Real space needed?  

RE: Real space needed?

Announcement video says 38cm front to back, 33cm side to side, 38 cm height for the printer itself.

Judging by the known/confirmed size of the build volume 18x18x18cm and the fact that the printer design makes the build plate move to the front and back because the X axis is static, the 38 cm in depth sound very plausible. So does the width (it's probably even a little bit on the generous side). For the height, 38cm sounds like a lot at first when only 18 of it are for the build volume in Z direction. But if you take the remaining 20 cm and subtract perhaps 5 or so for the base up to the build plate, and maybe another 10 cm for the X axis arm and extruder, you're left with only 5 cm and that's probably 1) the extra space the top of the Z axis rods needs and 2) leeway for the PTFE tube and electronics cable bundle that come out of the extruder at the top and form an arc.

So all in all, these measures seem to be very realistic.

An average 1kg filament spool is 20 cm in diameter and has a thickness of around 9 cm, so the floor space for such a bare-bones spool holder as the one Prusa supplies with the Mini should take a max of 20 x 10 cm floor space (and maybe 22cm in height). You will have to place this either behind the printer or to the right of it because that's where its filament intake location is - unless you want to work with very long extra PTFE tubing, in which case you could place the spool holder fairly far away. Placing the spool holder behind the printer is probably a bad idea given the bed moves in Y axis. You could place the holder farther away from the base, but that would defeat the purpose. So to the right of the printer would make most sense.

RE: Real space needed?

That's plus 25cm/1ft [sic!] space around the printer.

RE: Real space needed?

There surely is a difference between the bare minimum needed for operation, and the official recommendations. Prusa needs to safeguard themselves, being an European company and not some chinese backyard business you can't get hold of if something bad happens.

They probably have similar recommendations for the MK3S and yet I am operating it in a very confined space just fine.

Really just have to make sure all the axes can move freely and aren't blocked by surrounding objects: Move the build platform all the way to the front, then all the way to the back, and check for obstacles. Move the X axis all the way up Z. Move the X axis all the way down Z towards the print bed. Move the extruder all the way to the outside. Also check if the cable bundles have enough space in those extreme positions. If that's all fine, i.e. nothing comes in contact with surrounding objects, it should be safe to operate.

RE: Real space needed?

Posted by: @julianr

They probably have similar recommendations for the MK3S and yet I am operating it in a very confined space just fine.

That's the first I was looking for, after I saw this in the Mini handbook. Could not find limitations for the i3 Mk3*

RE: Real space needed?

I can probably do the 40cm deep with en L-bracket running under the feets. But not the "extra" space.

The filament could be fed thru a ptfe-lined hole from below the shelf.

I read the dimensions on the mini-page, but usually advertised and real space needs differ. In some cases quite abit.

I've seen many videos of mk3's sitting on the wire-shelfs typically used in kitchens etc, i believe those are around 45-50ish cm deep?

I'm still not sure if the filament sensor add value to the printer, as you would need to disasemble the tubes when it runs out.
Perhaps will show up alternate mountings or spoolholder-integrated holders that just let you pull the spoolholder back and yank the filament out.

Perhaps my workshop will be completed in time for my order next year.
Got the workbench full of (well, two) printers right now.

RE: Real space needed?

@mrstoned

How did it turn out in the end did you manage to figure out dimensions and so on.

RE: Real space needed?

@brettg

Hi.

Yeah, the way i have it right now, it takes up about 45cm wide and 70cm deep. (I have the space deep to use over width).

I'm going to mount a spoolholder on the wall behind the printer instead of i have it now in the front. Then i would only need about 55-60cm deep in total. Provided you guide the filament at base-level height due to how it have the extruder.

If space is premium, i would consider the base-stands that stores the filament spool below the printer.

It takes up more space wide then deep if you have the spool on the right side.

I'm also considering adding a pully on the side below the extruder to guide the filament in a better path.

RE: Real space needed?

Considering Prusa Mini is quite popular, it's interesting how hard is to find minimal cabinet dimensions for operational printer -actually I couldn't find any when I was buying Mini not long ago.
So, to help others, I made a simple drawing which contains relevant dimensions:

RE: Real space needed?

thank you both for the replies been helpful working out what area I require.