Makertech ProForge 300 Tool Changer on its way!

[Sophie]

A while ago I ordered a ProForge 300 MAX, specs below (I was tempted by the E3D REVO head upgrades, but the budget said no)

https://www.makertech3d.com/pages/proforge-300

It's finally on its way! Albeit from China (UK based company, manufacturing in China? what a surprise...), so not sure when it will actually drop at my door. 

But eager to know if anyone else put an order in and is awaiting their delivery?

Once it's built and ready to go, I'd be interested in stress testing it against some of you folks who have a Prusa XL printer (using up to 3 heads only, no cheating with that 5 head advantage) (Kurt Gluck? Andy? ...maybe Luke? Not sure who else has toolchanger)

What I really like so far, is the response time from any questions or queries from Makertech, plus a good understanding of the English language.

I had to change my shipping address and they got back to me within 20 minutes confirming. 

In addition I had difficulty deciding which model to go with - mainly between the MAX and ULTRA versions, and they didn't try to sell me the more expensive version just to make more money, they listened to my requirements and genuinely suggested the MAX would probably suit me best and that I could always upgrade later if it feels right to do so. 

Bodes well for any problems or difficulties I may encounter in the future.

[3D Printing Tips and Tricks]

I agree the specs and price look really good. I just don’t see why the dual full size steppers for X and y. There’s no advantage at all especially with the full size laminate stack. Using only two would have been more than enough.

[Vance Howard]

I ordered one and it will ship Feb 5 2025 according to them. I got only 2 heads, but that will suit me fine.

I remember when I built my Railcore, I used 2 full size nema 17 steppers for the XY control. I had problems with it skipping steps if I exceeded 200mm/sec movements

They are probably using 4 to counter some of that. They are using TMC5160 drivers for them using 48 volts.

[Vishal Pai]

A long time back someone on Facebook pointed out that the Proforge is actually a clone of the Creativity ELF series of printers. Creativity was one of the smaller Tier3 brands in the Flying Bear/Two Trees/Kywoo space that still makes some machines.

It's probably being OEMd by the Creativity folks which is why it's probably coming from China.

-V

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[vr...@optonline.net]

This is weird. Am I the ONLY One having problems on the Google Groups actual Webpage - trying to send replies??? This is the 2nd time today - and I keep getting errors! I gave up - and now am replying via email...

 

Sophie - I just wanted to throw in my 2 Centavos - in regards to what you wrote - " Albeit from China (UK based company, manufacturing in China? what a surprise...) ".

These days, most things are made in China - and I think MOST 3D Printers are made there. It is what it is. In fact, when I worked at Essentium, the machines were Designed and Prototyped in Irvine, CA - but, the final shipping HSE 180/280 machines - they were actually completely built in China. I think in the case of Essentium, they would take delivery of the machines (in the TX HQ office) - and then sell them, and ship them out to customers from TX. But, in many cases - machines are like Drop Ship units - like in your case, and the folks selling them don't need to physically take shipments or have an inventory of machines. 

 

Even VisionMiner was like Essentium - taking delivery of the machines to their office - Before selling and shipping to customers. Although, in the case of VM - they would also do final QA on each machine before selling them. 

 

-K
 

------ Original Message ------
From: whatisyo...@gmail.com
To: smhe...@gmail.com Cc: 3d-printing-...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Monday, January 20th 2025, 07:58 PM
Subject: Re: Makertech ProForge 300 Tool Changer on its way!
 

A long time back someone on Facebook pointed out that the Proforge is actually a clone of the Creativity ELF series of printers. Creativity was one of the smaller Tier3 brands in the Flying Bear/Two Trees/Kywoo space that still makes some machines.

It's probably being OEMd by the Creativity folks which is why it's probably coming from China.

 

-V

 

 

 

 

On Tue, Dec 3, 2024, 2:11 AM Sophie <smhe...@gmail.com> wrote:
 

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[Sophie]

Hey Vance 

That's great to hear you have one, I may be contacting you to exchange ideas and build notes.

I haven't managed to build mine yet, what with my dad still critical in hospital and my sister here by herself with two babies, my time is is being taken up a lot by stress and managing everything. 

But it's on my list of things to do, and it's nice to know someone else on this forum is getting one.

Are you a Facebook user? Have you joined the proforge 300 Facebook group? 

And Kurt, yea it makes sense about the manufacturing versus the design company selling them. I don't believe makertech are doing any QA beforehand, someone has already complained about the extrusions not being deburred on the drilled holes. But kudos to them, they took that feedback and said they were going to raise it with their extrusion supplier to fix that problem. But yes, it's another one of those, let the consumer find the problems for them instead of fine tuning the machine before shipping to customers. They seem to be pretty responsive though, and keen to get a version 2 out asap fixing some problems that they hadn't foreseen.

[Vance Howard]

While I haven't received mine yet, I look forward to building it. I have built several DIY machines where you self source the parts and write the firmware yourself. I have never been entirely satisfied with any of them. Probably because I didn't get the machine set up quite right. I have a Voron 2.4 and did not want to modify it for more tool heads and turn it into a tool changer like some in the Voron community  are doing. I looked at the Prusa XL and it didn't appeal to me.

I have joined the Facebook group. I have been reading the build manual and I had a couple of questions and asked on the Facebook group and Makertech answered within a day.

In any case, I think this printer will work fine for what I want and it was a decent price compared to anything else available. I looked at the blackbox project and went to KB3D and configured a 2 tool head machine to be equivalent to the Proforge 300 with 2 toolheads and the Blackbox version ended up at over $3000. That was more than I wanted to spend, but that looks like another good option for people who don't want the Prusa XL.

You just take the time you need to take care of dad and sis first. The printer can wait. I understand the stress part. My step dad had parkinsons and it was painful watching him going through the various stages knowing there was nothing I could do for him. He passed 10 years ago.