Original Prusa i3 MK3 Review - Best 3D Printer of its class?

The Maker's Muse review of the Original Prusa MK3!

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[rmdcade]

You're the first person I've seen to have both an affiliate and non-affiliate link. That's pretty awesome.

[bmobert]

As someone considering purchasing this printer, I definitely appreciate this review. I've heard little but raves elsewhere. Hearing some negatives from a source I trust has helped me find in favor of the machine, believe it or not.
Thank you.

[jacobbeaton]

You should make a video on what printers are the best in their respective domains (ex. best cheap printer, best high end printer, best overall/value printer etc.)

[welbot]

Gummy bear rationing. Probably the best kit building advice ever! ;)

[Nnip]

I appreciate the honesty of your review. Keep up the good work. Really, honesty does pay.

[drpipe]

Just finished building mine ...piece of cake no issues anywhere ...mesh bed level wow..first print was like I actually had been a 3D printer for years !, truth is it was my first ever print. Long after you have forgotten how much it cost you will remember the Value of the Prusa back up ...simply amazing. You could spend all the hours fixing a machine or all those hours learning fusion instead so you can design and print your own stuff, the choice is yours. Happy printing and a great channel you have. Thank you.

[beefy]

I probably watched this review 5 times. I have been agonizing over what printer fits my needs best and was very close to getting a refurbished Lulzbot Mini, but after seeing that it took 3 mm filament, is even louder than the Prusa i3 mk2, and doesn't take an SD card, I had to go with the Prusa. The new build plate looks like it will be a major help for me as I'll be printing small items and tokens for tabletop gaming. Made sure to use the affiliate link.

Your channel is by far my favorite as you are very critical and honest with your reviews. Really enjoy the very technical nature of it instead of wishy-washy comments and very dubious testing circumstances on other channels. Tom and Joel are pretty awesome, too. The fact that the community has really adopted your models as the test methods to use is a pretty clear indicator of your knowledge and status in the community. Well done!

[TalbotUtube]

Great review. Has the past 2 years helped iron out the kinks and provide noticeable improvement on this model?

[Hilmi]

Thanks for the honest review. I'm tired of reviews that fail to point out any negative points to a product as if it were perfect. My mk2 printer has given me so much grief and some of the problems should have been pointed out by reviewers as they were fundimental design flaws.

[NickLandry]

Well, I saw this review AFTER buying my MK3 and I concur with what I've heard. Note that this is my very first 3D printer, I had ZERO experience with them before, and I ordered the kit and assembled it myself. I'm a software guy and I'm certainly not the *handy* type. What I do have is an ability to pay attention to detail, patience to follow every step, and I know how to RTFM. I'm happy to report that despite the excruciatingly complex extruder assembly, I nailed it on the first try, from assembly to self-check to calibration to successful first print. I did run the first layer calibration like 8 times until I was sure it looked good, that was not so obvious. So even if you're a complete newbie, you *can* build this if you take your time and read everything carefully.

I am also seeing some web-like stringing on small figurines (I'm mostly printing D&D minis right now) but I have not experimented yet with the retraction settings, I'm just using the defaults for now. The auto-leveling of the bed is so easy. I did not realize how good I had it until I saw on YouTube videos how many printers require manual leveling. OMG, I never want to do that. Also, having seen people fight with scrapers to remove models from beds, the removable metal sheet is AMAZING. I actually had an issue with a small figurine that did not stick enough and started slipping twice on the bed, causing a failed print, but I easily fixed it by including a brim. problem solved. Wi-Fi would be great, I'll definitely have to upgrade mine with that RP0 kit.

I just discovered your channel today and I love the videos, keep up the great work!

[cupbowlspoonforkknif]

I am happy to use the affiliate link today because I support your unbiased reviews and great overall content!

