Original Prusa I3 MK2 Manual

							 
 
Please always r e fe r to  th e 
​ http ://w ww.p ru sa3d .c o m /d riv ers /
 
for an updated v ers io n o f th is  3 D  p rin ting h an dbook ( P D F d ow nlo ad ).
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
QUICK GUIDE TO  THE  FI RS T P RI NT
 
 
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 versio n 1 .0 5 fro m  October  23, 2 016. ©  Pru sa R ese arch  s. r.o .
 
2   
						

							 
About the author  
 
Josef Prusa ​ (born Feb 23
​rd
​
, 1 990)  beca me  in te re sted in  th e 3 D  p rin tin g p henom enon b efo re
 
joining the Prague’s Univ ersi ty  of Eco nomi cs  in  2 009 -  at first  it  w as  a h obby,  a  n ew
 
technology open to chang es  and imp rove me nts.  T he h obby  so on b eca me a  p assi on a nd
 
Josef grew into one of the  le adin g d eve lo pers  of Ad rie n Bo wye r’s  in te rn atio nal,  o pen so urce ,
 
RepRap project. Today, yo u ca n se e th e Pru sa d esi gn in  d if fe re nt ve rsi ons  all  a ro und th e
 
world, it is one of the mos t p opula r  prin te rs  and th anks  to  it , kn ow le dge a bout th e 3 D  p rin tin g
 
technology significantly incre ase d a mo ng p ublic.
 
 
Jo’s work on self-replicati ng p rin te rs  (yo u ca n p rin t th e o th er  prin te r p arts  wit h  yo ur p rin te r)
 
are still ongoing and curr ently  th ere  is  Pru sa i3  -  th e th ird  it e ra tio n o f th e o rig in al  3 D  p rin te r. It
 
is constantly updated with  th e la te st  in nova tio ns  and yo u've  ju st  p urch ase d it s  la te st  ve rsi on.
 
In addition to printer hardw are  u pgra des,  th e ma in  g oal  is  to  ma ke th e te ch nolo gy  m ore
 
accessible and understand able  fo r  all  u se rs.
 
 
Josef Prusa also organize s worksh ops  fo r  th e p ublic,  p art ici pate s  in  p ro fe ssi onal
 
conferences dedicated to  th e p opula riza tio n o f 3 D  p rin tin g. F or  exa mple , h e le ct ure d a t th e
 
TEDx conference in Pragu e a nd Vi enna, a t W orld  Ma ker Faire  in  N ew  Y ork,  M ake r F air e  in
 
Rome or at the Open Hard ware  Su mmi t h ost ed b y  MI T. Jo sef a lso  te ach es  Ard uin o a t
 
Charles University and wa s also  a  le ct ure r at th e Aca demy  of Art s in  P ra gue.
 
 
In his own words, he imag in es  3D  p rin te rs  will  b e a va ila ble  in  e ve ry  hom e in  a  n ot to o d ist ant
 
future. If anything is neede d, yo u ca n si mp ly  prin t it . In  th is  fie ld , yo u ju st  p ush  th e
 
boundaries every day... W e're  g la d yo u're  p art  o f it  w it h  u s!
 
 
 
 
3   
						

							 
Table of contents  
 
About the author 3  
2 Product details 6  
3 Introduction 6  
3.1 Glossary 6  
3.2 Disclaimer 7  
3.3 Safety instructio ns
7  
3.4 Licenses 7  
4 Original Prusa i3 MK2  p rin te r
8  
5 Original Prusa i3 MK2  p rin te r  ki t
9  
6 First steps 10
 
