Upgrade from mk3 to mk3s
So I have had a Prusa i3 mk3 for 2 years now and it has gone through some stuff. The hotend thermistor had to be replaced and in the process, one of the plastic front parts was damaged. Right now it is not functional because of this. Since I have to replace this one part I was thinking that I could spend a little extra and upgrade the whole front end. The upgrade kit includes all of the parts except for the plastic parts which have to be printed. I was wondering if I could get a list of all the parts I need to be able to upgrade the whole hotend without having to print the parts, so I could just buy all the parts separately. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you, guys. everyone on this forum has been very helpful.
RE: Upgrade from mk3 to mk3s
Hi Rupa,
there isn't a lot in the Mk3S upgrade
What you will get with this upgrade?
NEW FILAMENT SENSOR
The previous sensor didn’t work well with some specific filaments. The new sensor is using the optical sensor which is triggered by a simple mechanical lever. This sensor doesn’t care about the optical properties of the filament (it can be completely invisible) and cannot die because of mechanical wear.
EASIER SERVICE
Thanks to completely reworked extruder you don’t have to take apart the whole extruder if you want to change the nozzle or PTFE tube. As a bonus, the nozzle and the extruder motor is much closer to the X axis, this means less resonance and better prints too. Better Y axis belt tensioning is just the icing on the cake.
BETTER COOLING
Thanks to the better design of the whole extruder, air flow is increased and as a result, cooling capabilities are improved. We have also focused on cooling of the the printed object and MK2.5S/MK3S is better for printing from flexible materials.
This package includes:
- IR filament sensor + cable
- PTFE tube
- Fan-shroud-black (factory printed from ABS)
- Bolts & fasteners, steel ball, magnets
- Textile sleeve
- 300g Black PETG for self-printed parts
you can get kits of filament sensor parts on ebay
-
how are you going to print the revised plastic parts for the upgrade?
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: Upgrade from mk3 to mk3s
Thank you for your reply but I was looking for the exact list of plastic parts that I can buy from the shop because I cannot print them because my printer is not functional atm.
RE: Upgrade from mk3 to mk3s
Isn't there a MK3->MK3S upgrade kit? That was what I purchased (and have yet to install because the S has it's own issues over the earlier version).
https://shop.prusa3d.com/en/upgrades/898-original-prusa-i3-mk3-to-mk3s-upgrade-kit.html
RE: Upgrade from mk3 to mk3s
@tim-m30
Yes there is but you have to print the plastic parts. I cannot do that because my printer is out of order so I need the exact plastic parts to order separately. Just so I don't run into more issues, what are the problems with the mk3s?
RE: Upgrade from mk3 to mk3s
It does look like the option to purchase the upgrade with printed parts has been removed. If you ask around, there are usually people willing to print parts.
I have a Mk3 and have not seen any benefit to upgrading. The Mk3s upgrades were largely:
- Changes to the hotend and part cooling fan. I have never had the cooling issues that drove this, and I wasn't impressed by the upgrades (e.g. sagging PINDA issue).
- Replacement filament sensor. Once I figured out how to properly clean out my filament sensor, I've had very few issues with it. The new arrangement doesn't seem to gain me anything.
I suggest you post a message with a descriptive subject line ("Need help printing Mk3-Mk3s upgrade parts in New York state") that unambiguously states what you need and where you're located. Otherwise, it simply won't get read. The prusaprinters.org map might help you locate somebody willing to print parts as well.
and miscellaneous other tech projects
He is intelligent, but not experienced. His pattern indicates two dimensional thinking. -- Spock in Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan
RE: Upgrade from mk3 to mk3s
@rupa-s
Um - my kit came complete with everything needed.
ps: as Bob mentioned: the upgrade was less than impressive. And, Prusa has supposedly fixed some of the filament sensor woes that were the major premise of the upgrade. And, as Bob also mentioned, the downgrade aspect of sagging MK3S plastic and misaligned filament path - which actually prevents using TPM rather than helping - well - made the "upgrade a waste of money", for me.
RE: Upgrade from mk3 to mk3s
@tim-m30
Thank you for letting me know. The only upgrade kit available right now is without the plastic pieces because of COVID. Thank you for the feedback about the upgrade not being worth it. I am going to do it anyway because I already need to rebuild the extruder head because some of the plastic on mine is damaged. You also mentioned it preventing TPM. What exactly is TPM? Thank you for your help.
RE: Upgrade from mk3 to mk3s
Short for Thermoplastic PolyUrethane: TPU is a term used to describe flexible filament. The rubbery kind to make bumpers, flexible molds, etc.
RE: Upgrade from mk3 to mk3s
One last link: this thread discusses a few of the upgrade issues. Just so you have a heads up on what to expect, and know which version of parts to have printed (generally always the latest - but sometimes a user designed part is better).