Prusa3d Manual Mk2s En
User Manual:
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Please always refer to the http://www.prusa3d.com/drivers/
for an updated version of this 3D printing handbook (PDF download).
QUICK GUIDE TO THE FIRST PRINT
1. Read the safety instructions carefully (page 7)
2. Place the printer on a flat and stable surface (page 11)
3. Download and install the drivers (page 33)
4. Calibrate the printer by following our calibration flow (page 11)
5. Insert SD into the printer and print your first model (page 25)
Handbook version 2.0 from March 7, 2017. © Prusa Research s.r.o.
2
About the author
Josef Prusa (born Feb 23rd, 1990) became interested in the 3D printing phenomenon before
joining the Prague’s University of Economics in 2009 - at first it was a hobby, a new
technology open to changes and improvements. The hobby soon became a passion and
Josef grew into one of the leading developers of Adrien Bowyer’s international, open source,
RepRap project. Today, you can see the Prusa design in different versions all around the
world, it is one of the most popular printers and thanks to it, knowledge about the 3D printing
technology significantly increased among public.
Jo’s work on self-replicating printers (you can print the other printer parts with your printer)
are still ongoing and currently there is Prusa i3 - the third iteration of the original 3D printer. It
is constantly updated with the latest innovations and you've just purchased its latest version.
In addition to printer hardware upgrades, the main goal is to make the technology more
accessible and understandable for all users.
Josef Prusa also organizes workshops for the public, participates in professional
conferences dedicated to the popularization of 3D printing. For example, he lectured at the
TEDx conference in Prague and Vienna, at World Maker Faire in New York, Maker Faire in
Rome or at the Open Hardware Summit hosted by MIT. Josef also teaches Arduino at
Charles University and was also a lecturer at the Academy of Arts in Prague.
In his own words, he imagines 3D printers will be available in every home in a not too distant
future. If anything is needed, you can simply print it. In this field, you just push the
boundaries every day... We're glad you're part of it with us!
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Table of contents
About the author
2 Product details
3 Introduction
3.1 Glossary
3.2 Disclaimer
3.3 Safety instructions
3.4 Licenses
4 Original Prusa i3 MK2 printer
5 Original Prusa i3 MK2 printer kit
6 First steps
6.1 Printer unpacking and proper handling
6.2 Printer assembly
6.3 Setup before printing
6.3.1 Calibration flow
6.3.2 PEI print surface preparation
6.3.3 Increasing the adhesion
6.3.4 Selftest (kit only)
6.3.4.1 Selftest error messages and resolution (kit only)
6.3.5 Calibrate XYZ (kit only)
6.3.5.1 Calibrate XYZ error messages and resolution (kit only)
6.3.5.1 Y axis alignment (kit only)
6.3.6 Calibrate Z
6.3.7 Mesh bed levelling
6.3.8 Loading the filament into the extruder
6.3.8.1 Unloading the filament
6.3.9 First layer calibration (kit only)
6.3.9.1 Bed level correction (kit only)
6.3.10 Finetuning the first layer
6.3.10.1 Print prusa logo
6.3.10.2 Check probe height (kit only)
7 Printing
7.1 Removing objects from the printer.
7.2 Printer Control
7.2.1 LCD screen
7.2.2 Print statistics
7.2.2 Silent vs. Hi-power mode
7.2.3 Factory reset
7.2.4 LCD layout
7.2.5 Print speed versus print quality
7.2.6 USB cable and Pronterface
7.3 Printer addons
7.3.1 Different nozzles
7.3.1.1 Hardened steel nozzle
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6
6
6
7
7
7
8
9
10
10
11
11
12
13
13
14
14
15
16
19
19
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21
22
22
23
23
23
24
25
25
26
26
26
27
27
28
30
30
32
32
33
4
7.3.1.2 0.25mm nozzle
8 Printer drivers
9 Printing your own models
9.1 Where you can get the 3D models?
9.2 In what program you can create your own models?
9.3 Slic3r
9.4 Bundled 3D models
9.5 Print in color with ColorPrint
9.6 Printing of non-standard models
9.6.1 Printing with support material
9.6.2 Large object printing
10 Materials
10.1 ABS
10.2 PLA
10.3 PET
10.4 HIPS
10.5 PP
10.6 Nylon (Taulman Bridge)
10.7 Flex
10.8 Dialing in new materials
11 FAQ - Printer maintenance and print issues
11.1 Print surface preparation
11.2 Clogged / jammed extruder
11.3 Nozzle cleaning
11.4 Replacing / changing the nozzle
11.5 Axis fluency
11.6 Printing problems
11.6.1 Layers break and split when printing from ABS material
11.6.2 Models contain either too much or not enough of the filament
11.7 Problems with finished models
11.7.1 Model breaks and/or is easily damaged
11.8 Updating printer firmware
12 FAQ - common issues when assembling the printer kit
12.1 Nozzle/print surface gap is greater in the middle than at the corners
12.2 Printer stops printing soon after start
12.3 Printer can’t read SD card
12.4 Loose X- and/or Y-axis belts
12.5 Detached cables to the heatbed
12.6 Loose heatbed zip ties
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33
33
33
34
34
36
36
38
38
39
41
41
41
41
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42
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50
50
Important notice, tip, hint or information that helps you print with ease.
Read carefully! This part of text has uppermost importance - either for user safety of
for a proper printer service.
This symbol indicates text related to printer kit only.
5
2 Product details
Title: Original Prusa i3 MK2S / Original Prusa i3 MK2S (kit), Filament: 1.75 mm
Manufacturer: Prusa Research s.r.o., 621/8a Prvniho pluku, Prague, 186 00, Czech Republic
Contacts: phone +420 222 263 718, e-mail: i nfo@prusa3d.com
EEE group: 3 (IT and/or telecommunication equipment), Device use: indoor only
Power supply: 90-135 VAC, 2 A / 180-264 VAC, 1 A (50-60 Hz)
Working temperature range: 18 °C (PLA)-38 °C, indoor use only
Working humidity: 85 % or less
Kit weight (brutto / netto): 9.8 kg / 6.3 kg, assembled printer weight (brutto / netto): 12 kg /
6.3 kg. Serial number is located on the printer control unit and also on the packaging.
3 Introduction
Thank you for purchasing our original 3D p
rinter Original Prusa i3 MK2S from Josef Prusa
either as an assembled printer or a printer kit - as your purchase supports us with its further
development. Read the handbook carefully, please, all chapters contain valuable info for the
correct service of the printer. Original Prusa i3 MK2S is a successor to Original Prusa i3
MK2 with small hardware tweaks for easier assembly and improved reliability.
Please check the http://prusa3d.com/drivers page for updated version of this 3D
printing hanbook (PDF download).
In case of any printer related problem do not hesitate to contact us at i nfo@prusa3d.com.We
are glad to receive all your valuable comments and tips. We strongly suggest you to visit our
official forum at forum.prusa3d.com, where you can find solutions to common issues, tips,
advice and hints in addition to actual information about the Original Prusa i3 printer’s
development.
3.1 Glossary
Bed, Heatbed, Printbed - Commonly used t erm for printing pad - a heated area of 3D
printer where 3D objects are printed.
Extruder - Printing head or extruder is a part of a p
rinter consisting of a n
ozzle, hobbed
pulley, idler and a nozzle fan.
Filament - Term for plastic provided on spool is called “filament”, it’s used throughout this
handbook as well as in the LCD menu on the printer.
Heater, Hotend - other name for a printing nozzle.
1.75 - 3D printers use two different diameters (thickness) of a f ilament (thickness): 2.85 mm
(commonly called as 3 mm) and 1.75 mm. 1.75mm version is more used worldwide though
there is no difference in printing quality.
