FLASHFORGE Adventurer 3 3D Printer

Excellente imprimante entièrement plug and play. On branche, on charge le fil et c’est parti. Le rendu est nickel et elle accepte divers types de pla.
Seul bémol son écran tactile peu réactif et sa caméra qui ne sert à rien.

Update 5/8/2019: After printing various objects for several weeks now, I am very pleased with the ease of use of this printer. I like the FlashPrint software for slicing much better than Cura and I have found cloud printing directly from Tinkercad to be easy too. This is great as my children like to design in Tinkercad and I can have their designs in their hands within two hours. Also, I have found it amazingly easy to change filament even to the point that I can pause a print, change color, and resume all without any print errors.

Original Post:
I have only had the printer for less than two hours, but I already have printed the pre-installed file and have it printing a 12 hour job over WiFi.

The printer did come ready to print right out of the box. However, it only came with a quick start guide which only provides enough information to print the pre-installed file. You must go to their website and download some software packages to do more. You then need to read the help files in those software packages to get an idea of how to configure your printer. For example, you need to know the IP address of your printer, but it provides no information on how to obtain it. Fortunately, you get get this from the printer directly by navigating the touch screen, but you must hunt the pictorial menu system to find it.

I plan to update my comment after more experience with the printer, but so far so good.

THIS PRINTER DELIVERED!!!- I unpacked/setup and started printing my first item within 10min.

I’ve been in the 3D printing business for about a decade now. My primary workhorses are a makerbot Replicator 5th edition and SnapMaker 2, which I still love for a number of reasons.. but since this review is about the FlashForge Adventurer3 so let’s talk about that. My wife and mother-in-law both run very successful cookie businesses that require custom designed cookie cutters at a rate of 3-4 per week (on a slow week). I have been able to crank those out for my wife with the makerbot, but since my mother-in-law lives on the other side of the world she was having to pay someone to design/print her cutters for her (at a price of $5-$10 per cutter). I set out on a quest to find a cheap 3D printer that she could use. My goal was <$300, simple to use, MacOS compatible. I was hoping for Wifi connection and heated bed as well, but those were not requirements.

I bought the FinderLite, and Adventurer3 for initial comparisons (but also have tested the DreamerNZ and many other manufacturers) After my initial setup and testing I suggested the FinderLite over the Adventurer3 to my mother-in-law based only on price and features that sheed needed…and she’s a cookie cutter making fool now. In order to ensure her success I made an un-boxing video and even a “how-to” video explaining the important features of FlashPrint.. and now I create the STL for her cutters, and email them directly to her.

Here’s the details

1. Setup: Very quick and easy, just follow the prompts. Bed leveling almost too simple… not sure what it actually does, but I haven’t had a problem with the bed being off level yet.
2. FlashPrint software: This is the only thing I don’t like about this printer. On my MacBook Pro 13″ (16GB RAM) using OS 10.15 Flashprint crashes constantly. On my wife’s older Macbook 12″ no problems yet- so I don’t know if it’s an OS issue, or some other problem? I prefer simplify 3D over flashprint anyway since it gives me more control over all the parameters, so I just use Simplify3D to create the .gcode file (**more about this in a minute)
3. Filament Storage: I love the filament storage in the side of the printer. Makerbot also does this, and it helps immensely to keep your workspace clean. The downside is that only 500gram filament spools will fit in the storage area, which means you’re limited in what filament you can buy.. There is an alternative, though. I printed a filament winding device that attaches to my drill and I re-spool filament from larger 1kg spools onto the smaller spools which allows me to buy any brand/color I want.
4. Filament Included: In comparison to the FinderLite, they actually give you a roll of filament which is nice to at least get a spool that fits (see comment #3).
5. Noise: Machine is virtually silent. My makerbot is really loud.. I figured all 3D printers were, but not this one.. you don’t even know its running unless you’re sitting right next to it.
6. Bed Adhesion: No complaints here. I use the gluestick they provided to coat the bed with a thin layer and the models have no problem sticking to it, and pop right off. This is especially important since I don’t like printing rafts.
7. Networking: I really don’t like the Wifi interface.. it smells of old school DOS printer connection, where you need the IP address of the printer and every time you want to print you need to re-establish the connection. This is 2020, all printers should be “discoverable” and just print using a normal print dialog.. It does work, and hasn’t given me any troubles, but come-on.. you can do better!.
8. File format: I HATE PROPRIETARY STUFF (I know makerbot is proprietary too). Flashforge prefers a .gx file which is a .g file with added thumbnail of the printed item so that it gives you a littel picture on the screen. This printer (Adventurer3) does not like .gcode (where the Finder/FinderLite had no problem with it). So if you use simplify3D (or cura, or other slicer) you have to change the output settings to create a .g file in addition to the .gcode file and it will work. Simplify3D also can create a .3gx file that is supposed to be compatible with Flashforge, but on all the flashforge printers I have tested it did not work at all. **Note, this is not the same on the Finder/FinderLite (see my review on that).
9. Media: USB port is easily accessible and works fine. I prefer this USB port over SD so I don’t need an SD card reader. Only downside for me is it’s the older style USB vice USB-C so I need an adapter to connect to my MacbookPro (or get the cool thumbdrives that have both USB formats on the same device).
10. Food Safe: Since we’re talking about using these to make cookie cutters, it is important to note that PLA is not FDA approved for use with food. There are a number of reasons for this that most cookie makers negate by using saran wrap or sterilizing. This printer will allow you to print PETG which is food safe. If that is important to you, then the Adventurer3Lite($369), Adventurer3 ($449) or DreamerNZ ($449) are your next best option.

Buying advice- If you want quick, easy out of the box simplicity, the FinderLite is still my #1 choice. If you need a heated bed and enclosed work area, then the Adventurer3Lite is the next step up and if you need Wifi/USB, then go with the Adventurer3/Dreamer.

Wow…. Received the printer the next day, unboxed it, powered it up, loaded filament and was printing a test pattern within 5 minutes…! Could not have been easier…. Easier to use than a paper printer with ink cartridges… wow. I did not even bother trying to calibrate it… just printed “as is” on arrival and it printed great. It comes with 0.25kg red testing filament. The little 200mm x 200mm x 100mm test box printed out at 200.32mm x 200.36mm x 100.12mm. I am a mechanical engineering student looking to print out prototypes so accuracy matters. This is not perfect, not the same accuracy as a $10,000 3d printer… but hey… for 500 bucks this is amazing… AND best of all…. SOOO EASY to use.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT …!