Relocating to another continent: How to pack your printers? - General discussion, announcements and releases

RE: Relocating to another continent: How to pack your printers?

Robin_13 — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 00:19:57 +0000

Don't have a MK4, thinking of a MK3 so some info may be wrong. Maybe late. Undo Buddy box, Remove the Y axis and build plate. Zip tie Z and X axis to lock in place. Arrange build plate and Y axis in the middle of the Z axis support. Z axis on top of the Y assembly and build plate. Bubble wrap and tape as single, heavy bundle. You may be able to do this without undoing the Buddy Board.

RE: Relocating to another continent: How to pack your printers?

Public username (required) — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 18:55:27 +0000

If you're worried about packing chip debris, put the printer in a bag first. I really don't think it's complicated or needs super involved steps or disassembly.

RE:

hyiger — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 16:44:57 +0000

Posted by: @public-username-required

I feel like this is a good example of the over-complication that I see. If you are using reasonable cable ties, wood, and packing chips, how exactly is this going to happen?

I could write: don't use wood is that is dis-coloring, warping, and going soft, and don't use packing chips that look like fried potato snacks that turn to mush then they get wet, and don't use disposable cable straps that are 1 dollar per thousand, but should I need to?

I think the biggest concern with any packing material would be dust or debris that could come off of it and get embedded in lubricants and/or potentially jam up gears (like the Nextruder). I would just go with exactly what Prusa recommends for how to pack it up so it can be shipped for repair. They have step-by-step guides for each printer. If it can survive FedEx, it can survive your movers. And if the printer gets damaged beyond reasonable repair, well then their insurance will buy you a new printer.

RE: Relocating to another continent: How to pack your printers?

Jürgen — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 16:33:57 +0000

@public-username-required, maybe you are thinking of some other material than me when you refer to "packing chips"?

I am thinking of those rather brittle, foamy chips made of polystyrene (?) or corn starch. In my experience, they definitely will release dust and small fragments when rubbing against each other or against the packaged goods. I don't see how cable ties and wood will protect a printer's precision bearings from those.

RE:

Public username (required) — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 16:18:16 +0000

I feel like this is a good example of the over-complication that I see. If you are using reasonable cable ties, wood, and packing chips, how exactly is this going to happen?

I could write: don't use wood is that is dis-coloring, warping, and going soft, and don't use packing chips that look like fried potato snacks that turn to mush then they get wet, and don't use disposable cable straps that are 1 dollar per thousand, but should I need to?

Posted by: @jurgen-7

Posted by: @public-username-required

packing chips

I have seen guidance from at least two printer manufacturers stating explicitly that no packing chips must be used. You don't want those crumbles in your lead screw nuts and linear bearings.

RE: Relocating to another continent: How to pack your printers?

GroenieDieDraak — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 12:56:43 +0000

Thank you @venice3d and @same-old-shane. Advise from someone who did it before always helps.

I will definitely remove the LCD.

Also I would consider the price of shipping them vs. selling them now and getting new ones when you get to your final destination as it could either be the same price as a new printer for the cost of shipping when its all said and done.

I need to ship a bunch of personal stuff anyway. Considering the shipping rates and import taxes for the printers and MMU from Prague , I think it should be cheaper to add it to my shipment (no import taxes for my personal stuff). My printers do not have high print hours and are still in good nick.

@jurgen-7, thank you. I will keep that in mind and probably stay with bubble wrap, zip ties, and some high density foam.

RE:

Same Old Shane — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 06:58:42 +0000

When I moved, I broke down my printers by removing the X axis, removed the Z axis and had to take apart the Y axis, bed, PSU, and LCD, and then packed them all into cheap footlockers from walmart and it worked out very well. as I could get 3 printers into 1 footlocker with them broken down. Just pack them well enough and remember, for the most part a lot of companies will charge for weight and volume, so I dont recommend packing them up separately.

Also I would consider the price of shipping them vs. selling them now and getting new ones when you get to your final destination as it could either be the same price as a new printer for the cost of shipping when its all said and done.

RE: Relocating to another continent: How to pack your printers?

Jürgen — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 16:33:35 +0000

Posted by: @public-username-required
packing chips

I have seen guidance from at least two printer manufacturers stating explicitly that no packing chips must be used. You don't want those crumbles in your lead screw nuts and linear bearings.

RE: Relocating to another continent: How to pack your printers?

Venice3D — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 15:29:21 +0000

I did this about a year ago: moving from California to the UK, with my MK4 shipped by sea as part of a container load. I didn't have the original packaging, so I just anchored everything in place as much as possible with zip ties as in steps 6 and 7 of https://help.prusa3d.com/guide/packing-the-original-prusa-mk4-for-return-original-packing-material_423967. I lowered the nozzle onto a soft piece of rubber to help protect it against shocks. The printer then just went into a cardboard box with some bubble wrap (or maybe packing paper, I don't recall). It arrived fine after 6 weeks of transit and worked as soon as I had removed all the zip ties. The one thing I considered but didn't do was removing the LCD as it seems a bit vulnerable.

RE:

Public username (required) — Sun, 12 Apr 2026 15:59:21 +0000

I don't understand why this is complicated?

Cable tie the moving parts, put it in a big wooden crate surrounded by and filled with packing chips. Nail the crate shut. Job done.