Typical Machine Lifespan
I just bought one of these printers. Can anyone provide some insight as to the lifespan in print hours I can expect before major issues if the machine is treated properly?
What parts usually need replacement and at what sort of interval?
Can anyone from Prusa provide an idea of the lifespan seen in their printer farm?
Normal wear and tear is expected, I just want to plan for it in costing.
Thanks!
Tom Cole
Re: Typical Machine Lifespan
if you have the policy of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"
this printer will serve you 3-5yr before major mechanical/electrical parts breakdown. As long as you do basic maintenance and keep it clean.
this printer have parts that will rust, hence if you don't maintain it correctly, it will fail you in months. (<$20-50 parts and consumable per year)
But if you have the concept of constantly upgrade to test exotic filament or pushing the printer limits. You will spend hundreds or even thousands just for the upgrades. (>$200 parts and consumable per year) My house is now full of DIY tools, spares parts, nozzle, rods and lubes, that i thought was needed for this printer. But I guess i had spent too much to see major improvements. LOL
Re: Typical Machine Lifespan
I've been curious about this myself as well.
Which parts tend to wear first?
Re: Typical Machine Lifespan
I've been curious about this myself as well.
Which parts tend to wear first?
I think the 2 sets of parts that wear first is the nozzle and the bearings for the linear rods. I've replaced the Y-axis bearings with LBBR bearings (the ones you listed before), but I bought enough so that if I need to, I can replace all LM8UU bearings with LBBR. I've had my printer since the 4th of July and I'm considering replacing the X-Axis bearings now. They are starting to get noisy. I have also bought NEMA dampers, reprinted the Y-axis motor mount to use NEMA dampers, printed a 40mm fan adapter so I can use a Noctrua fan (whisper quiet), and printed some cable chains so that the X-carriage wires don't drag on the print bed. Another thing that will wear out, depending on how often you encounter Z-axis miscalibration, the PEI sheet can get damaged by a hot nozzle touching it if your PINDA probe is too high. I've had to replace the PEI sheet 3 times already at least, and I will probably replace it again (it does have a few places where the hot nozzle has hit it).
and an 8 inch (200mm) or greater caliper is recommended.
Re: Typical Machine Lifespan
I have spare parts. Replacement nozzles and PEI sheets. That is all that is needed for now. The Original Prusa I3 Mk1 or Mk2 is too new to answer long term wear and tear just now. My Prusa I3 Mk2 has run over 12 hours a day and often longer since I upgraded from my Mk1. My oldest home built printer is 2 years old. It still works well. A Kossel Mini Delta from Think3dPrint3D.
Nigel
Life is keeping interested and excited by knowledge and new things.
Re: Typical Machine Lifespan
For me, fan replacement is fairly regular (every 2 to 3 months when printing 24/7).
But I do have a dusty basement...
Peter
Please note: I do not have any affiliation with Prusa Research. Any advices given are offered in good faith. It is your responsibility to ensure that by following my advice you do not suffer or cause injury, damage…
Re: Typical Machine Lifespan
Thank you for the responses. You guys are great!
I don't want to be down long in case I crash it, so I will stock the consumables suggested:
Nozzles
Bearings
Fans
Print beds - I'm new at this so anticipating a crash is prudent.
Tom Cole
Re: Typical Machine Lifespan
You won't need a bed; just the PEI sheet (and some d-limonene for removal of old glue).
Also add PTFE tubing.
Peter
Please note: I do not have any affiliation with Prusa Research. Any advices given are offered in good faith. It is your responsibility to ensure that by following my advice you do not suffer or cause injury, damage…
Re: Typical Machine Lifespan
And don't forget to print yourself a spare set of all the 3D printed parts!
Re: Typical Machine Lifespan
After you put all these recommendations together, the conclusion could be - get a whole printer as spare unit.
Just kidding. 😉
Re: Typical Machine Lifespan
To be honest all I've done is run off a spare set of the Printed parts, any thing else could be ordered as and when they fail. As others have said the printers are still to new to really give any kind of estimate of life span. Also when people do report parts failing at a later date you don't know what they've already replaced! The beauty of this printer though is it's open source so 99% of the parts are easy to come by when needed.
Re: Typical Machine Lifespan
And don't forget to print yourself a spare set of all the 3D printed parts!
Why?
Do they wear out? Does age dry them out? Are some prone to stresses that would cause them to crack or break? If so, some must be more likely that others. I would not want to dedicate 24+ hours just to print parts I would not likely use (like, say, the LCD cover. 🙂
Re: Typical Machine Lifespan
Normal wear and tear is expected, I just want to plan for it in costing.
What can be considered normal wear and tear? How often do bearings need to be lubricated? How often replaced? Should there be a regular inspection for loose nuts or bolts? Doe the zip ties break regularly?
Re: Typical Machine Lifespan
And don't forget to print yourself a spare set of all the 3D printed parts!
This a very interesting thread for a newbie like me.
Sorry for the stupid question, but the parts should be printed in ABS, yes?
Re: Typical Machine Lifespan
In emergency you can use almost any filament for printing spare (damaged) parts excluding those very close to hotend. But ABS works best for me so far. I don't recommend PLA as it tends to "flow" under higher load.
Re: Typical Machine Lifespan
In emergency you can use almost any filament for printing spare (damaged) parts excluding those very close to hotend. But ABS works best for me so far. I don't recommend PLA as it tends to "flow" under higher load.
Understood. Thx
Re: Typical Machine Lifespan
You won't need a bed; just the PEI sheet (and some d-limonene for removal of old glue).
Also add PTFE tubing.
Peter
I don't know what a PEI sheet is. Is there a sheet of it on the printer bed?
The only place I saw any PTFE tubing was in the print nozzle. Does it wear or just get messed up if there is a cloged?
Tom Cole
Re: Typical Machine Lifespan
You won't need a bed; just the PEI sheet (and some d-limonene for removal of old glue).
Also add PTFE tubing.
Peter
I don't know what a PEI sheet is. Is there a sheet of it on the printer bed?
The only place I saw any PTFE tubing was in the print nozzle. Does it wear or just get messed up if there is a cloged?
PEI is what is used as the print surface. It has an adhesive backing and most printers now a days comes with spare sheet, but in my case, I would have already gone through my spare sheet and then some. I found a link to CS Hyde Company somewhere in these forum threads.
The PTFE tubing is used as a guide tube between the extruder gear and the hotend. There are cases where this PTFE tubing gets damaged due to excessive heat over time. I have yet to run into a case where I need to replace this, but I do have a spare of this on hand.
and an 8 inch (200mm) or greater caliper is recommended.
Re: Typical Machine Lifespan
The advice to print a spare set of printed parts is/can be critical. I suggest this be first on the list of things to print. I had a print go bad recently and it broke off the Pinda arm. Fortunately someone offered to print up the needed parts on the FB Prusa group for me.. You can be sure i'll print off at least complete set and probably 2 sets of the extruder parts. Additionally the bearings and mounts are spares I will prioritize.
Re: Typical Machine Lifespan
Any advice on Slic3r settings for printing the replacement parts? Things like perimeters, infill %, etc. Thanks!