I paid for a MK3S but I think I got an MK3 instead. It won't work.
I have been banging my head against a wall for over a year with endless calibrations, firmware flashing, replacement of X and Y motors. To top it off I even wasted money on new hot ends and wasted over two spools of PLA and PETG trying to get a single complete print off of my Prusa.
I'm at my wit's end and think I found the problem. I even looked at my receipt and it clearly shows I purchased an MK3S model. The box that arrived over a year ago had MK3S on it as well. The problem is I turn on the Prusa printer, scroll down to support at the very bottom then further scroll to see what the firmware says. Firmware is 3.9.2 for the MK3S but the the support shows I have an MK3. Am I correct in thinking this is the problem? I honestly can't get this FFF printer to print anything to save my sanity and need to know what's wrong. If I've been flashing MK3S firmware for a board with MK3 firmware I think that could be the issue but I'm not sure if that is my problem anymore. I feel like I've just wasted a whole lot of money and turned something that was supposed to be fun into my own personal hell. I desperately need help on this. Did I really just waste a whole lot of money and time here? I still can't figure out why it won't print properly and have run every test I can think of and lurked all over this site. Could this be the issue or have I completely lost my mind already?
RE: I paid for a MK3S but I think I got an MK3 instead. It won't work.
The difference between the printers is pretty obvious. Check your part cooling fan. If it's slanted at a 45-degree angle, you got a Mk3s. If it's vertical at 90 degrees to the build plate, you got a Mk3. I've got a Mk3 and have no intention of "upgrading"!
I inadvertently flashed the Mk3s firmware to my Mk3 once and while it threw an error, I had no problem simply re-flashing the correct firmware back over it. A factory reset might be a good idea, followed by basic recalibration.
It sounds like you've thrown a lot of changes at the printer without fully getting the basics going. I would suggest starting out with the basics. Get a 75x75mm 1 layer square to print and adhere. That tests both your bed adhesion and Live-Z adjustment. These control the foundation that the rest of your print is -- literally -- built on top of. You need to get those right. If nothing else, start printing the Prusa logo and stop it after the first layer. Take some pics and post here and I'm sure we can get you going.
3D printing is more like cooking than engineering. There are lot of aspects to it that you learn by feel, and it's hard to convey the information exactly in written format. Just be patient and stick with it.
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He is intelligent, but not experienced. His pattern indicates two dimensional thinking. -- Spock in Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan
RE: I paid for a MK3S but I think I got an MK3 instead. It won't work.
I want to help avoid a potential problem here, both my MK3 printers came from the factory with the 45 degree slanted fans
The Filament Whisperer
RE: I paid for a MK3S but I think I got an MK3 instead. It won't work.
There was a short period of time between MK3 and MK3s that had a cooling upgrade sent out. I received two of those, what wasn't changed as far as I know what the extruder body and the filament intake at the top of the extruder, as bob mentioned if your lucky enough to have an MK3 don't change it, its the best, I don't even know why they changed the design. I'm trying to build another one, from ordered parts. but don't panic as bob also mentioned you can re-flash firmware if you find a problem. you have not wasted your money, it just sounds like you need some community help, we're here. I also own an MK3S
The Filament Whisperer
RE: I paid for a MK3S but I think I got an MK3 instead. It won't work.
Except for extruder plastic parts there was one major change in MK3S. The filament sensor. MK3S has a new IR sensor. It is also written on the part. You can identify easily based on this. I believe this is also the only reason for different fw version. If you upload wrong one, the sensor and filament autoload will not work.
RE: I paid for a MK3S but I think I got an MK3 instead. It won't work.
@sarah
You seem to have fallen into a very common morass of problems. Unless you get basic printing working well first none of the many touted 'remedies' is going to do anything useful. Of course most of the people who get eveything working well straight away don't visit the forums until much later when advanced issues arise.
Please restore the printer to something close to the original, flash it with the current MK3S firmware, thoroughly clean the bed with soap and hot water then print a test object; preferably one of the gcodes that came with the printer. If it fails, post pictures of the print, top, side and especially the bottom.
When we see them there is a good chance that one of us will recognise the problem.
or have I completely lost my mind already?
I doubt we're competent to answer that one - let's stick with the printingg.
Cheerio,
RE: I paid for a MK3S but I think I got an MK3 instead. It won't work.
You're all geniuses! Thank you for the back to basics pep talk. I started slowly going over the printer and checking it. It kind of prints but has ghosting so I'm trying to figure out how to fix that. I was definitely trying to change way too many settings at once and I haven't been able to dedicate as much time as I need to get proficient with this 3d printer. I have to say it has thrown me for a loop. It's not just a computer and I have to get used to it being different from what I'm usually used to working on. I think I'll get it...eventually and keep what's left of my sanity of the process.
It's really kind of addicting to 3d model something and print it.
RE: I paid for a MK3S but I think I got an MK3 instead. It won't work.
You're all geniuses!
Recognition at last!
Re: Image,
OK, not perfect but an excellent start. Good enough for a lot of basic printing, many projects need nothing more. Your belt tension might be a fraction off so consider:
https://www.prusaprinters.org/prints/46639-tension-meter-for-the-gt2-belts-of-i3-mk3s-or-prus
It MUST be printed in Prusament PETG or the spring tension will be wrong.
Cheerio,