Mintemp
I still haven't decided between Mk3s or Mini but I suspect my enquiry will be applicable to either.
Here in Ireland we have a very mild climate but it would often be below 16C (all to often in the Summer as we laughingly call that season). My room heating preference would be somewhat below 16C, so is the MinTemp error advisory or will the printer refuse to run? If it is the latter, short of a heated enclosure or an uncomfortably warm room how can I circumvent it.
RE: Mintemp
Somewhere around 11c is where the printer thinks it's too cold (officially); but folk have reported issues at 15c. Personally, I'd be wary if I set my heating thermostat to 16c.
Perhaps plan on an enclosure so that you can warm up the print space quickly before starting a print.
RE: Mintemp
I would enclose the printer somehow (based on money and personal preference). Even for the printing quality purpose it would be useful.
Just a big carton with open lid at the top would be already sufficient.
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RE: Mintemp
"Somewhere around 11c is where the printer thinks it's too cold (officially); but folk have reported issues at 15c" I'm sure I read somewhere it was 16C but no matter I'm still curious to know if the error is just a warning or the printer refuses to continue?
RE: Mintemp
I would only buy the mini if I were really short on space.
For general use, I consider the MK3S to be much more capable.
There is already a noisy contingent that wants a 400mm x 400mm. Try doing that with a mini.
RE: Mintemp
"Somewhere around 11c is where the printer thinks it's too cold (officially); but folk have reported issues at 15c"
I'm sure I read somewhere it was 16C but no matter I'm still curious to know if the error is just a warning or the printer refuses to continue?
Per earlier discussion threads it was a full stop, refuse to work at all, because the firmware was interpreting the low temp reading as a thermistor failure. But what the firmware does today might be different.
Actually yours is a great question to ask the Prusa folk directly. Use the CHAT button on the Prusa store website.
RE: Mintemp
@tim-m30
Thanks for the advice, I'll give the chat a go.
RE: Mintemp
@robert-rmm200
I hear what you say about a mini but it's E400 out of the box (albeit in 3 parts) compared to E700 as a kit. As build size is not really an issue for me (I intend to make small functional parts, clips, project boxes etc.)
The only downside I see is bowden vs direct and the bed and nozzle run a little cooler (it would be nice to try Nylon and polycarbonate).
One the other hand, the mini has far superior electronics, LAN and possible Wifi and a separate power (much easier if your going to use an enclosure).
So it comes down to running 8 bit electronics, paying E300 more and spending many hours assembling a kit just to print 15% wider/deeper and 40% taller parts in exotic materials (that may never use).
I guess the kit thing is a double edged sword, it 3d printing is your hobby then building a kit probably counts as a pro, whereas view it as a means to an end.
By the same token, if your into kits, you could get an ender 3, add a Bl-touch, SCR mini E3 and a direct drive extruder. Of course you don't get the Prusa support and community but .....
RE: Mintemp
The upshot is that both Mk3s and Mini will refuse to run in Mintemp (either) is triggered and that this happens immediately on start up. So it no good my putting the printer in an enclosure and hoping the bed heater will heat the space to above 16C (or whatever). I will have to actively heat the space. Applies to both Mk3s and Mini.
RE: Mintemp
A light bulb is a great heater for that: use one of the older 40w incandescent desk lamps; or a 10w LED array, with power supply also in the enclosure. Warming the enclosure a few degrees should not be an issue. Heck, just having the printer electronics turned on creates a bit of heat.
RE: Mintemp
in an enclosure just the heat from the control board and power supply should keep it warm enough
RE: Mintemp
@david-a66
"in an enclosure just the heat from the control board and power supply should keep it warm enough".
I have no idea just how much heat is required to raise the temp from 10C to 20C (Prusa recommended). If anybody knows how to calculate, it would make things much simpler.
RE: Mintemp
Depends way too much on the chamber; the math isn't easy unless you know the source of and magnitude of all the thermal losses.
e.g., 100 watts into an infinite heatsink does not raise temperatures at all.
Assuming an air tight chamber with no heat loss (infinite insulation), this forum might help.
https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/how-much-power-does-it-take-to-heat-up-air.707452/
RE: Mintemp
Do a test: grab a cardboard box the size of the chamber you plan to build. Add a thermometer and a heat source, like an LED light bulb around 7 watts in a simple light socket, turn it on and watch the temperature rise. If the box is well sealed, it will get quite warm. If a box flap is left open, you won't see much change. Now throw a few blankets around the sealed box, you'll see it gets warmer inside because less heat loss.
RE: Mintemp
@tim-m30
Now why didn't I think of that. Sound advice.