Prusa Research Original Prusa MK4 Handbook
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Prusa Research Original Prusa MK4 Handbook

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ENG
3D PRINTING
HANDBOOK
FOR THE ORIGINAL PRUSA MK4 3D PRINTER

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  • Page 1 3D PRINTING HANDBOOK FOR THE ORIGINAL PRUSA MK4 3D PRINTER...
  • Page 2 JOSEF PRUSA®, PRUSA RESEARCH®, PRUSA POLYMERS®, PRUSA ORANGE®, ORIGINAL PRUSA®, PRUSA 3D®, and PRUSAMENT® are registered trademarks of Prusa Development a.s. used by Prusa Research a.s. under license from Prusa Development a.s. | JOSEF PRUSA, ORIGINAL PRUSA, and PRUSAMENT are registered trademarks (or trademark applications) of Prusa Development a.s. and are used by Prusa Research a.s. under license from Prusa Development a.s.
  • Page 3 About the Author Josef Průša (*23. 2. 1990) became interested in 3D printing when he began studying at the University of Economics in 2009 - it started off as a hobby, a new technology open to modifications and improvements. The hobby quickly became his passion, and Josef became one of the main developers of the international open-source (all works are freely available for any use) RepRap project by Adrian Bowyer.

  • Page 4: Table Of Contents

    2. Unpacking and Package Contents ......................2.1. How to Move the Printer ......................... 2.2. Contents of the Package and Accessories ..................3. Original Prusa MK4 Overview and Glossary ..................3.1. Connecting and Disconnecting the Power Cable ............... 3.2. Error Screens ..............................
  • Page 5 7.1. PLA ................................... 7.2. PETG ................................7.3. ASA (ABS) ..............................7.4. PC (polycarbonate) and PC Blend ..................... 7.5. PVB ................................. 7.6. Flexible Materials ............................7.7. PA (Polyamide) / PA11CF ........................8. Regular Maintenance ............................8.1. Flexible Print Sheets ..........................8.1.1. Double-Sided TEXTURED Print Sheet ................
  • Page 6 Safety symbols and their meaning Careful: strong magnetic fields Careful: mechanical parts. Take care to avoid injury to hands when in close proximity to the device with mechanical parts. Further information regarding function and service can be found in this user manual or online at help.prusa3d.com.
  • Page 7 Warranty The Original Prusa MK4 3D printer is covered by a 24-month warranty for end customers in the EU, and a 12-month warranty for business customers and end customers in the rest of the world. Consumables and parts subject to wear and tear are excluded from this warranty. The warranty period starts on the day the customer receives the goods.
  • Page 8 As we cannot control the conditions under which the Original Prusa MK4 printer is used, we do not assume any responsibility and expressly disclaim any liability for losses, injuries, damages or expenses arising out of or in connection with the assembly, handling, storage, use or disposal of the product.
  • Page 9 Electrical Safety The printer should only be powered through a standard 230 VAC, 50 Hz or 110 VAC, 60 Hz outlet. Never use alternative power sources as they can cause problems or damage the printer. Do not use the printer if the power cord is damaged in any way – damaged cords can lead to electric shock.
  • Page 10 Proper Use of Double-Sided Print Sheets Each type of print sheet requires slightly different maintenance. Improper handling and use can lead to damage to the print sheet, heatbed or other parts of the printer. Print sheets are consumable and subject to wear. The surface of the textured and satin print sheet must not be cleaned with acetone! Please refer to the Flexible Print Sheets chapter for maintenance instructions.

  • Page 11: Introduction

    1. Introduction Thank you for purchasing the Original Prusa MK4 3D printer from Prusa Research! Your support allows us to invest in further development of 3D printers and other 3D printing products, such as PrusaSlicer, our amazing slicing software. We also have our own in-house line of resins and filaments (Prusament), operate Printables.com...

  • Page 12: Quick-Swap Nozzles

    1.2. Quick-Swap Nozzles Changing nozzles is super quick with our new thumbscrew system. Simply flip open the side fan (print fan) to reveal two thumbscrews. Unscrew them to release the nozzle assembly. Then disconnect two cables from the LoveBoard in the Nextruder and pull out the entire hotend assembly (nozzle and heater block) and swap it with a different one.