6
3.2 Disclaimer
Failure to read the Manual may lead to personal injury, inferior results or damage to the 3D
printer. Always ensure that anyone who operates the 3D printer knows and understands the
contents of the Manual. We can not control the conditions in which you assemble the
Original Prusa i3. For this and other reasons we do not assume responsibility and expressly
disclaim liability for loss, injuries, damage, or expense arising out of or in any way connected
with the assembly, handling, storage, use or disposal of the product. The information in this
Manual is provided without any warranty, express or implied, regarding its correctness.
3.3 Safety instructions
Please be very cautious during any interaction with the p
rinter. This printer is an
electrical device with moving parts and hot-temperature areas.
1. Device is for indoor use only. Do not expose the printer to rain or snow. Always keep the
printer in a dry environment at a minimum distance of 30 cm from other objects.
2. Always place the printer on a stable place, where it can not fall or tip over.
3. The printer supply is household power outlet 230 VAC, 50 Hz or 110 VAC / 60 Hz; Never
connect the printer to a different power supply, it may cause malfunction or damage to the
printer.
4. Place the power cord so you can’t stumble on it, or step on it or otherwise expose to any
damage. Make sure that the power cord is not mechanically or otherwise damaged. Stop
using damaged cable immediately and replace it.
5. When you disconnect the power cord from the socket, pull the plug rather than the cord to
reduce the risk of damage to plug or AC outlet.
6. Never disassemble the printer power supply, it does not contain any parts that could be
repaired by an unskilled worker. All repairs must be provided by a qualified technician.
7. Do not touch the nozzle or heat bed when the printer is printing or is warming up. Note
that the temperature of the nozzle is 210-300 °C (410-572 °F); heatbed temperature can
reach over 100 °C (212 °F). Temperatures above 40 °C (104 °F) can cause harm to human
body.
8. Do not reach inside the printer while it is still in operation. An injury may be caused by its
moving parts.
9. Prevent children from unsupervised access to the printer even when the printer is not
printing.
10. Do not leave the printer unattended while it's still on!
11. Plastic is being melted during printing which produces odors. Set up the printer some
place well ventilated.
3.4 Licenses
Original Prusa i3 MK2S printer is a part of the RepRap project, the first open source 3D
printer project free to use under a G
NU GPL v3 license
(www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.en.html). If you improve or alter any part of a p
rinter and you
are willing to sell, then you have to publish the source codes under the same l icense. All
3D-printed elements of the printer that can be improved upon can be found at
http://www.prusa3d.com/prusa-i3-printable-parts/.
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4 Original Prusa i3 MK2S printer
Unlike the printer kit, it’s completely assembled and almost ready to p
rint. After plugging in
and running the necessary calibration you, can p
rint a 3D object in the matter of minutes
after unpacking the printer. Keep in mind you can use our s upport email when you
purchased the assembled printer. Do not hesitate to write us if you need any advice or help.
We will gladly help with any specific prints.
3D printers use two different diameters of a f ilament (you can find more in chapter
Materials): 2.85 mm and 1.75 mm. 1.75mm version is used more worldwide, though
there is no difference in p
rinting quality. Filament is provided on a spool where you
can find the basic information - f ilament maker, material (ABS, PLA, etc.) and filament
diameter. 2.85 mm filament is commonly called as 3 mm.
This printer supports only a 1.75 mm filament. Please check the filament diameter to be
1.75mm before inserting into the extruder. Do not try to insert wider filament it could damage
the extruder.
Pict. 1 - Original Prusa i3 MK2S printer description
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5 Original Prusa i3 MK2S printer kit
Original Prusa i3 MK2S kit is pictured in pict. 2. Detailed information and assembly
description can be found in chapter 6
.2 Printer assembly. We offer the support for
users who purchased the printer kit through our official forum. If you need help do
not hesitate to visit our forum at forum.prusa3d.com. You can find the answers for
your problem there. If not, please just post your question directly there.
Pict. 2 - Original Prusa i3 MK2S printer kit unboxed
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6 First steps
6.1 Printer unpacking and proper handling
Holding the upper frame, take the printer and pull it out from the box. Be careful when
handling the printer not to damage the electronics and thus the p
roper printer functionality.
Anytime you move the printer, always hold the upper frame with hotbed upright pointing
away from you as pictured in pict. 3A. Do not forget to remove all shipping helpers parts
shown in pic 3B or the white zip ties used.
Pict. 3A - Proper handling of a printer
Pict. 3B - Do not forget to remove all shipping helpers parts
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Both the assembled version and the kit version come with a few things you might need
during the printer use.
-
USB Cable - used for uploading a new firmware or alternatively printing from the
computer.
Acupuncture needle - used for cleaning the nozzle when stuck. See the chapter
11.3 Nozzle cleaning for more information.
Glue stick - Used for better Nylon adhesion or as a separator for Flex materials. See
the chapter 10 Materials for more information.
Test protocol - All the components of every printer are tested. The electronic parts
are even connected as in a final assembly and battery of tests is ran. Only when all
tests pass the electronics get a serial number and protocol + S/N stickers are printed.
Test protocol shows all the test results of your printer components.
6.2 Printer assembly
With Original Prusa i3 MK2S printer kit we suggest to follow the guidelines and
assemble the kit according to the the online manual at m
anual.prusa3d.com. (Online
manual is available in several languages on the website). The construction of the
printer should not take more than one working day. After a successful completion
continue to the chapter 6.3 Setup before printing.
6.3 Setup before printing
●
●
●
●
●
Place the printer to a horizontally stable position, best place is a workbench where
there is no risk of draft.
Attach the filament holders to the upper frame.
Attach Filament to the holders. Make sure the filament spool doesn’t jam and can
move freely.
Plug in the AC power cord, check to make sure the proper setting for AC voltage is
selected (110V/220V) and turn on the switch.
Check out the firmware version (in the Support menu via LCD panel) and please
upgrade to the latest one from our website w
ww.prusa3d.com/drivers.
Filament is a common term for the plastic rod - material provided on a spool from
which 3D objects are printed.
11
6.3.1 Calibration flow
12
There are few special occasions where you will need to redo the calibration or part of it.
●
●
●
Firmware update - Complete guide is in the chapter 1
1.8 Updating printer firmware.
6.3.9. First layer calibration needs to be rerun otherwise the printer will show an error
message.
Replacing the PEI/Ultem sheet - When PEI is changed (guide is at
manual.prusa3d.com), whole heated bed is removed and reassembled. This might
change geometry of the printer and the whole KIT calibration flow should be
followed even on the pre assembled printer.
Readjusting the P.I.N.D.A. probe - Run 6.3.6 Calibrate Z to store new reference Z
height values.
It is important to disconnect the printer USB from any computer or OctoPrint running
on RaspberryPi for the whole calibration. Printer will not respond to any request
from the host and communication will timeout, when host resets the connection, the
printer restarts and might end up in weird state requiring 7
.2.3 Factory Reset.
6.3.2 PEI print surface preparation
To achieve the best adhesion on the new surface, it is important to keep the surface clean.
Cleaning of the surface is very easy. The best option is I sopropyl alcohol a
vailable in
drugstores which is the best for ABS, PLA and others (except for PETG where the adhesion
may be too strong. See the chapter 1
0.3 PET for instructions). Pour a little amount on
unscented paper towel and wipe the print surface. The bed should be cleaned while cold for
the best results but it can also be cleaned when already preheated for PLA, just be careful
not to touch the bed surface or the nozzle. When cleaning at higher temperatures the alcohol
will evaporate before it can clean anything. Alternatively, you can clean the bed with w
arm
water and a few drops of a dish soap on a paper towel. D
enatured alcohol is yet another
option.
The surface does not have to be cleaned before every print! It is just important to n
ot
touch the print bed with your hands or dirty tools. Clean your tools with the same
solution as you would the bed and you will be able to start your next print right away.
You can leave small marks on the print surface with your nozzle or tools, they will typically
be shinier than the rest. It does not affect the functionality or adhesion. However, if you want
to have same surface look on the whole printbed you can resurface it. The easiest way is to
take a hard side of dry kitchen sponge and wipe the affected area with circular motion gently
few times.
