Inspired by a desire for affordable, custom terrain for tabletop RPGs and a specific Kickstarter campaign, the author chose the Ender 3 Pro 3D printer based on recommendations for its beginner-friendliness and value. They found the assembly straightforward.
Picture this: You're running a tabletop RPG, maybe even a custom RPG adventure, and you want to bring your world to life. That's where 3D printing comes in! I wanted to customize my games with killer miniatures, epic terrain, and all sorts of cool props. Forget those pre-made, wallet-draining sets. With 3D printing, you can create your own at a fraction of the cost—just the price of a spool of filament! Plus, the sheer creativity of the 3D printing community is mind-blowing.
But what hooked me? The "Pirates vs. Sailors Nightmare at Sea" Kickstarter from Tabletop Terrain. A whole seaside town and playable ships, including a freakin' pirate ship! How could any self-respecting gamer resist? And what better way to bring my custom RPG adventure, The Caleuche’s Cry, to life?
So, the hunt began. But man, was it confusing! So many printers, accessories, and opinions. It was like trying to decipher alien tech. Here's what I kept in mind:
What to Print: Small miniatures or large terrain?
Budget: From pocket change to a king's ransom.
Skill Level: Beginner!
I scoured the internet, reading reviews like they were the latest issue of "Dragon Magazine." I looked for:
Print Quality: Gotta have those crisp details!
Ease of Use: No tech headaches allowed!
Customer Support: When things go south, you need backup!
But even with all that, picking the right printer was tough. Then, Tabletop Terrain came to the rescue.
To my surprise, the Tabletop Terrain crew provided awesome recommendations for both budget and expert filament printers, and even a resin printer! They answered all my questions, especially about filament vs. resin.
I chose a filament printer, specifically the Ender 3 Pro, because I wanted to focus on terrain—buildings, vehicles, and the like. Minis are cool, but terrain is where it's at!
Great print quality for the price.
Perfect for beginners and pros alike.
Large build volume (220 x 220 x 250 mm).
Heated build plate for those tricky filaments.
Easy setup and user-friendly manual.
Huge community support.
With the decision made, I snagged an Ender 3 Pro. And just like Remo Williams, "The Adventure Begins!"
Ever feel like you're diving into a techy treasure chest? That's how it felt when my Ender 3 Pro arrived, straight from the digital frontier! Inspired by the "Pirates vs. Sailors Nightmare at Sea" Kickstarter, I knew I needed to get my hands on this 3D printing wizardry. This review covers my experience building and setting up the Ender 3 Pro. Think of it as your guide to going from a pile of parts to printing tabletop terrain in no time!
I geared up with the Ender 3 Pro, OVERTURE PLA Filament (1.75mm), Permatex White Lithium Grease, and MITREAPEL CA Glue. The box opening? Pure excitement! Then, bam! A mountain of parts. It was like a "Choose Your Own Adventure" book, but instead of turning pages, you're turning screws.
Creality's Clarity: Thankfully, Creality labeled everything like a pro. Parts and screws were bagged and tagged, no glue-residue nightmares here.
Instructional Triumph: The instructions were surprisingly straightforward, like a well-written game manual. Only about 10 steps, and everything fit together smoothly. I didn't even need to call in backup from YouTube!
From Parts to Prints: The Setup Saga
Okay, so you've built the beast. Now what? Getting those sweet .stl files onto the printer is the next quest. Here's how it went:
Slicer Software Showdown: You'll need to download the slicer software from Creality's website. This software turns 3D models into printable layers, like a digital chef slicing up a pixelated pizza.
File Transfer Fun: The printer uses a little card for file transfers. Load your sliced files onto it, pop it in, and you're ready to roll.
Choose your 3D printer. (Ender 3 Pro, duh!)
Set it up (assembly and calibration, check!).
Find those rad 3D models online.
Slice 'em up with the software.
Print and watch the magic happen!
Alright, let's talk about the missing link in my 3D printing adventure: the slicer software. I assembled my Ender 3 Pro, ready to dive into printing, but quickly hit a wall. USB? microSD? Nothing seemed to work. Turns out, I needed to "slice" my .stl files into .gcode, a language the printer understands. And, to my slight frustration, there were no getting-started instructions.
Thankfully, Creality's website offered their slicer software, a free download that seemed like the perfect starting point.
For those new to 3D printing, a slicer takes your 3D model and breaks it down into layers. It then generates instructions (gcode) for the printer's movements, temperature, and speed. Think of it as translating your digital design into a set of precise instructions the printer can follow. While there are many slicer options like Ultimaker Cura, Slic3r, and PrusaSlicer, I opted for Creality Slicer, hoping for seamless compatibility with my Ender 3 Pro.
After installing Creality Slicer, I found myself navigating a software wilderness. No tutorials, no manuals, just the program itself. Luckily, the interface proved surprisingly intuitive. I selected my printer, chose PLA filament, loaded my .stl file, and found a big, inviting "Slice" button.
For my maiden voyage, I chose a sailboat dinghy from the "Pirates vs. Sailors Nightmare at Sea" Kickstarter. It seemed like a good test of the printer's capabilities. I loaded the complete model, which fit nicely on the print bed, and hit "Slice." The software worked its magic, and I copied the resulting gcode to my microSD card.
Creality Slicer is a free, user-friendly program, ideal for beginners. It supports various filament types, offers multiple print profiles, and has features like dual extrusion and remote printing. However, it's not without its drawbacks. Some users report stability issues (though I didn't encounter any), and the lack of documentation is a notable downside. Also, some users claim it can be slow at times.
For me, Creality Slicer was a solid choice. It allowed me to quickly prepare my model for printing, and the interface was easy to grasp. With my sliced model loaded onto the printer, it was finally time to hit "Print" and see what this machine could do.
The 3D printing community seems to love the Ender 3 Pro for its affordability and ease of use. Folks are printing everything from miniatures to cosplay props, like it's the ultimate crafting tool.
As for me, I was hooked! Once I got the hang of it, I felt like a digital sculptor. I printed a few test models, and the results were surprisingly good. It was like stepping into a sci-fi movie where you could create anything you imagined. I did have to get the bed level just right, and that took a few tries, like trying to get the perfect score on an arcade game. Once it was dialed in, though, the prints were great. I can see why the Tabletop Top Terrain folks recommended this printer.
The Ender 3 Pro is a fantastic entry-level 3D printer. It's affordable, relatively easy to assemble, and produces impressive results. If you're looking to dive into the world of 3D printing, especially for tabletop gaming terrain, this printer is a solid choice. It's like finding a cheat code for creativity!
Update: I have since been using the P1P printer from Bambu Studios to print 3d miniatures and terrain.
