Prusa Analysis right now introduced the lengthy awaited launch of the Prusa MK4 3D printer, and on paper it seems to be such as you get quite a lot of printer on your cash, maybe sufficient to make it on to our record of finest 3D printers. The $1,099 MK4 is described by Josef Průša “as an open-source 3D printing workhorse with long-term assist.” and the group have been operating lots of of items for greater than a 12 months.
The MK4 is constructed round a 32-bit STM32-powered mainboard, “xBuddy board” which additionally offers Ethernet entry and extra importantly new options akin to Enter Shaper (advantageous pace management of the movement system) and Stress Advance (growing the filament because the nozzle accelerates, retracting because it slows).
The Nextruder makes use of quick-swap nozzles to change the diameter of the aperture. Larger nozzles means sooner prints, and by default it ships with a 0.4mm nozzle. Swapping the nozzles is now a easy activity of releasing two thumbscrews and disconnecting two cables. The complete hotend is then launched.
| Construct Quantity | 250 x 210 x 220 mm | 9.84 x 8.3 x 8.6 in |
| Layer top | 0.05-0.30 mm |
| Mainboard | Customized 32-bit xBuddy electronics with STM32 |
| Stepper Drivers | Trinamic 2130 |
| Stepper motors | Exact 0.9° X,Y stepper motors (prevents VFA) |
| Extruder | Nextruder, Direct Drive, E3D V6 suitable (with adapter) |
| Filament path | Aluminum heatsink, all-metal hotend, no PTFE tube |
| Drive system | Nextruder Planetary Gear System, 10:1 gearbox ratio |
| Nozzle diameter | 0.4mm (default) / different nozzle diameters supported |
| Max nozzle temperature | 300 °C / 572 °F |
| Max heatbed temperature | 120 °C / 248 °F |
| Superior sensors | Filament sensor, Loadcell sensor, Energy panic, 4 high-precision thermistors (real Semitec) + fan motors RPM monitoring |
| Print floor | Magnetic heatbed with detachable PEI spring metal sheets |
| Mattress calibration | Automated, Mesh Mattress Leveling (solely on print space) |
| Supported supplies | PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, Flex, HIPS, PA, PVA, PC, PP, CPE, PVB, NGEN, composites and extra |
| Printer dimensions (with out spool) | 500×550×400 mm; 19.6×21.6×15.7 in (X×Y×Z) |
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The MK4 has a most construct quantity of 250 x 210 x 220 mm and makes use of 1.75mm diameter filament which is fed immediately into the ten:1 planetary extruder, a drive gear which has a big contact space to cut back slippage.
The Nextruder additionally has a corridor sensor to detect filament run outs. On different printers, such because the Elegoo Neptune 3 Professional, Plus and Max, this sensor is on the high of the gantry and rattles because the print strikes across the mattress. The electronics for the Nextruder are all simply accessible by way of a breakoout board on the rear of the unit.
The MK4 claims to be sooner than the MK3, in a single check a print on the MK3 took 10 hours, however on the MK4 simply 3.5 hours. The rationale for that is enter shaper and stress advance, which gives a sooner print time, akin to Klipper.
Prusa elected to write down its personal model, tailor-made to its printers, reasonably than port Klipper to the MK4. The pace enhance implies that fast prototyping, one thing that 3D printers have excelled at, is even faster with the MK4. To show how briskly it may well go, Prusa has launched a YouTube video of a sub 20 minute benchy.
Seasoned 3D printer customers will understand how essential a primary layer is. We regularly babysit the primary layer to make sure that we’ve got perfection. Getting your printer completely leveled is an artwork kind, and the MK4 is automating the method to supply an ideal first layer each time.
So now altering the nozzle and print sheet won’t require a laborious and tedious half-hour as your slide a bit of paper across the mattress. The print head will carry out an auto-bed leveling course of the place the nozzle itself touches the mattress, and a load cell sensor precisely detects the contact.
The body of the MK4 is constituted of injection molded aluminum. Injected right into a two half mould, cleaned, sandblasted after which powder coated to guard the metallic whereas wanting nice. On the base of the body is a 3.5 inch colour LCD touchscreen, together with bodily management knob and inputs.
The MK3 line of 3D printers was exceptionally common, promoting round 350,000 items worldwide. It appears that evidently the MK4 has been designed to succeed the MK3 vary in nearly each method. The MK4 improves upon the MK3S+ by altering and upgrading round 90% of the components. Just a few components have been saved from the improve.
The Prusa MK4 is obtainable in restricted portions direct from Prusa Analysis for $1099 as an assembled unit. Improve kits will likely be out there for $799 within the close to future.