The industrial glue which holds the PEI sheet on the heatbed itself softens when
temperatures greater than 110 °C are used. If higher temperatures are used, the
glue can migrate under the PEI and create slight bumps on the surface.
6.3.3 Increasing the adhesion
In some special occasions, like a tall object with a very small contact area with the print
surface, you might need to increase the adhesion. Fortunately PEI is a very chemically
13
resistant polymer and you can temporary apply other adhesion solutions without damaging
it. This also applies to materials which would not stick to PEI otherwise, like Nylon etc.
Before applying anything to the bed, consider using Brim option in Slic3r which increases
the surface area of the first layer.
For PLA and Nylon blends a simple glue stick does the trick. Glue can be later easily
removed by window cleaner or dish soap water.
For ABS prints, ABS juice can be used and later cleaned with pure acetone. Be very gentle
when applying the juice and do so while the bed is cold. Prints will attach very strongly.
Prepared juice can be also purchased in our e-shop. Unfortunately, UPS service
does not allow to deliver any acetone-based products due to shipping constraints. In
that case you get only the bottle and ABS from our e-shop and you have to source
the acetone locally.
6.3.4 Selftest (kit only)
The purpose of the selftest routine is to check most common errors when assembling and
connecting electronics and to help indicate any possible errors after assembly. You can run
the Selftest from Calibration m
enu on LCD panel. This should not be necessary on the
assembled printers as those are pretested.
Initiating this routine performs a series of tests. The progress and results of each step are
displayed on the LCD. In case of errors found, the selftest is interrupted and the reason for
error is shown to guide users in troubleshooting.
The selftest is just a diagnostic tool, the printer will still attempt to print even after
the test fails. If you are absolutely certain that the affected part is correct, you may
continue with the print process.
Test consists of
Extruder and print fan test
Heatbed and hotend proper wiring
XYZ motors proper wiring and functionality
XYZ endstop mechanical settings and proper wiring.
Loose belt pulley test.
6.3.4.1 Selftest error messages and resolution (kit only)
Fan - Wiring error:
Check proper wiring of print and hotend fan cables. Ensure that both are properly
connected to the Rambo electronics, and that they are not swapped.
Heater/Thermistor - Not connected:
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Check proper wiring of hot end power cables and thermistor cables. Ensure that both
are properly connected to the Rambo electronics, and that they are not swapped.
Bed/Heater - Wiring error:
Check that heatbed and hotend power cables are not swapped or thermistor cables
from both hotend and heatbed are not swapped in the Rambo electronics.
Endstops - Wiring error - {XYZ}:
Check the proper cabling of endstops. Routine indicates axis on which endstop
reported malfunction or is not properly responding. Check the proper connection in
the Rambo electronics.
Motor - {XYZ} - Endstop {XYZ}:
Check that motor and endstop on indicated axis are properly connected to the
Rambo electronics and not swapped with motor or endstop of different axis. Axis
causing the problems is indicated on the LCD panel.
Endstop not hit - Motor {XZY}:
Check mechanical settings that endstop can be reached when axis is in minimal
position.
Loose pulley - {XY}:
The belt pulley is loose and slips on the motor shaft. It is important to tighten the first
grub screw on the flat piece of shaft, then continue with the second grub screw.
6.3.5 Calibrate XYZ (kit only)
The Original Prusa i3 MK2S comes with a full mesh bed leveling feature, however
for this to work we need to first calibrate the distance between tip of the nozzle
and P.I.N.D.A (Prusa INDuction Autoleveling) probe.
The process is fairly straightforward, so let’s get to it. We also suggest to check
out our Guide for New User first at w
ww.prusa3d.com/buildvideomk2 with calibration tips.
The purpose of the X/Y/Z calibration routine is to measure the skew of the X/Y/Z axes and to
find the position of the 9 calibration points on the print bed for the proper bed leveling. You
can run the XYZ calibration from Calibration menu on LCD panel. This should not be
necessary on the assembled printers as those are factory calibrated.
Place a sheet of a regular office paper (for example the checklist
shipped with every order) and hold it under the nozzle during the first
round (first 4 points being checked) of calibration. If the nozzle catches
on the paper during the process, power off the printer and lower the
P.I.N.D.A. probe slightly. See the P.I.N.D.A. probe response diagram in
15
6.3.10.2 Check probe height. The paper will not affect the calibration
process. The nozzle must not touch the print surface or deflect the bed
by any means. If everything went correctly, continue with the calibration
process.
Initiating this routine performs a series of measurements in three rounds: In the first round, 4
sensor points on the print bed are searched for carefully as to not touch the print bed by the
nozzle. In the second round, all 9 sensor points are found. In the last round the height above
the 9 sensor points is measured and stored into a non-volatile memory for reference, this
finished the Z axis calibration.
The progress and results of each step are displayed on the LCD. In case of errors found, the
XYZ calibration is interrupted and the reason for error is shown to guide in troubleshooting.
At the start of the XYZ calibration procedure the printer prompts you by a following message:
"Calibrating X/Y. Move Z carriage up to the end stoppers. Click when done.”
After that, the printer asks you to confirm this step: "Are left and right Z carriages all up?"
Please make sure you really move the Z carriage up to the end stoppers until you hear a
rattling sound as the Z stepper motors skip steps. This procedure ensures, that 1) the X axis
is perfectly horizontal, 2) the print nozzle is in a known distance from the print bed. In case
the Z carriage did not touch the end stoppers, the printer could not possibly know the height
of the print nozzle above the print bed and it could therefore crash into the print bed during
the first round of the X/Y calibration procedure.
The XYZ calibration procedure also prompts you to "Please clean the nozzle for
calibration. Click when done."
If this advice is not followed and there is a plastic debris on the print nozzle, then the debris
may touch the print bed or even push the print bed away from the PINDA probe, so the
PINDA probe will not trigger properly and the calibration will fail.
6.3.5.1 Calibrate XYZ error messages and resolution ( kit only)
1) XYZ calibration failed. Bed calibration point was not found.
Calibration routine did not find a bed sensor point. The printer stops close to the bed
point, which it failed to detect. Please verify, that the printer is assembled correctly,
that all axes move freely, the pulleys do not slip and the print nozzle is clean. If
everything looks good, re-run the X/Y calibration and verify with a sheet of paper
between the nozzle and the print bed that the print nozzle does not touch the print
bed during the calibration routine. If you feel a friction of the nozzle against the sheet
16
of paper and the nozzle is clean, you need to screw the PINDA probe slightly lower
and re-run the X/Y calibration.
2) XYZ calibration failed. Please consult the manual.
The calibration points were found in positions far from what should be expected for a
properly assembled printer. Please follow the instructions of case 1).
3) XYZ calibration ok. X/Y axes are perpendicular. Congratulations!
Congratulations, you built your printer precisely, your X/Y axes are perpendicular.
4) XYZ calibration all right. X/Y axes are slightly skewed. Good job!
Good job, the X/Y axes are not precisely perpendicular, but still quite all right. The
firmware will correct for the X/Y skew during normal printing, so boxes will be printed
with right angles.
5) XYZ calibration all right. A skew will be corrected automatically.
You may consider to re-align the X/Y axes (as described in the chapter 6
.3.5.1 Y
axis alignment). Still the firmware will correct the skew during normal printing and as
long as the X and Y axes move freely, the printer will print correctly.
6) XYZ calibration failed. Left front calibration point not reachable.
Even if the printer moves the print bed to the end Y end stop, the PINDA probe
cannot reach the left front bed calibration point. Move the left Y threaded rod in the Z
frame away from you, so the PINDA probe reaches the left front bed calibration point
reliably. You can find how to fix this in the next chapter 6.3.5.1 Y axis
alignment.
7) XYZ calibration failed. Right front calibration point not reachable.
