Reddit mentions: The best squash balls

I'm pretty new to this too, I bought my Ender 3 Pro around the same time as you. Quiet printing is pretty high on my list as well as being able to print high-temp exotic filaments in the long term while maintaining reliability.

First upgrades I purchased were stiffer bed springs so I would be less likely to throw the bed out of level while removing prints or working around the printer and Capricorn XS tube since it has a more consistent internal diameter, fits closer to the filament, and can work with slightly higher temps. I also picked up a pack of bowden couplers recently as I noticed the end nearest the extruder is sliding past the coupler jaws on de/retraction; don't worry about that unless it's an issue for you. That's about $30 alone since I don't have a supply shop locally and have to order those parts in bulk. I had a Pi 3B laying around unused and flashed Octoprint onto it. Highly recommended. I have a replacement Noctua hotend fan, buck converters, and 5015 blower on order to quiet the fan noise; about $32. Just replaced the Meanwell psu fan with a 60x25mm Noctua I had lying around (Note: there may be better options in the 92-120mm range to replace part of the PSU housing, but that's what I had laying around). Next upgrade coming is the SKR Mini E3 with TMC 2209 drivers ($28) to eliminate almost all of the stepper noise. Also looking into a replacement for the control board fan and some vibration isolating feet for the frame. As far as higher temp printing I haven't made a lot of progress aside from buying a titanium all-metal heat brake ($11) winch I have yet to install or inspect, and looking into enclosure and electronics relocation avenues.

Either way the mods I purchased came in at around $100 US which should quiet the printer and help with reliability. Also looking into picking up a good M3-M4 bolt kit if any exist in the US.

Here are some links to the things I picked up and will, which may be helpful if you're in the US. Mostly from Amazon.

Type | Name | Link | Price
---|---|----|----
Reliability | 8mm x 20mm yellow springs | Link | $6.98
Reliability | Capricorn XS Tubing | Link | $11.49
Reliability | PC4-M6 / PC4-M10 Pneumatic Bowden Fittings | Link | $11.99
Silence | Noctua 40mm x 10mm 3-pin fan | Link | $13.95
Silence/Various | LM2596 Adjustable Buck Converters | Link | $10.95
Silence | 24v 5015 Radial Ball Bearing Fans | Link | $7.19
Silence/Various | SKR Mini E3 w/ TMC 2209 drivers | Link | $28.81
High Temp | Titanium All-Metal Heat Brake | Link | $11.52
TOTAL: $102.88 US + Tax

Parts already purchased/ bought with printer

Type | Name | Link | Price
---|---|----|----
Reliability/High Temp | OEM Ender 3 Glass Bed | Link | $20
Reliability | Feeler Guage Set | Link | $5
Reliability | 608zz Bearings, using with this(My Remix), this, and this, though I like this design a bit better | Link | $5.98
QoL Improvement | Raspberry Pi 3B w/ Octoprint | Link | $34.46
Silence | Noctua 60mm x 25mm 3-pin fan, goes with this mod | Link | $14.95
TOTAL: $80.39 US + Tax

Future planned upgrades

• Bl Touch (Note: if you have a Pi you don't need a separate ISP to flash a bootloader to the stock Melzi control board)
  
  
• Extruder | Zesty Nimble, Bondtech BMG, or SeeMeCNC EZR
  
  
• Cooling Duct | Either Smooth Fang or Hero Me Gen 3 in PETG/ABS
  
  
• Direct Drive | Kit or Printed (this, this, or this)
  
  
• Electronics relocation enclosure and wiring (need to research this more)
  
  
• Vibration Isolation Feet with Yellow Dot Squash Balls
  
  
• Linear rails (maybe)

Hey man glad to hear! I would recommend any of the Xamsa rackets. I used this racket when I competed at the university level and still use it frequently to this day. The new Obsidian model ($110) which imo is the best budget racket on the market right now. They have a more durable racket called the Xamsa DURO ($75) which is perfect if your worried about breaking rackets. I believe the reason the owner created this brand was to give back to the community by making rackets that were good and affordable for new players which is really cool imo.

Balls wise, Dunlop is the most popular brand and is the one the professionals use. Wilson makes decent balls as well. Wilsons tend to be a little bit bouncier which will work in your favour and they also last longer then the Dunlop ones. You can go ahead and grab the double yellow dot ball and you'll get used to the bounce quickly. If you need something more bouncier, try a single yellow dot ball.

http://xamsa.com/
https://www.amazon.com/Wilson-Staff-Squash-Balls-3-Pack/dp/B00P0WEJLY

Do you buy them at a local store? Because a dozen box usually runs close to $40 on Amazon. $24 for a dozen sounds like a fantastic deal.

Here is the root of the confusion. Some people call this a blue dot, others call it a green dot. Apparently I have been calling it the wrong thing but this is the ball I have been talking about. Where I live, the double yellow plays like a racquet ball so play with this high altitude ball. Notice how expensive this darn things are...

Amazon. Thats where I get mine.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dunlop-Squash-Balls-Double-Yellow/dp/B00KFC0GFM/



However if he plays squash a lot then getting a blue or red dot could honestly be a waste of money. They are insane to play with after you've used sinlge or double yellow.

https://www.amazon.com/DUNLOP-Progress-Squash-Balls-Set/dp/B002K5VS36/ref=sr_1_3?crid=CXBHCGNEL942&keywords=squash+red+dot+ball&qid=1568512993&s=gateway&sprefix=squash+red%2Caps%2C139&sr=8-3

Tecnifibre Double Yellow Dot Squash Balls - 4 Pack https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NBLQ12U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_PJk3CbK3A3HMZ

I used these balls because it was the only one to come in a four pack and then I used this stl

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3044013

I found that the dampers worked well, and then I did the squash foot mod next and it seemed to be an even larger drop in sound then the dampers. Maybe it's both combined? Not sure but if you've done the dampers try it also: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2742599

Here are the balls I used: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NBLQ12U/

I'm getting the medium clips, but I'm worried about the wear and tear on the wood. What length is the crutch leg you're using? I think I'll get a 36" rod so I can cut it down as necessary. This is what I'm looking at now:

Dowel: https://www.amazon.com/Waddell-6512U-Oak-Dowel-36/dp/B000ZRX9WY/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1473273344&sr=8-12&keywords=3%2F4+dowel+36

Squash Ball: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00P0WEJLY/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1SWUSKUD9UVJ8

Clips: https://www.amazon.com/Lehigh-13201-Organizer-Silver-Medium/dp/B0000DH4NK

Total price is about $20, not bad.

These

https://www.amazon.com/Stepper-Rubber-Vibration-Dampers-Printer/dp/B073FRZTDX/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1524075378&sr=8-2&keywords=stepper+damper

With these

https://www.amazon.com/Tecnifibre-Double-Yellow-Squash-Balls/dp/B01NBLQ12U/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1524075411&sr=8-5&keywords=squash+balls

Put into 4 of these

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2742599

You could take it a step further and install Be Quiet fans or something, but that requires breaking open the power box which I'm not comfortable doing.