6.1 Printer unpackin g a nd p ro per  handlin g
10
 
6.2 Printer assembly
11
 
6.3 Setup before prin tin g
11
 
6.3.1 Calibration flo w
12
 
6.3.2 PEI print su rface  p re para tio n
13
 
6.3.3 Increasing th e a dhesi on
13
 
6.3.4 Selftest (kit o nly)
14
 
6.3.4.1 Self te st  e rro r me ssa ges  and re so lu tio n (ki t o nly)
14
 
6.3.5 Calibrate XYZ (ki t o nly)
15
 
6.3.5.1 Calib ra te  XYZ  e rro r me ssa ges  and re so lu tio n ( ki t o nly)
16
 
6.3.5.1 Y axis alig nme nt (ki t o nly)
19
 
6.3.6 Calibrate Z
19
 
6.3.7 Mesh bed le ve llin g
20
 
6.3.8 Loading th e fila me nt in to  th e e xt ru der
21
 
6.3.8.1 Unloadin g th e fila me nt
22
 
6.3.9 First layer ca lib ra tio n (ki t o nly)
22
 
6.3.9.1 Bed le ve l  co rre ctio n (ki t o nly)
23
 
6.3.10 Finetuning th e first  la ye r
23
 
6.3.10.1 Prin t p ru sa  lo go
23
 
6.3.10.2 Check  pro be h eig ht (ki t o nly)
24
 
6.3.11 Securing o f th e p ro be (ki t o nly)
24
 
7 Printing 25
 
7.1 Removing objects fro m  th e p rin te r.
25
 
7.2 Printer Control 26
 
7.2.1 LCD screen
26
 
7.2.2 Print statist ics
26
 
7.2.2 Silent vs. H i-p ow er  mo de
27
 
7.2.3 Factory rese t
27
 
7.2.4 LCD layout
28
 
7.2.5 Print speed ve rsu s prin t q ualit y
30
 
7.2.6 USB cable a nd Pro nte rf ace
30
 
7.3 Printer addons 32
 
7.3.1 Different nozzles
32
 
4   
						

							 
7.3.1.1 Hardened st eel  n ozzl e
33
 
7.3.1.2 0.25mm nozzl e
33
 
8 Printer drivers 33
 
9 Printing your own mo dels
33
 
9.1 Where you can g et th e 3 D  mo dels?
33
 
9.2 In what program you ca n cre ate  yo ur  ow n mo dels?
34
 
9.3 Slic3r 34
 
9.4 Bundled 3D models
36
 
9.5 Print in color with  C olo rPri nt
36
 
9.6 Printing of non-standard  mo dels
38
 
9.6.1 Printing wit h  su pport  ma te ria l
38
 
9.6.2 Large obje ct  p rin tin g
39
 
10 Materials 41
 
10.1 ABS 41
 
10.2 PLA 41
 
10.3 PET 41
 
10.4 HIPS 41
 
10.5 PP 42
 
10.6 Nylon (Taulman Bri dge)
42
 
10.7 Flex 42
 
10.8 Dialing in new ma te ria ls
42
 
11 FAQ - Printer main te nance  a nd p rin t issu es
43
 
11.1 Print surface p re para tio n
43
 
11.2 Clogged / jammed e xt ru der
43
 
11.3 Nozzle cleaning
44
 
11.4 Replacing / changin g th e n ozzl e
44
 
11.5 Axis fluency 45
 
11.6 Printing proble ms
46
 
11.6.1 Layers bre ak  and sp lit  w hen p rin tin g fro m  ABS  m ate ria l
46
 
11.6.2 Models co nta in  e it h er  to o mu ch o r  not e nough o f th e fila m ent
46
 
11.7 Problems with fin ish ed mo dels
46
 
11.7.1 Model breaks  and/o r  is  easi ly  dama ged
46
 
11.8 Updating printe r  firmw are
46
 
12 FAQ - common issu es  when a sse mblin g th e p rin te r  ki t
47
 
12.1 Nozzle/print surface  g ap is  gre ate r  in  th e mi ddle  th an a t th e co rn ers
47
 
12.2 Printer stops p rin tin g so on a fte r  st art
48
 
12.3 Printer can’t read SD  ca rd
48
 
12.4 Loose X- and/or  Y-a xis  belt s
49
 
12.5 Detached cable s  to  th e h eatb ed
50
 
12.6 Loose heatbed zi p tie s
50
 
 
Important notice, tip , h in t o r  in fo rma tio n th at h elp s  yo u p rin t w it h  e ase .
 
 
Read carefully! This  part  o f te xt  h as  uppermo st imp ort ance  -  e it h er fo r u se r sa fe ty  of
 
for a  ​proper ​  ​printer
​ se rvice .
 
 
This symbol indicate s  te xt  re la te d to  
​ prin te r
​ ki t o nly.
 
