Guide · Mechanical upgrades
Identify your exact printer model and hardware revision
Why the model name is not enough to order parts: real cases where an Ender, Neptune, K1 or Prusa revision changes what fits, and where the serial number matters.
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Picks in this topic
- Micro Swiss NG direct drive extruder for Creality CR‑10 / Ender 3 (M3201)Check price on Amazon
- Micro Swiss NG REVO direct drive extruder for Creality CR‑10 / Ender 3, 24 V (M3301)Check price on Amazon
- Micro Swiss FlowTech hotend for Bambu Lab P1P / P1S (M3109P)Check price on Amazon
Short answer
Before you order a part, write down three things: the exact model name, the hardware revision, and where it matters, the serial number. Makers list parts per revision, not per model name: ELEGOO's Neptune 4 hardened nozzle kit fits the Neptune 4 and 4 Pro only in their Type-C versions.[1] Then look up your printer in the upgrade path finder.
Picks in this topicSee the shortlist
- Micro Swiss NG direct drive extruder for Creality CR‑10 / Ender 3 (M3201)Check price on Amazon
- Micro Swiss NG REVO direct drive extruder for Creality CR‑10 / Ender 3, 24 V (M3301)Check price on Amazon
- Micro Swiss FlowTech hotend for Bambu Lab P1P / P1S (M3109P)Check price on Amazon
Why the model name is not enough
Printer makers revise hardware without always changing the name on the box. A new nozzle assembly, a different cable, a new display or a different power supply can each change which parts fit. Part makers then publish fit lists per model and revision, and a kit that fits one revision can fail on the next.
Read the maker's own page for your model, compare it with your printer, and only then order. The examples below are all cases where the maker itself draws the line.
Where the revision changes what fits
| Printer | What changes | What the maker says |
|---|---|---|
| ELEGOO Neptune 4 and 4 Pro | Ribbon-cable vs Type-C version | Its hardened steel and brass nozzle kits fit the Neptune 4 and 4 Pro only in the Type-C version, but both versions of the 4 Plus and 4 Max.[1][2] |
| Creality K1 and K1 Max | Original vs integrated nozzle | Creality's Unicorn kit page tells K1 and K1 Max owners to check whether their printer has an integrated nozzle before choosing.[3] |
| Prusa MK3/S/+ | Heatbed screws and PSU color | For the MK4S upgrade kit, a heatbed with 2+1 screws must be replaced, and a silver PSU needs a harness, adapter or black PSU.[4] |
| Prusa MK4 | xLCD version | Owners must check their xLCD version before ordering the MK4 to MK4S kit, which has separate options for newer and older units.[5] |
| Creality Ender 3 V2 vs V2 Neo | Different printer, similar name | Micro Swiss sells a separate NG direct drive kit for the Ender 3 V2 Neo, apart from its kit for the CR-10 and Ender 3 family.[6] |
| ELEGOO Neptune 3 Pro vs Plus and Max | Voltage dial | ELEGOO says the Neptune 3 Pro needs its voltage dial set by hand for 110 V supply, while the Plus and Max need no manual setting.[7] |
Creality K1: check the assembly, not the spec page
Creality's current K1 support page lists a hardened steel nozzle, an all-metal hotend and a 300 °C maximum.[8] It does not say whether those specs describe the original K1 or the later revision with an integrated nozzle. If you own an early K1, do not assume your stock nozzle is hardened steel; check the installed assembly. Creality's wiki also has separate nozzle pages: an "Integrated Nozzle Replacement" page under the K1C and a "Replace Nozzle" page for the K1 series.[9][10] We could read only their titles, so we give no steps from them.
Prusa: two nozzle families
Prusa groups the MK3/S/+, MK3.5/S and MINI/+ as E3D V6-type nozzle printers, and the MK4/S, MK3.9/S, XL and CORE One as Prusa Nozzle (Nextruder) printers.[11] So "a Prusa nozzle" is not one part. Know which family your printer is in before you order nozzles or tools.
Serial numbers matter too
Sometimes the revision is hidden in the serial number. CPSC says recalled Bambu Lab A1 printers have the letter A as the sixth digit of the serial number on the QR code sticker at the rear of the printer.[12] Health Canada places the sticker at the right rear and scopes the recall to A1 units made and sold before January 30, 2024.[13] The recall covers the A1, not the A1 mini. If your A1 matches, stop using it and follow the A1 recall guide.
How to record your printer
- Model name exactly as the maker writes it, including suffixes such as Pro, Plus, Max, Neo, SE, KE or S.
- Revision clues the maker names for your model: cable type, nozzle assembly, display version, heatbed screws, PSU color.
- Serial number from the label, photographed.
- Firmware version, from the printer's menu.
Keep this note with your order history, and compare it with the part maker's fit list every time you order.
Next
Questions
How do I know which revision I have?
Compare your unit with the difference the maker names for that model: the nozzle cable type on a Neptune 4 or 4 Pro, the nozzle assembly on a K1, the heatbed screws and PSU color on a Prusa MK3, or the xLCD version on a Prusa MK4. When in doubt, ask the maker's support with a photo.[1][3][4][5]
Why does a kit for my model not fit?
Usually because it was made for another version of the same model. Micro Swiss, for example, sells a separate NG direct drive kit for the Ender 3 V2 Neo, apart from its kit for the Ender 3 and Ender 3 V2.[6]
Where is the serial number on a Bambu Lab A1?
On the QR code sticker at the rear of the printer; Health Canada says the right rear. CPSC says recalled A1 units have the letter A as the sixth digit of that serial number.[12][13]
Does my Neptune 3 Pro need a voltage setting?
ELEGOO says the Neptune 3 Pro needs its voltage dial set by hand for 110 V supply, while the Plus and Max need no manual setting. Check the dial on your own unit and follow the manual.[7]