3D-Printer review - the Flashforge Finder 3

A while ago, Flashforge sent me their new Finder 3. Now, after over 600 hours of printing time, I have a good picture of how the printer performs and how it stands against its predecessor, the Finder. With a heated bed and a larger build volume, the Finder 3 is a worthy replacement to the mighty fun-cube that is the original Finder and that has produced parts for my models for over 5000 hours by now! But I do have some suggestions to Flashforge...

Benchy:

[flashforged]

Thank you for your unbiased review and suggestions. We will take them into consideration for future upgrades. Happy printing~

[KingSidJames]

Had my FF3 for about a week now and it's my first 3d printer. Of course, I have nothing to compare the FF3 too, but right out of the box I've been printing for almost a week now with no issues.

Easy to level, simple to use, and great for beginners.

I have only two very small gripes.

Manually loading the filament into the head is a bit hit and miss. More than once I've touched the nozzle by mistake and burnt myself.

The spool position is a little bit awkward and could benefit from an overhead top mount.

Aside from this, if your looking to get into printing, then I would recommend this printer.

[tristanvaillancourt]

Wow Just wow. The tanks! ... blew my mind. "Tanks" for the review!

[REDWOLF_RC_ARMORY]

(THIS IS JUST MY OPINION AFTER USING 3D PRINTERS FOR 5 YEARS AND MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THE BRANDS)🙂
Only issue I have with flash forge and other companies like makerbot ultimaker is that there offering a decent outdated product at a very high price point there are printers that have way better stuff on them for the same price or cheaper and out perform easily in every way but because there big brands they get away with not adding new components to there products or using the community for ideas and just stick to mostly the same stuff each generation and all there stuff is proprietary and over engineered so there’s no room to improve or change anything on them they only exception to this style is bamboo labs X1 Carbon witch is the best printer you could buy for the price it is proprietary but they work with the community to Change stuff and improve and change the 3D printing market to make printers with everything cheaper and cheaper I do love you’re videos and I think you’re doing a good job

[triggerfishproductions]

I too own this printer and use it for a number of my model tanks. It has worked for me really well

[TheLebbs]

Got this printer when it came out was very disappointed and stopped using it but did a firmware update and its now a great printer

[poepflater]

I have the Finder, great well thought through products

[ksavage]

You'd have to pry my original red Finder from my cold dead hands. Best printer I have owned.

[tubinpammi]

I have had the original Finder for several years, and loved it! But it stopped printing "good", so it's just been collecting dust. It works, but something is off. I wish there was someone who repaired 3D printers because I really love my original Finder. I'm sure it just needs something simple. I bought the Finder 3 and was unable to unbox it for several months. I'm just now trying to use it and the touch-pad is horrible! It is too sensitive and will repeat the same key multiple times - or it won't respond at all until I press harder, etc. I couldn't get it to connect to my Wi-Fi at all. I think it has to do with the 2.4 vs. 5.0 connection. I was finally able to get it connected to my Hotspot, but that sucks! I found your video when I was looking for help with mine. I am currently printing my first print on it (FINALLY), so we'll see how it goes. Seriously...where can I get some repair/maintenance work done on a 3D printer??

[paulsanders]

i have a flashforge 2 everytime i change nozzel and tubbing ive been able to put it together getting it working properly this time i put new bits in i had to re level the bed but having trouble with it i can lvl the 2 front screws ok but cant seem to level the single back screw i seemed to do what it says but the screw is so lose it wont lvl so ive started re leveling it and always ended up with same result 2 front level but back single wont level is there any susgestions that would help or video

[nomadchad]

I'm looking for a direct drive printer to replace my plywood Flashforge. It still works but the makerware software has been discontinued for years now and it's not behaving on win11. This Finder 3 is only 550 Canadian atm

[notquitepinoy]

I am having an issue with my Finder 3. After its done printing the screen goes black and I have to power cycle it to get it the GUI appear again. Is there a fix for this?

[dallor]

As someone who has a finder 1 I really wish I had a heated bed I need to use every adhesion technique known to mankind to get my prints to stick

[fiocco]

Hi, has flashforge taken your feedback for improvements since all this time ? i have a Dreamer and i want change for more printable matérials please.

[tohcuzc]

I've had a horrible time getting anything to print of the past few months I've had this printer. I can't tell you how many times I've leveled this. only to print out a stringy blob of plastic PLA... very frustrating. I bought this as it seemed less complicated. I don't see many videos online for this printer to help troubleshoot so I may end up selling it and getting something else.