Prusa Mini Clone from China  

RE: Prusa Mini Clone from China

@crawlerin

different 100k thermistors have different response curves and also Marlin offers six of the most common thermistor curves.

In addition, there are tolerance deviations and faulty charges, which can bring such fluctuations to light. Some or more parts are not subjected to quality or final inspection, which means that the product does not comply with the standard (despite declaration).
I have never had any problems with the quality of any item sold by E3D and should it happen, I am sure that support would help immediately.
But this is only my opinion and my experience.

I installed the PT100 myself and had to adjust the temperature table because the linear temperature curve is slightly different from board to board (not linear according to the measurement), but the deviations were in a very small tolerable range.

RE: Prusa Mini Clone from China

@karl-herbert

how did you adjust your temperature table?

RE: Prusa Mini Clone from China

@zoltan

I used a PT100 simulator 1049, slightly modified the temperature table (247) and created a new one (248):

247:

{ 0 * OVERSAMPLENR, 0},
{241 * OVERSAMPLENR, 1},
{249 * OVERSAMPLENR, 10},
{259 * OVERSAMPLENR, 20},
{267 * OVERSAMPLENR, 30},
{275 * OVERSAMPLENR, 40},
{283 * OVERSAMPLENR, 50},
{291 * OVERSAMPLENR, 60},
{299 * OVERSAMPLENR, 70},
{307 * OVERSAMPLENR, 80},
{315 * OVERSAMPLENR, 90},
{323 * OVERSAMPLENR, 100},
{331 * OVERSAMPLENR, 110},
{340 * OVERSAMPLENR, 120},
{348 * OVERSAMPLENR, 130},
{354 * OVERSAMPLENR, 140},
{362 * OVERSAMPLENR, 150},
{370 * OVERSAMPLENR, 160},
{378 * OVERSAMPLENR, 170},
{386 * OVERSAMPLENR, 180},
{394 * OVERSAMPLENR, 190},
{402 * OVERSAMPLENR, 200},
{410 * OVERSAMPLENR, 210},
{418 * OVERSAMPLENR, 220},
{426 * OVERSAMPLENR, 230},
{432 * OVERSAMPLENR, 240},
{440 * OVERSAMPLENR, 250},
{448 * OVERSAMPLENR, 260},
{454 * OVERSAMPLENR, 270},
{462 * OVERSAMPLENR, 280},
{469 * OVERSAMPLENR, 290},
{475 * OVERSAMPLENR, 300},
{483 * OVERSAMPLENR, 310},
{491 * OVERSAMPLENR, 320},
{499 * OVERSAMPLENR, 330},
{505 * OVERSAMPLENR, 340},
{513 * OVERSAMPLENR, 350},
{519 * OVERSAMPLENR, 360},
{527 * OVERSAMPLENR, 370},
{533 * OVERSAMPLENR, 380},
{541 * OVERSAMPLENR, 390},
{549 * OVERSAMPLENR, 400},
{616 * OVERSAMPLENR, 500},
{682 * OVERSAMPLENR, 600},
{741 * OVERSAMPLENR, 700},
{801 * OVERSAMPLENR, 800},
{856 * OVERSAMPLENR, 900},
{910 * OVERSAMPLENR, 1000},
{960 * OVERSAMPLENR, 1100},

248:

{007 * OVERSAMPLENR, 0},
{244 * OVERSAMPLENR, 1},
{253 * OVERSAMPLENR, 10},
{261 * OVERSAMPLENR, 20},
{270 * OVERSAMPLENR, 30},
{278 * OVERSAMPLENR, 40},
{287 * OVERSAMPLENR, 50},
{295 * OVERSAMPLENR, 60},
{303 * OVERSAMPLENR, 70},
{311 * OVERSAMPLENR, 80},
{319 * OVERSAMPLENR, 90},
{328 * OVERSAMPLENR, 100},
{334 * OVERSAMPLENR, 110},
{343 * OVERSAMPLENR, 120},
{352 * OVERSAMPLENR, 130},
{359 * OVERSAMPLENR, 140},
{368 * OVERSAMPLENR, 150},
{375 * OVERSAMPLENR, 160},
{383 * OVERSAMPLENR, 170},
{391 * OVERSAMPLENR, 180},
{399 * OVERSAMPLENR, 190},
{407 * OVERSAMPLENR, 200},
{415 * OVERSAMPLENR, 210},
{423 * OVERSAMPLENR, 220},
{432 * OVERSAMPLENR, 230},
{438 * OVERSAMPLENR, 240},
{446 * OVERSAMPLENR, 250},
{454 * OVERSAMPLENR, 260},
{460 * OVERSAMPLENR, 270},
{468 * OVERSAMPLENR, 280},
{476 * OVERSAMPLENR, 290},
{483 * OVERSAMPLENR, 300},
{490 * OVERSAMPLENR, 310},
{498 * OVERSAMPLENR, 320},
{506 * OVERSAMPLENR, 330},
{512 * OVERSAMPLENR, 340},
{520 * OVERSAMPLENR, 350},
{526 * OVERSAMPLENR, 360},
{535 * OVERSAMPLENR, 370},
{541 * OVERSAMPLENR, 380},
{549 * OVERSAMPLENR, 390},
{556 * OVERSAMPLENR, 400},
{626 * OVERSAMPLENR, 500},

PT100 calculator:

The differences are not very large, but still exist.

