Re: MK4 Wishlist
This seems to have become a touchscreen topic but the OP suggests it was intended as a catch-all so here's my wishlist item:
Filament Speed Monitor (Jam Detection) - I know this was there with the prior filament sensor but appears to be gone with the MK3S sensor. If the speed measurement is accurate enough (i.e. not just jam detection) it can be used to automatically adjust flow to compensate for any slip in the hobbed gears.
Or maybe the opposite of how the virtual end-stops and crash detection work (looking for positive spikes in motor current to indicate the motion has hung up), look for negative spikes indicating the gear breaking traction? I honestly don't know if this would be detectable, but certainly something to investigate if it hasn't been investigated before.
Diameter Monitoring - also sense the diameter of the filament so variation from spool to spool, manufacturer to manufacturer, etc is automatically compensated.
I'm not sure how to mount these sensors, they would probably add lots of bulk and mass to the extruder. Maybe, instead, mount to the frame at the other end of a reverse bowden setup to better define the distance from the sensors to the melt zone? This might provide the compensation by using the difference between expected diameter and measured diameter (probably better on two axes to account for ovality) to adjust in real-time the extrusion multiplier.
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Re: MK4 Wishlist
Filament Speed Monitor (Jam Detection) - I know this was there with the prior filament sensor but appears to be gone with the MK3S sensor. If the speed measurement is accurate enough (i.e. not just jam detection) it can be used to automatically adjust flow to compensate for any slip in the hobbed gears.
The optical sensor on the MK3 could in theory monitor the filament speed, but it was never enabled in the firmware.
There were enough problems with the optical sensor not seeing certain filaments that Prusa abandoned it.
I agree that it would be nice to have jam detection, but I think a better approach would be with a scrollwheel that gets moved mechanically by the filament--I expect this would be much more forgiving of different filaments than the optical sensor.
Re: MK4 Wishlist
What about mirroring the layout of the RAMBO to be able to flip it around so the wiring would face the outside of the printer to make it about 50% less annoying to wire?
Re: MK4 Wishlist
Good thought. Also, I would like to see all the wires going to the head to be brought together to a single connector so the extruder can very easily be removed to work on at a bench. Now that I say it, I think I am going to do exactly that on my MK3. Might need the heater to have a dedicated high-current connector though...
Re: MK4 Wishlist
The ability for the printer to auto adjust for any offset when changing nozzles, in effect sort of an auto live-z calibration.
This could be an optical slot switch like this:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-shipping-Transmissive-Optical-Switch-HY810H-HY810-concave-groove-slot-pitch-10mm-photoelectric-sensors-Original-authentic/32377503187.html through which the nozzle passes whilst adjusting the Z height, the switching point would be the nozzle tip position, and this Z value would be applied to the live-z value, manually adjusted as present for reliable first layer printing.
If you change the nozzle, a calibrate run is carried out and the calibrated Z height + Live-Z value would be used to start the print.
No more gouging the print bed or all that messing about tuning the live-z every time you change a nozzle.
If you use an e3d silicon sock pro, this would have to be done before you put the sock back on.
Normal people believe that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Engineers believe that if it ain’t broke, it doesn’t have enough features yet.
Re: MK4 Wishlist
Less nozzle clogging with difficult filaments
Re: MK4 Wishlist
This seems to have become a touchscreen topic but the OP suggests it was intended as a catch-all so here's my wishlist item:
Filament Speed Monitor (Jam Detection) - I know this was there with the prior filament sensor but appears to be gone with the MK3S sensor. If the speed measurement is accurate enough (i.e. not just jam detection) it can be used to automatically adjust flow to compensate for any slip in the hobbed gears.
Diameter Monitoring - also sense the diameter of the filament so variation from spool to spool, manufacturer to manufacturer, etc is automatically compensated.
Perhaps we could attach a small gray-code disk to the idler gear and read it like a rotary encoder for the flow sensor. Diameter monitoring should in theory be possible with the MK3S sensor by using it to measure distance to the lever instead of just outputting a 1 or 0.
