Creality Ender 3 Max Review – Worth Buying or Not?

The Creality Ender 3 Max is a sizable 3D printer that has made quite an impression after its 2020 release, with promises to be an amazing 3D printer that users will love.

The build area is about the same size as the CR-10, but that’s not all there is to it. The Ender 3 Max is packed with awesome features that we’ll get to talk about in this review.

At the time of writing, this 3D printer has a price point of $329. However, it cost about $400 when it first came out. You can check the real-time price on the Creality Ender 3 Max Amazon page or Creality’s Official Store.

Although the design is pretty much similar to its predecessors, performance and versatility are where Creality truly shines with its printers, and the Ender 3 Max is one sure-fire proponent of the thought.

This review is going to take a close, hard look at some of the fundamental factors of this 3D printer, such as features, benefits, downsides, and what the people have to say about the Ender 3 Max.

Keep on reading to discover whether this sub $350 purchase is worth it or not.

Do check out this video below for the Ender 3 Max’s assembly and operation to get a quick idea of the parameters of this 3D printer.

Features of the Ender 3 Max

• Immense Build Volume
• Integrated Design
• Carborundum Tempered Glass Print Bed
• Noiseless Motherboard
• Efficient Hot End Kit
• Dual-Fan Cooling System
• Linear Pulley System
• All-Metal Bowden Extruder
• Auto-Resume Function
• Filament Sensor
• Meanwell Power Supply
• Filament Spool Holder

Immense Build Volume

What really adds true meaning to the name of the Ender 3 Max is its large build volume that measures up to a massive 300 x 300 x 340 mm.

This newly built feature makes it possible for you to kick your productivity up a notch and make sizable prints in one go.

By numbers, the build platform of the Ender 3 Max is bigger than the base Ender 3, Ender 3 V2, and even the Ender 5. You can increase your production capacity with this 3D printer and make prints comfortably.

Comparatively, the Ender 3 has a build volume of 220 x 220 x 250mm.

Integrated Design

While there’s much that seems familiar to previous installments in the Ender series design-wise, there are considerable differences to observe in the Ender 3 Max.

For starters, the gantry of the printer has been placed to the side instead of being on the top like the Ender 3 Pro. This is also one reason that allows for a hefty build volume.

Moreover, the aluminum frame alongside a metal base in the shape of an “H” gives the Ender 3 Max an “integrated” design structure that focuses on smoothness.

Carborundum Tempered Glass Print Bed

The quality of a 3D printer’s print bed matters essentially if you want to ensure your prints are coming out just the way you want, and the Ender 3 Max’s Carborundum print bed makes no mistake to deliver from the get-go.

We’re talking about a good heat-resistant and a flat-surfaced print bed that promotes bed adhesion, leading to fewer print errors and mishaps.

Furthermore, this bed makes the process of print removal a breeze to handle. You don’t have to worry about scratches too since the texture quality is far too good for that.

It’s about 0.15mm flat and offers a hardness of 8 HB on the Brinell scale which is more than lead and just a bit below pure aluminum. The Carborundum print bed also heats up quickly and it ought to last you a very long while considering the quality of build that it’s packing.

Noiseless Motherboard

Bid farewell to noisy 3D printing since the Ender 3 Max proudly ships with an all-new TMC2208 high performing silent driver. This crucial component makes all the difference in the world when it comes to reducing the noise your 3D printer makes when printing.

It’s designed to effectively eliminate the noise that stepper motors make and thus constitutes a noise-free printing environment.

Efficient Hot End Kit

Creality claims that they slapped on a highly resistant, modular hot end kit on the Ender 3 Max that’s a cut above everything else. The copper extruder nozzle screams long-lasting quality and benefits users with a bunch of features, such as smooth extrusion.

Additionally, the hot end kit is powerful enough that it melts the thermoplastic filament without delays and just perfect for extensive use.

Dual-Fan Cooling System

Numerous problems stem from poor cooling when it comes to molten filaments, but this is something unknown to the Ender 3 Max’s Dual-Fan Cooling System.

Each fan is situated on either side of the print head, focusing its attention on the just-extruded filament and contributing to effective heat dissipation.

Due to all the quick cooling that these two fans make sure of, you can always expect great results from the Ender 3 Max.

Linear Pulley System

Another feature that makes this 3D printer very deserving is the redefined linear pulley system that guarantees a smooth and stable 3D printing experience.

You can rely on the moving parts of the Ender 3 Max worry-free to get the job done in a firm, sturdy manner that takes away all hints of flimsiness.

Since the printers of the Ender series all offer a similar pulley system, the Ender 3 Max’s one seems to be more close to a near-perfection functioning.

All-Metal Bowden Extruder

A Bowden-style all-metal extruder means that the Ender 3 Max has great print times and is able to produce high-quality models with intricate details. The filament is fed to the hot end through this 3D printer’s PTFE Bowden tube while using the well-constructed metal extruder.

Apart from packing in better user-experience, and prints of top-rate quality, an all-metal extruder is also bound to last much more if compared to plastic extruders.

Auto-Resume Function

It’s no harm to have a gimmick like this in a 3D printer, especially when other leading manufacturers are starting to introduce the power recovery or auto-resume function in their products.

Like a bunch of others, the Ender 3 Max also offers a safe haven for all those who shut their printer down unintentionally.

