In May 2022, Sunlu released details about its new 3D printer, called the Terminator 3 or Sunlu T3.
The big selling point for this 3D printer is that it can print 5x faster compared to similarly sized printers on the market. This printer was not a Kickstarter project; it was only available via the Sunlu website, which is another big selling point. It was available in a limited quantity for $149.99. However, the price is $279.99 after the discount, and there is currently a 15% discount on the Sunlu website for this printer.
Many companies are now launching entry-level printers with supposedly faster print speeds.
So let's talk about what we get with this printer.
- Silent mainboard
- ABL
- Clog detection
- Magnetic build plate
- Dual metal extruder
- Build plate size 220X220X250
- 250mms fast printing (when fast print is turned on)
First of all, the printer arrives well-protected in its box from the factory, the assembly process is quite simple, and the instructions are nice and easy to follow; it only takes about 10 minutes to assemble the printer and you will be ready to print.
So, you need to download a Cura slicer from the Sunlu website, which contains the profiles for the Sunlu printers. I also set up my own profile using the Ender 3 V2 profile, and it works well with this printer.
Before you turn on the printer, make sure you choose the correct voltage for your country. Once you have turned on the printer, the next step is to adjust the bed according to the manual so that the ABL works as it should. I have only leveled the bed once in the 8 weeks (approx. 2 months) that I have been using it. The dual adjusters on the bed are a little fiddly, but I think with the speeds this printer can print at, it is best to ensure that these things do not come loose while printing. The ABL therefore performs a 16-point check of the bed; this process takes about 60 seconds.
So there are two ways to print on this fast 3D printer: First, the usual way of selecting an STL file to print, putting it in the slicer, and choosing your own settings such as print speed or infill, etc. Then you save it to the SD card and print it that way. Second, there is the "Fast Print" option, which can now only be selected via the printer's screen during the printing process. It is not customizable, but rather pre-installed, meaning that if you choose the "Fast Print" option, all of your slicer settings are overridden.
Let's talk about print quality at normal speed; I am including photos so you can see for yourself. Overall, the quality is great. I have used different filament brands and they all work well. I did a few functional prints from Clockspring 3D, and those came out great; the functional parts moved as they should, Flexi Factory and Cinderwing STL prints all came out great, and all parts moved as they should.
Fast print mode: When the printer is selected with its pre-installed settings, it really picks up speed, and that is noticeable. While testing this mode, I noticed that anything functional breaks down and does not work as it should. I had an error when I made a Flexi Factory print, and it seemed that the moving parts were printed well, but the actual quality of the print was not good. I am not sure what settings are made for the fast print mode, especially if you have your preferred slicer settings that you like to use. I printed a Clockspring3D vase in fast print mode and I have to say that the quality of this print was good.
As a comparison for the faster print times, I set my Ender 7 to 250 mm to compare it with the Sunlu T3. They print the same STL file in almost the same time, and the Sunlu T3 has a noticeably nicer print quality.
The LED lighting built into the hotend assembly is nice and bright; I would have liked to be able to turn it on and off, but that is not a major issue.
After using the printer for about a month, I have to say that I am impressed with it. At normal print speeds, it is quite quiet compared to some of my other printers, and the quality of the prints is good; for the price, it is a great entry-level printer or even an additional printer to add to your collection. Below, I have listed a selection of 3D printers that are similar to the T3. It is cheaper than all the others and has very similar specifications to all of them, apart from the fact that some have a direct drive. I haven't used the Anycubic FDM printers, but I have experience with the Creality printers and I had a much better user experience with the new T3 from Sunlu. So, I would recommend buying the Sunlu T3 and using the money you saved to buy some Sunlu Meta filament, which is designed for faster print speeds compared to regular PLA.
Let's compare this with other 3D printers that have similar specifications.
- Creality Ender 3 Neo $266
- Creality Ender 3 V2 Neo $355
- Anycubic Vyper $316
- Anycubic Kobra $284.94
The above printers are therefore all very similar; they have a similar plate size, all have ABL and other features that are the same.
Feel free to join the official Sunlu group on Facebook. Many new filaments are introduced there, and there are some great giveaways https://www.facebook.com/groups/1873835299440580