[MrWobling]

I’ve been running a mk3 for a few weeks. I think the whispy stringing is due to the fact Slic3r PE enables Z-hop by default on the stock profiles. You can obviously switch it off, but then you risk more print collisions. For me the lack of wi-fi is a non-issue, as I’ve rigged up Octo-pi with an external Raspberry Pi. I’ve read some comments online suggesting the internal Raspberry Pi is not the best option - some people have been having issues with the smaller form factor Zero.

My kit shipped without the textured PEI bed, although the PEI spring-steel bed is working quite nicely. Still no word on when the textured bed will become available. I would like to upgrade to this when it becomes available - I’ve had a few tall/thin parts warp off the bed, although re-printing with the supplied glue-stick did the trick.

I *love* being able to remove parts so easily.

Only down-sides I’ve experienced is that sometimes certain filament has been jamming on unloading and I also agree that the extruder was pretty difficult to assemble. Also, sometimes filament leaks out of the nozzle during the bed levelling process, which can result in a messy nozzle right at the start of the print. I probably need to tweak the gcode or use a lower temperature for the first layer.

Overall, it’s a completely different world to my previous Anet A8, which has now been retired before it burns the house down (I did most of the safety upgrades too). I really enjoyed the build, a lot more than the A8 build, partly because I was more confident assembling 3D printers, but also the instructions were far, far better and contained no mistakes.

Thanks for the excellent and considered review Angus. Personally I would highly recommend this printer, too.

P.S. My kit shipped with an improved double-sided injection moulded spool holder. Ultimately I want to get the spool off the top of the printer when I sort out an enclosure.

[reasonablebeing]

Great review including your honest opinions and comparisons. I agree that the $5 WIFI Raspberry PI should be included or offered as a factory add-on. It intimidates folks who are not electronically inclined but would like the feature. While every printer has its warts, the Prusa line continues to set the standard for overall quality, usability and consistency including groundbreaking innovations out of the box. It definitely is the "go to" everyday general purpose printer. You do not see a lot of used ones for sale except when folks are looking to upgrade to their next generation Prusa model. What's missing in these reviews which I'd like to see is a response from the printer manufacturer to the issues raised during the review showing fixes, improvements or advice.

[spookyseafood]

I’m watching this even though I already ordered one

[dim]

The Prusa machines are incredible work horses and with work horses it does what it is good at. Though when you need a 3d printer to just work without messing around with it so much it is amazing. My college uses 3 of them and were able to go from 3 staff for 6 printers who were regularly fixing problems with the 3d printers in the free student work space to 1 staff for 6 printers because of how reliable they are. For the college that is a very big plus side for running a free program.
It is like buying a truck instead of an expensive sports car or a cheap bottom of the market car that you have to constantly work on.

[Ravnosküken]

Build mine in 6 hours, still need to do calibration and first print.

Real easy guide to follow, my background is quality management and instructions like these are what you can give people that have no technical background. Big thumps up

And if prusa wouldn't do the engineering and testing all the clones wouldn't have this stuff. I don't see new things on them till some "premium manufacturers" else does it first

[Ayankeeinthesouth]

I got my MK3 kit last week and been printing ever since I finished building it. You're lucky getting a powder coated PEI sheet. I got a smooth PEI sheet. Can't wait till I can order an additional print sheet. I have't had any issues yet with mine and already looking at getting another one.

[joepwelling]

Hi, I received my MK3 the 9th of April. Ordered it 16th of January. Today i have update my Y-ax to MGN12H linear slider, double block left and single block right. The sliders are 310 mm long it works perfect. I love the results it gives me.

[Xenoyer]

You're a smart guy! This is the 4th review I've viewed on this printer and yours is better at informing me. Well done.

[chloemcholoe]

Thank you for being honest and not being scared of saying the truth or sugar coating it.
also i wish people didn't use fancy silky or special filament on reviews. those are VERY good at hiding flaws. white green or lighter normal filaments show flaws very well in my experience.
like marble sometimes black and silk filaments hide defects a lot. while white is pretty much a nightmare :P