MK2 upgrade to MK3S+ (or directly get a brand new MK3S+ ?)
Hello,
I own a Prusa i3 MK2 since 2016, and after being quite unactive due to personal problems, I come back to it. Also, since I restarted it since 2 weeks, I have a lot more of issues than I used to have in the past (well, at least more than I can remember). These issues generated a lot of printing failed (especially for the first layer). It is bothering me and I am looking for an upgrade to fix this.
As far as I understand, all the upgrades proposed from the MK2S to the MK3S+ should help me to get more success in my printing and give me a more easy life. So right now I am considering to go from MK2 to MK3S+.
But before I start to dismantle my MK2, I have some questions for which I hope you can bring me some answer:
- When I check the parts difference between the MK2 to the MK3S+, I have the feeling that I nearly need to replace everything. As a result I am wondering if it could not be wiser to buy a whole new kit of the MK3S+ directly. Any opinion on that ?
- The MK3 start to be a little bit old, I did not find anything related to a potential MK4 that could arrive soon, but I was not very active in the 3D printing community in the past months. Do you think I should wait for the potential MK4 to come out ? Or it is not going to happen and I can go straight forward with the MK3S+ without regrets ?
thanks in advance for your kind suggestion on that topic.
Note: As it is an upgrade, I'm not sure to post this message in the right place, so dear moderators, feel free to relocate it in the right place if needed.
Regards,
Tugdu
RE: MK2 upgrade to MK3S+ (or directly get a brand new MK3S+ ?)
Did you ever make a decision? I am kind of in the same place.
RE: MK2 upgrade to MK3S+ (or directly get a brand new MK3S+ ?)
As far as I am aware, there is still no arrival date for a Mk4 printer,
the XL Printer is still in development and is a completely different beast, if you wanted an XL, I suspect you would be looking at a 12 month wait... because there are a HUGE number of pre orders.
In my opinion, there is NO Value, in the MK2 to Mk3S+ Upgrade path, as you would be pretty much junking the Mk2 and making very little saving on the Mk3s+
if I were looking to change printers at this instance, as a limited experience user, I would buy the Mk3S+ and either keep the Mk2 as a standby, or sell it to recoup some value.
What I actually did with My MK2, (Which had the MMU1 upgrade fitted), was to replace the Mk42 heatbed with the fixed PEI Sheet, and replace it with the Mk52, 12volt heatbed with removable Build plate. I KNOW that I can't do XYZ calibration because the sense pads on the new heatbed, are in different positions...
so I just do the normal Live Z calibration, and print as normal.
I really like the removable build plates...
the reason I don't recommend this for limited experience users, is that having 'gone outside the box, there is unlikely to be any support from Prusa, and many people on forums, cannot understand the idiosyncrasies of 'Custom' printers.
so they might find themselves out of their depth, with a misbehaving printer.
regards Joan
I try to make safe suggestions,You should understand the context and ensure you are happy that they are safe before attempting to apply my suggestions, what you do, is YOUR responsibility. Location Halifax UK
RE: MK2 upgrade to MK3S+ (or directly get a brand new MK3S+ ?)
Joan, What if I wanted to completely convert my MK2s to and MK3s+ , what would I need to replace and would it be worth it?
Thank you for your help!
RE: MK2 upgrade to MK3S+ (or directly get a brand new MK3S+ ?)
I am a newbie in 3D printing and bought in december 2023 a Prusa i3 MK2 MMU1 printer , i read lots of posts here and made some changes like the MK52 12v bed , now i am thinking of buying some U-bolts for the bed bearings , can someone tell me , can i print MK3 extruder head bearing cap to utilise the new type of belt holders , and perhaps the x-axis motor stand with the bolt tensioner ? It will be alot more easy to maintain that way.
RE: MK2 upgrade to MK3S+ (or directly get a brand new MK3S+ ?)
the Mk2/MMU1 extruder set up is different to other prusa printers It is a Bowden printer
the Mk2 printer uses Mini Rambo, physical endstops and 12 volt fans
the Mk3 series has an Einsy controller virtual endstops and 5 volt fans
there is an 'inbetween' version that uses Mk3 Plastics, called the Mk2.5S this requires adapters for the fans, new fans and a filament sensor
if you go this route, make sure that you inclide an X Axis Endstop, on the left side of the extruder.
regards Joan
I try to make safe suggestions,You should understand the context and ensure you are happy that they are safe before attempting to apply my suggestions, what you do, is YOUR responsibility. Location Halifax UK
RE: MK2 upgrade to MK3S+ (or directly get a brand new MK3S+ ?)
I'm thrilled to be a part of this incredible community as a 3D printing newbie. In December 2023, I purchased a Prusa i3 MK2 MMU1 printer, and since then, I've been diving deep into the world of 3D printing. I've already made some modifications, like upgrading to the MK52 12v bed, which has improved my printing experience. Now, I'm considering taking it a step further by purchasing U-bolts for the bed bearings. But here's where I could use your expertise – I'm wondering if it's possible to print the MK3 extruder head bearing cap to utilize the new type of belt holders, and perhaps the x-axis motor stand with the bolt tensioner for easier maintenance. It seems like it would make maintenance a breeze and enhance the overall functionality of the printer. I'd love to hear your thoughts on these ideas and whether they are compatible with the Prusa i3 MK2 MMU1. Thank you all for your guidance and support as I continue to explore the world of 3D printing and push the boundaries of what my printer can do.
RE: MK2 upgrade to MK3S+ (or directly get a brand new MK3S+ ?)
the mmu1 uses a set of 4 remote extruder motors, on the top frame bar
which then feed filament down the bowden tubes to a 4 into one, concentrator... this is not compatible with a mk3 extruder setup.
the mk2.5S or mk2.5s+ Left hand X axis part should be OK... Both have some form of X Belt adjustment
You need fittings for an X Axis endstop switch, which is not fitted on a mk3 series printers
I try to make safe suggestions,You should understand the context and ensure you are happy that they are safe before attempting to apply my suggestions, what you do, is YOUR responsibility. Location Halifax UK