Reviews You Can Rely On

FlashForge Finder Review

If you are looking for a good introductory printer, then the Finder is a solid option
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FlashForge Finder Review
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Price:  $350 List
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Manufacturer:   FlashForge
By David Wise and Austin Palmer  ⋅  Nov 27, 2018
63
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Print Quality - 40% 6.0
  • Ease of Use - 30% 8.0
  • Print Capabilities - 20% 5.0
  • Support - 10% 5.0

Our Verdict

The FlashForge Finder is Discontinued as of Fall 2019
REASONS TO BUY
Great value
Easy to use
Alright print quality
REASONS TO AVOID
Not designed for ABS
Average print capabilities
On the hunt for an easy to use 3D printer that won't break the bank? The FlashForge Finder is a great value option that is quite easy to use and actually makes relatively great printed models. While it doesn't have the most comprehensive printing capabilities or the largest build volume, this is a great introductory budget economic model. It's not the cheapest printer out there, but you should definitely consider the Finder if you are willing to pay just a little bit more for a significantly better printer.

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Flashforge Finder tied with the Anycubic Photon in terms of overall score, with both of these printers finishing just behind the Creality CR-10S. Both the Creality and the Anycubic cost about $500, while the Finder sell for quite a bit less than that — $300. The Creality does make slightly better prints and has a more expansive set of printing capabilities, but it is much harder to use than the Finder, with almost nonexistent customer support. It also will require a bit more assembly and tinkering than the Finder will. The Photon is a resin printer, so it has vastly superior print quality compared to both the Creality and the FlashForge, but it is also exponentially more difficult to use and more, making it a much less attractive beginner option.

flashforge finder - the flashforge finder.
The FlashForge Finder.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Performance Comparison


To find out which 3D printers are as close to perfect as you can possibly get, we looked at tons and tons of different models, then bought all the ones that showed the most promise. We then tested out the performance of each of these products head-to-head, ranking and scoring their performance in four weighted rating metrics — print quality, support, print capabilities, and ease of use.

flashforge finder - some of the prints created by the finder.
Some of the prints created by the Finder.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Print Quality


Comprising the largest portion of the score at 40% for each product, how each 3D printer actually prints is the most important factor in determining the final score for each of these products. We used a set of test models selected to allow us to evaluate how each printer handled particularly problematic areas and had a panel of judges rate the quality of each print. For most of the printers, we printed two full sets of prints, one in PLA and one in ABS, but the Finder lacks a heated bed and the manufacturer states that it is only suitable for PLA, so we only created one set of evaluation prints. However, we did try out this printer with ABS, just to see how it did, though the score was based almost exclusively on the Finder's PLA performance. Overall, we found the prints produced by the Finder to be above average, earning it a 6 out of 10.


To start off, we printed a 3D benchy on the Finder. This little tugboat is a fairly common 3D printer torture test, having fine details, overhangs, bridges, and other features that really put these products to the test. This model is printed without support.

flashforge finder - the finder's 3d benchy came out very well in pla and surprisingly...
The Finder's 3D Benchy came out very well in PLA and surprisingly well in ABS, given that it is sold as a PLA-only printer.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

On the PLA model, the words on the bottom of the model were very clear and the surface finish came out great, but there were a few imperfections in the bridges and some slight retraction issues on the smokestack. The ABS model did about the same, but it did warp slightly due to some bed adhesion issues. To be honest, we were quite surprised that it even printed without a heated bed.

Next, we printed a bridging torture test and a model of the Eiffel Tower — some of the hardest and most likely to fail prints of the entire test. This printer struggled a little with the bridging test, but did surprisingly well with the Eiffel tower. Some of the bridges sagged and failed and there were plenty of retraction issues on the PLA version and the ABS version kept failing completely. The Eiffel Tower was a bit of a stringy mess, but some of the interior structure towards the top of the tower printed very nicely — much better than some of the premium printers — boosting the Finder's score considerably.

flashforge finder - the finder did fairly well with some of our more difficult test...
The Finder did fairly well with some of our more difficult test prints.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Next, we scored the Finder on how dimensionally accurate it is and how well it can print overhangs. First, we printed an articulated elephant model that prints entirely in one piece. This model did print successfully, but it was a bit harrowing breaking the back legs free and we were quite concerned that the entire model would break. There were also some slight deformations at the top of the ears and even a small amount of layer separation. Next, we printed a nickel test. This is to see how accurate it prints, as a nickel should fit perfectly in the printed hole. However, the Finder did quite poorly, printing a hole that was significantly larger than the coin. The Finder did redeem itself on the overhang test, creating an almost perfect print even on the steepest overhangs.

flashforge finder - the elephant's legs and head moved, but there were a handful of...
The elephant's legs and head moved, but there were a handful of visual blemishes on the model.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

We printed another articulated model — a platform jack — and a hollow cube for our next pair of tests. The platform jack came out rather mediocre — it did articulate, but there were tons of problem areas and other aesthetic issues. The hollow cube was equally lackluster, with alright bridges but some minor Z-wobble and a handful of under-extruded areas.

