Is version 3.2.0 firmware for Prusa I3 MK3 noisy?  

Re: Is version 3.2.0 firmware for Prusa I3 MK3 noisy?

I'm getting a fairly loud and constant high pitched tone with firmware version 3.2.0 that I don't remember being there on the firmware that came from the factory. I'm not sure from what part of the Prusa I3 MK3 the noise is coming from.

Is it just my rig, or are others noticing this too?

Does the tone go away when the part cooling fan turns on 100%?

Re: Is version 3.2.0 firmware for Prusa I3 MK3 noisy?

Does the tone go away when the part cooling fan turns on 100%?

I don't know. How do I test for that? I tried looking through the menus, but I don't see any way for me to directly control the fan speed.

Re: Is version 3.2.0 firmware for Prusa I3 MK3 noisy?

Hi David,

Whilst printing, there should be a sub menu on the LCD labelled 'TUNE'

within this should be FAN, and the value for fan extends from 0 to 255 which is a bit confusing, 255 = 100%

regards Joan

Re: Is version 3.2.0 firmware for Prusa I3 MK3 noisy?

If you're talking about what I'm hearing, it's the stepper motors being powered up. You can disable the stepper motors through the settings menu to see if that's what you're hearing.

Older ears probably can't hear it since it is such a high frequency. I'm not trying to be mean, just honest.

If it's something else, all I can say is that I don't have any strange noises with the update to 3.2.0 RC2.

Re: Is version 3.2.0 firmware for Prusa I3 MK3 noisy?

There are benefits to Age... not many... but let's make the most of them!

regards Joan

Re: Is version 3.2.0 firmware for Prusa I3 MK3 noisy?

Hi David,

Whilst printing, there should be a sub menu on the LCD labelled 'TUNE'

within this should be FAN, and the value for fan extends from 0 to 255 which is a bit confusing, 255 = 100%

regards Joan

Thank you! Tried it, and it was set at 76. Even turning it up just to 100 (not even 255) fixed the noise problem.

How do I make the change permanent, so I don't have to do it each time I print?

Also, will making the change have a negative impact on print quality, or will it not matter?

Re: Is version 3.2.0 firmware for Prusa I3 MK3 noisy?

I didn't touch it, but after awhile it somehow it changed itself back to fan speed 76 on the same print.

Re: Is version 3.2.0 firmware for Prusa I3 MK3 noisy?

The fan speed is set by your slicer somewhere (likely Cooling) as a percentage. As the mk3 uses Pulse Width Modulation to controll fan speed it's from 0 to 255 - therefore, 1% is 255*0.01, 10% is 255*0.10, etc. Just set it to at least 40% (or 102 on the mk3).

Re: Is version 3.2.0 firmware for Prusa I3 MK3 noisy?

Hi David,

cooling is in the filament settings sub menu in Slic3r

regards Joan

Re: Is version 3.2.0 firmware for Prusa I3 MK3 noisy?

Thank you again!

I'm still wondering though: does using a higher fan speed have any negative impact on print quality?

Re: Is version 3.2.0 firmware for Prusa I3 MK3 noisy?

Thank you again!

I'm still wondering though: does using a higher fan speed have any negative impact on print quality?

I might be mistaken, but I believe with some materials it can cause adhesion issues.

Re: Is version 3.2.0 firmware for Prusa I3 MK3 noisy?

What about PLA or PETG? Any issues with those?

Re: Is version 3.2.0 firmware for Prusa I3 MK3 noisy?

Hi David,

cooling is in the filament settings sub menu in Slic3r
Cooling2.JPG

regards Joan

OK, I copied Joan's settings and launched into a 7 hour print using PETG. I guess by the end of that I'll know whether or not there's any negative impact on the print quality.

Re: Is version 3.2.0 firmware for Prusa I3 MK3 noisy?

Hi David,

cooling is in the filament settings sub menu in Slic3r
Cooling2.JPG

regards Joan

OK, I copied Joan's settings and launched into a 7 hour print using PETG. I guess by the end of that I'll know whether or not there's any negative impact on the print quality.

not quality but strength. my strongest prints are no fan at 250-260c with PETG.... and slower printing. course some features need it to cool quicker where the fan helps but at the expense of strength. petg prints fine with 240c and a 10-20% fan but it's more like PLA strength in my tests at those settings. hard to tell with large objects but if you do a single walled cubes they'll delaminate easily while no fan and 260c will be quite strong...

Re: Is version 3.2.0 firmware for Prusa I3 MK3 noisy?

the settings I showed were for generic PLA, I hope your PETG came out OK
my petg settings would be more like this

regards Joan

Re: Is version 3.2.0 firmware for Prusa I3 MK3 noisy?

I've done two prints now, and in both cases it seems to have printed just fine using the 100% settings. I haven't done any rigorous strength tests on it, but in terms of appearance it seems fine, and it's also not obviously weak.

Re: Is version 3.2.0 firmware for Prusa I3 MK3 noisy?

good news David,

now you know where the controls are, you can play with them to your hearts content 🙂

Joan