Do I need more upgrade parts for MK3?
I bought an Mk3 almost exactly a year ago, mid-July 2018. Over the year, I saw various upgrade parts available to print, but always skipped them because I was new to printing, and wanted to change as little as possible while I learned. A few weeks ago, I ordered some new sheets (powder coated sheets are GREAT for TPU!) from Prusa and figure I would add in the MK3->MK3S upgrade parts since it changes the shipping to the US only a bit.
Before I do that upgrade, are there other parts available that I can print and swap at the same time? I remember seeing B7, R4, and lots of other revisions but I don't know:
- Which parts I have on my July 2018 kit
- Which parts have newer versions
- Which of those are obsoleted by the MK3S kit
I thought I was in luck when I found a link to pritable parts on github. I was hoping I could look at the last updated times to see which ones were newer, but those appear to be for the MK2 and nearly all of them are 3 years old. The only things that are newer are a:
- Heat bed cable cover
- LCD knob
- Idler shaft (just showed up a couple of days ago!)
I also found a zip file on the Prusa website: https://www.prusa3d.com/download-printable-parts-stl-mk3. Those parts appear to be newer, but I then I still need to know which ones are newer than the ones on my printer, and which ones are no longer relevant with the MK3S upgrade.
RE: Do I need more upgrade parts for MK3?
Many of the printed parts have a revision number on them. R3 or R4, for example. But the numbers are hidden during assembly. It's simple enough to just print the full bed of new MK3 or MK3S parts downloaded from the Prusa site and when you do the rebuild, use what's newest and appropriate for the model path you are following.
As for the MK3S upgrade ... I have a MK3, I bought the S upgrade kit, but due to reading all of the issues the MK3S is having, my S kit is still in the box. The only real PRO benefit to the S is the filament sensor; and there are several CONs in the list. Melting extruder parts while printing; harder to print flex filaments; poor print fan air flow; and filament sensor not working issues. To name a few.
RE: Do I need more upgrade parts for MK3?
...I bought the S upgrade kit, but due to reading all of the issues the MK3S is having, my S kit is still in the box. The only real PRO benefit to the S is the filament sensor; and there are several CONs in the list. Melting extruder parts while printing; harder to print flex filaments; poor print fan air flow; and filament sensor not working issues. To name a few.
Uh-Oh. I wasn't aware there were issues, thanks for the heads up! I'll hold off on that for a bit. TPU is one of my common materials and besides the expected stringing I've been very happy with the results on my stock MK3.
RE: Do I need more upgrade parts for MK3?
Many of the printed parts have a revision number on them. R3 or R4, for example. But the numbers are hidden during assembly. It's simple enough to just print the full bed of new MK3 or MK3S parts downloaded from the Prusa site and when you do the rebuild, use what's newest and appropriate for the model path you are following.
As for the MK3S upgrade ... I have a MK3, I bought the S upgrade kit, but due to reading all of the issues the MK3S is having, my S kit is still in the box. The only real PRO benefit to the S is the filament sensor; and there are several CONs in the list. Melting extruder parts while printing; harder to print flex filaments; poor print fan air flow; and filament sensor not working issues. To name a few.
While I haven't tried TPU and my filament sensor isn't fixed, (lack of downtime to do the fix), my i3 MK3S upgrade is working nearly 24x7 doing prints. I have built the Ikea Lack enclosure, The new MMU Lack enclosure, several Samla boxes, Filament auto-retraction spool holders for my dry box, and over 100 other projects, (I have over 40 days on my printer). I am printing a desiccant box now. I am not sure why there is a fear to do the MK3S upgrade. I did mine when I got my MK3 as it was sent to me around the time that I got to the extruder while building my MK3.
I get the issue with the filament sensor and I will be fixing it on my next go around. I don't see major hurdles in doing that and I haven't really needed it. I am constantly near my printer anyways. 😉
What's so scary about the upgrade? Why put it off if you are doing a rebuild for other reasons? I would also look at doing some bearing cleaning and/or PTFE replacement depending on how many hours you have on your MK3. I would also clean up wiring and anything less than optimal for printing. Extruder rebuilds are the time to tweak what isn't going well for you as well as assess the state of your existing wear parts. Plastic changes are probably the LEAST of your worries.
I am just asking, because I don't see the fear factor. I just cannot do without my machine for that long. I even thought of buying a second one so that at least one is operational while I do upgrades. I hear the same fear thing over the MMU2S. It's an upgrade and you need to follow the directions, study others successes/failures and debug issues. Isn't that why you buy open source? To learn by doing?
So what really is the fear?
Robin
I am the inveterate tinkerer. I can tink up most anything.
RE: Do I need more upgrade parts for MK3?
[...] So what really is the fear?
For me, it's part stubbornness and part not wanting to be without my printer for long enough to do the upgrade. I travel frequently, and when I'm home, I want to print stuff. My OG Mk3 is working quite well (including the filament sensor) so I just don't see it as a priority. Inevitably, I'll have to get it all done at some point. Just not in a hurry.
RE: Do I need more upgrade parts for MK3?
I did the MK3 to MK3S upgrade, and I can only say while we still shot ourselves in the foot, our aim is getting better. I had a very early MK3 from January deliver of 2018. As I learned, don't do non Prusa replacement parts as expensive as they can be. But I made it though the upgrade and am getting some very nice prints. You too might experience headaches, but it's worth it.