The lengthy awaited sequel to Prusa Analysis’s MK3S+ has lastly arrived after years of ready.
On paper, it seems to be just like the Prusa MK4 is merely taking part in catch up by including new options we’ve already seen in the marketplace. However in some way, this machine is greater than the sum of its components.
The MK4 has a brand new tackle auto mattress leveling that produces good first layers and robotically units the Z top. Additionally new is a planetary geared “Nextruder” which has bigger contact space to seize and management the filament, a 32 bit board, and a quick-swap nozzle.
The MK4’s new customized firmware is closely influenced by Klipper, which ought to enable for exact excessive velocity printing. It is disappointing that Enter Shaper and Stress Advance – each touted on the MK4’s sale web page – have been left for a future replace. It shouldn’t be an extended wait as Josef Prusa has shared video of a MK4 printing a blazing quick sub 20 minute Benchy.
Surprisingly, Prusa Analysis didn’t enhance the worth for its flagship printer. Retailing at $1099, the MK4 remains to be a little bit of an funding. You may select to economize by going the DIY route and shopping for a equipment for $799. Remaining inventory of MK3’s are on sale for $899 assembled or $649 as a equipment. Homeowners of MK3S+ machines may go the improve route with kits beginning at $249.
The Prusa Unique MK4 is likely one of the greatest 3D printers we’ve ever examined and lives as much as its fame as a premium printer for makers of all expertise ranges.
Specs: Unique Prusa MK4
| Construct Quantity | 250 x 210 x 220 mm (9.84 x 8.3 x 8.6 in) |
| Materials | PLA/PETG/TPU (as much as 300 levels) |
| Extruder Kind | Direct drive |
| Nozzle | .4mm (v6) |
| Construct Platform | PEI spring metal flex plate |
| Mattress Leveling | Automated |
| Filament Runout Sensor | Sure |
| Connectivity | USB drive, LAN, Wi-Fi |
| Interface | Colour LCD display screen with knob |
| Machine Footprint | 500 X 550 x 400 mm (19.6 x 21.6 x 15.7 in) |
| Machine Weight | 7 KG (15.4 lbs) |
Unique Prusa MK4: Included within the Field
The Prusa Analysis MK4 we reviewed got here totally assembled and solely wanted to be unpacked. It comes with the total device equipment you’d get with the construct it your self model. You received’t want these proper now, however grasp on to them for future upgrades.
Apart from instruments, the printer comes with a full spool of Galaxy Black Prusament PLA, a USB Stick, a handbook on 3D printing together with your new machine, stickers, and a bag of Gummy Bears. The USB stick comprises a number of fashions, whereas PrusaSlicer is accessible without cost obtain from the web site.
We additionally obtained a number of bonus objects for the overview: an adapter to make use of conventional nozzles and further construct plates.
Design of the Unique Prusa MK4
The Unique Prusa MK4 is the successor of the usually cloned Prusa Unique MK3. It bears a placing resemblance to the earlier technology, which permits Prusa Analysis to supply improve kits to loyal prospects so that they don’t have to throw out their outdated MK3s. Extra concerning the kits later.
The MK4 retains the basic Prusa orange and black theme whereas having up to date 90% of the machine, in response to Josef Prusa himself in a weblog submit. The body is now a powder coated die-cast aluminum-alloy, made in home, that appears fairly a bit like the corporate’s sparkly Galaxy Black filament. The orange components are nonetheless 3D printed at Prusa Analysis in PETG Prusament, utilizing a farm of MK3’s and MK4s. Prusa has acknowledged that he nonetheless makes use of 3D printed components to show his machines are as much as the duty.
This brings up an attention-grabbing level – although the launch of the MK4 was a shock to everybody outdoors the corporate, Prusa Analysis has been testing the brand new printers round its workplace and manufacturing unit for a couple of yr. This additionally means the MK4 prospects obtain, has already been completely vetted by Prusa’s crew and ought to be comparatively bug free.
The machine has the whole lot you’d look forward to finding in a brand new i3 design. It has twin Z axis, auto mattress leveling, whisper quiet followers, a magnetic flex plate and a coloration display screen. Recordsdata could be transferred with a entrance mounted USB port or by means of WiFi.
What’s most enjoyable is the brand new firmware, which Josef Prusa advised us in an interview, is predicated on Marlin, but closely influenced by Klipper. The brand new firmware will enable the MK4 to run quicker whereas nonetheless retaining high quality. It’s not fairly completed and we’re nonetheless ready for an replace for Enter Shaping, which can actually tune the printer for prime velocity printing. Prusa mentioned it ought to be prepared for launch a couple of month after the launch date.
