Cura 2.1.2 - Read me first! – Software (Archive)

david.z

(@david-z)

Eminent Member

Cura 2.1.2 - Read me first!

I learned the hard way that Cura 2.1.2 has default settings that will jam a Prusa i3 MK2*. This scared me away from it for a while, but I finally got around to making some configuration files that make Cura 2.1.2 safe to use on the MK2 (at least with PLA), and I wanted to share them.

Install the latest version of Cura 2.x

Go into Computer > Program Files > Cura 2.[x] > Resources > Machines, and copy in the file "prusa_i3_mk2.json". This file gives you an option to choose the MK2 as a machine under 'Other', with accurate print area dimensions.

Go into C:\Program Files\Cura 2.1\resources\profiles\materials, and rename the file "pla.cfg" to "pla.cfg.bak" to back it up. You do not want to use this one, so it's best if it doesn't even show up in Cura. Download and copy in the replacement "pla.cfg" file.

Open Cura 2.x, set up your machine choosing the Prusa i3 MK2 option under 'Other', select 'PLA' in the material drop-down on the right, open up the material settings area below, and confirm that the retraction distance shows 0.8. (Important: If the retraction distance shows a higher number than 0.8mm, troubleshoot the material profile, but don't try to override it in the Cura interface, it will ignore the setting and jam your printer!)

You should be good to print in Cura 2.x!

*If you're curious as to why: Cura 2.1.2 comes with built-in material settings which override the user settings. These built-in material profiles all use a retraction distance of 6.5mm, which is way, way too much for the MK2's E3D V6 hotend. It needs 0.8mm, or else molten filament will go into the heatbreak and solidify, eventually jamming things up quite thoroughly.

Posted : 23/07/2016 4:56 pm

Constantine Go...

(@constantine-gogos)

Eminent Member

Re: Cura 2.1.2 - Read me first!

I still only own a mk1, but as of late I don't find 2.x to be working nearly as well as 15.x. Any input on this? My brims especially seem like they never come out solid. I thought it was a bed height issue until I sliced the same file though 15.x and found my brim was solid, so not sure what the issue is. Anyway, thank you for the info!

Posted : 25/07/2016 1:07 am

david.z

(@david-z)

Eminent Member

Topic starter answered:

Re: Cura 2.1.2 - Read me first!

I still only own a mk1, but as of late I don't find 2.x to be working nearly as well as 15.x. Any input on this? My brims especially seem like they never come out solid. I thought it was a bed height issue until I sliced the same file though 15.x and found my brim was solid, so not sure what the issue is. Anyway, thank you for the info!

I didn't notice any similar issues, so I'm not sure. I know a good number of people, including Prusa himself, are not happy with 2.x so far, so it may just be due to the unrefined current state of the software. It was a re-write, so they're essentially getting the new bugs worked out.

Posted : 06/08/2016 3:54 pm