Out of stock spare parts.
Most of you probably have noticed that some spare parts for the MK3/S/+ have been out of stock for weeks, if not months.
That includes the PSU, Einsy MK3S/+ boards, assembled E3D hotends, LMU8 bearings, hotend thermistors, heatbed thermistor assembly and others.
Now, it’s obvious that if Prusa continues to supply steadily new MK3S+ printers, assembled or in kit, they use all these parts to build the machines, so they’re aren’t really out of stock, only Prusa is reserving all the units they can get of these spares for new printers.
While this can make sense from a business point of view (more profit selling a printer than a hotend or PSU ), at the same time this policy seems a bit risky. Some users won’t wait for the item to be available at Prusa and will search alternative sources. Amazon sells Misumi LMU8 bearings; several vendors supply E3D hotends; clone PSUs can be found at Ali-Express or you can purchase a reliable brand like Meanwell and print the plastic parts for fitting it into a MK3. Einsy boards are a different story, I wouldn’t trust a clone from Ali-Express, but that’s me.
Anyway, the point is that Prusa must have his reasons for reserving some spare parts only for assembling printers but IMHO this is not a wise procedure if this situation lasts for months ahead..
What do you think ?. Should they take in consideration current users in need of some important spare part over the sales of printers to new users ?.
RE: Out of stock spare parts.
Why ? Its always been the case even before the part shortage that you could buy from alternative vendors. If bothered to do some research that is. I always bought my E3D parts direct as I'm in the same country. So why would I buy from Prusa in the first place ?
Makes absolute sense to me reserving everything for production.
RE: Out of stock spare parts.
I agree with Neophyl. If it makes sense (and they have the stock), get them from PRUSA. Otherwise get them where you can.
BTW, I checked Amazon for the Misumi (United States) for LMU8 bearings and all they have are the LM8UU. I had to order a replacement set directly from Misumi.
RE: Out of stock spare parts.
I agree with Neophyl. If it makes sense (and they have the stock), get them from PRUSA. Otherwise get them where you can.
BTW, I checked Amazon for the Misumi (United States) for LMU8 bearings and all they have are the LM8UU. I had to order a replacement set directly from Misumi.
I also ended up buying direct from Misumi. The supply chain is tight for everything everywhere.
Whatever you find to do with your hands, do with all your might!
RE:
Of course many spares are available elsewhere but others, like the Einsy boards, need to be purchased at Prusa.
By a weird chance, linear bearings and the heatbed thermistor set, which were out of stock yesterday when I checked, today are back in town. Maybe Prusa read my post.. 😊
Misumi LMU8 bearings are available at several Amazon European branches. No stock problems and price is similar to Prusa shop, but with free shipping, I purchased them a couple of times.
RE:
I had the same issue I got a board from here; Genuine Einsy Rambo 1.2b by Ultimachine (caribou3d.com), hope this help
RE: Out of stock spare parts.
From what I’ve been told, Utilimachine builds them for Prusa. They even took my original board back for repair. Unfortunately I haven’t found another source to repair my MMU2s board.
I had the same issue I got a board from here; Genuine Einsy Rambo 1.2b by Ultimachine (caribou3d.com), hope this help