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Prusa Mini Clone from China  

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cwbullet
(@cwbullet)
Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Prusa Mini Clone from China

@crawlerin

Mine came 100% assembled outside of needing to add the heater and thermistor.  

--------------------
Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog

Posted : 05/11/2020 1:24 pm
cwbullet
(@cwbullet)
Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Prusa Mini Clone from China

@crawlerin

That is not entirely true.  My MK3S clone is not PTFE lined.  I carefully research it to ensure I got the one from TriangleLabs to ensure it was not.  

--------------------
Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog

Posted : 05/11/2020 2:10 pm
Crawlerin
(@crawlerin)
Prominent Member
RE: Prusa Mini Clone from China

@charles-h13

Trianglelab is different company from Fysetc though. I was talking about Fysetc.

Posted : 05/11/2020 3:01 pm
cwbullet
(@cwbullet)
Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Prusa Mini Clone from China

@crawlerin

I know.  I am talking about two different machines also.  Triangle Labs does not make minis.   I was using that to explain how I researched to find one that did not go all the way through.  You said that all Mk3S clones go all the way through.  D-Force and Triangle Labs certainly do not.  

I just contacted FYSETC to ask if my kit has the heartbreak replaced or if they all come this way now.  

--------------------
Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog

Posted : 05/11/2020 3:33 pm
Crawlerin
(@crawlerin)
Prominent Member
RE: Prusa Mini Clone from China

Haha no, I was talking about Fysetc specifically, that their clones use PTFE-lined hotend both MK3S and MINI (and whatever else they make). Sorry for misunderstanding.

Posted : 05/11/2020 3:44 pm
cwbullet
(@cwbullet)
Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Prusa Mini Clone from China

@crawlerin

No issue.  I would just replace the heartbreak.  

I have been printing for over a week.  The only complaint I have is that I had a little difficult dialing it on the first day for a first layer.  I scratched the bed a little.  It was my mistake.  I tried to print a temp tower sliced for the MK3S.  Don't do that again.  

--------------------
Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog

Posted : 05/11/2020 6:29 pm
cwbullet
(@cwbullet)
Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Prusa Mini Clone from China

@zoltan

I do not.  I will be writing a complete review for this forum and on my own personal website.  I will tell you that I am impressed with the printer but I do think it is overpriced.  If I were going to order one at full price, I would wait until the Original Mini from Prusa is available in a more timely availability from the Prusa.  I think price will plummet.  

 

--------------------
Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog

Posted : 05/11/2020 7:17 pm
cwbullet
(@cwbullet)
Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Prusa Mini Clone from China

@crawlerin

I got an answer from the seller.  My printer was returned and they broke the heartbreak.  They replaced the heartbreak so you might be right.  My purchase was from a 3rd party vendor.    

--------------------
Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog

Posted : 05/11/2020 7:20 pm
cwbullet
(@cwbullet)
Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Prusa Mini Clone from China

I looked on the FYSETC: 

https://www.fysetc.com/products/1pcs-radiator-kit-clone-prusa-mini-hotend-set-heatsink-for-prusa-mini?variant=36889764659349

The heartbreak is different than the one on mine.  

--------------------
Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog

Posted : 05/11/2020 7:24 pm
cwbullet
(@cwbullet)
Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Prusa Mini Clone from China

I am done testing and reviewing my clone.  I would strong recommend against being a clone from China.  The kit was challenging to build and the quality was suspect.  I got lucky and most have not.  I will not be posting anymore on my clone.  

--------------------
Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog

Posted : 06/11/2020 1:46 pm
karl-herbert
(@karl-herbert)
Illustrious Member
RE: Prusa Mini Clone from China

@charles-h13

Thanks for the interesting and informative feedback series.
I just hope that one day we will not walk around as clones 😋 

Statt zu klagen, dass wir nicht alles haben, was wir wollen, sollten wir lieber dankbar sein, dass wir nicht alles bekommen, was wir verdienen.

Posted : 06/11/2020 2:22 pm
jsw liked
jsw
 jsw
(@jsw)
Famed Member
RE: Prusa Mini Clone from China

Thanks Charles.

This also confirms my decision to go with a genuine Prusa rather than a clone or a cheaper competitor.

Posted : 06/11/2020 2:24 pm
bobstro
(@bobstro)
Illustrious Member
RE: Prusa Mini Clone from China

@charles-h13 Your experience with a cheap(ish) clone pretty much mirrors mine.

