Got factory MK2 today, exceeds expectations.
Just got it today built from the factory. Couple of things for those waiting to pull the trigger.
- I printed extra parts, but nothing was broken from shipping and everything was secured using only zip ties.
- My other 3D printer has been fine tuned, but the MK2 run circles around it. The mesh level is very good.
- I'm not sure why the MK2 print quality is so good because it has the same parts mechanics, nozzle size, frame of my other printer. In looking at the MK2 prints, you can see a big difference at a glance.
Notes for new MK2 owners:
- Go easy with the live Z adjust. Make small changes or the nozzle may get to close to the bed surface and scratch the PEI.
- When you turn off the printer, make sure the Z is at 0
- Make sure none of the clips have shift while unpacking, move the bed make sure they don't catch
- When raising Z all the way to the top, rewind the spool backwards so it does unravel the spool
- Try printing with .35mm FAST profile. Wow. Works great for small functional parts like clips, holding brackets, for small 40mm W and 40MM L. I did another object about 75mm L x 50mm W and it did not work.
- Update OctoPrint to have slow running commands for the mesh leveling stuff
-If you can, get the silver PLA, really nice.
Re: Got factory MK2 today, exceeds expectations.
On day two with the MK2.
- If you move the bed around manually, hit the auto home XYZ. If you turn off the MK2 and the printer head is not at 0,0,0 for xyz, same thing.
- The MK2 with the Prusa edition of Slic3r is a big deal. All the settings just all work really well together. My other 3D printer would take many hours and research to make the parameters of the printer work some filament
- If you share a house with others, the LCD menu is very handy.
-- Phone rings, printer is too loud? Just swipe the dial and slow the speed to 30%, then after the call is done put back up to %100.
-- Everyone is leaving the house? Great, dial up the speed to 170%.
-- Running the print at night? Put the steppers on low power mode. I did this while running a job from octoprint (LCD > tune > power)
-- You can do this from OctoPrint, but for me it must easier walking over the the MK2 change the settings.
-- Watching the first layer go down with a brim? Speed it up to %170.
-- Put the Pinda protector on. Printing larger objects at faster speed introduces new variables I am learning about where the model can detach.
-- For the free filament get something that will contrast well with black so you can play with the live Z-adjust.
Also, I am really glad I got the factor built system, after inspecting everything twice, I would have not had the patience to place everything and secure it properly. For example, the zip ties under the frame can be positioned so that locking tab could hit the Z-frame, I would have probably have missed that but that is just me.
It still took a day to have the factory MK2 running in my environment, here is my list:
- Modify my enclosure plastic box for proper cable routing
- Octorprint up and configured, route power / network cables.
- Get my thingiverse spool holder working and feeding to the MK2 while fitting under my enclosure
Also, I will need pick spare zip ties. I had a huge collection of zip ties, but they where not skinny enough to go into the holes that are drilled into the Z-frame.
Re: Got factory MK2 today, exceeds expectations.
I'm waiting for my factory assembled printer to arrive. Can I ask when you ordered yours? I placed my order Nov 1.
Thanks!
Re: Got factory MK2 today, exceeds expectations.
-I placed my order on 10/31.
- I tried the pause print. It does a better job the octoprint. It only seems to work when printing from the SD which makes sense.
This will make printing with PetG easier. you can move the nozzle of the print, clean blobs stuck to the nozzle and when you resume it will remember where it left off.
-- If you run out of filament you can pause the print and order some more by mail. In 3 days when the new filament comes in you can resume the print. Really handy when you are 20hrs into printing a model.
--- See this thread for details: http://shop.prusa3d.com/forum/prusa-i3-kit-building-calibrating-first-print-main-f6/can-you-pause-a-print-for-a-day--t2326.html#p1998
---- TLDR:
Pause print
Settings>Temperature>Nozzle>21
Settings>Temperature>Bed>21
0620hrs: Nozzle below 50C; Settings>Temperature>Fan speed>
Restart
Bed to 35C; then increase in 10C steps each time it has stabilised for a minute
Nozzle to 230C when Bed switched to 55C
Fan to 255
Bed to 65C
Fan to 0 for about 20s
Resume print
Fan to 255
- I really like how the MK2 will sleep and turns off fans. My other 3D printer just keeps the fans running full blast and the bearings fail because the 3 hr print finished but it will be 12 hrs until I am back at the house to kill the power switch. In silent mode the MK2 prints below the sound level of my other printer when it is not printing but just in standby.
