Are there advantages to the MK4s over the Core 1, for hobby users (non-proffesional, printing "stuff I like".  

RE: Are there advantages to the MK4s over the Core 1, for hobby users (non-proffesional, printing "stuff I like".

I for one can't wait to upgrade my small farm of Mk4S's to CORE One's. I've not been impressed with the Mk4 generation. I was super excited of course about the nextruder and the "always perfect first layer" but in reality for me it has been anything but. Plenty of GitHub reports to know that I'm not the only one who feels he constantly has to babysit the first layer and make adjustments to avoid ripples because the nozzle is too low  or filament coming off the plate because it's too high. Interestingly,  my XL (with ostensibly the same extruder) has never had any of these issues, so hopefully with the CORE One this won't be an issue anymore. 

So coming from this place, here's another idea: Go with a Mk3.5 (or even a Mk3S+).

For reasons I can't remember, when I upgraded my Mk3S+'s to Mk4's, I upgraded one of them to a Mk3.5. Frankly, I couldn't have been happier about this upgrade. It's has the same workhorse quality of the Mk3S+ and has been super reliable but with a very significant speed improvement. And unlike my Mk4S's, with the first layer calibrated once, I can just start a print on the Mk3.5 and walk away and don't have to manually adjust live Z. 

RE: Are there advantages to the MK4s over the Core 1, for hobby users (non-proffesional, printing "stuff I like".

Thanks - I'm not sure my brain can handle another cross-shop option, but appreciate the feedback. Yours is really the only less-than-stellar review I've read on the MK4 series, mostly folks seem to love them.

RE: Are there advantages to the MK4s over the Core 1, for hobby users (non-proffesional, printing "stuff I like".

I have my MK4S in an enclosure and mostly print PLA and PETG. It just does the job, man. 

RE: Are there advantages to the MK4s over the Core 1, for hobby users (non-proffesional, printing "stuff I like".

Yours is really the only less-than-stellar review I've read on the MK4 series, mostly folks seem to love them.

For entertainment, check out https://github.com/prusa3d/Prusa-Firmware-Buddy/issues/4254#issuecomment-2650337785

I'm not alone in my pain.

RE: Are there advantages to the MK4s over the Core 1, for hobby users (non-proffesional, printing "stuff I like".

Well, seems the MK4S is not without its issues - (but is any technology?) The seemingly random poor first layer would be a concern for me, particularly since bed adhesion is a  problem right now with my current printer. That said, the Core 1 is essentially an untested platform - I mean its clearly been tested, but not tested by the masses like the MK4 series - so there's every chance the Core 1 will have similar, or different, or [shudder] worse issues  until bugs are worked out - for that matter, it could end up a complete lemon of a platform - no way to know really, except to knowledge that Prusa  typically puts out a quality product. So I guess what I am saying is that for comparison's sake and trying to figure out which to buy, known MK4S issues may be irrelevant unless they are so bad that one should turn away from the platform entirely, and or until we know whether the Core 1 suffers similarly.  Not sure I have a clear decision yet, except that the MK4S is available now, and we know about its issues, and the Core 1 is not, and may still be hiding some early bugs.

RE: Are there advantages to the MK4s over the Core 1, for hobby users (non-proffesional, printing "stuff I like".

For an opposing view I've had none of those first layer issues.  I just make sure the nozzle is clean before I start.  This was not necessarily required on the mk3's because it used a prox sensor to do the bed mesh, so it didn't matter if you're nozzle was dirty. 

I have had to adjust the live Z on the MK4 when printing hotter stuff like ASA or PCCF, but I don't print that often, and I'm all fairness you needed additional sheet profiles for those on the MK3 as well or the first layer would be too squashed. 

I think if Prusa upped the probing temperature for these hotter filaments no adjustment might be necessary.

If you printed it a bunch you could set a nozzle offset in the filament profile.

I'll also note that my filament is stored in an electronic drybox and I print directly from it, so I don't have any moisture in the filament contributing to oozing.

I'll print on my MK4 all day over my other printers because it has the best print quality, and I only do functional parts so the print quality is important. 

For those that have had problems I'm not sure what the root cause is, but for most I suspect dirty nozzles or faulty load cells. (I don't think this is the case for FoxRun/Fucher because he's not a rookie and would have rooted these out)

RE: Are there advantages to the MK4s over the Core 1, for hobby users (non-proffesional, printing "stuff I like".