Even if the printer moves the print bed to the end Y end stop, the PINDA probe
cannot reach the right front bed calibration point. Move the right Y threaded rod in the
Z frame away from you, so the PINDA probe reaches the right front bed calibration
point reliably. You can find out how to fix this in the next chapter 6.3.5.1 Y axis
alignment.
8) XYZ calibration failed. Front calibration points not reachable.
Even if the printer moves the table to the end Y end stop, the PINDA probe cannot
reach the front row of the bed calibration points. Move both left / right Y threaded
rods in the Z frame away from you. You can find out how to fix this in the next
chapter 6.3.5.1 Y axis alignment.
17
9) XYZ calibration compromised. Left front calibration point not reachable.
XYZ calibration compromised. Right front calibration point not reachable.
XYZ calibration compromised. Front calibration points not reachable.
Printer will likely work, but the bed leveling may be compromised and the skew of the
X/Y axes may not be fully corrected. It is recommended to adjust the positions of the
Y threaded rods in the Z frame as in cases 6) to 8). You can find out how to fix this
in the next chapter 6.3.5.1 Y axis alignment.
During the mesh bed leveling procedure following errors may be reported on the display.
1) Bed leveling failed. Sensor disconnected or cable broken. Waiting for reset.
Verify, whether the PINDA probe cable is plugged into the RAMBo board correctly. If
it is the case, the PINDA probe is broken and it needs to be replaced.
2) Bed leveling failed. Sensor didn’t trigger. Debris on nozzle? Waiting for reset.
This is a safety check to avoid the nozzle to crash into the print bed if the PINDA
sensor stops working or something goes wrong with the printer mechanics (for
example, a pulley slips). This safety check may be triggered as well, if the printer has
been moved to an uneven surface. Before doing anything else, make the Z axis level
by going all the way up and try again.
At the end of the X/Y calibration, the printer measures the reference height above
each of the 9 bed sensor points and stores the reference heights into a non-volatile
memory. During the normal bed leveling, it is expected that the PINDA probe triggers
not further than 1 mm from the reference value, therefore the nozzle is not allowed to
move more than 1 mm below the reference value during the bed calibration.
If you moved the printer, you may need to re-run the Z calibration to sample new
reference Z height values reflecting the twist and bend of the table surface the printer
is sitting on. If that does not help, please verify, that the PINDA probe is aligned with
the sensor points on the print bed during the bed Z calibration. The alignment shall
be ensured by the automatic X/Y calibration routine. If the PINDA probe is no more
aligned during the Z calibration over time, it is possible, that a pulley is slipping or
something on the machine frame got loose.
3) Bed leveling failed. Sensor triggered too high. Waiting for reset.
Similar to case 2). This time the PINDA sensor triggered more than 1 mm above the
reference height. Before doing anything else, make the Z axis level by going all the
way up and try again.
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6.3.5.1 Y axis alignment (kit only)
For autocalibration to work properly, it is extremely important for the Y axis to be
perpendicular to the X axis. This can be easily checked by looking at the printer
from the top and visually aligning the X-axis rods with lines on the heatbed. If the Y
axis is misaligned, you can easily adjust the position of the Y axis inside the frame
by loosening the M10 nuts on the Y axis and securing them at the newly adjusted position.
You can see how in the Assembly Manual 7.PSU/Step 18 or in P.I.N.D.A. Probe
Misaligned topic at help.prusa3d.com.
Pic. 5 - X-axis rods must be visually aligned with lines on the heatbed.
If the Calibrate XYZ gives “XYZ calibration compromised. Front calibration points not
reachable.” error, you don’t necessarily need to adjust the M10 nuts and position of the axis
in the frame, but you can adjust the belt holder position. Y-belt-holder with a slot allows to
make a 1 mm adjustment to both the front and the back. Loosen the Y belt holder
screws, push the belt holder part towards the Y motor and retighten the screws.
6.3.6 Calibrate Z
Calibrate Z is located in Calibration menu. It should be performed whenever you move the
printer to different location. It saves the heights of all 9 calibration points in non-volatile
memory. Stored information is used every time mesh bed levelling is called during a print.
When the measured values are vastly different to the stored value, print is canceled as it is a
good indicator something is wrong. Calibrate Z is a part of Calibrate XYZ routine so there’s
no need to run it after successful Calibrate XYZ.
It is a good practice to run this procedure every time you travel or printer is shipped as the
geometry might change slightly and cause an error.
At the start of the Z calibration procedure the printer prompts you by a following message:
"Calibrating Z. Move Z carriage up to the end stoppers. Click when done.”
After that, the printer asks you to confirm this step: "Are left and right Z carriages all up?"
19
Please make sure you really move the Z carriage up to the end stoppers until you hear a
rattling sound as the Z stepper motors skip steps. This procedure ensures, that 1) the X axis
is perfectly horizontal, 2) the print nozzle is in a known distance from the print bed. In case
the Z carriage did not touch the end stoppers, the printer could not possibly know the height
of the print nozzle above the print bed and it could therefore crash into the print bed during
the Z calibration procedure.
The Z calibration procedure also prompts you to "Please clean the nozzle for calibration.
Click when done."
If this advice is not followed and there is a plastic debris on the print nozzle, then the debris
may touch the print bed or even push the print bed away from the PINDA probe, so the
PINDA probe will not trigger properly and the calibration will fail.
6.3.7 Mesh bed levelling
Mesh bed levelling can be found in C
alibration menu. It is the same procedure which is
performed before every print. You can use it to check the P.I.N.D.A. probe alignment with
the calibration points however it is not necessary during the calibration process as Mesh bed
leveling is a part of Calibrate XYZ and Calibrate Z routines.
Before running this command clean the nozzle tip from any debris and run it while the
nozzle is cold. If the probe is misaligned and the nozzle is preheated, the nozzle can
make permanent impressions in the print surface.
Pic. 6 - The probe must be inside the circles (1st and 9th calibration point) to successfully
level the bed.
20
6.3.8 Loading the filament into the extruder
●
You need to preheat the nozzle before inserting the f ilament (and the bed too if you
like to print right away). The temperature depends on the m
aterial used. Detailed
information about nozzle and bed temperatures are described at chapter 1
0
Materials.
●
Press the LCD-knob to enter the main menu on the LCD. Rotate the button to choose
Preheat option and confirm by pressing the LCD-knob. Next you choose the m
aterial
you will print from. Choose a material then confirm with LCD-knob. The nozzle and
heatbed will heat to the requested temperature.
●
Press the LCD-knob on the LCD panel to enter the main menu. Insert the f ilament to
the extruder, choose the Load filament option in the menu and press the button to
confirm. Filament is then loaded to the extruder by the extruder stepper
automatically. You should c ut the top of the filament as shown in the picture below
(pict.7 - detail).
Pict. 7 - Loading the filament to the extruder
●
●
Check if the filament is flowing from the n
ozzle.
If you change the filament for a new one do not forget to completely remove the old
filament before the printing by extruding the filament from Settings - Move axis Extruder until the color is completely changed.
If your filament is running out during a print, you can easily change it for a new spool. Just go
to the LCD menu, select Tweak submenu and press C
hange filament. Printer will pause, go
out of the print area, unload the old filament and guide you on the LCD what to do. You can
even insert filament of different color and make your prints more colorful. Check out chapter
9.5 Printing in color with ColorPrint to find out how to make more intricate color models.
21
6.3.8.1 Unloading the filament
Similar procedure to the loading operation. P
reheat the nozzle for material you used last
time (pre assembled printers are shipped with PLA). Wait for temperatures to stabilize and
use Unload filament option from the menu.
6.3.9 First layer calibration (kit only)
NOTE: The calibration process has been made easier and is now called V2 Calibration. If
the V2Calibration.gcode is not present on your SD card you can easily obtain it from our
support or on our http://www.prusa3d.com/drivers/ page.
