How many hours can an MK3S printer print?
I do regular maintenance. My Mk3 that was upgraded to a MK3S and MK3S+ has over 20,000 hours of print time. It has been printing 55% of the time I have had it which is pretty good. It has had very limited down time for repairs. I think the longest time I took off from printing was an 11 day vacation.
How long do you think it can keep going?
Oh, by the way, it still has the original bearings.
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Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog
RE: How many hours can an MK3S printer print?
No clue but you sure got your money's worth!
RE: How many hours can an MK3S printer print?
How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie pop?
The world may never know.
RE: How many hours can an MK3S printer print?
Ok, Doctor, here's the Big Burning Question.
On those 'original bearings', did you install them as they came from Prusa, or did you wash them out with solvent and totally re-grease them, or did you maybe add additional lubricant when assembling?
RE: How many hours can an MK3S printer print?
One of my MK3 is already about 7000 hours in operation and the bearings are still almost like new. However, I have sintered, oil-soaked bearings installed, which are almost indestructible and significantly reduce the operating noise.
I think that 50000 hours is no problem, although you have to calculate with the fact that wear parts have to be replaced every now and then.
wbr,
Karl
Statt zu klagen, dass wir nicht alles haben, was wir wollen, sollten wir lieber dankbar sein, dass wir nicht alles bekommen, was wir verdienen.
RE:
I haven't checked the stats for some time, but on the I3 I currently show 869 days, 23 hours, and 14 minutes.
This comes out to 20,879 hours and change.
14565.57 meters of filament.
I didn't realize it was that high, but I can believe it, since I was printing very heavily through the height of the pandemic.
And, for the record, when I assembled the kit, I followed TFM exactly and installed the bearings as they came, without any additional lube. As stated in TFM, I give the rods a couple of drops of lightweight synthetic machine oil every so often, and I rub some Superlube on the rods every so many so-oftens. No bearing play nor bearing noise.
I admit that it needs a good blow-out and cleaning, and I intend to as soon as I anticipate a few days of slack time on it and free time on my part.
RE: How many hours can an MK3S printer print?
Yeash this thread just prompted me to check the statistics as I haven't for ages.
367d 10h 21m and 15041.43 meters.
Its a Mk3 (non S) same bearings from day one, although I did clean them and repack before building initially. I've also rebuilt the extruder in the 4+ years I've had it and I did clean and repack the X axis bearings when I did that but the Y and Z haven't been done in that time. I check smoothness semi regularly and only apply a bit of oil if needed. Which hasn't actually been that often really. Probably once every 6-9 months. No excessive noise.
RE: How many hours can an MK3S printer print?
That is a great question. I have no idea. This one was one of the first off the line and was assembled by Prusa. It is starting to increased noise and might need a more extended period of down time to replace some bearings.
Ok, Doctor, here's the Big Burning Question.
On those 'original bearings', did you install them as they came from Prusa, or did you wash them out with solvent and totally re-grease them, or did you maybe add additional lubricant when assembling?
--------------------
Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog
RE: How many hours can an MK3S printer print?
Okay I checked. Lightweight here! Comes out to 770 hours.
RE: How many hours can an MK3S printer print?
</snip>wbr,
Karl
Can you share clues on the bearings?
Don’t trust forum advice.
RE:
wbr,
Karl
Can you share clues on the bearings?
https://www.printables.com/de/model/51755-prusa-mk3s-mini-y-achse-gehause-fur-sinterbronzela
wbr,
Karl
Statt zu klagen, dass wir nicht alles haben, was wir wollen, sollten wir lieber dankbar sein, dass wir nicht alles bekommen, was wir verdienen.
RE: How many hours can an MK3S printer print?
Okay I checked. Lightweight here! Comes out to 770 hours.
Well, then successful printing for additional 49230 hours 👍
wbr,
Karl
Statt zu klagen, dass wir nicht alles haben, was wir wollen, sollten wir lieber dankbar sein, dass wir nicht alles bekommen, was wir verdienen.
RE: How many hours can an MK3S printer print?
So far I have not noticed any significant increase in mechanical noise level when printing, and there is certainly no visible scoring of the stainless rods.
I do lubricate them regularly, and I've followed TFM regarding NOT lubricating the trapezoidal nuts.
As I've said, it's overdue for a good PM, so when I have some time this fall I'll take it down and give it a good cleaning and lube, lube the extruder gears, blow out the whole thing, tune the belts to a low D, and probably re-seat the cabling, which I have never done, I admit.
If/when I notice more noise and/or obvious play in the mechanism I may try something like Karl's mod for some of the high-tech bearings.
RE: How many hours can an MK3S printer print?
One of my MK3 is already about 7000 hours in operation and the bearings are still almost like new. However, I have sintered, oil-soaked bearings installed, which are almost indestructible and significantly reduce the operating noise.
I think that 50000 hours is no problem, although you have to increase or decrease the hours
RE:
I am one of the 3D printing co-stewards in our maker space, and as you can imagine the printers take a beating. People new to the hobby, or just distracted will happily run ABS at PLA temps and wonder why it under extruded and didnt stick great. Run a spool of glow in the dark filament on a brass nozzle etc.etc.
Our "most popular" printer has 38,824 hours on it, next are 20,717 and 15,314.
Part of what makes MeanStreak so popular is even with > 1,000 days on it, it works great every time. We get wires to the bed go bad from time to time as well as bearings, but we have done a lot of construction, so that could be drywall dust / ceiling tiles etc.
I would say we do not change the nozzles as much as we should, this is what one looked like coming off after I would guess 5,000-10,000 hours.
One new and one well used nozzle