I have a few MK4S (mini print farm I guess) and don't have any first layer problems with PLA, PETG, PC or ASA. When I first got the MK4 a little over a year ago, I did have some initial problems with the first layer on some machines and also the top layers often had rippling when using PLA. Those were teething issues, as all those problems have been worked out. Before starting a print, I simply break off any remaining filament that oozed out of the nozzle from the previous print (if printer is cool), or wipe nozzle with a paper towel to make sure it is clean. No issues at all.

Having said all that, I still am planning on upgrading all my printers to the CoreOne and have already pre-ordered the kits :). I am prepared that there will be some initial issues with the CoreOne as it is new, similar to how there was when the MK4 first came out, but am ok with that. 

RE:

Not here to add to your confusion, but if I were in your shoes printing only model figures I would go for an SLA printer. It has a print quality and level of detail that no FDM printer can match. Yes, it is more expensive and more of a hassle. But you might find the better quality is worth it. 

RE: Are there advantages to the MK4s over the Core 1, for hobby users (non-proffesional, printing "stuff I like".

I bought first printer for home 2months ago. I had some experience with SLA from work before. It is great, but I don't want that at home 😂

I got mk4. If I didn't make my mind 2 days before Christmas, I might have had it next day. It went out of stock just after, so I might have the last produced MK4 ever 😂

Anyway, I was looking at the Core, my reasoning was that I don't plan printing anything advanced and have no experience so MK4 should be plenty good to get some. And I can always upgrade it I feel so. Or save few bucks. Which I spent on lot of accessories around 😂

I printed mostly PLA, zero problems. The few small are because of the models, not the printer. Lately I did some PETG , that have me a bit of head scratching. But I upgraded to MK4S, and since there are troubles reported with PETG and HF nozzle, I'm leaning towards having dedicated nozzle for each material, which will solve some of it. In nut shell, I'm happy with it and no needs to upgrade to untested platform.

For the advantages, of mk4s over Core One: you cannot have mmu3 with the Core, at least now. That might get handy for models.

RE: Are there advantages to the MK4s over the Core 1, for hobby users (non-proffesional, printing "stuff I like".

Thanks all. 

I decided to order the Core 1.   Whether its the right call or not, I guess we'll find out when I get it......which I can only assume will be sometime 2036......

As for SLA printing - I would absolutely love to go that route, and almost did the first time I got a printer, but there's so much more to a proper and safe SLA set up than just the printer itself, and that's on top of the additional work to rinse and ensure final cure, etc.  Its a far more complicated process and so not so good for use by multiple people (and kids)  - I decided it was just too involved.  If I had a dedicated area to set up all the extra equipment, chemicals, ventilation, etc and the time to rinse and final cure everything, and I wasn't trying to ensure a repeatable process for more that just myself, I'd certainly go SLA.  I'd also consider SLA if I were trying to sell parts or figures, a business if you will, rather than a curiosity. 

RE: Are there advantages to the MK4s over the Core 1, for hobby users (non-proffesional, printing "stuff I like".

If you are printing miniatures on a FDM printer, check out some of the tips and tricks in this video:

As always, YMMV.

RE: Are there advantages to the MK4s over the Core 1, for hobby users (non-proffesional, printing "stuff I like".

On the SLA: we have SL1S and CW1 cutting station at work. And the post process is not a problem, it is extra 30mins at most. The associated mess and dealing with chemicals (and their disposal!) is another. And yes, I wouldn't let kids doing it. And apparently the prints are not totally safe even after curing...

So good luck with the Core 👍

RE: Are there advantages to the MK4s over the Core 1, for hobby users (non-proffesional, printing "stuff I like".

Im another one who has had zero issues with the MK4 and the MK4s. The first layer is amazing, and have had no adhesion issues etc whatsoever. 

Disliked the MK3s because of all the z-height adjustment, but the MK4 was a breath of fresh air - I literally set the print to start and leave it. I don't even watch the first layer go down ay more. Just print and leave it with full trust that it'll be OK. I was a little nervous about adding the MMU3, but again that's been flawless for me so far too (only printed 3 models yet though). 

I will move to the Core One at some point. It has its teething issues that need ironing out with a couple of firmware updates, as with any new device, but I think you made the right choice at this stage - you may as well jump straight to the newer platform, which will be refined over the coming months 😉

Welcome aboard!