  • Page 13: Unpacking And Package Contents

    2.1. How to Move the Printer If you want to move the Original Prusa MK4 printer, use the recommended method - grab the top of the printer frame and lift the printer. Never lift the printer by the cables, filament holders or X-...

  • Page 14: Contents Of The Package And Accessories

    2.2. Contents of the Package and Accessories Your Original Prusa MK4 printer package includes: Documentation USB drive with sample prints (G-codes) MK4 Toolset Uni-wrench 13-16 wrench Philips screwdriver Nose pliers Allen and torx keys Alcohol-saturated wipe (for initial calibration), acupuncture needle...

  • Page 15: Original Prusa Mk4 Overview And Glossary

    3. Original Prusa MK4 Overview and Glossary Filament spool - The MK4 is compatible with 1.75mm filaments. Frame Z-Axis - vertical, consists of threaded and smooth rods, moves the Nextruder up and down. Nextruder - Our new next-generation extruder with a planetary gearbox and Loadcell sensor.
  • Page 16 Filament insertion point (from the top) - the MK4 is compatible with 1.75mm filaments. Idler lock (swivel) - flip upwards to unlock the idler door. Idler - maintains pressure on the filament strand as it is moved further into the extruder by the extruder gear.

  • Page 17: Connecting And Disconnecting The Power Cable

    3.1. Connecting and Disconnecting the Power Cable Always pull the connector, do not pull on the cable itself! Incorrect handling can lead to damage to the connector or cable. The power supply port is located on the rear side of the printer. Before you plug or unplug the cable, turn the printer off using the physical switch on the power supply unit next to the power supply port.

  • Page 18: Your First Print

    4. Your First Print To get your printer up and running, please pay attention to the information in the following chapters. We will go through the basics together - you’ll be printing in no time! In this chapter you will learn how to: Control the printer Prepare the print sheet for the first print Perform initial calibration...

  • Page 19: Selftest Calibration (Wizard)

    4.2. Selftest Calibration (Wizard) When you first power on the Original Prusa MK4, the Selftest calibration wizard will start. The wizard will walk you through the initial calibration and all necessary tests to start printing. Completing the entire checklist is mandatory. But don't worry, it's gonna be super easy, barely an inconvenience! Do not select Continue yet, let's make sure your printer is ready for the Selftest.

  • Page 20: Preparing Flexible Print Sheets

    The Original Prusa MK4 comes standard with a double-sided smooth PEI print sheet. If you have a different type, we recommend that you carefully study how to properly treat the surface in the Regular Maintenance chapter.

  • Page 21: Running The Selftest

    Important: It is absolutely essential that the print sheet is properly attached to and aligned with the heatbed - the cutout must match with the two pins on the rear and the sheet must be perfectly aligned with the heatbed, otherwise you may encounter issues with printing! 4.4.

  • Page 22: Inserting (Loading) Filament

    4.5. Inserting (Loading) filament First, prepare a spool of filament - we strongly recommend using PLA because it's easy to work with. Take the spool, make sure the end of the filament is properly secured and place the spool onto the spoolholder on top of the printer's frame. Carefully unhook the end of the filament strand and make sure not to let go, otherwise, the tension in the strand would cause the filament to quickly tangle up.
  • Page 23 The printer remembers which filament is inserted into it even when you turn it off. The type of filament is displayed in the lower section of the LCD menu. For the next step (Starting the First Print), leave the filament inserted in the printer. If for any reason you need to change the filament, the procedure is described on the next page.

  • Page 24: Unloading (Removing) Filament

    4.6. Unloading (Removing) Filament Select LCD Menu - Filament - Unload Filament The printer will preheat automatically. As soon as it reaches the right temperature, the filament will be unloaded from the extruder in a few seconds. Once the extruder stops unloading the filament, remove it from the extruder by hand. The filament needs to be wound up on the spool and secured carefully so that it does not tangle Tangled filament? Let's fix it! If you accidentally manage to let go of the end of the filament and the strand quickly retracts...

  • Page 25: Starting The First Print

    4.7. Starting the First Print If you haven't done it already, clean the print sheet with the enclosed wipe saturated with isopropyl alcohol. Please note that the enclosed wipe has limited use as IPA evaporates quickly. Then select one of the test objects from the Print menu (only appears if a USB drive is inserted). Confirm the selection by pressing the rotary knob.
  • Page 26 Carefully observe the quality of the first layer. The Original Prusa MK4 is equipped with very accurate LoadCell technology, which measures the distance between the nozzle and the bed with perfect accuracy. However, it may happen that due to, e.g., traces of grease, the print may not hold well.

