MK3 Multi Material  

Re: MK3 Multi Material

Just saw that the MK3 MMU included parts description changed (I don't have a screenshot but am pretty sure it was more or less a copy of the MK2 MMU PLUS the 4x Fil.Sensors)
- now it doesn't include anymore the E3D V6 full with multimaterial heatbreak (which is about 80€ worth)
- also not 4x (it was the 1st days) but 3x Bondtech gears.

That are just additional 4x filament sensors with the missing E3Dv6 and one less Bondtech gear compared to the MK2 MMU and still costs 20€ more.

The MMU kit - from MK2 to MK2.5/MK3 cost 59€ (including plastic parts). So i guess that one filament sensor cost around 8-12€ as a spare part.

MK2 MMU ....................................... vs ...................... MK3 MMU
- Plastic parts ............................................................. - Plastic parts
- fasteners .................................................................. - fasteners
- motors & electronics .............................................. - motors & electronics
- spool holder ............................................................ - improved spool holder
- 4x Bondtech gears ................................................. - 3x Bondtech gears
- E3D V6 full with multimaterial heatbreak ........... -
- ................................................................................... - 4x filament sensors
MMUpgrade kit - from MK2 to MK2.5/MK3
- 4x filament sensors
- Plastic parts
- fasteners

My Questions is:
- Why does Prusa adds 4x filament sensors even the MK3 has already one filament sensor? Isn't that the same as the Bondtech gears, one on the MK3 needs 3 additional for the MMU?

I don't know the selling prices for the Fil.Sensors (see above) or Bondtech gears (you can buy them for 50€ in their shop, so i thought Prusa got them bit cheaper because of the mass they ordered from Bondtech), but i think the MK3 MMU should be cheaper and not more expensive than the MK2 MMU kit.
In the beginning i understood that the MK3 MMU was more expensive adding extra 4 Fil.Sensors to the MMU kit.

3x Fil.Sensors cost around 30€ minus an E3D V6 around 80€ minus one Bondtech gear around 40€ is around -90€ that the MK3 MMU should cost compared to the MK2 MMU.

Maybe the MK3 MMU included parts will be updated again and the E3D V6 full with multimaterial heatbreak comes back, still the need of one less Bondtech gear should compensate the 3 needed filament sensors.

That is just my opinion and it is up to Prusa how they make their prices.

Changing the included parts to less should also have an effect on the price OR be at least communicated/displayed as an Update in the Shop.

Re: MK3 Multi Material

This is only a guess but maybe the MK3 MMU will use 5 filament sensors; possibly 1 at each extruder to detect missing filament, plus one after the Y splitter to detect jams or loading failures.

I do think it's odd that the MK3 costs more despite having fewer components. If the MK3 MMU doesn't include a new hotend, that must mean that every MK3 is already including the custom multi-material heatbreak from E3D, which seems odd. More likely the omission of the new hotend from the MK3 MMU parts list is a mistake.

Re: MK3 Multi Material

This is only a guess but maybe the MK3 MMU will use 5 filament sensors; possibly 1 at each extruder to detect missing filament, plus one after the Y splitter to detect jams or loading failures.

The 'Multi Material upgrade kit - from MK2 to MK2.5/MK3' has just 4 filament sensors so the 'MK3 MMU kit' will also just need 4.

I do think it's odd that the MK3 costs more despite having fewer components. If the MK3 MMU doesn't include a new hotend, that must mean that every MK3 is already including the custom multi-material heatbreak from E3D, which seems odd. More likely the omission of the new hotend from the MK3 MMU parts list is a mistake.

Let's hope for the MK3 owners has the 'E3D V6 full with multimaterial heatbreak' as standard or Prusa changed something that it also works with a standard E3D V6 hotend, otherwise the MK3 MMU users will have the same issues as in the Beta of the MK2 MMU.

We will see.

As an MK2/s owner, i would go at this moment for the 'Original Prusa i3 MK2/S Multi Material upgrade kit' + 'Multi Material upgrade kit - from MK2 to MK2.5/MK3' to make sure i get everything i need.

Even as a MK3 owner i would consider buying both kits.
For 39€ more you have:
- 1x extra E3D V6
- 1x extra bondtech gear
- 1x extra filament sensor

Disadvantage:
don't get the improved spool holder

Re: MK3 Multi Material

Let's hope for the MK3 owners has the 'E3D V6 full with multimaterial heatbreak' as standard or Prusa changed something that it also works with a standard E3D V6 hotend, otherwise the MK3 MMU users will have the same issues as in the Beta of the MK2 MMU.

Waldemar

During beta-testing, my setup was working fine with the original heat break. Whether it will work or not I think depended on manufacture quality - having the internal 2mm hole drilled from both ends, if one was offset by too much then there would be problems. It seems that the work-around for this was to drill a 2.1mm hole from the top end and a 2mm hole from the bottom.

I was informed a few months ago that PR were moving over to the MM-drilled heat break for all production.

However, I recently enquired about the new titanium heat break. This was the reply:

John Bamford (E3D Online)

Oct 18, 12:50 BST

Hi,

Thanks for your email.

The Multi Material heat break has different internal geometry to make it easier to change materials. You can, swap it out for a normal V6 heat break, this may prove a hindrance to the material change function, but will not have negative effects on any other part of the system and the material change should still work.

Kind regards,

John

Quite honestly, I am not sure how to take this...

Peter

Re: MK3 Multi Material

Hi Peter,

I was informed a few months ago that PR were moving over to the MM-drilled heat break for all production.

If PR sends to every MK3 owner an E3D v6 with the mm-drilled heat break than the MK3 MUU kit makes sense for them.
Even then i would go for the other option and having high value spare parts for few bugs more. More costs 39€ and having spare parts with a value ~145€.

As i wrote before i would expect to get the MK3 MMU cheaper than the MK2 MMU if there is no need for a quite expensive extra E3D V6 MMU hotend. But that is up to Prusa.

MK2/s owners should go safe and buy the MK2 MMU + MK2 MMU to MK2.5/MK3 MMU upgrade kit. And they also have the high value spare parts.

However, I recently enquired about the new titanium heat break. This was the reply:

John Bamford (E3D Online)

Oct 18, 12:50 BST

Hi,

Thanks for your email.

The Multi Material heat break has different internal geometry to make it easier to change materials. You can, swap it out for a normal V6 heat break, this may prove a hindrance to the material change function, but will not have negative effects on any other part of the system and the material change should still work.

Kind regards,

John

Quite honestly, I am not sure how to take this...

Peter

As far i understand the E3D email the MMU is better of with the modified heatbreak even there is a chance the it also works with a standard one.

It is like a disclaimer: MMU is supported with MMU heat break, BUT it may work with a standard one 🙂

Waldemar

Re: MK3 Multi Material

Found some shipping notice information for the MK3 MMU under my account. Below is what was posted.

MK3 ordered together with Multi Material upgrades start shipping early March 2018, majority in March and April.
New MMU for MK3 orders - separate and combined both - at the beginning of May 2018.

The question is, will there be any improvements over what has been posted or hinted at?