Upgrade MK3 or Buy New MK3S  

RE: Upgrade MK3 or Buy New MK3S

The major changes are in the extruder and the upgrade kit (with plastic parts) includes all the new extruder parts. The only other difference that I know of is the change to the y-axis tensioning. I used a different tensioning solution that I found on Thingiverse (tensioining screw is accessible under the front instead of all the way under the bed). You don't need new frame pieces, motors, power supply, or electronics board for a MK3 to MK3S upgrade.

But, if you are made of money, donate your current MK3 printer to your local maker group or library and buy a new MK3S kit... 😉

RE: Upgrade MK3 or Buy New MK3S

Is there any reason to upgrade? I mean I would understand the step from MK2 to MK3. But MK3 to MK3s is such a minor step. The only "bigger" change is a different filament sensor. Everything else is same. If you want a new extruder revision, just print it and upgrade it. 

RE: Upgrade MK3 or Buy New MK3S

Reason to upgrade or replace:

 -Failures on MK3 machines on some models that print fine on MK3S.. (multiple machines.. so not a single machine problem, seems to be extruder related, different retraction profiles help)

-Don't want to maintain multiple profiles if possible

Not rich .. Just don't want to spend too much time on machine tuning/problem solving, need to spend it on  modelling and printing hopefully on a homogeneous farm.

So if there is a problem with the upgrades,

(and I have seen some reports.. new part warping and failures after some usage .. Jams that weren't happening before, etc ...)

  then would it be better to sell the old and just replace with new.. Market for MK3 is quite strong from what I have seen

RE: Upgrade MK3 or Buy New MK3S

Ok. I understand why you want to have same printers in your printer farm.

New MK3s is equal to upgraded MK3->MK3s. I'm not aware of any differences. So the answer to your question is just about time and money. This is something only you can answer 🙂

RE: Upgrade MK3 or Buy New MK3S

I decided to try the upgrade on my oldest MK3.. ( Upgrade kit from Prusa . self-printed parts).

The upgrade went straight forward, magnets were a bit loose but a little scotch tape took care of that), 3.7.2 FW, successfully completed calibration and just finished a 7 hour PLA print that looks flawless..  This same file failed on both of my  MK3 machines before upgrade and prompted this whole upgrade thing.

Will run another print today (harder one), but appears maybe I was a bit paranoid due to the number of problems reported.. Squeaky wheel and all that..

No problems with filament auto load or sensor .. machine sounds smooth

Now if I can through a few more prints, I will consider further upgrades.. Actually already ordered another upgrade kit..

Thanks to all ..