Check if your print surface is clean! Y
ou can find instructions how to clean it in
the chapter 6.3.2 PEI print surface preparation. Don't forget to complete 6.3.5
Calibrate XYZ chapter or y
ou can permanently damage the print surface!
Now we will finally calibrate the distance between tip of the nozzle and the probe. Preheat
the nozzle for PLA. On the LCD menu, go to Print from SD and run V2calibration.gcode
file from the bundled SD card.
The printer will probe the bed and start printing zig zag pattern on the print surface. The
nozzle will be at the height based on the P.I.N.D.A probe setting, it must not by any means
touch the print surface.
Pict. 8 - How to tune the nozzle height live during the test print
22
Observe the line which is being extruded on the print surface. Go to the LCD menu and
choose the Live adjust Z option. A new menu will show up where you can tune the nozzle
height live during the test print. The point is to lower the nozzle until the extruded plastic
sticks nicely to the bed and you can see it is being slightly squished. Set value should not
exceed -1 mm, if you have to adjust it more, move the probe slightly higher. Loosen
the two screws on the probe holder to make adjustments. B
y rotating the probe counter
clockwise, it will raise at 1mm per turn. It is very handy for precise adjustments, but it can
also be pushed in and out when set screws are loosened completely. Then rerun Calibrate Z
followed by the V2Calibration.gcode again.
Pict. 9 - The properly tuned first layer
6.3.9.1 Bed level correction (kit only)
A bed level correction is an advanced feature introduced in the firmware 3.0.6 and is
designed to allow advanced users to correct for the slightest imperfections in the first layer.
This feature can be found in C
alibration - Bed level correction. For example if the first
layer seems to be ever so slightly more squished on the right side. You can virtually lower
the bed by -20 microns on the right side. Settings are available for Left, Right, Front and
Back. The limit is +-50 microns and even +-20 microns can make a huge difference. When
you are using this function, do small incremental changes. Negative value will act as
lowering the bed in the selected direction.
6.3.10 Finetuning the first layer
6.3.10.1 Print prusa logo
After finishing the calibration gcode, it is a good idea to print a simple object. The Prusa
gcode from the supplied SD card is a great example. The Live adjust Z function (described
in 6.3.9. First layer calibration) works during every print, so you can finetune at any point.
You can see the properly tuned first layer on the images below.
Calibration might be slightly different for multiple materials. It is a good practice to
check the first layer and adjust accordingly with L
ive adjust Z when switching
between different types of filament.
23
Pict. 10 - Perfect Prusa logo first layer
6.3.10.2 Check probe height (kit only)
If the first layer seems inconsistent between multiple prints, the probe might be
too high. Lower it slightly. Loosen the two screws on the probe holder to make
adjustments. By rotating the probe clockwise, it will lower at 1mm per turn. It
is very handy for precise adjustments, but it can also be pushed in and out when set screws
are loosened completely. Then try again C
alibrate XYZ. Keep in mind, the probe must be
always higher than the nozzle tip, otherwise it will catch on prints.
Pic. 11 - Probe response diagram.
Now you are done!
24
7 Printing
●
Make sure that the nozzle and the bed are heated to the desired temperature. If you
forget to preheat the p
rinting nozzle and the bed before p
rinting, the printer will
automatically check the temperatures of the nozzle and the bed; printing will start
when desired temperature is reached - it can take several minutes. However, we
recommend preheating the p
rinter beforehand as described in the chapter 6
.3.8
Loading the filament into the extruder.
Do not let the preheated printer idle. When a printer is preheated and non-printing
material in an extruder degrades over time - it may cause the nozzle to jam up.
●
●
Watch the first few printed layers to be sure filament has attached to the bed
properly (5 to 10 minutes).
Press the LCD-knob and choose the P
rint from SD option from menu, press to
confirm and pick the desired m
odel model_name.gcode. Printer will start printing the
object.
The filename (.gcode) must not contain any special characters otherwise the
printer is not able to display the file on the LCD. If you remove the SD while printing,
printer will pause automatically. When you reinsert the SD, press the LCD-knob and
choose “Continue” option. Confirm and printing will resume.
7.1 Removing objects from the printer.
●
●
When printing is finished let the nozzle and heatbed cool down before removing the
printed object. Always handle the printed objects when temperature of the bed and
nozzle drop to the room temperature, when the bed is hot objects are very hard to
remove. Pull the bed towards you and remove the object gently.
If you experience any troubles removing the object (especially the small ones) you
can use a flat tool like a spatula w
ith rounded corners to prevent damage of PEI.
Slide the spatula under the corner of the object and gently push, until the print pops
of.
Pict. 13 - Removing the model from PEI print surface with spatula
25
If your prints are stuck too well and don’t want to separate, try using a d
ental floss. Slide a
dental floss under the corner of the object which you previously separated by the spatula a in
saw like motion gently separate the object from the print surface. Dental floss is generally
covered in wax so the print surface needs to be c
leaned thoroughly before a next print.
7.2 Printer Control
There are two ways controlling the p
rinter. You can use the LCD panel integrated with the
printer or you can connect your computer with USB cable. We suggest the L
CD panel
because of its speed and reliability, and moreover you do not rely on a computer.
7.2.1 LCD screen
●
Main screen is an information screen d
isplaying the most important details. These
are the temperature of the nozzle and the heatbed (1, 2), printing time (3) and the
actual Z-axis position (5).
Pict. 14 - LCD layout
1. Nozzle temperature (actual / desired temperature)
2. Heatbed temperature (actual / desired temperature)
3. Progress of printing in % - shown only during the p
rinting
4. Status bar (Prusa i3 MK ready / Heating / model_name.gcode, etc.)
5. Z-axis position
6. Printing speed
7. Elapsed printing time - shown only when p
rinting
7.2.2 Print statistics
The printer tracks printing statistics. When you access this option during a print, you will see
statistics for the running print. If you do so while the printer is idle, you will see the lifetime
statistics. Both filament usage and print time is being tracked.
26
7.2.2 Silent vs. Hi-power mode
The printer offers two settings for motor power consumption. Silent uses less current and
makes the printer quieter, but less powerful. Hi-power is great for very large (over 200 gram)
prints and for freshly assembled kits before you fine tune everything. If you experience lost
steps (shifted layers) or if you’re manually adjusting speed of printing to more than 100%,
use Hi-power mode.
7.2.3 Factory reset
The factory reset is used when troubleshooting the printer and resetting it to the factory
state.
Entering the factory reset menu:
1. Press and release the reset button (marked X and positioned under the control
knob on the LCD panel)
2. Press and hold the control knob until you hear a beep
3. Release the control knob
Options:
● Language option resets the language preference.
● Statistics will erase all the recorded print time and material from the memory.
● Shipping prep which resets only the printer language selection. All the calibration
data including the Live adjust Z remain intact. Even though the calibration data are
still present and functional, the printer will prompt user once to run the Calibrate Z
function. This light factory reset is mainly used for resetting of assembled printers
before shipping out of the factory, and users are expected to select their language
and run Calibrate Z after unpacking.
● All data which resets everything including all calibration data and whole EEPROM is
cleaned. After this reset, user is expected to go through the calibration flow again,
except setting the probe height.
If you experience random glitches after firmware update or after printer upgrade, use the A
ll
data option.
27
7.2.4 LCD layout
Items not mentioned below are not used for the common p
rint setup - you should not
change any of the unmentioned i tems unless you are absolutely sure what you are
doing.
❏ Info screen
❏ Live adjust Z (during the printing process only)
❏ Tune (during the printing process only)
❏ Speed
❏ Nozzle
❏ Bed
❏ Fan speed
❏ Flow
❏ Change filament
❏ Mode
❏ Pause print (during the printing process only)
❏ Stop print (during the printing process only)
❏ Preheat
❏ ABS - 255/100
❏ PLA - 215/55
❏ PET - 240/90
❏ HIPS - 220/100
❏ PP - 254/100
❏ FLEX - 230/50
❏ Cooldown
❏ Print from SD
❏ Load filament
❏ Unload filament
❏ Calibration
❏ Selftest
❏ Calibrate XYZ
❏ Calibrate Z
❏ Mesh Bed Leveling
❏ Auto home
❏ Bed level correct
28
❏ Show end stops
❏ Reset XYZ calibr.
