Howdy All,

I started with 3d printing about 6 months ago when I impulsively brought a CR-10 Mini second hand for $50. Since then it has been a wonderful machine to learn the hobby on.

Recently I decided to do some small upgrades. I upgraded from the Creality V1 8 bit board to a BTT SKR Mini E3 v2 and Dual Z using this kit off Amazon:

HICTOP Dual Z-axis Upgrade Kit for Creality CR-10,Ender 3 max,Longer LK1 3D Printers with 515 mm Lead Screw 34 mm Motor

And after some tweaks to the Marlin v2.1.2.4 firmware, it's been printing pretty good.

But now I am wondering what else to tweak. For example I see mixed opinions on not using a second Dual Z motor but instead using a belt and pulley synchronizer at the top of the gantry.

I am also wondering whether I should switch from a Bowden to Direct Drive extruder and change out my hotend as currently it's stock.

What do you all think?

I would say I am quite casual at 3d printing. It's not like I churn out a lot of 3d prints so I guess what I am saying is that I am happy to push the CR-10 as far as I can realistically get it to go but I am also being realistic and not expecting the printer to output the quality of prints that more expensive newer 3d Printers can spit out today.

The pictures attached are just there to show my current setup (dual Z, stock extruder/hotend, bowden etc) as well as some of my most recent prints (showing first layer and side of the print with the Dual Z motor & lead screw etc) just so ya'll have some idea as to the quality of the print I can get from the machine today. Final thing to mention is that I can comfortably print at 100 mm/s with no apparent loss to print quality & detail.