The auto-resume function makes it possible to continue printing right where you left off and not lose any progress during a print if something unfortunate happens.

Filament Status Sensor

The Ender 3 Max is an intellectual one. Creality has installed a sensor that’ll alert you if your filament breaks from somewhere or if it runs out completely and you need more to proceed.

This can help cut down a lot of trouble and confusion especially when you take the added benefit of knowing your filament’s remainings into consideration.

Whenever the printer detects that something’s not right with the filament, it’ll stop printing automatically. After you change your filament, it’ll resume printing again using the auto-resume function.

Meanwell Power Supply

The Ender 3 Max boasts a substantial 350W Meanwell power supply that’s termed powerful for the daily hustle of this 3D printer.

This component makes sure of a stable output while keeping absurd temperature fluctuations to a bare minimum. It can also be optimized to adapt voltages between 115V-230V.

What’s even more benefitting about this power supply that it heats the print bed in less than 10 minutes. Moreover, it’s also safe to use and features an extra layer of protection for accidental power surges.

Filament Spool Holder

The Ender 3 Max has a non-gantry mounted filament spool holder slapped onto the side and this does a bit more than just securing our thermoplastic material.

A filament spool holder to the side means the excess weight is lifted off the gantry, making the moving parts much more fluid and quick so extra print problems are eliminated right off the bat.

However, this does make the Ender 3 Max occupy more space considering the placement of the spool holder. You might want to create some space on your worktable for it.

Benefits of the Ender 3 Max

• As always with Creality machines, the Ender 3 Max is highly customizable.
• Users can install a BLTouch themselves for automatic bed calibration.
• The assembly is very easy and will take about 10 minutes even for newcomers.
• Creality has an immense community that’s ready to answer all your queries and questions.
• Comes with clean, compact packaging for extra protection during transit.
• Easily applicable modifications allow the Ender 3 Max to become an excellent machine.
• The print bed provides amazing adhesion for prints and models.
• It’s simple enough and very easy to use
• Performs reliably with a consistent workflow
• The build quality is very sturdy

Downsides of the Ender 3 Max

• The user interface of the Ender 3 Max feels out of touch and is downright unappealing.
• Bed leveling with this 3D printer is totally manual if you’re not going to upgrade yourself.
• The microSD card slot appears a bit out of reach for some.
• Unclear instructions manual, so I would recommend following a video tutorial.

Specifications of the Ender 3 Max

• Technology: FDM
• Assembly: Semi-assembled
• Printer Type: Cartesian
• Build Volume: 300 x 300 x 340 mm
• Product Dimensions: 513 x 563 x 590mm
• Extrusion System: Bowden-style Extrusion
• Nozzle: Single
• Nozzle Diameter: 0.4 mm
• Maximum Hot End Temperature: 260°C
• Maximum Bed Temperature: 100°C
• Print Bed Build: Tempered Glass
• Frame: Aluminum
• Bed Leveling: Manual
• Connectivity: MicroSD Card, USB
• Filament Diameter: 1.75 mm
• Third-Party Filaments: Yes
• Filament Materials: PLA, ABS, PETG, TPU, TPE, Wood-fill
• Weight: 9.5 Kg

Customer Reviews of the Ender 3 Max

People who have bought and used the Ender 3 Max have shown a lot of positivity and the 3D printer has left them delighted with their purchase, save for a few.

One thing that’s repeatedly admired is how this machine is very beginner-friendly. On top of that, there’s the minimal assembly of the Ender 3 Max that receives much love among customers.

One person received their order with a part missing, but Creality’s terrific customer service handled this incident smoothly and made sure the replacement was delivered one time.

It doesn’t happen often, but things like this go to show how this manufacturer goes the extra mile for its customers.

The build volume is one of the key reasons to buy this 3D printer given how reasonably priced it is. It’s bigger than most 3D printers in the sub $350 price range, which makes this purchase all the more worth it.

Another well-liked factor is the power of the Ender 3 Max’s heated bed, which truly helps with adhesion and makes sure first layer problems do not exist. One user approved of the ease in print removal too.

Where many complained of difficult print bed leveling, others vouched for the printer’s open-source nature and the ability to add multiple enhancements such as the BLTouch.

On top of that, the Ender 3 Max is very customizable which is perfect for people who enjoy a little tinkering and DIY. People love what they can do with this 3D printer and how an overhaul significantly improves many factors.

You can check out my upgrade article called 25 Best 3D Printer Upgrades/Improvements You Can Get Done, to set you on track for some great upgrades.

Several customers in their respective reviews said that they found the instructions manual very difficult to understand. They said it was better to refer to YouTube than try and make sense of the manual.

Verdict – Is the Creality Ender 3 Max Worth Buying?

At the end of the day, this is a 3D printer of Creality’s Ender series, and all of them are a well-established blend of being affordable, reliable, and easily usable.

That said, the Ender 3 Max is no exception and offers some interesting features which I’ve personally grown fond of as well.

A great build volume, functions like auto-resume and filament sensor that make life easier, and an economical price tag is everything that puts more respect to this printer’s name.

For beginners, this is a phenomenal option. For experts, modifications and customizations make the Ender 3 Max a worthwhile affair just as well.

Get yourself the Ender 3 Max from Amazon today, for an amazing large-scale 3D printer.