Should I Buy a Prusa?  

RE: Should I Buy a Prusa?

@aaron-sahlstrom I would advise you to browse along this forum, where there are several discussion threads regarding your question. just search for ender and you can read many opinions 😊 

RE: Should I Buy a Prusa?

Adhesion should not be your criteria.

All build plates from all manufacturers can lose adhesion if not treated right.

Be more concerned about construction quality issues. Look at Ender 3 objects printed by someone that knows what they are doing.

Same for Prusa.

RE: Should I Buy a Prusa?

I spend a lot of time both here and in the various 3D printing reddit groups. Getting the 1st layer calibrated and maintained is a common frustration with many of the lower-end printers. You can definitely still have 1st layer issues with a Prusa, but the quality-of-life enhancements make it much easier to put up with.

There are a lot of very interesting low-cost printers coming out now, including the Prusa Mini. If you need something in this build size, the Mk3 is still the one to beat. Not to say that you can't get very good prints out of an Ender 3, but having followed the various groups, I'm glad I went with a Mk3.

RE: Should I Buy a Prusa?

Is this a trick question?  Donate the ender to a school and buy a Prusa. You will never regret the decision.

RE: Should I Buy a Prusa?

On Prusa printer you still need to correctly set up first layer (and maintain print surface super clean) but the way it's done on Prusa is considerably easier than manually adjusting end stops and twisying knobs. Basically just adjust probe's height and the the rest is in firmware. This is what you pay for, among many other things:

RE: Should I Buy a Prusa?

Thanks for your replies.  In retrospect, I guess it was a stupid question to post on a Prusa forum.  Unfortunately Robert, I don’t know anyone who has a 3D printer, or looking at the objects printed from various printers and the printers themselves would certainly have been preferable to posting on a forum.  Thanks Zoltan for the requisite suggestion to first time posters that I they search the forum instead of posting.  I did find a makers group in my area, so I will be visiting them this week.  Hopefully they have a Prusa that I will be able to try out before I make a decision.  I’m also curious whether it is faster than my Ender 3.  From the pics it uses worm gears instead of belts, so it must print more accurately.  Thanks Crawlerin, it sounds much easier to level the bed on the Prusa... not that its hard on the ender, just that its every time.   I remember when you had to calibrate ink jet printers by looking at a print out and then adjusting configuration, and how much easier it was when they scanned their own calibration printout and self adjusted.

Thanks again for your input folks!

RE: Should I Buy a Prusa?

Hallo,

2 years ago I thought about bying a 3D-printer. So I searched the internet, spend a lot of time for finding the right printer. Then I found out something funny: When you look videos of 3D-printing-nerds - they allways have also a Prusa printer. That was my door opener - when all of them have also use a Prusa - that must have a reason. The day I recognized that, I ordered my Prusa MK2. I am very happy with it. My printers in the near future will allways have orange / black colour.

These printers are allways under innovation, there is a great community - and nearly every time you are helped!!! 

Best regards, Clemens

RE: Should I Buy a Prusa?

I saw some reviews on Ender. If I compare what I saw with Prusa (having MK2.5S), I would definitely not buy Ender because of missing automatic calibration and removable magnetic print steel sheets. Also I can see Prusa with E3D hotend more universal from the point of print material compatibility. I do not comment quality of the parts, just function. On the opposite side the price of the printer is 1/4 of MK3S, so even if the parts fails in two years, you can easily buy new one. That time Prusa will sure have also new better model and you would be praying for old MK3 to fail, so you can buy the new super printer 😉

RE: Should I Buy a Prusa?

With the amount of failure with heater elements, power supply, constant firmware updates, and a really poorly designed multi filament unit I am pretty much decided not to purchase any further Prusa products.

I am looking at the new Dermel units.

FYI

RE: Should I Buy a Prusa?

The Ender and Prusa and night and day differences.  

RE: Should I Buy a Prusa?

Well, I pulled the trigger and placed my order!  I am looking forward to being part of the community.  I want to be able to do water soluble supports.  Do you guys think I should order the MMU right away and include it in my first assembly, or add it later?  

RE: Should I Buy a Prusa?

Posted by: @the-baron

Well, I pulled the trigger and placed my order!  I am looking forward to being part of the community.  I want to be able to do water soluble supports.  Do you guys think I should order the MMU right away and include it in my first assembly, or add it later?  

Welcome to the jungle!  

RE: Should I Buy a Prusa?

Later. Much later.

Add the MMU after you are comfortable using the MK3S. I would say give it six months... (I am conservative that way)

Never add a MMU to a new printer. You will never figure out where the problem lies.

RE: Should I Buy a Prusa?

Posted by: @the-baron

 Do you guys think I should order the MMU right away and include it in my first assembly, or add it later?  

Clear advise to do it later. Get to know the printer first.

RE: Should I Buy a Prusa?

@the-baron

Joining the forum you are already a community member regardless you own a printer. WELCOME !!!

RE: Should I Buy a Prusa?

Welcome! Where and when is the welcome part? 😉

RE: Should I Buy a Prusa?

did you mean party?  ask the-baron

RE: Should I Buy a Prusa?

yes, party. 

RE: Should I Buy a Prusa?

I planned on buying a Prusa simply because of the reputation and the community behind it.

However, I'm stunned to find that two attempts on their website for a general pre-sales question have gone unanswered and I even followed up with an email.

Beginning to think this is an omen and maybe I should go elsewhere!

Phil