Regarding upgradability
I haven’t purchased a Prusa printer yet, though I have come very close to ordering the MK3S+. I’m wondering about the next evolution; the i4 MK4 or whatever.
I don’t think anyone outside if Prusa knows what the i4 might include, though I did read a speculation thread here. My wish list is to see a 32 bit control board and upgraded display like the Prusa Mini has. The new Nextruder might find its way onto the i4 too.
I’ve read the sales point stating Prusa printers are engineered with upgradability in mind, so you need not buy a whole new printer when new designs are released. If purchasing and upgrading to my wish list components above (or whatever might be new) would be easy I may order the MK3S+ now. I’m interested in your opinions regarding ease of upgradability and what you think might be new in the i4.
Obviously the global shortage of components is slowing things down but that won’t last forever.
Thanks in advance for any replies.
Jake
Best Answer by JoanTabb:
Hi Jake,
a Bird in the hand is worth two in the bush!
the i3 Mk3+ is available now.
the i4 is currently a dream...
Prusa have their hands full with the XL Launch, it is unlikely that the i4 will launch any time soon,
so I Would get an I3 now and enjoy printing...
by the time the i4 comes around, you may need a second printer!
but I could be wrong?
regards Joan
RE: Regarding upgradability
I believe that Prusa said any new printer line, would have 32 bit processor.
I expect any new printer would have a nicer LCD, see Mini and SL1 series printers
the e3Dv6 extruder is getting a bit long in the tooth, so I expect that would change, I would like to see a solution where the heater wires and thermistor wires are not exposed to blobs of doom!
after that, your guess is as valid as mine!
🙂
regards Joan
I try to make safe suggestions,You should understand the context and ensure you are happy that they are safe before attempting to apply my suggestions, what you do, is YOUR responsibility. Location Halifax UK
RE:
Thank you Joan. Would you recommend I buy the MK3S+ now and upgrade it later, or wait for the i4? (or whatever it is called)
Jake
RE: Regarding upgradability
Hi Jake,
a Bird in the hand is worth two in the bush!
the i3 Mk3+ is available now.
the i4 is currently a dream...
Prusa have their hands full with the XL Launch, it is unlikely that the i4 will launch any time soon,
so I Would get an I3 now and enjoy printing...
by the time the i4 comes around, you may need a second printer!
but I could be wrong?
regards Joan
I try to make safe suggestions,You should understand the context and ensure you are happy that they are safe before attempting to apply my suggestions, what you do, is YOUR responsibility. Location Halifax UK
RE: Regarding upgradability
Hey Jake,
I had the exact same thoughts on whether or not to buy the i3 Mk3s+. Not knowing how long it would take before any Mk4 would be available I decided to go for the Mk3 and upgrade it in the future whenever any upgrades are available. For now I’m a truly happy camper printing like crazy. Even though the i3 doesn’t have a neat LED Touch screen and 32-bits, it prints like the best and I’m very happy I don’t have to wait any longer. Just go for it would be my advice.
Greetz, Frank
RE:
Thanks Frank. I agree. I'll order the MK3S+ soon and upgrade components when available.
Regards,
Jake
Hey Jake,
I had the exact same thoughts on whether or not to buy the i3 Mk3s+. Not knowing how long it would take before any Mk4 would be available I decided to go for the Mk3 and upgrade it in the future whenever any upgrades are available. For now I’m a truly happy camper printing like crazy. Even though the i3 doesn’t have a neat LED Touch screen and 32-bits, it prints like the best and I’m very happy I don’t have to wait any longer. Just go for it would be my advice.
Greetz, Frank
RE: Regarding upgradability
If you wait for the mk4, what is stopping you from waiting for the mk5?
These printers, as others pointed out, are made to be upgraded. There will definitely be at least a mk3.5 upgrade.
RE: Regarding upgradability
Good point 🙂
Thanks for your reply.
If you wait for the mk4, what is stopping you from waiting for the mk5?
These printers, as others pointed out, are made to be upgraded. There will definitely be at least a mk3.5 upgrade.
RE: Regarding upgradability
Will there even be a Mk4 or will Prusa continue to develop XL instead? and stick with the Mini for smaller, cheaper end of the market.
Will there even be a Mk4 or will Prusa continue to develop XL instead?
That would leave a gap in the market; an i3 sized successor with all the advances in technology at a similar price makes sense. Yesterday was the first time in three months that I've had to compromise by scaling and cutting a part to fit, one that would have been far simpler on an XL ...
If I'm honest 90% of my prints would be possible on a mini. I'm looking to the XL for multiple head, multiple nozzle, true multimaterial work and only occasionally will the size matter. And will I get rid on my Mk3? Probably not. The Mk3 is still ok for grunt work and simple multicolour legends - no need for my MMU which will never be refitted now. The Mk3 successor will probably be as capable as the XL and might be a better fit for my needs but it's still pie in the sky atm.
... but I am going to need a larger workbench.
Cheerio,
RE: Regarding upgradability
A touch screen and 32-bits will be better I'm sure, but as someone who has plenty of other things to tinker with while my printer actually makes stuff, I've actually discovered that for what I do the screen is more than fine and the Prusa team can do more with those 8bits than many can do with the same number of gigabytes.
As most have said, buy now, upgrade later (if you must), and avoid reading advice on social media that suggests you are going to need a whole bunch of mods and upgrades - you won't. (unless mods and upgrades are your thing of course, in which case feel free to ruin a perfectly good platform at your own expense! 🤣 )
I suspect I will upgrade when a upgrade path is available, because I seem to have a penguin gene that makes me attracted to bright shiny things, but in reality if my machine can go on knocking out stuff of the quality that it does, it's hard to imagine what the benefit will be.
If you do press the "buy" button now, you'll have a few thousand hours of printing experience under your belt when the time comes to make a rational decision on what you need!
RE: Regarding upgradability
Thanks for your reply and advice Peter. I agree completely 🙂
I ordered my MK3S+ two days ago.
Cheers, Jake
A touch screen and 32-bits will be better I'm sure, but as someone who has plenty of other things to tinker with while my printer actually makes stuff, I've actually discovered that for what I do the screen is more than fine and the Prusa team can do more with those 8bits than many can do with the same number of gigabytes.
As most have said, buy now, upgrade later (if you must), and avoid reading advice on social media that suggests you are going to need a whole bunch of mods and upgrades - you won't. (unless mods and upgrades are your thing of course, in which case feel free to ruin a perfectly good platform at your own expense! 🤣 )
I suspect I will upgrade when a upgrade path is available, because I seem to have a penguin gene that makes me attracted to bright shiny things, but in reality if my machine can go on knocking out stuff of the quality that it does, it's hard to imagine what the benefit will be.
If you do press the "buy" button now, you'll have a few thousand hours of printing experience under your belt when the time comes to make a rational decision on what you need!