5   
						

							 
2 Product details  
 
Title: Original Prusa i3 M K2 / O rig in al  Pru sa i3  MK2  (ki t),  F ila me nt: 1 .7 5 m m
 
Manufacturer: Prusa Res earch  s. r.o., 6 21/8 a Prvn ih o p lu ku , Pra gue, 1 86 0 0, C ze ch R epublic
 
Contacts: phone +420 222  2 63 7 18, e -ma il:  
​in fo @ pru sa 3d.co m
 
EEE group: 3 (IT and/or t ele co mmu nica tio n e quip me nt),  D evi ce  u se : in door o nly
 
Power supply: 90-135 VAC , 2  A  / 1 80-2 64 VAC , 1  A  (50-6 0 H z)
 
Working temperature ran ge: 1 8 ° C  (PL A)-3 8 ° C , in door  use  o nly
 
Working humidity: 85 % or  le ss
 
 
Kit weight (brutto / netto):  9.8  kg  / 6 .3  kg , a sse mble d p rin te r  w eig ht ( b ru tto  / n etto ): 1 2 kg  /
 
6.3 kg. Serial number is lo cate d o n th e p rin te r  co ntro l  u nit  a nd a lso  o n th e p acka gin g.
 
3 Introduction  
 
Thank you for purchasing  our  orig in al  3 D  
​prin te r
​  ​Orig in al Pr usa i3  M K2 
​fr o m  Jo sef P ru sa
 
either as an assembled  ​prin te r
​ o r  a 
​prin te r
​ ki t -  as  yo ur  purch ase  su pports  us  wit h  it s  fu rth er
 
development. Read the h andbook  ca refu lly,  p le ase , a ll  ch apte rs  conta in  va lu able  in fo  fo r th e
 
correct service of the  ​printer
​.  
 
Please check the  ​http://pru sa3d .c o m /d riv ers
​ p ag e fo r u pdate d v ers io n o f t h is  3 D
 
printing hanbook (PDF  dow nlo ad ).
 
 
In case of any  ​printer ​ relate d p ro ble m  do n ot h esi ta te  to  co nta ct  u s  at 
​in fo @ pru sa 3d.co m
​.W e
 
are glad to receive all your  valu able  co mme nts  and tip s.  W e st ro ngly  su ggest  yo u to  vi sit o ur
 
official forum at  ​forum.prusa3d.co m
​, w here  yo u ca n fin d so lu tio ns  to  co mmon issu es,  tip s,
 
advice and hints in additi on to  a ct ual  in fo rma tio n a bout th e O rig in al  P ru sa  i3  
​prin te r’s
 
development.  
3.1 Glossary  
 
Bed,  ​Heatbed, Printbed ​ - 
​Commo nly
​ u se d 
​te rm
​ fo r 
​prin tin g
​ p ad -  a  h eate d a re a o f 3 D
 
printer ​ where 3D objects are p rin te d.
 
Extruder ​ -  ​Printing ​ head or ext ru der  is  a p art  o f a  
​prin te r
​ co nsi st in g o f a  
​nozzl e
​, h obbed
 
pulley, idler and a  ​nozzle ​ fa n.
 
Filament ​ -  ​Term ​ for plastic  pro vided o n sp ool  is  ca lle d “
​fila me nt”
​, it ’s  use d th ro ughout th is
 
handbook as well as in the  L C D me nu o n th e 
​prin te r
​.  
Heater,  ​Hotend ​ - other name fo r  a 
​ prin tin g
​  ​nozzl e
​.  
1.75 ​ - 3D printers use two  d if fe re nt d ia me te rs  (thickn ess)  of a  
​fila m ent (
​th ickn ess
​) ​: 2 .8 5 m m
 
( ​commonly ​ called as 3 mm) and 1 .7 5 mm.  1 .7 5mm  version is  mo re  u se d w orld w id e th ough
 
there is no difference in  ​prin tin g
​ q ualit y.
 
