlin | Open source firmware for configuring your 3D printer/CNC/Laser. My files can be found here (LINK) |
| STL Slicer | Slic3r | Open source STL slicer. Profiles found here (LINK) |
| CAD | Fusion 360 | Autodesk's cross-platform, free for non-commercial use CAD software (See startup edition for small businesses) |
| Printer Controller | Octoprint | An open source web interface for 3D printer monitoring and control. |
| Farm Viewer | Octofarm | Open source web server/client for managing several Octoprint instances. |