flashforge finder - the same held true for the platform jack -- it moved up and down...
The same held true for the platform jack -- it moved up and down fine, but there were some aesthetic problems.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

We continued our print quality evaluations with a pair of low-poly figurines from popular video games. The Finder did a fantastic job on the larger figure, but struggled a bit with the smaller one. It had some retraction issues on the smaller details and had a few other blemishes across the part as well.

flashforge finder - the low-poly figurines came out quite nicely, though there were some...
The low-poly figurines came out quite nicely, though there were some slight retraction issues on the smallest details.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Both of the ABS versions of this print were below average in quality, suffering from some layer separation and the larger figure warped. The Finder did very well in our next two tests, a spiral vase and a tall tower. The spiral vase was printed impeccably well, though the tall tower did exhibit a decent amount of Z-wobble. We also had to scale it down, as the stock model was taller than the printable area of the Finder.

flashforge finder - we did find a non-trivial amount of z-axis wobble on taller models.
We did find a non-trivial amount of Z-axis wobble on taller models.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Next, we tested out how well the Finder handled a model printed with support and how well it could make a threaded jar with a lid.

flashforge finder - the lid did thread on the jar without too much issue, even with a...
The lid did thread on the jar without too much issue, even with a handful of over extruded bumps on the threads.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

The support test was so-so, with the underside of the supported area appearing a bit rough. The Finder's slicer defaults to tree supports, which definitely require pliers or some other tool to remove. The jar and lid also were about average, screwing together fine, but having plenty of imperfections and blemishes on both prints.

flashforge finder - the finder is one of the easiest printers to use, making it a great...
The Finder is one of the easiest printers to use, making it a great option for beginners.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Ease of Use


Following our print quality round of test, our ease of use assessments are the next most important, accounting for 30% of the overall score. We compared how hard it is to set up the printer, change the filament, level the bed, and the quality of the user interface, as well as how easy it is to send files to the printer. The Finder did exceptionally, well, earning an 8 out of 10.


It is about average to change the filament on this printer. Using the change filament option on the menu, the nozzle will heat up and then the extruder motor will engage to load or unload the plastic. However, it is a bit of a pain when using the built-in filament holder for the smaller 0.5 kg rolls, as you don't easily know how much filament you have left. We use the larger rolls for our tests, so we printed an external spool holder that we downloaded from Thinigverse.com and used that instead.

flashforge finder - we preferred using the larger rolls of filament, so we needed an...
We preferred using the larger rolls of filament, so we needed an external spool holder.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

The bed is fairly easy to level, using a semi-automatic process where the nozzle will move around and you need to tighten or loosen the screws as directed.

flashforge finder - the bed leveling process isn't too painful to complete.
The bed leveling process isn't too painful to complete.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

The screen on this printer shows basic stats while printing and is fairly user-friendly. You can also print wirelessly or via USB cable from your computer or from a USB flash drive for standalone printing.

flashforge finder - the interface on the finder is laid out quite well, making it easy...
The interface on the Finder is laid out quite well, making it easy to navigate through the menus.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

This printer has almost no set up required, arriving almost completely assembled — we had it ready to go in 10 minutes or less.

flashforge finder - this printer only works with limited filaments.
This printer only works with limited filaments.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Print Capabilities


Next, we ranked and scored the different printing capabilities of the Finder. We graded each printer on the different types of filament it can use, its build volume and build plate material, and its extruder and fan capabilities, as well as what slicing software it is compatible with. This product did fairly well, earning a 5 out of 10 for its average set of capabilities in this metric, which is worth 20% of the total score.


The default slicer — Flashprint — is fairly easy to use, but this printer is compatible with other slicers, like Simplify3D. It doesn't have the largest build volume, measuring in at 140mm x 140mm x 140mm (5.51"x5.51"x5.51"), but we found the build platform to be quite excellent. It even offered solid bed adhesion for ABS, all without being heated.

flashforge finder - this printer does have one of the smaller build areas.
This printer does have one of the smaller build areas.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

This printer has a layer cooling fan and the nozzle can heat up to 240°C. Additionally, this printer isn't restricted to a proprietary filament, though the manufacturer recommends that you only use PLA.

flashforge finder - we found the customer support to be fairly helpful when we...
We found the customer support to be fairly helpful when we encountered technical issues.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Support


For the last 10% of each printer's score, we compared the quality of the customer support we received and the included warranty with the printer. The Finder again did about average, meriting a 5 out of 10 for its performance.


There are a handful of helpful videos on the manufacturer's website to show you the basic operation of the printer and there was a sticker on the Finder that said to contact Tang if we had any issues via email. While we did get some prompt responses, they didn't totally solve all of our issues, forcing us to resolve a few temperature related ones on our own. This printer also only has a 3-month warranty — a bit on the low side for these products.

Value


The Finder is a solid value, offering good performance at a great price. It's not the cheapest printer around, but is a great option if you are shopping on a budget and are willing to pay just a bit more for a much easier to use machine.

Conclusion


All in all, we were pleasantly surprised with how the Finder did. It makes decent quality prints and is extremely easy to use, making it a great option for a beginner shopping on a budget and is definitely our favorite printer in its price range.

David Wise and Austin Palmer