 
 
6   
						

							 
3.2 Disclaimer  
 
Failure to read the Manual  ma y le ad to  p erso nal  in ju ry,  in fe rio r  re su lt s  or d am age to  th e 3 D
 
printer. Always ensure tha t a nyo ne w ho o pera te s  th e 3 D  p rin te r  kn ow s  and u nderst ands  th e
 
contents of the Manual. We  ca n n ot co ntro l  th e co ndit io ns  in  w hich  yo u a sse mble  th e
 
Original Prusa i3. For this  a nd o th er  re aso ns  we d o n ot a ssu me r e sp onsi bilit y  and e xp re ssl y
 
disclaim liability for loss, i nju rie s,  d ama ge, o r  exp ense  a risi ng o ut o f o r in  a ny  way  co nnect ed
 
with the assembly, handli ng, st ora ge, u se  o r  disp osa l  o f th e p ro duct . T he in fo rm atio n in  th is
 
Manual is provided withou t a ny  warra nty,  e xp ress  or  imp lie d, re gard in g it s  co rre ct ness.
 
 
3.3 Safety instruction s
 
 
Please be very cautio us  durin g a ny  in te ra ctio n w it h  th e 
​prin te r
​. T his  prin te r is  an
 
electrical device wit h  mo ving p art s  and h ot-t emp era tu re  a re as.
 
 
1. Device is for indoor use  o nly.  D o n ot e xp ose  th e p rin te r  to  ra in  o r sn ow . A lw ays  keep th e
 
printer in a dry environme nt a t a  mi nimu m dist ance  o f 3 0 cm  fro m o th er o bje ct s.
 
2. Always place the printe r on a  st able  p la ce , w here  it  ca n n ot fa ll  o r tip  o ve r.
 
3. The printer supply is h ouse hold  p ow er  outle t 2 30 VAC , 5 0 H z  or 1 10 V AC  / 6 0 H z;  N eve r
 
connect the printer to a di ffe re nt p ow er  su pply,  it  ma y ca use  ma lf u nct io n o r d am age to  th e
 
printer.  
4. Place the power cord s o yo u ca n’t  st umb le  o n it , o r  st ep o n it  o r o th erw ise  e xp ose  to  a ny
 
damage. Make sure that t he p ow er  co rd is  not me chanica lly  or  oth erw ise  d am aged. S to p
 
using damaged cable imme dia te ly  and re pla ce  it .
 
5. When you disconnect  th e p ow er  co rd fro m  th e so cke t, p ull  th e p lu g r a th er th an th e co rd  to
 
reduce the risk of damage  to  p lu g o r  AC  o utle t.
 
6. Never disassemble the  prin te r  pow er  su pply,  it  d oes  not co nta in  a ny  parts  th at co uld  b e
 
repaired by an unskilled w orke r. Al l  re pairs  mu st b e p ro vided b y  a q ualif ie d te ch nici an.
 
7. Do not touch the nozzle  o r  heat b ed w hen th e p rin te r  is  prin tin g o r is  warm in g u p. N ote
 
that the temperature of th e n ozzl e is  210-3 00 ° C  (4 10-5 72 ° F ); h eatb ed te m pera tu re  ca n
 
reach over 100 °C (212 ° F). T emp era tu re s above  4 0 ° C  (1 04 ° F ) ca n ca use  h arm  to  h um an
 
body.    
8. Do not reach inside the  p rin te r  w hile  it  is  still  in  o pera tio n. An  in ju ry  m ay  be ca use d b y  it s
 
moving parts.  
9. Prevent children from u nsu pervi se d a cce ss to  th e p rin te r  eve n w hen th e p rin te r is  not
 
printing.    
10. Do not leave the printe r unatte nded w hile  it 's  still  o n!
 
11. Plastic is being melte d d urin g p rin tin g w hich  p ro duce s odors.  S et u p th e p rin te r so me
 
place well ventilated.  
 
3.4 Licenses  
 
Original Prusa i3 MK2  ​printe r
​ is  a p art  o f th e R epR ap p ro je ct , th e fir st  o pen so urce  3 D  
​prin te r
 
project free to use under  a 
​GNU
​  ​GPL
​  v3  
​lice nse
​ (
​ www.
​gn u
​.o rg /
​ li ce nse s
​/ ​gpl
​-3 .0 .e n.h tm l
​). If
 
you improve or alter any p art  o f a  
​prin te r
​ a nd yo u a re  w illin g to  se ll,  th en yo u h ave  to  p ublish
 
the source codes under th e sa me  
​ li ce nse
​. Al l  3 D -p rin te d e le me nts  of th e p rin te r th at ca n b e
 
improved upon can be fo und a t 
​http ://w ww.p ru sa 3d.co m/ pru sa -i3 -p rin ta ble -p arts/
​.    
7   
						

