How to fight the noise of the prusa mk2?  

Re: How to fight the noise of the prusa mk2?

You will want to put it in an enclosure. I have heard of people putting their printers inside a large cardboard box with the bottom cut out. This might work in the short term. I would be worried about it being a fire hazard myself. Good luck

Re: How to fight the noise of the prusa mk2?

I wonder if it would be really silent if you do the following:

- find 2 stretch cords (bungie)
- get 2 big zip ties and fasten them top of the Z frame
- fasten the stretchy cords to the ceiling and then to the Zip fed through the zip ties

The MK2 will be suspended in the air and no vibrations should be transmitted via the elastic cords

Re: How to fight the noise of the prusa mk2?

My neighbours are complaining about the noise the prusa mk2 makes (even in silent mode)
Its not that the printer is loud, its the mechanical noises (whirring and moving) that is going through the whole house.

Is there any way to counter this?

I already have placed rubbers under the feet of the printer wich seems to be partially helping.

➡ i had exactly the same problem, because my neighbour has her bedroom right underneath the table where my printer is located.

therefore i planned to build an enclosure with a 60x55cm base (19mm chipboard) that sits at 4 tennis balls as damper.
so i first set up the wooden plate, installed holders for the tennis balls, added the balls and put the printer on top.
after adding dampers under the feet of the printer itself, the structure-borne noise completely disappeared. i can even print in high-power mode during the night without any complaints of my neighbour.

🙄 ... that's the reason why i haven't finished my enclosure until now.

Re: How to fight the noise of the prusa mk2?

I've also configured the slicer to print with moves that do not rattle the machine.

The two biggest factors in the slicer to print w/ reduced noise are the acceleration and infill type ( grid is what I use and if the object does permits I run 0% infill).

Re: How to fight the noise of the prusa mk2?

wont the bungy cord thing move the printer slightly? (wobble around with slight wind etc) Wont that ruin the print?

Re: How to fight the noise of the prusa mk2?

I do not believe so, but you could also put a bungie tied to the floor to stop any swinging movements.

Re: How to fight the noise of the prusa mk2?

There are two way the sound is propagating, solid transmission, and aerial transmission.

If your neighbours can hear your printer, it's definitly solid transmission. So you need to isolate the printer from ground/wall. The best I found for this is the kind of rubber mat that you put below washing machine, it's 1.5 cm width and really efficient under a mk2.

I've seen report that yoga mat is efficient too.

An enclosure is nice to remove aerial transmission, but it will be noticeable by you, probably not by your neighbour is the solid transmission is not dealed with. (but the tennis ball trick will definitly help !)

Re: How to fight the noise of the prusa mk2?

...If your neighbours can hear your printer, it's definitly solid transmission. ...
that's what i meant with "structure-borne noise". didn't know the scientific term for this.

Re: How to fight the noise of the prusa mk2?

Try sitting it on 3 or 4 layers of bubble rap. The chunkier stuff with around 1 inch bubble works best for me.
There is a draw back, need to find quieter fans now .......

Re: How to fight the noise of the prusa mk2?

Well, that's probably closer to an awfully translation from french than a real scientific term ^^

Re: How to fight the noise of the prusa mk2?

Here's how I fixed my noise issues. I do not have any neighbors, but a wife who was about to go on strike if i kept printing during dinner or bed time.

- thick rubber mat meant to be placed underneath a laundry washing machine (which was a bit overkill, a Yoga mat might work just as well)
- replaced the bearings with Igus bushings.

Noise gone.

Re: How to fight the noise of the prusa mk2?

My neighbours are complaining about the noise the prusa mk2 makes (even in silent mode)
Its not that the printer is loud, its the mechanical noises (whirring and moving) that is going through the whole house.

Is there any way to counter this?

I already have placed rubbers under the feet of the printer wich seems to be partially helping.

➡ i had exactly the same problem, because my neighbour has her bedroom right underneath the table where my printer is located.

therefore i planned to build an enclosure with a 60x55cm base (19mm chipboard) that sits at 4 tennis balls as damper.
so i first set up the wooden plate, installed holders for the tennis balls, added the balls and put the printer on top.
after adding dampers under the feet of the printer itself, the structure-borne noise completely disappeared. i can even print in high-power mode during the night without any complaints of my neighbour.

🙄 ... that's the reason why i haven't finished my enclosure until now.
Could you show some pictures with your explanation of how you solved it please? I might do this too.

Re: How to fight the noise of the prusa mk2?

I cut a new sponge into 6 parts, four for the feet, and two for the Z-Axis. Cut the noise significantly. I was getting some wobble on the sponges, which is why I added the two to the Z-Axis, and I believe I folded them over for a bit more stiffness.

Good Luck

Re: How to fight the noise of the prusa mk2?

...
Could you show some pictures with your explanation of how you solved it please? I might do this too.

💡 no problem, here we go

you can find the holder for the tennis balls at thingiverse.

but there is not much to explain. print the tennis ball damper feet 4 times (0.3mm resolution will do), drill four 5mm holes (approximately 12mm deep) into the bottom of the chipboard base at the corners (6cm away from the edges) and fix the feet at the chipboard with fitting screws (M6 x 16mm).
btw.: i just measured the exact chipboard size again with: 58cm x 64cm x 19mm.

Re: How to fight the noise of the prusa mk2?

This seems is an overstated problem My home built MK1 to MK2 upgrade genuine Prusa 3D printer is very quiet in quiet mode. It sits on a PC workstation made of composite wood and on castors and on a carpet, in my workshop, our 4th bedroom. My wife often complains about noise, but she can sleep through my overnight prints without complaint. Even with the door open.

See http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1707045 And try them.

Re: How to fight the noise of the prusa mk2?

The thingiverse dampeners you guys suggested work really well. No complaints yet but the noise isnt completely gone.
I hope its enough.

Re: How to fight the noise of the prusa mk2?

i guess instead of the chipboard and the tennis ball dampers you can use a anti vibration mat (60x60x2cm), designed for washing machines, dishwashers or tumble dryers.
you won't get the printer completely quiet, but at least you can fight the solid sound transmission.

Re: How to fight the noise of the prusa mk2?

unfortunatly the neighbours still complain and i have to admit you can still hear the printer (but microwave/gas heater etc are higher volume sounds).
I'l have to try more so i guess i will try the rubbers.

Re: How to fight the noise of the prusa mk2?

unfortunatly the neighbours still complain and i have to admit you can still hear the printer (but microwave/gas heater etc are higher volume sounds).
I'l have to try more so i guess i will try the rubbers.
yeah, the printed thingiverse dampers alone didn't do the job here either. only in combination with the chipboard & tennis-balls i was able to conciliate my neighbour. i guess you'll get the same result if you add a rubber mat now.