  • I ordered an Artillery Sidewinder X1 at the start of the pandemic for PPE printing.
  • It worked well enough for 15 days, at which time the bed thermistor cable failed. This cable is run along with AC bed power in a suspect sleeve that is subject to high stress and bending with very poor cable relief.
  • After being assured a replacement would rushed at the end of a multi-day email exchange, I decided to patch in a repair. Just as well as the replacement part took 60 days to arrive. I wound up doing extensive work internally to add strain relief and print a set of cable chains to protect the cabling. I was able to print at more-or-less the same level as on day one.
  • Various other parts within the extruder began to experience problems, and the PTFE-lined heartbreak limited filament options. I wound up replacing the cover/heatsink, extruder gears, heartbreak, heat block and nozzle. I also had to go through the joy of finding and recompiling my firmware to extend the temperature range.
  • I also wound up on a quest to find reasonable cooling and wound up replacing the part cooling fan with a larger 5015.

While I quite like the Sidewinder, I will in no way recommend it to a newcomer. The bed cabling can harm or kill somebody, whether due to shock or fire hazard. The PTFE-lined heatbreak is a shortcut that only benefits the manufacturer. There were lots of issues with over-tightened screws, excessive hot glue application on the boards and connectors, and a variety of other QC issues.

That said, my prior experience with my Prusa Mk3 prepared me well and knowing what and how things should work was of tremendous help. I am way past enjoying twiddling and assembling kits, but I am able to recognize the problems and identify fixes. It's a reasonable SECOND printer. For all that, now that I have this thing working, I really do like it. I'm getting good and surprisingly detailed results with it. It is quiet enough and has great production volume. It's a shame these companies won't spend a bit more on good QC, parts and support. The printer designs are decent and competitive once assembled and tuned correctly.

My notes and disclaimers on 3D printing

and miscellaneous other tech projects
He is intelligent, but not experienced. His pattern indicates two dimensional thinking. -- Spock in Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan

Posted : 06/11/2020 3:58 pm
cwbullet
(@cwbullet)
Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Prusa Mini Clone from China

I am starting a blog for my reviews.   I will write this up a little more professionally.  

Clone Mini Review

The bottom line from start to finish is that I would never think twice about a clone if Prusa offered a kit version.  I would never suggest it to my club if Prusa offered a kit.  

--------------------
Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog

Posted : 07/11/2020 1:59 pm
bobstro and jsw liked
Robert
(@robert-14)
Eminent Member
RE: Prusa Mini Clone from China
Posted by: @charles-h13

I am starting a blog for my reviews.   I will write this up a little more professionally.  

Clone Mini Review

The bottom line from start to finish is that I would never think twice about a clone if Prusa offered a kit version.  I would never suggest it to my club if Prusa offered a kit.  

Nice writeup @charles-h13. Waiting for more 😉

Posted : 07/11/2020 2:38 pm
Crawlerin
(@crawlerin)
Prominent Member
RE: Prusa Mini Clone from China

Oh and did I mention aluminium profiles are of different type than those with original MINI? Then your printed parts won't fit with standard T-slot nuts. These are from China, while original uses such with slot. As I said previously, seems like they sourced hodge-podge of random parts taken from BOM, regardless if they fit together or not.

And missing 2 M5 screws. What comes good of it is that I have built supplies of proper screws, nuts and spare parts now, because I had to order those. Just assembling it takes me very long right now, I am in no hurry and do it whenever I am not occupied by something else.

Posted : 08/11/2020 3:28 pm
cwbullet
(@cwbullet)
Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Prusa Mini Clone from China

@crawlerin

Odd.  Either they shipped me more or I got a bunch of important parts left over.  

--------------------
Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog

Posted : 08/11/2020 4:39 pm
Crawlerin
(@crawlerin)
Prominent Member
RE: Prusa Mini Clone from China

@charles-h13

There's quite an excess of other screws and nuts in the kit, just missing 2 M5s 😀 it's solved now, we have stashes and stashes of various screws at work which we don't use because we standardized on M6 for mounting equipment to racks.

Posted : 08/11/2020 5:45 pm
cwbullet
(@cwbullet)
Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Prusa Mini Clone from China

@crawlerin

I really wish Prusa would offer the Mini in Kit Form.  

--------------------
Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog

Posted : 08/11/2020 8:19 pm
Robert
(@robert-14)
Eminent Member
RE: Prusa Mini Clone from China

There was no missing screws in my kit @crawlerin.

Posted : 09/11/2020 12:38 pm
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