❏ Settings
❏ Temperature
❏ Nozzle
❏ Bed
❏ Fan speed
❏ Move axis
❏ Move X
❏ Move Y
❏ Move Z
❏ Extruder
❏ Disable steppers
❏ Mode - Power / Silent
❏ Live adjust Z
❏ Select language
❏ Statistics
❏ Support
❏ prusa3d.com
❏ forum.prusa3d.com
❏ howto.prusa3d.com
29
7.2.5 Print speed versus print quality
Printing a small object takes a few minutes, but printing larger models is time consuming there are prints taking tens of hours. The overall printing time can be changed by different
ways. First way to alter the printing speed is changing layer height in Slic3r - upper right
windows shows Print settings option. Default setting is 0.20 mm (NORMAL), you can speed
up the printer by choosing the 0.35 mm (FAST) option. Raising speed will result the model to
be less detailed with visible layer borders. If you prefer quality over speed, choose 0.10 mm
(DETAIL) option. Printing time will double but the model gets the extra detail. Again, higher
printing speed results in less detailed model
.
Speed can be changed also while printing. LCD shows the FR 100 % item - it’s actual print
speed (feed rate). By turning the LCD-knob clockwise you can increase the print speed up to
999 %. However, we do not advise to increase the speed over 200 %. Watch the results of
increased speed on the printed model and adjust the speed eventually.
When increasing the speed always check the model is cooled properly - especially
when printing small object from ABS increased speed causes the distortion
(sometimes called “warping”) of the model. You can prevent this issue by printing
more similar objects together - layer printing interval is long enough to prevent this
issue.
If the model shows lower quality than desired you can decrease the printing speed - turn the
LCD-knob counterclockwise. Minimum usable printing speed is around 20 % of nominal
speed.
7.2.6 USB cable and Pronterface
We strongly recommend to use LCD panel while printing on Prusa i3 MK2S Pronterface doesn’t support all functions of a new firmware (e.g. filament change
while printing).
Keep in mind that when printing from the Pronterface the computer must be connected to
the printer during the whole printing process - computer must be prevented from sleep,
hibernation or shutting down. Disconnecting the computer during the p
rint ends the printing
without the option to finish the object.
●
Connect the printer to the computer with the USB cable.
30
Pict. 16 - You can find USB port here
●
●
●
●
●
●
Choose connection port in Pronterface (download available with the p
rinter drivers,
see the chapter 8 Printer drivers): Mac users use /usbmodem port, PC Windows
ports are COM1, COM2, etc.; the correct port is displayed in device manager, Linux
users connect the printer using the virtual serial port. When the p
rinter is connected
click the Connect button. Right column shows the connection information.
Next step is loading the model with Load model button and choosing the
model_name.gcode (no special symbols in file name).
You can control the movement of all printer axes at the control area.
Next you can preheat the printer and prepare it for the p
rinting. Set the temperatures
for the nozzle (heater) and h
eatbed (bed) and click S
et button. Printer starts heating
immediately. Always check that the temperatures set in Pronterface are correct
according to our material guide!
You can check the actual temperatures of nozzle and bed in Pronterface.
When model is loaded right column shows the e
stimated print duration: E
stimated
duration (pessimistic)
31
Pict. 17 - Pronterface
1. Load file button is used to load the desired m
odel.. Model must be in *.gcode f ile
format.
2. Choose the port printer is connected to computer. (mostly / usbmodem for Mac,
COM1, COM2, etc for Windows PC).
3. Print button starts the printing process.
4. Disconnect button disconnects the p
rinter from the computer.
5. Printer controls. Here you can manipulate the p
rinter axes.
6. Setting the nozzle and bed temperatures.
7. Thermometer.
8. Confirming the set temperatures, heating start.
9. 2D print process preview.
10. Info panel. Estimated print time, axis position and other info is displayed after l oading
the model.
7.3 Printer addons
7.3.1 Different nozzles
E3D, a UK based company, supplies hotends for the Original Prusa i3 MK2 has whole
ecosystem of upgrades and addons. We support some of them.
You can check out how to change the nozzle in section 1
1.4 Replacing / changing the
nozzle.
32
7.3.1.1 Hardened steel nozzle
Hardened steel nozzles are a must for highly abrasive materials. Regular brass nozzles will
degrade very quickly and lose their properties.
Most of the abrasive materials are composites, plastics with something mixed in. Some
examples are ColorFabb XT CF20, ColorFabb Bronzefill, ColorFabb Brassfill and some glow
in the dark filaments. Always ask your filament vendor if you are not sure. Slight
disadvantage is that some standard materials like ABS isn't possible to print as fast as with
regular nozzle.
7.3.1.2 0.25mm nozzle
To get finer detail on 0.1mm or 0.05mm print settings, you can use 0.25mm nozzle. But use
it for only very small objects, only couple centimeters big. The print time can be considerably
longer compared to 0.4mm. Ideal use is jewelery.
8 Printer drivers
Latest drivers and information can be found at h
ttp://www.prusa3d.com/drivers/.
Driver package contains following s ettings and programs:
Slic3r - preparing the 3D models to .gcode format for p
rinting.
Pronterface - printing from a computer (in case you don’t want to p
rint from SD)
NetFabb - repairing the corrupted or unprintable m
odels
Settings - optimized print settings for Slic3r, Cura, Simplify3D and KISSlicer
Drivers for Prusa i3 printer - Windows a Mac drivers
Test objects
9 Printing your own models
9.1 Where you can get the 3D models?
The best way to get started with your own 3D p
rinting is to find already created m
odels on
internet - they should be in the .stl or .obj format . Fortunately there are lot of fans and there
are sites from which you can download a wealth of ready-made 3D m
odels - from a simple
shaver holder to a detailed aircraft engine m
odel.
3D models are generally free to download under the C
reative Commons - Attribution Non Commercial (Models not to be used commercially, you must always include the name
of the author) or for a small fee. We have selected the most interesting sites with high-quality
models:
1. http://www.thingiverse.com/
2. https://pinshape.com/
3. https://www.youmagine.com/
4. http://www.shapeways.com/
5. http://www.123dapp.com/
33
9.2 In what program you can create your own models?
To create a 3D model yourself, you need a dedicated program. The easiest way to quickly
create a model is TinkerCad (www.tinkercad.com) - an o
nline editor (no installation needed)
- you create your 3D model directly in the browser window. It is free, is easy to operate and
you will find even basic video tutorials, so after a few minutes nothing prevents you to create
your first 3D object.
Other popular tool for creating m
odels is 123D D
esign (http://www.123dapp.com/design) for
PC, Mac and iPad. Website provides a quick guide a
long with detailed video tutorials so it’s
a very good choice for novice enthusiasts.
There is a great deal of 3D programs - free or paid - your choice depends more on your
personal taste and preferences. The following is a list of other programs used for making 3D
models: OpenScad, DesignSpark M
echanical, Fusion 360°, Blender, Maya, 3DS Max,
Autocad and many more…
9.3 Slic3r
A 3D printer can print almost anything. Whether you’ve downloaded 3D m
odels from the
Internet or created your own models, you will need to c
onvert the .obj or .stl format into a
.gcode file. Gcode is a file format readable by a 3D p
rinter. The file contains information for
nozzle movement and the amount of filament to extrude. The right tool for this task - and for
many more - is the Slic3r program.
You set the printing material, print quality and the p
rint speed in Slic3r. You can manipulate
the object here, varying the placement on the printbed, resize it, etc.
