Prusa introduces MK4 printer for 1199 euros

Spread the love

Prusa has released a successor to its MK3S printer. The MK4 has almost the same dimensions, but almost all parts have been upgraded and modernized. The printer costs 889 euros as a kit and the MK4 costs 1199 euros assembled.

The print volume of the Prusa MK4 is almost the same as that of the MK3S +, with dimensions of 250 by 210 by 220 millimeters. The new printer also seems to be based on the same frame as the MK3, as evidenced by upgrade options from the MK3 to MK4. In addition, the MK4 fits into Prusa’s print housing or enclosure just like the MK3; with that, the printer should also fit into enclosures with IKEA LACK tables.

Despite those similarities, the MK4 is a lot more than an incremental update. The motherboard is a 32bit board that Prusa calls xBuddy that features an STM32 processor. In addition, the board has network connectivity in the form of an Ethernet connection on board, with an optional WiFi module based on an ESP chip. You can therefore send print files to the printer via the network or via the internet with Prusa Link, but offline printing via a USB drive is also possible. The interface has been updated with a 3.5″ color LCD, which shows a preview of prints, just like the Prusa Mini.

The print head has been renewed for printing: the MK4 has a Nextruder, an extruder with planetary gears with 10:1 reduction. This should improve the supply of filament and, moreover, the hotend, i.e. the print head, can be easily replaced. The printer has an improved bed leveling system, with a load cell instead of a Peanut sensor to detect the print bed. In addition, only the part of the print bed where printing will actually take place is calibrated to save time.

Another time-saving option is a technique called input shaping. Thanks to the more powerful 32-bit motherboard, the MK4 has sufficient computing power to apply that technique. It does not use the widely used Klipper, but its own variant of Prusa. The stepper motors have been updated and are more precise, with steps of 0.9 degrees instead of 1.8 degrees, while the stepper drivers are the same Trinamic 2130 drivers found on the MK3.

In addition to the MK4, Prusa also announces the MMU3. This is an extension to the printer that allows up to five different filaments to be used during printing, so that you get color prints. The MMU2, or Multi Material Upgrade 2, was plagued with problems, but the MMU3 should work flawlessly, according to Prusa. The price of the MMU3 will be announced in April and the expansion will be available from June.

The complete MK4 costs 889 euros as a kit and 1199 euros as a finished printer. If desired, an MK3S+ can be upgraded, in various degrees. Upgrade to version ‘3.5’ costs 279 euros and replaces the 8bit motherboard and monochrome LCD for the new motherboard and color screen. This also gives you support for faster printing with input shaping. For 549 euros you can upgrade to version 3.9, where you also get the new Nextruder extruder. And for 649 euros you can also replace the stepper motors and upgrade to the MK4. The printers should be available immediately, but stock has already run out: the pre-assembled printers now have a considerable waiting time.

Prusa introduced the MK3 in September 2017, but since then the printer has received several revisions and improvements. However, the motherboard remained the same Einsy-8bit board. The Prusa Mini, introduced in 2019, did get a modern 32-bit motherboard and since then Prusa users have been hoping for a successor to the MK3 with up-to-date hardware. The Prusa XL announced in 2021 did get that, but it is not a successor to the MK3.

You might also like