Flashforge is a Chinese 3D printer manufacturer which produces efficient yet affordable 3D printers for personal or business uses. The Flashforge Adventurer 3 focuses on beginners and students- it is a completely enclosed desktop 3D printer that makes it an ideal choice for lightweight printing, education, and basic learning.
Today we are going to do a comparison of the two top-notch and affordable versions of Flashforge Adventurer- both of which are equipped with different set of features. In this comparison of Flashforge Adventurer 3 vs Lite, we will have a look at the different features, capabilities, and specs so that you determine your requirements and choose one that suits your preferences more.
Flashforge Adventurer 3
The Flashforge Adventurer 3 has an amazing build quality. It comes ready to use out of the box as there is no assembly needed. Flashforge is also known for easy setup of its machines and the Flashforge Adventurer 3 is no different. This is the main reason this 3D printer is good for beginners as it offers an easy start and setup.
To start right away, you just have to insert a USB stick and the spool of filament for printing. However, to benefit from other features, there’s a little setup needed. To begin, connect the device to Wi-Fi and download a firmware. The Wi-Fi allows Cloud printing- the remote print monitoring and management allow you to print from anywhere. There is a built-in camera that provides detailed camera feed for viewing on a 2.8’’ touchscreen. The auto-calibration system compensates for any type of unevenness on the bed.
The Flashforge Adventurer 3 uses FFF/FDM print technology and feature a single extruder. The build area is 150 X 150 X 150 mm and the supported materials are PLA, ABS, metal, wood, PLA color change, and high-speed PLA.
The best feature of this 3D printer is its filament compartment which is created to fit a particular size of filament reel. This comes in really handy as the machine then works smoothly with the right filament reel while maintaining its streamlined form factor. Other notable feature of this 3D printer include filament runout detection, removable flexible print bed, removable nozzle, and heated print bed and enclosure. The printer also features ‘Ultra-mute printing’ at 45dB which allow you to work quietly.
Flashforge Adventurer 3 Lite
The Flashforge Adventurer 3 Lite is an upgraded version introduced by Flashforge. Like the Flashforge Adventurer, the Lite version has a minimalist and lightweight design too- it come pre-assembled and is easy to setup. Because of its enclosed build area, it is a good choice for beginners as this makes it safer than other 3D printers.
Just like the Adventurer 3, the 3D printer has simple steps for setup; connect power, load filament, and then start printing. The Lite version offers same connectivity as the Adventurer 3- it has Wi-Fi, USB, and Ethernet connectivity options. It has the same build area too, that is, 150 X 150 X 150 mm and it supports the same materials like PLA, ABS, and others as the Flashforge Adventurer 3 does. The FlashPrint software that the printer uses is same as the Adventurer 3.
Basically, the Flashforge Adventurer 3 Lite has almost all the spec and features that the Adventurer 3 has, but it is a cheaper version of it. The main difference is the absence of a built-in camera for remote monitoring and printing in the Lite model.
Since there is no remote print monitoring because there is no camera, you’ll need a third party solution if you want to use this feature. The presence of the filament run-out sensor can be very helpful as the sensor is there to detect when the filament is running out so that it can pause the print. This saves you from having a failed print because you know when to switch when the old filament is running out.
The Adventurer 3 Lite is basically a simpler and more affordable version designed especially for those who want a quick and cheap start to their hobby.
Our recommendation
We did a comparison of Flashforge Adventurer 3 vs Lite- both of these 3D printers are beginner-friendly and affordable. They have a compact design, removable heated build plate, a detachable and quick heat up nozzle, automatic levelling,and auto-filament loading system. The Flashforge Adventurer 3 and Lite have an enclosed design and they feature solid connectivity and quiet printing.
When it comes to choosing one, our recommendation is the Flashforge Adventurer 3. Though it is more expensive than the Lite version but it has a built-in camera that allows remote printing. The presence of a live stream HD camera makes 3D printing much more entertaining.
On the other hand, the Flashforge Adventurer 3 Lite model is a cheaper one that doesn’t include the HD camera but has all the features and specs of Adventurer 3.