MK4 First Layer trouble
I have two MK4's and they have always run so reliably! My MK3 was a problem once in a while, but the MK4 never. One of mine SUDDENLY stopped printing the first layer successfully. Like when the MK3 when miss-calibrated the first layer. I re-ran the calibration on the MK4, tired a clean print surface and one well glued and the first layer simply will not adhere, forming a filament blob instead. Any advice?
Transfer both the filament and the gcode file to the other printer - does the problem transfer as well?
Cheerio,
RE: MK4 First Layer trouble
No, my other MK4 printed it perfectly. I re-ran the calibration and it did not help. So this morning i changed the nozzle and re-ran the calibration again. And re-glue sticked the surface... and exactly the same symptom! The first layer is not adhered at all! This time it did do a few cycles around the Benchy I am trying to print, but then it just slid off the surface so the filament was just a blob over the surface! This printer has run perfectly for over a year. So totally reliable - and now this. Ugh.
RE: MK4 First Layer trouble
Is there a way to adjust an MK4 to always lower the Z-axis some small number? I do not find even a "live" Z-axis adjustment. chatGPT thought there was one, but it isn't always accurate.
RE: MK4 First Layer trouble
I got the firmware from Prusa (6.2.4) which was in it anyway. But i could not get it to re-load it, since it saw it was the same as before. So, i went to "factory reset" and spent the time to re-load everything in! Now with some Prusa Slicer not allowing direct sending of files like before, but walking the stick to the printer - IT IS PRINTING! YEA! The Prusa-connect issues will be resolved, but the important thing it is printing. Apparently the Firmware had somehow gotten corrupted. Would have been nice if Prusa would have offered an option to reload it. I could have loaded an older version, then the present version, but i didn't think of that until just now while writing this note!
RE: MK4 First Layer trouble
Still the same problem returned (1st layer with no attachment at all even a little bit). MUST be the firmware and absolutely can not find a way to load any, old, new or whatever.
Loaded a VERY old firmware on the USB and the MK4 started without asking to upload it. How the heck do i upload the firmware? There is no place to upload an old or a new firmware that i can find. The machine is dead again.
RE: MK4 First Layer trouble
Filament type and print surface?
RE: MK4 First Layer trouble
Happens with any filament. PLA and PETG both did it. Smooth, rough and glue-stick coated all do it. The nozzle simply is too far from the surface. After re-calibrating and even returning to factory settings, it persists. I suspect it is a software glitch but no one has told me how to re-load the firmware. I tried loading an older version so i can load the newest but neither works. I wrote an email to Prusa but have not heard back.
RE: MK4 First Layer trouble
It might still be a Z-offset issue. On the MK4 you can fine-tune nozzle height during the first layer from the Tune menu. If firmware corruption is suspected, try flashing an older version first, then update again with the latest. Also check the load cell sensor and bed screws. If that fails, Prusa Support should help force a firmware reload.
I’ve been sharing tips like this on orcaslicer3d.com, so you might find some useful references there too.