MK4+enclosure+MMU3 -> MK4S upgrade
Hi all, I'm looking for some hivemind advice.
I have a kitted out MK4, so the printer itself + enclosure + MMU3 + fire extinguisher + LED strip + filtration + whatever I forgot. The works.
I ordered the MK4S upgrade kit on day zero and yesterday it arrived. I found the assembly manual but in no way shape or form it mentions the enclosure and various options. Before I start the open heart surgery, any advice on how to prepare? I had a quick contact with the chat service and although trying very hard to be helpful it sounded like they were no too sure about things but mentioned that *probably* I would need to print new "xLCD-support L+R and and xLCD-adapter_L and right.
Not sure how to even begin with removing the printer from the enclosure with all the option wires, I suppose there is no (dis)assembly manual for that? Any help appreciated...
P.S. Idly wondering to just leave the printer in the enclosure and forgo about the new tensioning parts and fumble my way through the other bits. Not sure though as I also ordered the acceleration sensor / hacker board so perhaps I need to remove the printer anyway.
P.P.S. Not using the MMU3 at the moment, it was more hassle than it was worth so I think I will install the new nozzle. Not completely a happy camper when I read the bit about not upgrading with a MMU3 installed.
RE: MK4+enclosure+MMU3 -> MK4S upgrade
You do need to remove the printer from the enclosure. Along with the fan and electronics, you will be replacing the Y axis belt mounts.
If you have the xLCD external, then there are mods to make an adapter to use the MK4S xLCD mount on the outside of the enclosure. You need to make the adapter before you take it apart. If you have the xLCD in one of the" Fender mods" for the enclosure, the MK4S cover is slightly bigger, so you may need new Fender pieces.
If you don't have the power supply quick disconnects: The power supply comes out by turning the 4 tabs on the bottom to let it detach from the Enclosure. It will then remove with the printer.
The MMU3 needs a zip tie removed and the cable detached so it can be removed seperately from the printer. This may be in the MK4S instructions.
If you have the xLCD external to the enclosure, then disconnect the cable and wire from the xLCD. Remove the xLCD and the printer. Hopefully you have the enclosure lid mod, the printer removes easier from the top.
The light and filter are wired independently, they do not need to be removed or wiring undone.
I just did all this and have the light and filter in the enclosure, but do not have the fire extinquisher.
The MMU3 will work with the new HF nozzle. If you upgraded the MK4 mainplate and idler with the MMU3 version of the parts, DO NOT use the MK4S idler and mainplate upgrade parts. They are for NON-MMU3 printers. The instructions did not mention that.
With the new fan, getting to the nozzle will be a little harder. I am hoping someone can make an MK4S fan swing out mod.
RE: MK4+enclosure+MMU3 -> MK4S upgrade
Don't bother to use the LCD mount that comes with the upgrade if you have an enclosure, you will just waste your time like I did. The new faceplate is all you will be able to use, unless you don't mind never closing the enclosure doors again. FYI.
RE: MK4+enclosure+MMU3 -> MK4S upgrade
Many thanks both for your explanation, much appreciated.
Ok, so I do need to remove the printer. I have installed the enclosure lid mod and note to self, order the psu quick release as this is getting tedious (it wasn’t available when I ordered the enclosure).
to summarise:
- get the printer out using vhubbard’s instructions and replace y tension belt.
- don’t install idler and mainplate upgrade
- don’t install new nozzle upgrade
- the MK4S xLCD and MK4S adapter (which i just had printed) will not work, find an external mounting mod.
- New MK4S new fan design may not be completely thought through, in need of a swing mod.
I blindly ordered the MK4S upgrade kit on day one, thinking that it would bring my printer back up to date, but I am now wondering if it is much of an upgrade after all and perhaps I should have waited a bit.
Vhubbard and turnpike, again thanks for your help.
RE: MK4+enclosure+MMU3 -> MK4S upgrade
You can install the new nozzle if desired, it is supported with the MMU3.
We would all like a swing out fan mod.
RE: MK4+enclosure+MMU3 -> MK4S upgrade
(@ph1nb) I wonder how your upgrade is going?
I have the MK4, in stand alone mode. I partially completed assembly of enclosure but am tentative about taking printer apart for all the wiring mods for the filter, light, etc. I have the MMU4 kit still in boxes. I ordered the 4s upgrade and am waiting on it. Where to start? What sequence? I would appreciate any comments.
RE: MK4+enclosure+MMU3 -> MK4S upgrade
To be honest, I’ve been putting it off. I’m finding the MK4S a bit of a lacklustre upgrade, I’m not using the MMU3 anymore due flakey reliability and lack of a decent storage option for the filaments, and to probably lose a full day taking the printer apart for just a belt tensioner and a not fully baked new fan, pfffffff.
It also doesn’t sit well with me that customers who bought a fully tricked out MK4 can’t use half of the upgrade bits and don’t even get a proper assembly guide. I’ll probably do it later this week (I have a few days off coming up), but am still contemplating if it’s worth the trouble.
I like to buy EU made stuff over Chinese stuff, I would like to support the open source movement but man, perhaps the next one is going to be a Bamboo.
RE: MK4+enclosure+MMU3 -> MK4S upgrade
bummer. another person told me to go ahead with the mmu3, then do the 4s when it arrives. I'm terribly on the fence about trying to get all of it working inside the enclosure though.
