When is a MK3S not a MK3S?
I just upgraded my MK3 to a MK3S, upgraded the printer's firmware and downloaded the most recent Mac Drivers (PrusaSlicer 2.1.1). The printer is all calibrated and ready to go.
I'm a little confused about the printer settings in PrusaSlicer though. The official Prusa MK3 to MK3S upgrade manual ( https://manual.prusa3d.com/Guide/5.+Preflight+check/1063 Preflight Check - Part 5, Step 8) says to use the PrusaSlicer config wizard (or config assistant if you're a mac user) and select the MK3S option, which I did. It then says to expand the printer menu and check if the MK3S option is present, which it is. So the selected printer is 'Original Prusa i3 MK3S', but all the available print settings are still for the standard MK3 (including my custom settings I used before the upgrade).
Are these ever meant to change to read MK3S or will they always read MK3? And does it even matter?
The reason I ask is because I guessed it wouldn't matter, however when I tried to print an official Prusa test g.code file (the batman batarang) that I had on file and was labelled as for MK3 and MK3S, my upgraded MK3S said 'This file is for a different printer". So I downloaded a new test g.code from the Prusa website that was labelled MK3 and MK3S and my newly upgraded MK3S still said the file was for a different printer!?
I've attached a screenshot of my prusaslicer settings to show exactly what I mean.
RE: When is a MK3S not a MK3S?
The difference is in the filament sensor. Not something profiles care about.
I bought my MK3S kit last year. No upgrade. All my print settings are captioned MK3.
Bottom line - yours is fine.
I can't comment on why your firmware thinks the GCode is for a different printer.
RE: When is a MK3S not a MK3S?
@robert-rmm200
Thanks Robert. So within prusaslicer it seems the 'printer' value is partially important (and it would seem allows the printer firmware to identify whether a g.code has been sliced for the machine it's being used with - I wonder if a mk2 can accept mk3 g.codes etc. or if the firmware is programmed to disallow it), whereas the 'printer settings' are used purely to select print variables that apply to any printer and so the name of that setting is of no importance to the 3D printer.
Still, it seems lazy of prusa not to have updated the print setting titles.
RE: When is a MK3S not a MK3S?
The latest printer profiles have a line in the start gcode identifying the printer. Its similar to the line that tells it what the latest firmware is.
In fact heres the first 3 lines from the updated MK3 Profile,
M862.3 P "[printer_model]" ; printer model check
M862.1 P[nozzle_diameter] ; nozzle diameter check
M115 U3.8.1 ; tell printer latest fw version
I suspect that may have something to do with your issue.
RE: When is a MK3S not a MK3S?
@neophyl
Good find. 🙂 It seems stranger still then that Prusa would implement a printer identification warning feature if the mk3 and mk3s g.code files are fully swappable and compatible. Whats the point of warning owners if there's no danger?! It would suggest that the g.code files are not perfectly compatible even if they usually work fine.
RE: When is a MK3S not a MK3S?
Its probably got to do with all the profile and vendor reorganisation thats going on. Trying to make things 'safer' for users who dont know or want to get into stuff like gcode or the nuts and bolts of things.
Personally I remove the firmware line and will be removing the other new ones and just using my customised printer profile anyway.
I got sick of it pausing and telling me my firmware wasn't current -duh I know, I prefer to be a couple of versions behind till they find most of the bugs 🙂 especially as there wasn't anything I needed from the new firmware (yet).
RE: When is a MK3S not a MK3S?
You're probably right.
I haven't had any issues with any firmware updates but I totally understand your caution. Good idea to mod the fw as I'm sure the 'not current' message would end up doing yer head in.
RE: When is a MK3S not a MK3S?
Provided you don't have many changes to default profiles why not take no chances and do a clean install?
RE: When is a MK3S not a MK3S?
Provided you don't have many changes to default profiles why not take no chances and do a clean install?
I had tried that but the results were the same. It appears Prusa have not created specific Printer Settings for the MK3S but it doesn't really matter, it's only the name of the combination of printer settings selected within PrusaSlicer. And the settings (layer height, perimeters, fill density, pattern etc.) are the same for the MK3 and MK3S.
The choice of printer may matter a little more, although I'm still not sure it makes any difference if the MK3 or MK3S printer is chosen as they are effectively the same machine, only with a new filament sensor and a reworking of the extruder body etc. Unless I'm mistaken the printer firmware deals exclusively with all printer specific calibration tasks (the filament sensor, XYZ axis calibrated positioning etc.) so I'd guess Mk3 g.codes will work on MK3S and vice versa. I've yet to test a MK3 g.code on my MK3S. Given time I'm sure I'll give it a go.
RE: When is a MK3S not a MK3S?
I just printed a previously prepped and printed MK3 g.code on the MK3S without any issues, so it seems the only variable that the printer firmware 'cares about' is the type of printer selected in the slicer software and saved within the g.code.