Upgrading the Prusa mk3 and its influence on wall quality

Images below!

I upgraded my Prusa mk3 R2 build with different axis and extruder. I printed different models before and after the upgrade to see how it affects the print quality. While I did also print all-in-one test, I wanted to focus on wall quality.

Limitions

There are many things you can tweak on a 3d printer. Both hardware and software. I tried to stick with stock slicer settings as much as possible. You will also see some minor ghosting on the x axis on my stock prints, just ignore them. They could have been removed with belt tension improvements. But that is a pita on stock mk3.

Models

602 cube

Single perimeter 40x40 cube

3d test v3

Overhang and bridge test

Benchy

All stl files are on this github repo.

Upgrades

Both stock and skele had nozzle X and a nozzle sock. Stock also had a new nozzle fan thingy from RH_Dreambox.

Slicer settings and firmware

I used slic3r PE 1.42.0-beta1 with stock 0.20mm SPEED MK3 profiles. Any per model changes are documented below. For the skele prints I edited the k value from 30 down to 20 and retraction from 0.8 to 0.6.

602 cube: seam position: rear

3d test v3: Detect thin walls

40x40 cube perimeters: 1 Solid layers top: 0 Solid layers Bottom: 1 Infill: 0

Ghosting / Speed test: Speed: 120 mm/s (All of them) Acceleration control: 1250 mm/s^2 Slow down if layer print time is below: 5

fan_test_-_Part_2b

Brim width: 5mm

Firmware was 3.4.2 before and after.

Filament

To eliminate filament as a variable, I used Prusament for some before/after prints. I could not see any difference in Prusament vs cheap local, with focus on external perimeter qualty.

Prusament PLA Vanilla White, 210C (or 215C)

Prusa Silver (Not Prusament, the one I got with my mk3), 200C

Pirate Black - 3DE Premium PLA, 200C

Some blue 3DE Premium PLA, 200C

Results

Conclusion

Shit man, IDK. Skele++ looks cool and thanks to Taurus I can change my belt tension without any tools. Many people reportet that even just sunon fan on stock makes a huge difference to them. I printed with low ambient, ~16C, maybe in hotter climate you need more fan power? I think we need more people to try and document mk3 upgrades.

Thanks

Thanks to all the peeps fromt he 602 Wasteland discord. Especially Greg, the bear, and Jltx, first to his name.