New user lost 🙁
A family friend gave me a Prusa machine they had played with. but I think the firmware needs to be reset.
They think the machine might be an MK3, but it might be a MK 3S plus? Is there any way to know for sure.
Also there seems to be a bond tech hot end. I think This might need a special kind of firmware but I don’t know which type. The bond tech website shows many options but I don’t exactly know which end this is, perhaps a mosquito?
Also, it seems a factory reboot is required when I restart the firmware with the bond tech hot end.
I really appreciate your help. I don’t know much about these systems and I’m trying to learn.
Best Answer by JoanTabb:
there are three primary Mk3 versions. unfortunately the most easy differentiator, is the extruder assembly, and yours has been replaced with a Bondtech extruder... spoiling that opportunity.
if I recall correctly. the original Mk3 had no belt tensioning screws on the left hand end of the X axis
the Mk3S had an exposed tensioning screw on the top of the Left hand X axis end piece 
see the red circle on the left of this picture above... this setup was at risk of over adjustment of the belt tensioning screw, which would crack the end of the X axis left hand bracket, over the motor mount.
the Mk3S+ has a different setup for the belt tensioning screw. 
Also, the bottom option on the LCD Screen, usually says what base firmware the printer is running.
I am not very well aware of the idiosyncrasies of the Bondtech extruder... I seem to recall that some versions had integral gearboxes, which therefore required more steps per millimetre than the standard extruder. additionally I think the extruder motor direction needed reversing for the Bondtech extruder...
Until you know better, I would suggest that you try using the printer with the existing firmware.
regards Joan
RE:
there are three primary Mk3 versions. unfortunately the most easy differentiator, is the extruder assembly, and yours has been replaced with a Bondtech extruder... spoiling that opportunity.
if I recall correctly. the original Mk3 had no belt tensioning screws on the left hand end of the X axis
the Mk3S had an exposed tensioning screw on the top of the Left hand X axis end piece
see the red circle on the left of this picture above... this setup was at risk of over adjustment of the belt tensioning screw, which would crack the end of the X axis left hand bracket, over the motor mount.
the Mk3S+ has a different setup for the belt tensioning screw.
Also, the bottom option on the LCD Screen, usually says what base firmware the printer is running.
I am not very well aware of the idiosyncrasies of the Bondtech extruder... I seem to recall that some versions had integral gearboxes, which therefore required more steps per millimetre than the standard extruder. additionally I think the extruder motor direction needed reversing for the Bondtech extruder...
Until you know better, I would suggest that you try using the printer with the existing firmware.
regards Joan
I try to make safe suggestions,You should understand the context and ensure you are happy that they are safe before attempting to apply my suggestions, what you do, is YOUR responsibility. Location Halifax UK
RE: New user lost 🙁
Thanks heaps!!
this photo shows my system X tensioner which I think means it is a mk3s+ (not a mk3). Do you agree? Note in your original and detailed post you refer to the second photo as a mks3 (but perhaps should be mk3+).
I also found that I need a firmware update as the previous owner put on an incorrect firmware and did a factory reset 🙁
RE: New user lost 🙁
Yes, that looks like a Mk3S+
This page may help you
https://www.bondtech.se/knowledge-base/firmware-updates-for-prusa-i3/
it looks like you have the bondtech BMG extruder
a picture of the lower part of the extruder may help identify whether it is Mosquito or not
Link to Mosquito hot end
https://www.bondtech.se/product/mosquito-hotend/
Link to e3D V6 (Standard prusa hotend )
https://e3d-online.com/products/prusa-v6-hotend?_pos=2&_sid=9ee92a37e&_ss=r&variant=34172334997563
Prusa e3dV6 hot end, (currently out of stock)
https://www.prusa3d.com/product/assembled-hotend-mk3s-2/
regards Joan
I try to make safe suggestions,You should understand the context and ensure you are happy that they are safe before attempting to apply my suggestions, what you do, is YOUR responsibility. Location Halifax UK
RE: New user lost 🙁
Thanks Joan
The contact website has only MK3 firmware so I will use that for my Mk3S+(thanks for confirming the type). Also I plan to download the latest firmware version.
I think the hot end is not one of these standard types. It is definitely not a mosquito. I have a photo with more detail. Perhaps for these special variants there is some specific firmware on the git repo.
thanks very much for your expertise.
thanjs
RE: New user lost 🙁
Sorry in my previous message I should have written “MK3S (I missed the S in my previous message) firmware so I will use that for my Mk3S+”
sorry !!
RE: New user lost 🙁
The hot end in the pictures appears to be a Slice Engineering Mosquito High Flow hotend
the Mk3S firmware should work fine.
the primary differences between Mk3S and Mk3S+ are
Red PCB Filament sensor and Supa Pinda on Mk3S+ in place of the black Filament sensor and standard 3wire Pinda
the rest of the differences are easier assembly plastic parts. on the Mk3S
regards Joan
I try to make safe suggestions,You should understand the context and ensure you are happy that they are safe before attempting to apply my suggestions, what you do, is YOUR responsibility. Location Halifax UK