Intro
The Creality Ender 3 V3 SEand KE are incredibly fast machines for their price point, but as you push those speed settings higher, a physical limitation quickly becomes obvious. That unsupported, tall Z-axis gantry starts to act like a swaying mast. Even after moving the filament spool from the top to a side-mount to lower the center of gravity, the frame is still prone to flexing.
UPDATE: YOOPAI Kit Discontinued
I've confirmed directly with YOOPAI that they will no longer be stocking the Support Rod Kit featured in this guide. However, the custom side-mount spool holder files are still fully functional for anyone who already owns the kit! Be sure to check out the end of this post for a potential DIY alternative we might build next.
Full Guide
Watch the overview video or keep reading the full article below
Table of Contents
To find the breaking point, I designed a custom Z-axis stress test featuring an intricate honeycomb tube. By forcing rapid direction changes and sharp corners at 220mm/s, the frame’s tendency to vibrate became extremely visible—leaving wavy, out-of-place layers at the top of the print.
The solution is to create a rigid support structure using a triangulation kit. Here is how I installed the YOOPAI Support Rod Kit and re-engineered my custom side-mount spool holder to fit the new hardware.
Materials & Links
YOOPAI Support Rod Kit: (Currently Discontinued by Manufacturer)
Custom SR1 Side-Mount Spool Holder (STL): Thingiverse / Printables
Filament Guide Pulley: Amazon Link
40mm Bar Magnet: Amazon Link
Installing the Support Rod Kit
The YOOPAI kit is designed specifically for the Ender 3 V3 SE and KE to brace the gantry from the back. The kit includes a heavy-duty steel bottom brace with zero flex, two thick steel plates for the top, frosted aluminum rods, and all necessary hardware and tools.
Step 1: Top Gantry Plates
Remove the six original screws holding the top of the gantry down using a 2.5mm Allen key.
Replace them with the provided longer M3x25mm screws and the new top steel plates.
Note: Do this one side at a time, and be aware that the new screws require the 2mm Allen key instead of the 2.5mm.
Step 2: Bottom Bracket
Move to the back base of the printer and remove the silver drive-rod screws.
Install the new bottom steel bracket using the provided M3x16mm screws.
Ensure the bracket is oriented correctly: the “hump” should be on top, and the wings should point forward.
Step 3: Assembling and Mounting the Rods
Crucial Tip: The pre-drilled holes in the top and bottom brackets are incredibly tight. To save yourself some frustration, “pre-drive” the M5x12mm screws into the rod holes by themselves first to clean the threads before final assembly.
Place a nut and an eye bolt on each end of the aluminum rods, but do not tighten them completely yet.
Connect the rods to the top brackets first using the M5 screws.
To align the bottom eye bolts with the bottom bracket, simply spin the rod or the eye bolt to extend or retract the length. Make sure to do equal movements on both rods to keep the frame square.
Once lined up, insert the final screws and use the included wrench to tighten down the nuts.
Because this kit installs on the back of the frame, the front of the printer stays completely clean and open.
The Problem with Custom Mods
While the support rods vastly improved the frame’s rigidity, they created a new problem: they blocked the exact spot where my custom side-mounted spool holder lived.
Additionally, Version 1 of my side-mount mod used a hook that went under the printer’s rubber foot. Feedback from the community indicated this was inconsistent, as rubber feet heights vary between printers—sometimes leaving the mod dangling or lifting the printer off the table entirely.
Designing the Side-Mount Spool Holder (Version SR1)
I went back to the drawing board to turn the support rod from an obstacle into an advantage.
The new “SR1” (Support Rod) Version ditches the under-foot hook and instead snaps directly onto the new aluminum support rod itself, providing a solid anchor to keep the mod from tilting forward. I also added an extension that fits perfectly into the cavity created by the new YOOPAI bottom brace. This secondary anchor prevents the weight of a full 1kg spool from twisting or sagging the holder.
Installation & Printing:
It is a tight fit and requires some force to seat all the way down, but once installed, it is incredibly rigid.
You can now pick up and move the entire printer without the mod falling away.
The model prints on its side in about 1.5 hours and requires absolutely no supports.
Updating the Filament Guide
Since the top of the gantry now features those new steel plates, I redesigned the filament guide to hook directly onto their open edge. Because the plates are steel, the new guide includes a slot for a 40mm bar magnet to make the fit feel incredibly deliberate and secure.
The files include both a roller version and a simple loop version. Both take less than 15 minutes to print without supports.
Final Results & What’s Next
After installing the support rods and the new SR1 spool holder, I ran the high-speed stress test again. The results were pristine—no wavy lines, no swaying, just a smooth, stable flow even at the top of the Z-height.
Mounting the spool on the side provides a bit of slack in the filament, which stops it from constantly tugging on the spool and causing further vibrations during rapid jerking motions.
The Future: A DIY Support Rod Kit?
Since YOOPAI has officially discontinued their hardware, I want to hear from you. Should I design my own custom support rod kit?
I am considering engineering a fully 3D-printed version that utilizes basic, inexpensive hardware you can pick up at any local hardware store. I’ve posted a poll over on the YouTube channel—head over there to cast your vote, or drop a comment below to let me know if this is a project you want to see!
In the meantime, stay tuned for the next project where we’ll be installing the Creality filament run-out sensor to see if we can make it play nice with this side-mounted setup.
- FASTER AND LIVELY PRINTING EXPERIENCE: Ender 3 V3 SE 3d printer can print at up to speed 250 millimeter per second with acceleration 2500 millimeters per square second, faster than most of printers on the market. You can complete models efficiently, saving time to wait for print jobs. Moreover, it can keep good printing quality at the same time. The optimized UI uses motion graphics to display the leveling process and other parameters, so you will know how the printer is doing at a glance, providing you a perfect printing experience
Frequently Ask Questions
The Side Mount Spool Holder is a custom 3D-printed side-mount spool holder designed specifically for the Ender 3 V3 SE. It relocates the spool from the top of the printer to the side, reducing vibration and improving stability during prints.
Mounting the spool on the side helps reduce wobble and sympathetic vibrations that can affect print quality. It also lowers the center of gravity and makes filament feeding more consistent, especially at higher print speeds.
The Side Mount Spool Holder mod was custom designed for the Ender 3 V3 SE, and it hooks securely onto the printer's existing rubber feet. It may not fit other models without modification.
Infill: 20% is strong enough for both parts.
Supports: No supports needed.
Adhesion: Print the spool holder flat with no brim or skirt, as it barely fits on the Ender 3 V3 SE bed.
Material: PLA, PETG, or stronger filaments like ABS will work well.