  • Page 27: Removing A Printed Object From The Print Sheet

    4.8. Removing a Printed Object from the Print Sheet Once the print job is finished, wait until the print sheet cools down. The print plate and heated bed may exceed 100 °C, depending on the settings - contact with unprotected skin can cause burns, so check the heatbed temperature in the footer of the LCD screen! Depending on the type of material, it may happen that the print will separate from the print sheet automatically by itself after cooling.

  • Page 28: Selftest Troubleshooting

    4.10. First Print Troubleshooting The calibration and pre-print setup of the Original Prusa MK4 are fully automated - the filament is automatically inserted, axes checked and the first layer precisely measured. If a printing issue does occur, it usually falls into one of the following scenarios: 4.10.1.

  • Page 29: The Nozzle Does Not Start Extruding, Even After Multiple Attempts

    4.10.3. The nozzle does not start extruding, even after multiple attempts Solution: Make sure that the filament can reach the extruder gear inside the Nextruder and that the nozzle is not clogged. First of all, load the filament exactly as described in the Loading the Filament chapter. Once the loading procedure is completed, unlock the idler door on the extruder by lifting the small clamp, then flip the door open and see if the filament strand reached the large extruder gear.

  • Page 30: Updating The Firmware

    4.11. Updating the Firmware The Original Prusa MK4 is ready to print once assembled and powered on. To make sure you have the most up-to-date version of the firmware with the latest features and settings, we recommend checking prusa3d.com/drivers. You can perform the firmware update after you complete the initial Selftest.

  • Page 31: Sample Models

    4.12. Sample Models The USB drive that came with your Original Prusa MK4 3D printer contains a number of sample files (G-codes). We recommend keeping them on the flash drive. These files have been prepared (sliced) and thoroughly tested by us. If you encounter issues with print quality at any time, try loading and printing one of the sample files - especially the Prusa Logo Keychain.

  • Page 32: Advanced User Guide

    5. Advanced User Guide This part of the handbook covers everything you need to know once you manage to successfully print your first sample object. Network connection, printing your own models, slicing - all this (and more) is covered on the following pages. 5.1.

  • Page 33: Network Connection

    Original Prusa MK4 can be connected to a local network (LAN/Wi-Fi), which allows you to have an overview of various functions of the printer through the web interface called PrusaConnect.

  • Page 34: Using Nozzles With Various Diameters

    5.3. Using Nozzles with Various Diameters The Original Prusa MK4 comes equipped with a 0.4mm nozzle by default. This nozzle offers a good quality-speed ratio. However, for some projects, a nozzle of a different diameter might be more suitable. The Original Prusa MK4 uses special nozzles with a metal filament guide, making them easy to swap and highly reliable.

  • Page 35: Multi-Material Upgrade 3

    5.4. Multi-Material Upgrade 3 The MK4 is fully compatible with the latest generation of our Multi-Material Upgrade 3 add-on, or MMU3 for short. The MMU3 vastly expands your 3D printing possibilities by giving you the option to print with up to 5 colors at the same time. However, you can also mix different materials, e.g.

  • Page 36: Flashing An Unofficial (Unsigned) Firmware

    5.5. Flashing an Unofficial (Unsigned) Firmware: We take security seriously. Before each firmware update, we rigorously test it to ensure that all of its security features are working correctly. If any of the sensors detect an unexpected reading, the heater will be immediately disconnected to prevent any damage to the printer or its surroundings.

  • Page 37: Printing Your Own Models

    6. Printing Your Own Models Your Original Prusa MK4 should be now fully calibrated and the first print was a success. And now, you want to print your own model - be it something you already modeled, or something you downloaded from the internet.

  • Page 38: Obtaining Printable Models

    One of the best places for free 3D models is Printables.com, a large online library full of high- quality 3D models managed by Prusa Research. Its main goal is to bring together a large community of designers, creators, and 3D printing enthusiasts - regardless of the brand of 3D printer they prefer.

  • Page 39: Create Your Own Model

    Models are usually available to download either for free under the Creative Commons - Attribution - Non-Commercial License (models cannot be used commercially and must always include the author's name), or for a small fee. We have selected the most interesting websites for you: www.printables.com www.thingiverse.com www.myminifactory.com...

