Know your parts before you build
A successful build starts with a full inventory. Lay every part out where you can see it, confirm nothing is missing, and get familiar with the screws and tools you will use again and again.
Every part and fastener in your Ender 3 kit
Free the bed wiring
Before anything else, find the extruder wire wrapped around the printer bed and gently unwrap it so it trails freely toward the back. Freeing this cable now saves you trouble later.Locate the wire
On the printer base, find the braided wire (with a thick white tube) that runs to the extruder assembly.
Unwrap it fully
Carefully unwind it from around the bed until roughly three feet of cable trails freely behind the printer.
The main parts
The tools and screws
Allen wrenches (hex keys)
A set of five sizes. You will use the numbers 3, 4, and 5 most. “Number 5” is the largest.
Screwdriver and scraper
A screwdriver for identifying holes, and a metal scraper for removing prints.
Pliers
For cutting filament at a clean 45-degree angle.
Screw bags
Labeled bags: M5x45, M5x25, M4x18, M5x8, M4x20, M4x16, M5 T-nuts, and more.
Each screw bag is labeled with a size like M4x20 (4 mm wide, 20 mm long). When a step calls for a screw, match the label exactly - the wrong length will not seat correctly.
You have found and identified every part on the parts list, confirmed nothing is missing, freed the bed wiring, and organized your screws and tools within reach. Time to build.