Today I worked on enhancing the print quality of my Ender 3 V3 KE by installing the Creality G-Sensor (aka ADXL345-Ender-3 V3 KE). The decision stemmed from the printer’s setup on a repurposed bathroom vanity that is free-standing and not anchored to the wall. This setup led to noticeable shaking during fast printing movements. Although the print quality seemed unaffected, including the minimal amount of ringing that appears in my prints, I couldn’t help but wonder if there was room for improvement.
Purchasing and Unboxing
I ordered the sensor directly from Creality, and the unboxing revealed a compact kit: a tiny sensor, a USB-C cable connecting the sensor to the Creality Nebula pad, self-tapping screws, machine screws, and an installation manual. Right off the bat, the manual’s vague instructions for mounting the sensor, especially for the Y-axis, left me wanting more clarity. Though the manual did direct me to download 3D-printable brackets necessary for the installation—a process that required a Creality account.
The Installation Process
The website offered downloadable models for X and Y brackets, with the X-bracket fitting behind the hotend. You can access the mount point from the back of the printer, but I was unaware of this at the time because of the vague instructions. I removed the shroud and installed the bracket from the front. Following setup, I navigated through the printer settings to initiate a calibration wizard. This process involved installing the sensor along the X-axis, running a rapid, barely perceptible calibration, and repeating the steps for the Y-axis. With calibration complete, it was time to test the results.
The Testing Phase
I reprinted a “Ringing / Resonance Test” model from Thingiverse, previously used as a baseline, in shiny copper-colored silk PLA to highlight the initial ringing, as well as any improvements. Post-calibration, the improvement was minimal but present. Since the sensor can be reinstalled for calibration whenever I move the printer, and there is a noticible difference (despite it being small in my case), I think the cost of the kit is justified.
Navigating Installation Quirks
Oddly, the Y-bracket model that came in the download along with the X-bracket, was not useful. I think it’s probably meant for use on another model. The lack of documentation on this matter was frustrating, with only the calibration wizard hinting at placing the sensor directly on the bed. Resorting to double-sided tape for sensor placement was not ideal, but it was a satisfactory workaround.
Final Thoughts
Overall, my experience with the Creality ADXL345 vibration sensor on the Ender 3 V3 KE was positive. Despite minimal improvements and a lack of direct instructions, the sensor does it’s job and helps with fine-tuning print quality. Its potential for use with my modded Ender 3 Pro printers, running Klipper via an Octoprint plugin, has me excited for future projects.
Links to Items Used