34
Pict. 19 - Slic3r interface
1. Add button loads models into Slic3r.
2. Delete and Delete All buttons remove the model(s) from Slic3r.
3. Opens the detailed settings of print, filament and printer.
4. When the model is ready for print this button generates the .gcode f ile.
5. Quality / Speed setting of a print
6. Material selection
7. Printer selection
8. Right-click on model opens the menu with rotate, resize and other options
9. Type of model preview
10. Model preview
35
9.4 Bundled 3D models
We asked couple known 3D designers and prepared some printable object for you to print.
They are ideal for the first prints on your new printer. STL and GCODE files are available
after installing the drivers package in “3D Objects” folder or bundled on your SD card. You
can check them out at http://www.prusa3d.com/printable-3d-models/.
Pict. 20 - 50 microns treefrog is commonly used as a 3D printing benchmark.
9.5 Print in color with ColorPrint
There is a simple way on how to create layer based multicolored 3D prints with our simple
ColorPrint app.
Pict. 21- Multicolored object printed with ColorPrint
ColorPrint will not work correctly if your print settings c
ontain hop or z-lift. The app
detects layers in gcode by tracking increase in Z height and the hop/zlift does that
multiple times in the same layer. Turn off this setting before using ColorPrint. The
preconfigured Slic3r in our drivers offers the O
riginal Prusa i3 MK2 ColorPrint
option in the printer selection.
36
●
First of all you need to prepare regular g
code with common print and filament
settings. Save the file.
●
●
●
Then go to www.prusaprinters.org and choose C
olor Print in the header menu.
Drag the gcode to frame and click on Add change b
utton.
Find the height of the layer where you want to make the color change. This can be
easily found in Slic3r under tab “Layers.” The scale along right side displays the
height of individual layers. Set this number to the box. Number of these changes is
unlimited.
●
When you are done with your modification, download the file. This file is r eady to be
printed!
Insert the filament which you want to start with into your printer and start printing the file.
When the color change is triggered from the gcode the printer will follow simple procedure:
● Stop moving and retract
● Raise the Z by 2 mm and move quickly outside the printbed
● Unload the current filament
● You will get asked to insert the new filament. When you do so and continue, filament
will be pulled into the hotend and LCD will display “ Changed correctly?” w
ith three
options:
37
1. “Yes” Everything went ok and printing can continue. Check if the new c olor is clear
without any remains of the previous filament - if yes, choose this option to continue
printing with a new color.
2. “Filament not loaded” If the new filament was not loaded p
roperly, choose this
option and the printer will start the automatic f ilament load again. When the f ilament
is loaded properly, you can choose the “Yes” option and the p
rinting will continue with
a new color.
3. “Color not clear” Filament was loaded but the c olor is still mixed with the previous
filament. Press the button with this option and the p
rinter will extrude more f ilament
from the nozzle. When the c olor is pure without any remains of the previous filament
you can choose the “Yes” option and the p
rinting will continue with a new c olor.
After confirming, printer returns to the original position and continues to print.
Other options for multicolored print is to use the filament change option. Choose
the Tune and then C
hange f ilament option during the p
rint. Printer will pause the
printing process, unload the f ilament and signals you to insert the new f ilament. The
procedure is the same as above.
You should always use the same material or combine materials with similar print
temperatures and settings.
9.6 Printing of non-standard models
Slic3r helps you while printing the non-standard m
odels as models with o
verhangs and/or
models larger than a printing bed.
9.6.1 Printing with support material
When you print models you can find special cases different from standard p
rinting. The first
case is printing with support material.
If you print an object with a gradient lower than 45° the m
aterial overhang would be
preventing the object to be printed correctly. Slic3r allows you to p
rint such objects thanks to
the ‘Printing with support’ function. Support material is an extra structure printed as
scaffolding for the object - you can remove the support material after the printing is finished.
Choose the Print Settings tab (1) and click the S
upport Material option ( 2) in left column.
First you have to check the Generate support material box (3). Next item - Overhang
threshold (4) lets you set the minimal angle for p
rinting the support material. Setting this item
to zero lets the printer detect problematic parts automatically and p
rint support where it’s
needed.
38
Enforce support option (5) is used mostly with small models or m
odels with small base to
prevent the object from breaking or tearing out from the bed.
Pict. 23 - Print with support menu
9.6.2 Large object printing
Another special printing case is when p
rinting objects larger than the h
eatbed. First option is
to resize the object to a printable s ize. Right-click on an object in Slic3r opens a menu with
the Scale… option, then you choose U
niformly, if you want to scale down the model evenly;
or you can alter the size of a model along the one of the axes: Along X, Y, Z axis…
Pict. 24 - Size change of a printed object
39
If you need to print an object that doesn’t fit the printer, you have to cut the object using
Slic3r. Right-click and choose the Cut… option in menu. You can c ut the object horizontally if you need to perform a cut in a different axis, use the Flip...option in the same menu.
Pict. 25 - Cutting the object with the Cut option
40
10 Materials
Temperatures and the heatbed treatment before print according to a specific m
aterial.
10.1 ABS
Material suitable for common, robust objects.
●
●
●
Nozzle temperature: 255 °C
Bed temperature: 1
00 °C. You can set the bed temperature between 80 to 110 °C
depending the size of an object (larger object means higher temperature)
Heatbed: Make sure the surface is clean as described in 6
.3.2 PEI print surface
preparation chapter
10.2 PLA
Material suitable for detailed models. PLA is made of renewable sources, mostly from the
cornflour and cellulose. This material only is proven for 50 microns layer height.
●
●
●
Nozzle temperature: 215 °C
Bed temperature: 5
0 - 60 °C
Heatbed: Make sure the surface is clean, as described in 6
.3.2 PEI print surface
preparation chapter
10.3 PET
Material suitable for large objects thanks to its minimal thermal expansion. Universal m
aterial
suited also for printable mechanical components.
●
●
●
Nozzle temperature: 240 °C
Bed temperature: 8
0 - 100 °C
Heatbed: Make sure the surface is clean, as described in 6
.3.2 PEI print surface
preparation chapter. Do not use isopropyl alcohol to clean the bed, or the adhesion
may be too strong, if you do not have anything else on hand use the bundled glue as
a separator after cleaning it. Windex or similar windows cleaner is great option for
PET and you don’t need to use the glue after the cleaning. Pour a little amount on
unscented paper towel and wipe the print surface.
10.4 HIPS
Universal, stable material with good heat resistance suited for printable m
echanical
components.
●
●
●
Nozzle temperature: 220 °C
Bed temperature: 1
00 °C. You can set the bed temperature between 80 to 110 °C
depending the size of an object (larger object means higher temperature)
Heatbed: Make sure the surface is clean, as described in 6
.3.2 PEI print surface
preparation chapter
41
10.5 PP
Polypropylene is a flexible and resistant material suitable for p
rinting of the precise objects
requiring the flexibility, firmness and persistence.
●
●
●
Nozzle temperature: 254 °C
Bed temperature: 9
5 - 100 °C.
Heatbed: The best results are obtained with common scotch tape - just attach the
tape directly to the print surface and clean it after the print is finished.
10.6 Nylon (Taulman Bridge)
Nylon is very tough material suitable for mechanical parts.
● Nozzle temperature: 240 °C
● Bed temperature: 8
0 - 90 °C.
● Heatbed: Use one coat of glue stick. Clean as described after the print.
10.7 Flex
Flex is a very strong and flexible m
aterial suitable especially for the flexible prototypes,
covers, etc. Important: Before you start printing from Flex, clean the nozzle from the
previous material - preheat the nozzle and load PLA to remove any other previous material.
When loading Flex loosen the extruder (idler) screws. Keep in mind that when printing from
Flex the automatic filament exchange function may not work properly.
●
●
●
Nozzle temperature: 230 °C
Bed temperature: 5
0 °C. You can set the bed temperature up to 65 °C depending
the size of an object. (larger object means higher temperature)
Heatbed: Make sure the surface is clean as described in 6
.3.2 PEI print surface
preparation chapter. Some very soft flex materials can bond to the bed too much and
require to use glue on the bed as separator to prevent PEI damage.
