Considering MINI  

RE: Considering MINI

The Mini is my first printer and I wouldn't recommend it. The PTFE tube issue is easy to fix. A much worse issue is the inconsistent live Z settings. It's incredibly frustrating and makes me wish I'd bought an MK3S instead. You're supposed to be able to calibrate the live Z once and be done with it. Instead I have to remember to lower the Z on the first print of the day and raise on subsequent prints. The second print of the day never goes right initially. And I've heard nothing from Prusa that they intend to fix it.

RE: Considering MINI

I've had my Mini for a little over a month now and I use it just about every day. I'm also a beginner, and my experience so far has been fantastic. I followed the setup instructions and calibration, and have been printing away ever since. I haven't had any issues, I haven't needed to disassemble anything, re-calibrate anything, and my prints look great in my opinion.

Good luck with your search!

RE: Considering MINI

@tracy

Have you tracked down what is causing the variance in the live Z?

RE: Considering MINI

@tracy

Not really. Z is very important, so it must be calibrated after each mechanical activity on the printer, including printing (due to construction of Mini) . But anyway, printer doesn't know if you have done anything mechanical, so it check it again. And usually, after shutdown and start, the numbers are likely to change. That is why, it must be done always before printing.

RE: Considering MINI

@kiwo

Yes, that's my point. You shouldn't have to calibrate Z before every print. Only after significant changes like changing print sheets or the nozzle. Prusa decided to keep the price of the Mini low by using a Minda sensor that doesn't have a temperature sensor. They should have at least made a more expensive sensor an upgrade option.

RE: Considering MINI

Thanks everyone for the opinion.  I like the setup of this printer and the auto mesh leveling feature.  Can we use a different brand of the probe to replace the MINDA probe ?

Thanks,

Ching-Ho Cheng

RE: Considering MINI

I am like @codetoad.  Love the MINI.  Did Z calibration once and haven't touched it since, although  I have only used PLA so far.  So I agree that, if it needs calibrating each day then something must be wrong.... and finding out what is clearly frustrating.  Back to the question "considering MINI" I too was worried about all the problems reported while waiting for mine to arrive.  However if you count up all the people reporting issues (and then maybe double it for people who don't read the forum),  then I believe it is a very small proportion of the number sold.  Clearly annoying for those with the problem, and the issues need resolving, but should not put one off from buying this well made machine.

RE: Considering MINI

Hey, I got the Mini as my first printer as well and didn't have any issues so far. When is was waiting for the printer I read a lot about the ptfe tube issue and was worried as well.

In the end I didn't have any issues with underextrusion and I already switched the nozzle a few times and printed PLA as well as PETG. I thought as long as I don't have a problem I won't touch the hotend and so far it worked out for me.

I do preheat the printer in home position before I start a print, this way I haven't had any z-level issues. Sometimes I tune the z-level when the first layer is running since some filaments need more or less squish depending on the used steel sheet.

The next thing I want to test out is ASA, maybe with the higher temperatures I will finally run into the hotend issues as well, idk.

Oh actually there is one issue I have, my x and y belts seem to rub against the pulley or something else. I can sometimes here it squeak and I see the x axis belt splice up at the edge on one or two points. I think this shouldn't happen with a printer only 3 months old. I haven't tried to adjust the belt positions but maybe I take a look at it today.

RE: Considering MINI

Posted by: @melaniebraun

Oh actually there is one issue I have, my x and y belts seem to rub against the pulley or something else. I can sometimes here it squeak and I see the x axis belt splice up at the edge on one or two points. I think this shouldn't happen with a printer only 3 months old. I haven't tried to adjust the belt positions but maybe I take a look at it today.

I recently started a topic about this issue. To fix it, someone inserted a piece of paper to change the angle of the pulley. I tried that and it caused a layer shift. So now I just live with the squeak.

RE: Considering MINI

@tracy

Thanks, i checked the topic and maybe I give it a try. I don't mind the sqeaking much but if the belt tears up I will also have problems with the axis movement.

RE: Considering MINI

The Mini is my first printer too, and I love it and would recommend it.

RE: Considering MINI

A lot of issues I thought were attributed to a temperamental live-z setting were actually issues with my extruder. On some occasions the idler was not adjusted correctly after having messed with it for FLEX. Other times I actually had the internal gear attached to the extruder motor shaft become loose, causing clicking and under extrusion problems, the fix was to disassemble the extruder assembly to get to the motor. It was kind of scary at first, then I realized it's just a bunch of 3d printed parts bolted together,  it's not that big of a deal to do some surgery on these things. In the end the Prusa Mini is my first 3d printer, and I have learned a lot these past 2 months. I absolutely love this thing, and think it's rock solid. 

RE: Considering MINI

@  lcc014

I highly recommend the mini in spite of all the discussion above.

I am 82 years old, have never used a 3D printer before, and have never had a print fail.

I am completely satisfied with my mini and Prusa.