RE: MK4+enclosure+MMU3 -> MK4S upgrade
there is planty of room in enclosure, i have a mod which allows me to install buffer in the back. I also have a mod which allows to load filament without need to remove buffers. 5 spools inside, no issue. The biggest down side of mk4s is how much room new fan takes. It does limit print width if spools are mounted next to build plate. I see that new fan is very good improvement in print quality however cht obsidian e3d does not work at all. MMU3 is waste of money with current software, if they at least add manual override when you have to fix problem your self then it’s different story
Instruction how to upgrade printer is super clear.
mini+ [bondtech dual drive, revo, reprinted with PA11-CF and ASA] lives in photo tent.
mk4 upgraded to S with mmu3 and gpio (with some parts reprinted) lives in prusa enclosure.
Voron 0 ldo kit with dragon burner and…
RE: MK4+enclosure+MMU3 -> MK4S upgrade
Thx for reply. I’m assembling MMU this weekend. Still thinking about how to place/mount buffer and spools.
RE: MK4+enclosure+MMU3 -> MK4S upgrade
https://www.printables.com/model/631250-mmu3mmu2s-buffer-holder-in-back-of-original-prusa
https://www.printables.com/model/953671-loading-aid-for-the-mmu3-buffer-segment-r4
mini+ [bondtech dual drive, revo, reprinted with PA11-CF and ASA] lives in photo tent.
mk4 upgraded to S with mmu3 and gpio (with some parts reprinted) lives in prusa enclosure.
Voron 0 ldo kit with dragon burner and…
RE: MK4+enclosure+MMU3 -> MK4S upgrade
(@str0gg) hey thx for the links…that bracket looks pretty good. I appreciate your efforts to feed this info. over to me.
BTW - the assembly instructions for the MMU3 are quite good. Will continue tomorrow.
RE: MK4+enclosure+MMU3 -> MK4S upgrade
Getting a bit fed up with taking the printer in en out of the enclosure I ordered the quick release. I'll wait till it arrives and then will start the upgrade process to MK4S. Again the excellent chat service confirmed that if I print the new (L+R) MK4S brackets I should be able to install the injection moulded display on the enclosure, we shall see.
As a solution to the MM3 filament spool management I stumbled across the (un)original Prusa dry box. I ordered the kit from AliExpress and will print the printable parts from ASA as I would like to install the heating element upgrade next. Prusa customer service said that PETG would be sufficient heat resistent but I have a little bit more faith in ASA. The heating element upgrade seems to be in its infancy with a few (safety) kinks to be worked out but it looks to be a promising upgrade.
About the buffer, I see quite a few "auto rewinder" projects for the (un) original Prusa Drybox. Would that be an acceptable substitution for externally mounted original buffers? It *seems* an elegant solution.
RE:
About the buffer, I see quite a few "auto rewinder" projects for the (un) original Prusa Drybox. Would that be an acceptable substitution for externally mounted original buffers? It *seems* an elegant solution.
That is exactly what I do and it works fine most of the time for me. I've got the dry box on a shelf above the printer with the filament feeding down behind the shelf into the enclosure at the rear. The only thing I would say is preload the springs by giving the drums a couple of turns when you load the filament as if you don't you might not have enough tension in them to retract for the early changes which can lead to filament tangles in the dry box.
The only problem I have found is that occasionally you will break the end spring, the one with the D shaped hole, to help with this problem I printed that spring in PETG but the rest of the rewinder in PLA. I did experiment with all the springs in PETG but that did not seem to rewind as effectively
For the record I used this auto-rewinder https://www.printables.com/model/269390 but mounted on these frames https://www.printables.com/model/702217 but not using the plumbing parts as my filament exits straight down via my own design rear rail for the drybox https://www.printables.com/model/941997. My setup looks like this (you need to click the picture to see the full setup).
RE: MK4+enclosure+MMU3 -> MK4S upgrade
Thank you for the confirmation and the link, I will have a look. The (un)original Prusa DryBox with autowinder seems like an elegant solution for filament storage, It's just not entirely clear to me how to get the filament out of the dry box to the MMU3, so I will have to look more into that. I thought it would simply go from the dry box through the center opening in the enclosure lid and from there to the MMU3, but it looks like the turning radii of the PTFE tubes are too tight, to that's still a bit of a riddle for me.
So, plan for now.
1) Wait for the Prusa order to arrive (2 rolls of ASA filaments, heat press, quick power release).
2) Take a deep breath and start the upgrade to MK4S together with quick PSU release, hacker board and accelerator board.
3) Don't install the new nozzle, new backplate.
4) Get the printer to working order again. Start printing the (Un)original Prusa Drybox bits in ASA.
5) Print auto rewind bits.
5) Wait for AliExpress (they now say 7 Nov). Assemble Drybox, install auto rewind bits.
6) Figure out a way to get the 5 dry box filaments to the MMU3 in an elegant way. I may end up using the suggestion above and install the original buffer on the back of the enclosure. Not my preferred way, more plan B.
7) Wait for the (Un)original Prusa DryBox heating element upgrade to mature, order heating upgrade. Next project.
8) Pray the MMU3 works. So far it has been a bit of hit and miss. Hopefully the heated / dried filaments will help.
RE: MK4+enclosure+MMU3 -> MK4S upgrade
Re point 6. The dry box has the option of printing different rails to allow different exits, if you look in the file list there are are three version of the A rails, two of the F etc.. As a tip work out which you want to use before printing, I didn't and ended up with some extra parts. Personal I decided on the PC4-M10 versions which is what my five exit A rail uses.