10.8 Dialing in new materials
Each manufacturer produces slightly different material even though, they are under the
same group. For example Prusa PLA and ColorFabb PLA will have slightly different output
when printed.
To achieve the best possible output you should experiment with the n
ozzle temperature,
fan speed, print speed and flow. All of these can be changed even during a print from the
Tweak menu on the LCD panel.
Same also applies even for materials which are not listed here. Take the manufacturer
suggested settings, find the closest match in Slic3r material profiles, modify and save as
new. Continue by printing few simple test pieces and continuously use the Tweak
menu. After each improvement, don’t forget to modify the settings in Slic3r. Reset the tweak
values before every print.
Don’t forget to share your settings on our forums or directly with us.
42
11 FAQ - Printer maintenance and print issues
11.1 Print surface preparation
Print surface preparation is described in 6
.3.2 PEI print surface preparation chapter.
11.2 Clogged / jammed extruder
Material clogged in the extruder can cause problems with the p
rinting or with the loading of a
new filament.
●
●
●
●
Heat the nozzle, remove the filament from the extruder and cut the rod cca 10 cm
above the damaged part.
The next step is to clean the extruder. There is a service hole on the left side of the
extruder where you can access the hobbed pulley (pict. 28).
Clean the hobbed pulley, then heat the n
ozzle before reloading the filament.
If a problem persists you will have to clean the n
ozzle.
Pict. 28 - Cleaning the extruder - you can see the hobbed pulley through the service hole
43
11.3 Nozzle cleaning
Use a wire brush to clean the nozzle from outside. Heat the nozzle before you do so.
If filament is not extruded from a nozzle (or in very small volume), first check the extruder fan
is working properly and that the temperature is set correctly (PLA 210 °C; ABS 255 °C, HIPS
220 °C, PET 240 °C). Also check that the filament was correctly loaded into the extruder.
If the filament pours out at least a little, check the direction. If it swirls and goes up to the
hotend you need to clean the nozzle.
First you have to move the extruder to the rightmost position, out of the way of the heatbed,
to reach the nozzle from below.
Heat the nozzle according to filament you want to print from, load the filament and put a
bundled acupuncture needle (0,3-0,35 mm) into the nozzle from below - between 1 and 2
cm deep.
Choose Load filament option from the LCD menu and check if filament is extruded properly.
Put the acupuncture needle into the nozzle again and repeat these steps a few times more.
When the filament is extruded properly, the nozzle is clear.
11.4 Replacing / changing the nozzle
Preheat the nozzle (LCD menu -> Settings -> Temperature -> Nozzle) and set the
temperature to at least 200°C. Heating the nozzle is crucial for removing the old nozzle and
putting in the new one.
1) Move the extruder body upwards to get to the nozzle end (LCD menu -> Settings ->
Move axis -> Move Z -> Set the height by rotating the LCD knob and then confirm).
2) Unscrew the screw on fan mouthpiece and the two screws on the print fan and
remove both parts (Pict. 29, part 1).
3) Remove the two front screws on the nozzle fan (Pict. 29, part 2).
4) Unscrew the two screw holding the e
xtruder cover (Pict. 29, part 3). Even though
the nozzle itself is accessible directly, we recommend to take the extruder cover to
get access to the heating element.
5) Now the whole nozzle body is accessible ( Pict. 29, part 4).
6) Hold the heating element with a spanner (size 17) and unscrew the nozzle ( Pict. 29,
part 5). Be careful, the nozzle is still hot!
When the new nozzle is inserted, tighten it while the nozzle is preheated. While tightening do
not forget to hold the heating element with the spanner. Re-assemble the extruder, insert the
filament and you are ready to print.
Be careful, the nozzle is hot during this whole process and can cause burns!
Be careful around the hotend thermistor leads, you can break them easily.
Be careful and don’t apply force to the nozzle or heater block, you can bend
the heatbreak easily.
It is a good practice to run 6.3.9 First layer calibration after changing the nozzle!
44
Pict. 29 - Nozzle change
11.5 Axis fluency
●
If one of the axes doesn’t move fluidly you can apply a small amount of oil (e.g. all
purpose machine oil). This will lower the friction.
It is a good practice to clean the rods with a paper towel and lubricate them once every
month to prevent dust buildup and increase the printer lifespan.
45
11.6 Printing problems
11.6.1 Layers break and split when printing from ABS material
ABS material has a higher thermal expansion than other m
aterials. We suggest other
materials as PET, HIPS or PLA when you p
rint larger m
odels.
11.6.2 Models contain either too much or not enough of the filament
You can manage the filament flow during the print. Use the LCD-knob and choose T
une Flow - xx% where you can adjust the filament flow. Pronterface users can enter the value
M221 Sxx into the command line.
When you change the f ilament flow next print will use the same s ettings unless you
change it again in menu or you reset the printer or unplug it from the power source.
11.7 Problems with finished models
11.7.1 Model breaks and/or is easily damaged
A typical feature of larger models printed from ABS. If you have set the temperature
properly, the printer is away from drafts and object d
esign is right, the printed object should
not break. The easiest way to avoid breaking or overall model fragility is to choose a different
material. The strongest are PET, HIPS and PLA; while PLA has low heat resistance,PET is
the firmest and has the lowest thermal expansion.
11.8 Updating printer firmware
Firmware update is a simple process which is done via the USB cable and a computer. With
the driver installation a program called F
irmwareUpdater V2 is installed on the computer.
Latest firmwares can be found on h
ttp://www.prusa3d.com/drivers/ where you can find the
latest guide on which firmware to choose and d
etailed instructions for the process. Printer
will reset automatically right before the update and after the update is finished.
V2calibration.gcode is required to finish after the firmware update, see chapter 6
.3.9 First
layer calibration.
46
12 FAQ - common issues when assembling the printer kit
12.1 Nozzle/print surface gap is greater in the middle than at the
corners
The reason of this issue isn’t the bent printer surface or bed but a distorted Y-axis. We
suggest to remove the whole Y-axis out of the p
rinter. Follow these steps:
●
●
●
Align the Y-axis so that each Y-corner is sitting on the table - none should be off the
table.
Align the tightening of each Y-axis threaded rod so that each Y-corner is
perpendicular (facing upright) to the table surface.
Align the tightening of each Y-axis threaded rod so that each M8 threaded rod is at a
right angle to the M10 threaded rods - the Y-axis must form a perfect rectangle when
viewed from above (pict. 30).
Pict. 30 - Right angle between Y-axis and M8 / M10 rods
47
12.2 Printer stops printing soon after start
Extruder is likely overheated. Make sure the nozzle fan is working properly. If not, please
inspect its connection according to the assembly manual.
Pict. 31 - Proper wiring of the connectors
12.3 Printer can’t read SD card
First, make sure that the file name on the SD does not contain special characters otherwise the file could not be displayed on LCD. If there is no error in the file name, check
the EXT2 wiring (from electronics to LCD). If the cable is connected properly, try to swap the
cables.
48
12.4 Loose X- and/or Y-axis belts
Check if both belts are properly tightened, loose belts would cause a p
rinter malfunction and
prevent proper printing. The easiest way to check is p
rinting a round object - if any of the
belts are not tightened properly the result is an irregular shape instead of a perfect circle.
Y-axis belt is located under the h
eatbed, X-axis belt moves the extruder. See the pictures
with properly tightened belts.
Pict. 32 - A properly tightened Y-axis belt under the heatbed
Pict. 33 - A properly tightened X-axis belt
49
12.5 Detached cables to the heatbed
Do not forget to use a spiral wrap on heatbed cables and attach the cables properly so they
won’t restrict movement during printing.
Pict. 34 - Cables to be wrapped in a spiral wrap
50
Notes:
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