Review on 🔧 ENOMAKER Near Ender: Optimal Direct Extruder for Enhanced Precision by Jorge Maertz

You're spending almost the same amount just to get an aluminum extruder, extension cord and spare wheels so the actual direct drive upgrade really works as advertised becomes . it is not relevant. However, it works. From a near-standard Ender 3, I get consistent quality at speeds around 100mm/s or higher, and the pullback is amazing. I haven't had much luck with the Bowden setup, but I haven't had any jams since installing it. Those are the pros, the only cons I can think of is the weight of the extruder motor being hung so far in front of the X gantry and the obvious weight gain from the stepped metal plate and extra wheel. It didn't cause me any obvious problems except what you would expect from such a powerful push, but time will tell. I'll probably end up printing a different mount for the standard platen that moves the extruder's weight closer to the X-rail and reduces a few grams of moving mass in my quest for even faster prints, but it's nice not to surprised when the standard plastic extruder breaks and shuts down the printer, and it's certainly nice not having to extend the extruder wires. It assembles just as easily as the rest of the printer, so you don't have to worry once you've assembled your printer.