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Struggling with the MK4 (MK3S > MK4 upgrade)  

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GaryM
(@garym)
Active Member
Struggling with the MK4 (MK3S > MK4 upgrade)

After years with the MK3S I'm really struggling with the upgrade... The MK3S (kit) was rock solid. Any duff prints were down to me. It revolutionised my use of 3D printing and has provided a lot of joy. PETG has become my filament of choice.

So to me the MK4 upgrade was a sensible step but I'm rapidly begining to regret it. The amount of time I had to wait from the point of ordering the kit till now started to send the warning signs. I just can't get it dialed in. I'm sure it will get sorted in the end but for now its a step backwards for me.

Kit build and instructions were excellent the Gummies helped a lot.

  • First self test failed with fan errors dispite them changing speeds etc. Rest of the test was fine. Reran the test, doing nothing to the printer and it was fine.
  • First print was the jet engine in PLA. Print was beautiful and gave me high hopes until it ran out of filament. During the print I noticed some odd folds in the filament. On ejecting the print a 4mm bit got stuck in the top of the nextruder blocking the sensor. It took a partial disassembly to clear it.
  • Later I found the issue above, Nextruder filiament rotation. Reprinted the extruder idle clips and arms, better but still not perfect.
  • Using PrusaLink over WiFi, the uploads often fail if I don't manually navigate the printer back to the main menu. Also happens when the printer boots as it goes to the last print, dont know why.
  • Printer crashes. This has happend a handful of times now during a PrusaLink upload. Reboot the printer and do the exact same upload and its fine.
  • Nozzle cleaning errors with PETG happening quite often. Cleared by manualy editing the printer GCodes to reduce the cleaning temps, gone from 190 to 175.
  • PETG stringing, what a mess. Cleared by dropping the print temps drastically 180-200 seems best so far but still trying to understand it.
  • Divots on print smooth sheet (glad I'm still using my old knackered plate). I have a new one purchased with the kit but dare not use it yet
  • First Layer, totally unpredicatble. Same print can fail in different ways. Biggest issue is bed adhesion or lack of.

I know there could be any number of things at play here but the basic premise is that I had none of this with the MK3S. I'm just posting this by way of feedback.

 

Posted : 18/11/2023 12:43 pm
GaryM
(@garym)
Active Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Struggling with the MK4 (MK3S > MK4 upgrade)

Agh yes missing Octoprint, well mainly the live camera. I know there are loads of options here but not gone down the Octoprint route after reading various posts about reliability. To much to deal with in the previous post at the mo.

Posted : 18/11/2023 12:47 pm
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