  • Page 40: Prusaslicer

    Variable layer height Color painting Various print settings Thanks to the strong community and a dedicated team of developers in Prusa Research, PrusaSlicer is constantly evolving with new features and improvements based on community feedback. From print quality improvements to reducing print time and minimizing filament usage, even small updates can have a significant impact on your 3D printing experience.

  • Page 41: Prusaslicer Interface Explained

    6.5. PrusaSlicer Interface Explained Opens detailed Print, Filament and Printer settings The Add button is used to import a 3D model into the scene The Delete and Delete All buttons remove the model(s) from PrusaSlicer Switching between Simple, Advanced and Expert modes Settings for printing speed and quality Material selection Printer selection...

  • Page 42: Initial Setup And General Workflow

    Upon launching PrusaSlicer, select Original Prusa MK4 from the Printer drop-down menu on the right (no. 6 in the illustration above). If you don't see the Original Prusa MK4 it in the list, you need to add it either by using Add Printer-Add Presets menu item (in the same menu), or by using Configuration - Configuration Wizard from the top menu bar.

  • Page 43: Using Supports

    6.5.2. Using Supports Supports are printed structures resembling scaffolding. They are used for printing complex objects. After printing, they can be easily separated from the output. You can find a large number of objects that can be printed without supports - just place them in the right orientation on the bed, slice them and you can print.

  • Page 44: Speed Vs Print Quality

    The default support pattern usually works correctly, but if you need to modify the places where the supports will be generated, just go to the Print Settings tab and select Support Material. Check the Generate Support Material box. The Overhang Threshold allows you to set the minimum angle for printing the support material.

  • Page 45: Infill

    6.5.4. Infill Another parameter that affects the properties of the printed object is Infill. It affects the printing speed, strength and appearance of the object. Objects printed with the FFF/FDM method usually do not have 100% density. Instead, they contain a certain geometric structure inside. It can take various forms, from simple square grids or hexagons to more complex patterns.

  • Page 46: Printing Objects Larger Than The Print Volume

    6.5.6. Printing Objects Larger than the Print Volume The Original Prusa MK4 printer has a print volume of 250 × 210 × 220 mm. If this is not enough for your project, you can use PrusaSlicer's built-in tools to find a solution.

  • Page 47: Printing Multicolored Objects (Without Mmu3)

    6.5.7. Printing Multicolored Objects (without MMU3) If you want to have a print with layers in different colors, it can be easily set up directly in PrusaSlicer - follow the instructions below. Switch to the layer view (Preview) using the button in the left bottom corner. Use the slider on the right to select the layer in which you want to change the color.

  • Page 48: Slicing And Exporting

    6.5.8. Slicing and Exporting One of the most important phases of the slicing process is the final check of the sliced object in the Preview. Using the slider on the right, you can review all the print layers of the object one by one.

  • Page 49: Material Guide

    The Original Prusa MK4 3D printer is compatible with almost all filaments available. Individual materials may differ not only in color but also in mechanical and optical properties, or even in printing difficulty.

  • Page 50: Petg

    7.2. PETG PETG is one of the most popular materials for 3D printing. It is a great choice for parts that will be subject to mechanical stress. Compared to PLA, it has a higher temperature resistance, it is more flexible and less brittle. Thanks to its low thermal expansion, it holds well to the bed and does not warp.

  • Page 51: Asa (Abs)

    7.3. ASA (ABS) ASA and ABS are very similar materials. In some respects, ASA is better than ABS. ASA is UV- stable compared to ABS and shrinks slightly less during printing. When it comes to post- processing, ABS and ASA can be similar, but the latter is currently more popular, so we will focus mainly on it.

  • Page 52: Pc (Polycarbonate) And Pc Blend

    7.4. PC (polycarbonate) and PC Blend Polycarbonate (PC) is a technical material boasting excellent strength, tensile strength, and resistance to high temperatures. It is however quite demanding to print, thus making it suitable mainly for advanced users. This of course does not apply to our Prusament PC Blend, which is much easier to print compared to other polycarbonates.

  • Page 53: Pvb

    7.5. PVB Polyvinyl butyral (PVB) is a material that can be easily smoothed with isopropyl alcohol (IPA). Prints, when properly set up, are clear and transparent, thus making PVB a suitable material for printing vases, lamp shades, and other decorative models. The printing settings are similar to those for PLA, but the mechanical properties of PVB are slightly better.

