Elegoo reached out to me to announce the new Neptune 3 that will be in presale on may the 28th. But what are the new features and how is it different from their previous FDM 3D printers (3D printers that use a filament to print)?
The Neptune 3 from Elegoo will be in presale on May the 28th 2022 and the 3D printer will have a maximum print size of 220 x 220 x 280mm. The Neptune 3 will have an automatic leveling feature, it will be very silent, and detect missing filament or a clogged nozzle.
These are the most important features but by far not all of the features that the Neptune 3 comes with.
I don´t have the Neptune 3 yet and I haven´t seen it either. All of the features that I am listing here have been sent to me by Elegoo. That is also why I don´t have any images of the new Neptune 3 yet.
The Features of the New Neptune 3 3D Printer
The Neptune 3 comes with quite a few interesting improvements and some new features. While non of these is really revolutionary it is a definitive improvement over the Neptune 2.
And if the price is good then the Neptune 3 could be a really good FDM printer for hobbyists and small business owners alike.
Build Platform
The print volume is 220 x 220 x 280mm which is a whole 30mm more on the z-axis than the Neptune 2.
This isn´t a huge difference from the Neptune 2 but bigger is not always better and in my experience, a maximum printing size of 220 x 220 x 280mm is enough for most hobby projects.
Nozzle Temperature
The maximum nozzle temperature is 260 °C which lets you print with pretty much any filament that you want.
The nozzle temperature is not as important but I feel like it is important to note that you can print with any filament. The bed temperature is way more interesting especially if you want to print with PVC filament.
Bed Temperature
The maximum bed temperature is 100°C which means that the Neptune 3 can print with PLA and PVC filament.
The hotbed has 250W and can heat up quite quickly compared to its predecessor.
The maximum hot bed temperature of the Neptune 2 was also 100°C.
Silent Printing
The Neptune 3 uses various tricks and techniques like silent drivers, smart adaptive fans, and a guide wheel structure to reduce the feeding resistance of the filament to reduce the noise of the printer significantly.
The Neptune 2 was also quite silent so I am curious just how much more silent the Neptune 3 will be.
Dual Cooling
The extruder comes with dual-cooling fans that help improve overhangs on prints.
I have seen other 3D printers who did something similar to great effect so I am curious how well the Neptune 3 will perform here.
I have tested the Mars 2 Pro from Elegoo and I found it to be one of the best 3D resin printers on the market in its price regimen. So I am excited about the Neptune 3.
Differences Between the Elegoo Mars, Saturn, and Neptune 3D Printers
Elegoo has three distinct 3D printer series. The Mars, the Saturn, and the Neptune series.
You can find all of the printers and their information on the official homepage of Elegoo right here.
The Neptune Series
The Neptune series is the more traditional 3D printer. This series refers to FDM printers also called filament printers.
These types of printers use filaments that are heated up in the extruder and are then applied directly to the printing bed in thin layers.
The Mars Series
The Mars series is a series of 3D resin printers that use UV resin and a UV LCD screen to cure that resin in very thin layers.
The resin 3D printers are primarily used for prints that are very detailed and generally smaller. It is perfect for printing miniatures, for example.
I personally have the Mars 2 Pro and I am very satisfied with its performance. You can read my full review right here.
The Saturn Series
The Saturn series of 3D printers are also resin printers but they aren´t for hobbyists anymore.
These printers are not as affordable as the Mars series of 3D printers but they also offer a way bigger building plate and a higher resolution than the Mars series.
Hi, I am a passionate maker and professional prop maker for the entertainment industry. I use my woodworking, programming, electronics, and illustration know-how to create interactive props and puzzles for Escape Games and marketing agencies. And I share my knowledge and my experience on this blog with you so that you can become a maker yourself.