Again to {hardware}, the E3D extruder and hotend has been changed with the Prusa made “Nextruder”, which you’ll additionally discover on Prusa’s new XL 3D printer. It makes use of a 35mm no-slip drive gear powered by a ten:1 planetary gearbox and a pancake stepper motor.
The half cooling fan is mounted on a hinge, permitting it to swing apart for simple entry to the hotend, which has additionally been redesigned. Influenced by E3D’s Revo system, the brand new MK4 has a fast swap nozzle that features the heatbreak and an all metallic filament information in a single sealed unit.
The brand new combo nozzles are offered for $27.90 on Prusa3d.com, manufactured from brass and are available in sizes from .25 to .8mm. You should buy an adaptor for $29.99 that can can help you proceed to print with any V6 nozzle. The adaptor is strictly the identical as the brand new nozzle, besides it ends with threads for holding a standard V6 nozzle. It could be cheaper to purchase an adaptor and proceed to make use of “common” nozzles.
Mattress leveling is totally computerized, with no handbook changes. First layers go down completely easy because of a load cell sensor that has changed the outdated PINDA probe. The sensor is related to the nozzle, which permits the MK4 to bodily faucet the print floor for a extra exact measurement. The sensor can also be used to calculate Z top, and it does it so properly that there is no such thing as a want for human intervention. In fact, there’s nonetheless a reside Z adjustment accessible within the menu do you have to want it. Throughout testing, we didn’t.
One of many enjoyable checks you are able to do to take a look at the MK4’s first layer dealing with is to print a single layer thick rectangle the dimensions of your entire mattress. It peels up like a sheet of paper. Not one of the different printers I’ve working had been in a position to duplicate this feat as properly.
The MK4 has in-built WiFi, one other new characteristic we love seeing on printers. This lets you securely entry your machine from a neighborhood space community or by means of Prusa Analysis’s cloud based mostly Prusa Join.
Upgrades for MK3 Homeowners
Prusa is thought for providing prospects improve kits to forestall his machine’s from changing into out of date. The MK4 is holding with the custom.
There are three kits accessible. The MK3.5 improve comprises the 32 bit board and a contact display screen for $249. This offers you extra processing energy and entry to enter shaper when it’s made accessible. You additionally acquire Wi-Fi. That is the very best bang on your buck, particularly when you have added a brand new hotend you wish to hold.
The MK3.9 equipment is $499 and consists of the board, display screen and Nextruder. There’s additionally a full MK4 improve for $579 consists of the whole lot within the earlier kits plus the brand new stepper motors.
Assembling the Unique Prusa MK4
The Prusa MK4 we reviewed got here totally assembled and solely wanted to be unpacked. Merely pull it out of the field and plug it in. The one screws I wanted had been to mount the spool holder’s filament information.
Each Prusa MK4 is given a radical inspection earlier than transport. A guidelines exhibiting the components inspected is included within the field. You’ll additionally discover a pattern print caught to the mattress from its manufacturing unit take a look at.
Observe: in case you bought the DIY equipment model of the MK4 you’ll have to put aside round 8 hours to assemble it however you’ll save $300.
As soon as the machine is turned on, you’ll see a cartoon model of Josef Prusa to information you thru setup. The MK4 will run a number of {hardware} checks then stroll you thru loading filament. As soon as the fabric is loaded you may choose your first print from the USB card. It’s going to carry out a mattress stage verify and set the Z top earlier than printing (and with out asking you for assist).
Leveling the Unique Prusa MK4
Mattress leveling is a no brainer because the MK4 Is totally computerized. There aren’t any handbook changes and no want for adjusting the Z offset. The printer makes use of a load cell sensor related to the nozzle, which bodily faucets the print floor for exact measurement.
The printer trams the mattress and calculates the required z top earlier than every print.
Loading Filament on the Unique Prusa MK4
Loading filament may be very easy. Merely place filament into the outlet on the highest of the extruder and it’ll robotically detect it and pull it in. The display screen will then ask what sort of materials you’re utilizing to set the temperature. As soon as it will get sizzling sufficient it can pull the filament into the hotend and ask if the colour has modified. If it has, you may say sure and transfer on. If the reply is not any, it can purge extra materials.
To take away materials, go to the Filament menu from the principle display screen and click on unload. It’s going to bear in mind what materials was final put in, decide if the filament remains to be there after which warmth to the suitable temperature. As soon as sizzling, it can retract the plastic till you may simply take away it.
Making ready Recordsdata / Software program for Unique Prusa MK4
Prusa Analysis makes one of the fashionable free slicers, PrusaSlicer. It consists of profiles for Prusament — Prusa’s home made filament-– and a handful of fashionable third get together materials. I’ve discovered that selecting “generic” works for many manufacturers.
For those who choose Cura, it has a profile for the outdated MK3, which is analogous sufficient to the MK4 that it’ll work fairly properly.
