Build experience  

Build experience

Finished upgrading my last standing Mk3S+ to a Mk3.5. This printer is only used to print one specific object, with a 0.8 mm nozzle, PETG. 

The build process was straightforward. No issues on the mechanical side. Actually, no issues on the electrical side either but the cable adaptor makes for a real mess in the (much improved) electronics box.

Failed the heater test. See https://forum.prusa3d.com/forum/original-prusa-mk3-5-assembly-and-first-prints-troubleshooting/nozzle-heater-check-failed for other people having similar problems. In my case it's certainly caused by my running Dragon hotends on the Mk3S and Minis. Printers print perfectly fine, they just prompted me for conformation that the test had not been passed yet before every print, which is annoying. Tried the soldering iron suggestion in the link above, no luck. Eventually "fixed" it for the Mk3.5 by telling the printer I'm using a sock—which I'm not. Wish I could do the same with the Minis.

Print quality is excellent. Resliced the model this printer is earmarked for with the Mk3.5 0.55mm DRAFT profile, and the print time was the same as the highly optimized print profile I was using for the Mk3S+. By adjusting speeds to print at MVS, I was actually able to shave another half hour off a 3.5h print job, and the quality is still superb.

All in all I'm very happy with the upgrade—almost happier than replacing my other Mk3S's with Mk4's. Why? I love the new extruder design of the Mk4, with the nozzle being so much easier to access, and wish I had the same on the Mk3.5. But I'm not impressed with the first layer quality of the Mk4 for PETG (or anything other than PLA) on textured and satin sheets. I found I have to manually adjust the Live Z value every time the print starts, whereas with the Mk3.5 I can just start the print and walk away.