							 
4 Original Prusa i3  M K2  p rinte r
 
 
Unlike the  ​printer ​ kit, it’s comple te ly  asse mble d a nd a lmo st re ady  to  
​prin t
​. A fte r p lu ggin g in
 
and running the necessa ry calib ra tio n yo u, ca n 
​prin t
​ a  3 D  o bje ct  in  th e m atte r o f m in ute s
 
after unpacking the  ​printer ​. Ke ep in  mi nd yo u ca n u se  o ur 
​support
​ e m ail  w hen yo u
 
purchased the assembled  
​ prin te r
​ . D o n ot h esi ta te  to  w rite  u s  if  yo u n eed a ny  advi ce  o r h elp .
 
We will gladly help with a ny  sp eci fic  prin ts.
 
 
3D printers use two d if fe re nt d ia me te rs  of a  
​fila me nt
​ (yo u ca n fin d m ore  in  ch apte r
 
Materials ​): 2.85 mm and 1 .7 5 mm.  1 .7 5mm  version is  use d m ore  w orld w id e, th ough
 
there is no difference in  
​prin tin g
​ q ualit y.  F ila me nt is  pro vided o n a  sp ool  w here  yo u
 
can find the basic info rma tio n - 
​fila me nt
​ ma ker, 
​mate ria l
​ (AB S, P LA , e tc. ) a nd 
​fila m ent
 
diameter. 2.85 mm  ​filament
​ is 
​ commo nly
​ ca lle d a s  3 mm.
 
 
This  ​printer ​ supports only  a  1 .7 5 m m 
​fila m en t
​. Pl ease  ch eck  th e 
​fila m ent
​ d ia m ete r to  b e
 
1.75mm before inserting  in to  th e e xt ru der.  D o n ot try  to  in se rt w id er 
​ fila m ent
​ it  co uld  d am age
 
the extruder.  
 
 
 
Pict. 1  -  O rig in al  Pru sa i3  MK2  
​prin te r
​ d escr ip tio n
 
8   
						

							 
5 Original Prusa i3  M K2  p rinte r kit
 
 
 
Original Prusa i3 MK2  ki t is  pict ure d in  p
​ict
​ . 2 . 
​Deta ile d
​ in fo rm atio n a nd a sse mbly
 
description can be fo und in  ch apte r 
​6.2  Pri nte r  asse mbly
​. W e o ffe r th e 
​ support
​ fo r
 
users who purchased th e 
​prin te r
​ ki t th ro ugh o ur  offici al  fo ru m . If yo u n eed h elp  d o
 
not hesitate to visit o ur  fo ru m  at 
​fo ru m. pru sa 3d.co m
​. Yo u ca n fin d th e a nsw ers  fo r
 
your problem there. If not , p le ase  ju st  p ost  yo ur  quest io n d ire ctly  th ere .
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pict. 2  -  O rig in al  Pru sa i3  MK2  
​prin te r
​ ki t u nboxe d
 
 
   
9   
						

							 
6 First steps  
6.1 Printer unpacking  and p rop er  han dlin g
 
 
Holding the upper frame,  ta ke  th e p rin te r  and p ull  it  o ut fro m  th e b ox.  B e ca re fu l  w hen
 
handling the  ​printer ​ not to d ama ge th e e le ct ro nics  and th us  th e 
​pro per
​  ​prin te r
​ fu nct io nalit y.
 
Anytime you move the  ​printe r,
​ a lw ays  hold  th e u pper  fra me  w it h  h otb ed u prig ht p oin tin g
 
away from you as picture d in  p
​ict
​. 3 A
​. 
​Do n ot fo rg et to  re mo ve a ll  sh ip pin g h elp ers  parts
 
shown in pic 3B or the wh it e  zi p tie s  use d.
 
 
 
 
Pict. 3 A  - 
​Proper
​ h andlin g o f a  
​prin te r
 
Pict. 3B - Do n ot fo rg et to  re mo ve a ll  sh ip pin g h elp ers  parts
   
10