To make use of the MK4’s WiFi you need to use a separate program, both Prusa Hyperlink or Prusa Join. Prusa Hyperlink is a naked bones portal that connects to your printer over LAN or WiFi. You entry it by typing within the printers’ community deal with. Prusa Hyperlink solely permits you to add information, begin and cease a print, see the thumbnail and some stats about your machine. Nevertheless, as soon as Prusa Hyperlink is established, you may join your printer straight from Prusa Slicer and ship a file to the printer with out wanted to open another applications.
Prusa Join is a extra characteristic wealthy cloud based mostly program, and can be utilized to manage a single printer or a fleet of Prusa machines. It isn’t configured to work for third get together printers.
Prusa Join offers you full distant entry to your printer, reasonably like Klipper’s Mainsail. This system permits you to see stats, the machine’s historical past of prints and shops as much as 2 GB of information without cost on the cloud. It’s also possible to entry the machine’s USB storage and pull information from there, which is helpful when you have a library of prints you repeat. It’s also possible to management the machine’s actions, temperatures, and alter velocity or stream throughout a print.
The webcam characteristic is intriguing, but restricted. It solely takes nonetheless photographs and doesn’t save them. If you wish to take time-lapse video you’ll nonetheless want one other methodology. It’s very nice that you need to use any webcam or outdated good machine with a digital camera. The digital camera is freestanding and desires its personal energy plug. I’m utilizing an outdated iPhone 7 related to an influence strip with a USB charging port.
Prusa Hyperlink and Prusa Join are nonetheless in beta and we hope to see extra options launched for these applications sooner or later.
Printing on the Unique Prusa MK4
The MK4 comes with a full roll of Prusament PLA Galaxy Black. If you need extra colours and supplies like silks and multicolor filaments, it is best to try our information to the greatest filaments for 3D printing for recommendations.
The USB stick has a number of pre-sliced fashions to indicate what the MK4 can do. I picked the Robo Alpaka, which is assist free and stuffed with intricate particulars and overhangs. The print turned out crisp and excellent. Printed within the provided Galaxy Black (opens in new tab), pre-sliced by Prusa Analysis with a .2 layer top, this took 7 hours and 46 minutes to print.
Subsequent I printed this bust of Josef Prusa by Fotis Mint. Fotis is a superb designer and there’s lots of element on this sculpt. I used a .15 layer top and the “high quality” setting, which printed at a leisurely 45mm/s with 90mm/s on the infill. There have been no helps and each letter is crisp, there’s element within the hair and glasses and the pores and skin got here out tremendous easy. The print took 8 hours and 52 minutes altogether. The bust was printed in Prusament Galaxy Silver, and the bottom is in Prusament Galaxy Black.
To check PETG I whipped up a cellphone holder in Tinkercad that might maintain my outdated iPhone on the appropriate angle to observe prints. This printed extremely easy and with out noticeable layer strains with a tiny fail proper the place the arch was not supported. It’s printed in Prusament Carmine Crimson (opens in new tab) at a .3 layer top, with 70mm/s on the partitions and 200mm/s on the infill and took 2 hours and 57 minutes to print.
For TPU I printed a pockets, one thing that may be troublesome for some printers. The pockets was nonetheless stringy, however all of the pockets opened up and had been bonded strongly. This was printed in Matterhackers’ Construct Sequence TPU (opens in new tab) in Translucent Purple, with .15mm layer top, a 50mm/s velocity and took 8 hours and three minutes.
Backside Line
The Prusa Unique MK4 is a pleasant machine to make use of, however you’re going to pay additional for Prusa’s fame for high quality and customer support. Retailing at $1099 for a pre-assembled machine and $799 for a DIY equipment, the Prusa MK4 just isn’t a price range machine, however it’s positively the very best machine a newbie may begin on. It’s good for makers who want a dependable workhorse and anybody who desires a device, not a venture.
Because the MK4 stays open supply, it’s additionally extraordinarily straightforward to search out components and restore with slightly bit of data and assist out of your favourite YouTuber.
Followers of the Prusa model are ecstatic for all of the updates, particularly the 32 bit board, KIipper-like velocity, and the brand new methodology for auto mattress leveling. The true query is whether or not folks new to the interest will assume it’s value $1099 when corporations like Creality and Bambu have speedy Core XY machines for a lot much less. It is disappointing that the MK4 shipped earlier than Enter Shaper was launched so we will take a look at its true velocity.
For those who just like the MK4, however need one thing inexpensive, a lot quicker and with the identical stage of calibration sensors, try the $699 Core XY Bambu Lab P1P. Nevertheless, if you wish to save some huge cash whereas nonetheless getting the perks of auto mattress leveling and a straightforward to take away construct plate, the Elegoo Neptune 3 Professional.