Re: MK4 Wishlist
Less nozzle clogging with difficult filaments
That's due to their heatbreak, even mk2's didn't have this problem until they added the odd mmu custom heatbreak. change it to a standard e3d break and it will work without jams.
Re: MK4 Wishlist
Some idea:
- higher res lcd/tft similiar to SL1 with physical buttons, (preview models, more info etc)
- dedicated button for Z axis
- auto power off when print is finished
- silent blower fan
- easier hotend removal
- pause print and continue tomorrow function (turn the printer off)
- wifi and dedicated prusa mobile app to monitoring or activate “continue tomorrow”
- out of the box camera system or recording dash cam
- out of the box light system
- multi-purpose usage with interchangeable toolheads for example using for 3d printing or as vinyl cutter
Re: MK4 Wishlist
Some idea: ...
My question is usually would you be willing to pay more for more features? Let's say $1999 for MK4 with your feature list instead of $999 for MK3.
Most of the things suggested here is already available on other printers. But due to the price tag most people decide to go with MK3.
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Re: MK4 Wishlist
Some idea: ...
My question is usually would you be willing to pay more for more features? Let's say $1999 for MK4 with your feature list instead of $999 for MK3.
Most of the things suggested here is already available on other printers. But due to the price tag most people decide to go with MK3.
Ideas are just ideas, it does not mean that I need all what I mentioned. I just wanted to suggest some usefull features.
Re: MK4 Wishlist
Just an idea!
Another way of bed leveling:
Some sort of conductive or metallic leveling points, electrically connected in the heat bed. Then use the nozzle to measure contact.
No Pinda probe, lower cost and easier assembly. No Live Z adjustment needed.
My 5 cents
Mr Anders WIkström
Sweden
Re: MK4 Wishlist
That would require repeatedly hitting the bed with nozzle. Not good at all...
Re: MK4 Wishlist
Maybe not one connector to rule them all, but I’d like connectors for the fans, thermistor, heater, etc. on the print head. That is, I want to remove bits for cleaning, replacement WITHOUT having to unwrap the umbilical back to the einsy.
When someone asks you if you're a god, you say, "YES!"
Re: MK4 Wishlist
Maybe not one connector to rule them all, but I’d like connectors for the fans, thermistor, heater, etc. on the print head. That is, I want to remove bits for cleaning, replacement WITHOUT having to unwrap the umbilical back to the einsy.
I don't know if that is possible, but I'd like it very much
Sorry for my poor English. I try to do my best.
Re: MK4 Wishlist
Maybe not one connector to rule them all, but I’d like connectors for the fans, thermistor, heater, etc. on the print head. That is, I want to remove bits for cleaning, replacement WITHOUT having to unwrap the umbilical back to the einsy.
The printers that do this well seem to use a printed circuit board on the print/extruder head and then just have a multi connector cable from the board so there is a solid plug connexion on the head and the whip can firmly attach to that without flexing at the connectors.
RE: MK4 Wishlist
How about using a Duet 2 WiFi controller board.
Normal people believe that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Engineers believe that if it ain’t broke, it doesn’t have enough features yet.
RE: MK4 Wishlist
Or maybe: https://www.thing-printer.com/revolve/
Normal people believe that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Engineers believe that if it ain’t broke, it doesn’t have enough features yet.
RE: MK4 Wishlist
Or maybe: https://www.thing-printer.com/revolve/
Doubtful. From the SL1 release blog post it sounds like it has an all new board (complete with touchscreen interface...) and hints at it being the future of the filament printers too.
RE: MK4 Wishlist
Which the revolve could be as it supports the Manga screen, a multi touch capacitive touch hdmi screen, this HDMI if not used for this could also drive a 1080p matrix for SLI printing, it has everything needed really. Also in an interview with the manufacturer they say they are in discussion with printer manufacturers but omitted to say whom, this was last year though.
So who knows, I doubt PRUSA would design and manufacture their own, but rather integrate an available board and the creative commons licencing for this, fits the bill as well.
I'm trying to find some firmware for this or compiled code for the processor and see if there are any similarities with the SL1 firmware structure, this would be a good give away.
Normal people believe that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Engineers believe that if it ain’t broke, it doesn’t have enough features yet.