Prusa i3 MK3 Steel Sheet Rusted  

RE: Prusa i3 MK3 Steel Sheet Rusted

It can take a few seconds to load, especially if your internet is a little sluggish.

RE: Prusa i3 MK3 Steel Sheet Rusted

Thanks guys. It did load in the end, but after I'd already sent prusa a message. I'll see if they respond soon before opening a chat. 👍 

RE: Prusa i3 MK3 Steel Sheet Rusted

I would open a Chat now without waiting. EMail support only seems to work on 29 February. At least there is one this year.

RE: Prusa i3 MK3 Steel Sheet Rusted

Well, I got an answer from Prusa Research.  I do love my Prusa and, having owned a bunch of hand built machines, think the MK3 is a great bit of kit, but I often feel disappointed with the responses received from customer support. 

When magnets started falling off the bottom of the heat bed they simply advised I should glue them back with appropriate glue.  When I told them about my LCD screen displaying nonsensical characters and misbehaving they told me to keep an eye on it.  And, whilst I understand the challenges Prusa faced, I'll never forget the Powder Coated Sheet fiasco and the almost 1.5 year wait for order fulfilment.

I guess I was hoping they'd be reasonable and accept that they are at fault for supplying an inadequately designed product (which they know is the case as they updated it due to that very reason) and maybe they'd want to offer a solution as a gesture of good will.  Ah well, here's their reply:

RE: Prusa i3 MK3 Steel Sheet Rusted

I've never understood why they abruptly started demonizing water, particularly when a rinse under the sink with dish washing soap is the most effective way to clean the stickered smooth PEI sheets. Sure, include instructions to dry them off. As for 70% alcohol mattering, they need to explain why you're seeing corrosion under the entirety of that one side, not just at the edges where water might penetrate.

That said, I have a bit of a preference for printing on my dinged up repaired sheet. I don't worry about dinging it up and adhesion remains strong. They are ultimately consumables. My blasted textured sheet wouldn't adhere to any sort of filament on day 1 and I waited 14 months for it.

RE: Prusa i3 MK3 Steel Sheet Rusted

@bobstro

Yeah, I agree.  However, my gold sheet was almost new, so it was in perfect condition before the rust suddenly took hold, with no dings, scratches, tears or damage of any kind.  From what I'm told it can still be printed on ok, but it's not something I want to use anymore really.

It's hardly the end of the world, I'm mostly disappointed in the poor quality of support I keep receiving from Prusa Research I guess.  Having seen how extensive the spread of rust is on my Smooth Steel PEI Sheet I'd have hoped they would have attempted some sort of resolution/good will gesture.

As mentioned, this isn't the first issue I've experienced with my MK3 and I've never received help after reporting problems.  I hear accounts of other people getting new heat beds when there MK3 magnets fall out - I was told to glue mine back at my own cost (when under warranty).  I hear people being sent new LCD displays when they report display errors - I was told to keep an eye on it and let them know if it develops (again, under warranty).  There's been other issues too, such as a dodgy power transformer (yep - when still under warranty) that I'm still living with.  So I suppose I just hoped they'd restore some lost faith and offer a resolution.

RE: Prusa i3 MK3 Steel Sheet Rusted

Was yours a kit or pre-built? You're supposed to have full hardware support with a kit, but I wonder if that matters on some calls.

RE: Prusa i3 MK3 Steel Sheet Rusted

@bobstro

It was a kit.  It's been really great at printing with no issues at all related to my contribution to the build.  It'a just been a few parts that appear to be less than perfect.  Hey-ho.  First world problems and all that.  😉  I just hoped Prusa might help out on this one.

RE: Prusa i3 MK3 Steel Sheet Rusted

Posted by: @nathan-b20

[...]  First world problems and all that.  😉  I just hoped Prusa might help out on this one.

I've got an expensive textured sheet that won't adhere to PLA or PETG. Trade? 

If you ever want a new sheet, the PrintedSolid spring steel sheets with BuildTak adhesive-backed PEI are great. The adhesive is easier to replace if needed. 

RE: Prusa i3 MK3 Steel Sheet Rusted

@bobstro

Thanks for the offer.  lol!  May I mask why won't it adhere to PLA or PETG?  Is it just a case of being well used and the coating having been worn away or did it always cause issues?  Is it an official Prusa powder coated sheet or something else?

RE: Prusa i3 MK3 Steel Sheet Rusted

@nathan-b20 I think I just got a turd. The coating is uneven and fine lines tend to peel off no matter what material I print. Not sure if it's unusual compared to any others, but it's a far cry from the smooth PEI sheet or the textured clone sheet.

Meanwhile, my gnarly re-surfaced smooth PEI sheet is going strong. As long as the PEI top surface is smooth, it seems fine.  

Interestingly, I realized the PrintedSolid flex sheets are nowhere near as prone to corrosion. I've applied several surfaces to 2 different sheets and they're still shiny. I like the thinner sheets as well.

Prusa innovated by making the spring steel sheets a standard offering, but time keeps on moving and there are other options now. I'm done with Prusa sheets. Not that I need any more. 

RE: Prusa i3 MK3 Steel Sheet Rusted

If you do keep the "rusted sheet", once you remove the PEI layer, use sticky label remover to get rid of any residual gunk, then WD40 to clean away any trace of rust, yes it is excellent for this.

Then clean off the WD40 with hot soapy water, dry using gentle heat, and wipe with IPA (Or meths), then you are ready to apply a fresh self adhesive PEI layer.

RE: Prusa i3 MK3 Steel Sheet Rusted

After cleaning it good, if there are any discolored areas, I think I would use a 3M abrasive backed sponge to scour it. Much like a frying pan - and for the same reasons - I like pretty things...

But also being lazy - I am more likely to just buy a new PEI backed steel sheet.