  • Page 54: Flexible Materials

    7.6. Flexible Materials Flexible filaments are typically very strong and elastic materials. In many cases, the classic hard plastic (PLA, PETG) may not be ideal or even completely unsuitable for certain models. Whether you are printing a phone case, a housing for an action camera or even wheels for an RC car, it is better to use a flexible material.

  • Page 55: Pa (Polyamide) / Pa11Cf

    7.7. PA (Polyamide) / PA11CF Polyamide (also known as Nylon) is a versatile material known for its durability and is commonly used for 3D printing special models due to its high difficulty in printing (not applicable to PA11CF) and higher costs. There are several types of polyamide, which differ in properties such as temperature resistance, water absorption and adhesion to different types of surfaces.

  • Page 56: Regular Maintenance

    8. Regular Maintenance The Original Prusa MK4 was designed from the beginning as a true print "workhorse". Despite its high reliability, it is still a device with mechanical components that require more or less regular maintenance. Follow the instructions below to keep your printer in perfect condition for as long as possible.
  • Page 57 Consumable materials such as print sheets are not covered by our warranty unless they arrive damaged or incorrectly manufactured. Print sheets are consumables and the warranty only applies to defects that appear immediately after unpacking. All original print sheets made in Prusa Research are double-sided.

  • Page 58: Double-Sided Textured Print Sheet

    8.1.1. Double-Sided TEXTURED Print Sheet Surface resistant to damage and scratches The texture on the surface of the sheet is transferred to the bottom side of the printed object Simpler Z-axis calibration FLEX does not require glue (Kores / PVA gluestick) application to the print bed After the print sheet cools down, the print usually detaches itself PLA prints with small contact area may require a brim Large PLA prints may warp...

  • Page 59: Double-Sided Satin Print Sheet

    8.1.3. Double-Sided SATIN Print Sheet Suitable for PLA and PETG Soft texture on the bottom part of the print Only use quality isopropyl alcohol (90+ %) to clean FLEX requires the use of a glue separation layer (Kores / PVA gluestick) on the print sheet Wide range of supported materials, including advanced materials such as PC Blend and more Easy maintenance and good adhesion Do not use acetone! Acetone will damage the surface of the print sheet!

  • Page 60: Fans

    8.4. Fans The RPM (revolutions per minute) of both fans is constantly measured. This means that the printer will report an error if the fan suddenly slows down, for example due to a piece of filament stuck in it. In such a case, check and remove any dirt from the relevant fan. Do not try to bypass the RPM check - this could damage the printer! Both fans should be checked and cleaned after every few hundred hours of printing.

  • Page 61: Cleaning The Nozzle

    If this doesn't help, please contact our tech support. 8.10. Filament Sensor The Original Prusa MK4 is equipped with a filament sensor built into the Nextruder. The filament sensor is calibrated during the initial Selftest and can be also re-calibrated from the printer's Control menu.

  • Page 62: Faq - Frequently Asked Questions And Basic Troubleshooting

    9. FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions and Basic Troubleshooting In case of a critical failure, the Original Prusa MK4 may display an error screen with short instructions on how to proceed. This screen contains a link to a detailed article on our Knowledge Base at help.prusa3d.com...

  • Page 63: Loose Belts

    MK4, but if you built the MK4 as a kit, it's possible there's an issue with assembly. If you assembled the Original Prusa MK4 as a kit, make sure that the cables running from the electronics to the extruder are not blocked by anything. Carefully inspect the rear side of the extruder and compare it to the assembly manual to make sure that the cable bundle leading from the extruder is not causing incorrect homing.

  • Page 64: Advanced Hardware Troubleshooting

    Due to the length of the articles, it is not possible to include detailed troubleshooting guides in this handbook. However, the Original Prusa MK4 will display an error screen with a short recommendation on how to proceed further if it runs into a problem. This screen will also contain a link to a detailed article in our Knowledge Base at help.prusa3d.com.
  • Page 65 PRINT AND SHARE! JOIN OUR COMMUNITY! Download 3D models for free at printables.com and participate in design contests! Follow us for tips, guides, inspiring videos and amazing 3D prints! HAPPY PRINTING!

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