RE: Prusa Mini Clone from China

and created your own FW build?

RE: Prusa Mini Clone from China

@zoltan

Yes. I have edited the board and the FW accordingly. Since I bought the Mini used and defective, the loss of warranty regarding the buddy board is not an issue for me. I think it's a pity that one have to manipulate the board to make changes on the FW effective, but I also understand Prusa's motivation.

Changes in this regard were easier to make on the MK3.

RE: Prusa Mini Clone from China

I have to mention that I have installed an E3D V6 hotend as soon as it is installed on the i3:

RE: Prusa Mini Clone from China

Right now, after some assebmly attempts I can confirm that:

- the pneumatic fitting does not fit the printed extruder body

- bearings are crap

- heatbreak is not full metal indeed (installed Bondtech one)

- thermistor fits without problem

RE: Prusa Mini Clone from China

I would also like to add, that any after sale support for the clone is non existing. When you buy, you're on your own.

My package was delivered slightly damaged. It was poorly packaged and the 10mm vertical rods "escaped" from the box.

I have immediately contacted the seller, sent a photo of the box with clear description about what is missing. After a week of "discussion" they repeatedly send the same "I need more photos", "I need a video" bullshit messages. Ordered the rods from a 3rd company. Also ordered a Bondtech extruder, PTFE connector with 8mm thread and a proper heat block. The bill is rising 🙂  Will sum it up when I get thw whole thing to work.

RE: Prusa Mini Clone from China

@goszu

My bearings appear to be fine.  

RE: Prusa Mini Clone from China

@goszu

Fysetc has made their own extruder body for the m10 coupling included. That’s why they point to their GitHub for printed parts. 

I do agree with the bearings, mine was not of good quality either. 

But aftermarket support I have to disagree completely 🙂

My MINDA broke after a few days and they sent another one directly which arrived after a week. 

I also hav had problems with cooling and extruder issues  and they have help with g-codes for testing and suggested multiple solutions for fixing it. So I am very happy with the support from them also, just as I am with Prusa support. 

RE: Prusa Mini Clone from China

Posted by: @goszu

I would also like to add, that any after sale support for the clone is non existing. When you buy, you're on your own.

My package was delivered slightly damaged. It was poorly packaged and the 10mm vertical rods "escaped" from the box.

I have immediately contacted the seller, sent a photo of the box with clear description about what is missing. After a week of "discussion" they repeatedly send the same "I need more photos", "I need a video" bullshit messages. Ordered the rods from a 3rd company. Also ordered a Bondtech extruder, PTFE connector with 8mm thread and a proper heat block. The bill is rising 🙂  Will sum it up when I get thw whole thing to work.

To be brutally honest, anyone who expects Prusa like support from China need to relook at their expectations.  Creality certainly does not come close so I would definitely not expect it from a clone maker.  

RE: Prusa Mini Clone from China

Posted by: @charles-h13

@goszu

My bearings appear to be fine.  

Looks like you had more luck 🙂 Mine were all lose. The balls were sliding insted of rolling on the surface.

RE: Prusa Mini Clone from China

Building a support team and customer care costs a lot of money and time. This also explains the lower (clone) price. The clones are fired out en masse, whether good or bad. If everything works to some extent, you're lucky, otherwise annoying repairs are pending or the thing is put into the corner.
The decision what and where to buy and the consequences are up to each individual.
Most of the time you get what you pay for - mostly!

RE: Prusa Mini Clone from China

@karl-herbert

I start building tonight - let the foul language begin!

RE: Prusa Mini Clone from China

Posted by: @charles-h13

I start building tonight - let the foul language begin!

How is the build going ?

Mine is on hold. Waiting for Z axis rods and the 8mm PTFE fitting.

RE: Prusa Mini Clone from China

@goszu

It got derailed.  I will work on taking prebuild photos tonight and start from there.  

RE: Prusa Mini Clone from China

I cut open the box - slight damage to the box.  

RE: Prusa Mini Clone from China

There is foam padding inside the top and bottom of the box.  

RE: Prusa Mini Clone from China

Inside the top box reveals smaller boxes.  The contents are well-protected.  No Prusa Quality, but better than most.  

RE: Prusa Mini Clone from China

Here’s my take on the “clone’ mentality lifestyle:

I bought a genuine power-inverted Honda generator for $1,000; my Ole man (you would think he had more wisdom) picked up a “similar” unit for $300, online.  From 50ft away the two units looked the same; however his “clone” run 10 hours before it started leaking fuel.  Then he went to a Honda dealer to find a spare gasket; of course Honda gaskets didn’t fit the almighty clone!

My Honda still runs as it should, while my ole mans cheapness cost him $300 + the embarrassment when my mom could not watch the TV while camping!  In the meantime my Honda made 5 fishing trips to Canada without a glitch and I just sold it for a little less than $1000, so going top shelf never costs more in the long run.

Any reputable company will advance and profit well in the long run, while the clone manufacturers will make money off the people who think they can but a Wagyu steak at Walmart.

The bottom line is, why would one want to spend his/her ‘hard earned money” on a cloned design and on top of that end up with an inferior product...Rolex “cloners” are still trying to make that perfect imitation....