Re: Got factory MK2 today, exceeds expectations.
Day 3 with the MK2
I loaded the build plate up with a bunch of parts across the bed, they all printed.
- The other 3D printer I have has petty much the same size build plate, but I can only put down the first layer on 33% of the area that I can get level.
-- I am printing mostly functional parts and this justifies buying the MK2 as a second printer.
--- When you can only use 33% of the build plate, the time to print parts at least doubles because you to slice, prep the build plate, print, remove parts.
--- As a selling point, I think the front page of the MK2 should have one photo of it printing a bunch of parts all at once
---- It gets me every time you see a photo of other 3D printers printing a bunch of parts, the front page of the MK2 should have a time lapse of it in action printing all the 3D printed parts that it uses, that would be cool.
I am thinking about selling my other 3D printer except that it is loaded with high temp filament and it may be worth keeping around not to have do the atomic method when switching from different types of filament. However, if I can get away with just running eSun filament cleaner when switching between different types of filaments then the MK2 will become my only 3D printer.
- I ended up cutting more holes in the enclosure I built for the MK2, the internal air temp was quickly going to 90F after about 10 mins of printing.
Re: Got factory MK2 today, exceeds expectations.
Hit my first roadblock. The filament started slipping. I looked at the hob gear and it was full of particles. I think I was playing around too much with increase the speed of prints trying to go up to 115%. The printer has been running non stop since it arrived. I cleaned and reloaded the filament and so far all looks good, the printer now printing again. I like the batman thing included on the SD card, it is my default test print.
Re: Got factory MK2 today, exceeds expectations.
I think the low power mode is creating better quality prints, but still need more data.
In high power more vibration is created and acceleration / de-acceleration of the print head may be a factor.
Re: Got factory MK2 today, exceeds expectations.
Acceleration does not depend on printing mode (silent/high power). Inertia forces are the same as long as you print in the same speed.
Actually it is high power mode who makes higher quality results. At least, high power mode partially eliminates vertical stripes/lines on printed object.
Re: Got factory MK2 today, exceeds expectations.
On the day 4 printing non stop with the MK2 since it arrived.
- I have to give a demo on 3D printing to my co-workers using the MK2 so I made a portable enclosure using a Bella Plastic container that sits on MDF.
--- The MDF base uses this configuration. It will allow me to have multiple spools once the MK2 multi color option is released.
Everything (spool holder, OctoPi, MK2) stays in place with these corner brackets: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1291806
The Bella plastic container cuts down on the noise. To cut down the noise further the portable enclosure sits on a gel seat pad:
I looked at the other noise dampening feet, but in reading forums it has mostly good reviews but some warn against their use. Also, I think the noise dampening feet are designed with ABS specifications. I may try to print them in PETG further down the road.
I am using this spool holder, but I hate the fact you have to buy 608 bearings:
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:989957
I think I will make this 3D printed 608 bearings and see if they work in the spool holder:
608 gear bearing
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:913675
Re: Got factory MK2 today, exceeds expectations.
I LOVE this printer. I print the 608 bearing using PE of slic3r with the .10mm DETAIL with Prusa PLA and it work awesome.
If you print it, use a nail file on the top and bottom. The bearing will start to give and just go back and forth with not too much force. Once you get one rotation, put the gear under hot water for 30 secs, then cold water.
I got it spinning really fast, way faster that the spool holder will ever go. When spinning it fast use smooth acceleration. It gets faster the more it spins.
Happy Printing.
PS: If you print these, make a few extra. The temptation is to spin them faster and faster until they break.
Update: I went to the .20mm profile and the bearing came out better, it rolls smoother.
Re: Got factory MK2 today, exceeds expectations.
For the fast profile with PLA I need to set the nozzle temp at 215 and the fan speed at something like 60-70%. It then works on large parts without the extruder clicking or thermal runaway errors. Print quality is still very good, just bigger layers.
With an e3d sock you might be able to use a higher fan speed for better overhangs and bridging.
The fast profile seems to be set up right at the extruder limit.
Re: Got factory MK2 today, exceeds expectations.
Excellent. Thanks for the info, I will give it a try.
Re: Got factory MK2 today, exceeds expectations.
For anyone making the 608 bearings referenced on this thread, scale them up a little if they don't roll smooth enough for your needs.
Update. One of the PLA 608 bearings failed, so I will stick with steel 608.
On my todo list is to adapt the spool holder to use the bearing that is on the SD card that comes with the MK2.