Dear Mr Prusa,
Dear Mr. Prusa,
I am new to 3d printing, and after careful research and reviews, I finally purchased the Prusa Mk3 in July 2018, expecting a certain learning curve.
I assembled it myself and was very proud of the perfect assembly I managed to get despite not being an engineer.
I managed a few good prints, and ever since, everything went downhill.
I have had virtually every single problem mentioned in the help forum, and while I initially managed to fix them all thanks to helpful advice on said forum, I have had to purchase a number of sometimes costly spare parts to do so.
I have disassembled and reassembled this machine more times than I can remember, changed ptfe tubes, flashed the latest firmware, changed nozzles, added stable feet, readjusted the height of the pinda probe, changed the printing environment and brands of PLA, survived the dreaded blob, performed cold pulls, have done countless first layer calibrations: you name it, I have had it or done it.
I cannot count the number of hours spent on fixing and calibrating this machine, which is now far more than hours of successful printing.
While my z calibration and first layer calibrations are consistently good, I am now unable to print anything, even when using your very own Prusa PLA filament with your Slic3r PE settings. I am now unable to get even simple test prints to stick or filament to flow properly.
I have scrupulously respected every advice from Prusa and from your often clueless customer support. So much wasted filament!
How can a machine be so unreliable? While some mistakes are probably due to my own lack of technical expertise, I now consider that it is a quality issue and that the machine I purchased from you is simply unfit for purpose.
The reviews on the Mk3 advertise it as a ‘work horse’, but I find that even when it works, it requires constant calibrating and fixing (unloading filament, raising temperature to melt potential clogging etc..)
Dear Mr Prusa, please work on developing more reliable machines!
Before I throw my MK3 into the garbage, I would be happy to get your feedback and/or even a full refund.
Respectfully
Karl Wilson, New Zealand
Re: Dear Mr Prusa,
This may get more eyes if it was posted on the correct subforum; this is the MK 2.5 subforum. Also, I've had nothing but wonderful experiences with Prusa's support. I ran into an issue that we were unable to resolve via chat and they promptly sent me a return label and I sent my printer back for evaluation, free of charge. I'd say that your experience is the exception and not the norm.
I hope you'll find a resolution to the issues that you're facing but I can assure you that no other company will deliver the same world class support that Prusa delivers. This is coming from a happy MK3 owner and an extremely dissatisfied MMU 2.0 owner 😆 (My dissatisfaction was not with support but with the fact that the MMU 2.0 was not ready for prime time)
Re: Dear Mr Prusa,
[...] I have had virtually every single problem mentioned in the help forum, and while I initially managed to fix them all thanks to helpful advice on said forum, I have had to purchase a number of sometimes costly spare parts to do so.
Karl apparently never bothered posting anything directly as this is showing as his 1st post. Perhaps posting a summary of problems being encountered and steps undertaken to resolve them would be more helpful than a meandering complaint?
and miscellaneous other tech projects
He is intelligent, but not experienced. His pattern indicates two dimensional thinking. -- Spock in Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan
Re: Dear Mr Prusa,
Karl apparently never bothered posting anything directly as this is showing as his 1st post. Perhaps posting a summary of problems being encountered and steps undertaken to resolve them would be more helpful than a meandering complaint?
Be careful now, you're using logic!
Re: Dear Mr Prusa,
Hello Karl,
I think what you're describing is pretty standard user experience for all 3D printers.
Once you get a good new printer (doesn't matter which brand), you're trying the first example prints with the provided filament. Because they are easy to print, you maybe suffering from the first layer issue. But everything else is printing beautiful.
After a while you're trying more complicated models and settings. Realizing there are limits to the machine. It clogs, blobs, prints are failing. Many people are blaming the hardware and starting replacing parts like extruder motor, nozzles, PTFE tubes. But at the end the issue persist.
Then there are build issues which makes you cry over time. I've replaced so many cables on my first MK2....
Then there are usage errors which forces you to rebuild a machine like blobs, jammed filament, broken PINDA probe.
Then there are filament issues. You're trying different brands/types. That brings again new adventure where you think why this roll PLA sticks/prints perfectly and the second one just fails.
After a while if you keep using the machine and trying to understand each issue you're facing, you're learning what might fail and what have a high chance to print without any issues. You learn to master the slicer (which is by far not easy. I'm still discovering new ways to print after 2 years). And you learn how to react to certain issues (which are still coming up).
At the end it's a machine which requires maintenance. For some people more, for some less. Just think of a regular laser printer which is printing 24/7. There are also parts which need to be replaced after certain amount of time/pages. Same thing for a 3D printer.
I hope you will find your perfect tool for 3D printing. Doesn't matter which brand.
Often linked posts:
Going small with MMU2
Real Multi Material
My prints on Instagram
Re: Dear Mr Prusa,
3D printing is challenging. No printer available on the markets is simple to use and without a need for regular adjustment and maintenance.
--------------------
Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog