Ok, I just got my new MK4S+ set up and printing. I also have my MK3s+ printer up and printing as well. The same prints on both. I swear it’s like watching a snail vs a cheetah in comparison. I seriously had no idea at how fast this printer was. I’m ruined, I could never go back! Thank you PRUSA for making such a great machine! I’m without a doubt a customer for life!
If you have a spare Raspberry Pi 3/4/zero2 and some spare time to burn, there are several guides for setting up klipper on the MK3S+ to bring the speed up. There is also a Prusawire mod that alters the kinematics and frame a bit as well. Might want to check them out if you’re up for a challenge.
what is a MK4S+? some aftermarket upgrade from the MK4S?
How is the noise level of the MK4S, compared to your MK3S? I can have my MK3S printing in the room next to me while I sleep, which I feel is pretty silent. I'd love a faster printer but I'm worried about them making more noise?
I can tell that going from MK3S to MK3.5 made the printer quieter. I guess because there are way less resonances between X and Y axes.
Thanks, now I want the 3.5 upgrade 😅
It's definitely worth it. I'm super satisfied with the upgrade, and my old lazy MK3S is now future-proof.
MK4S was definitely louder for me, I was a bit disappointed as quietness was one of the big things they marketed. Specifically the hotend fan gets pretty loud printing PETG etc, even in 20C ambient temps.
Currently running a PETG print and the hotend fan is at 100%, 7950 RPM. Ambient temp is 19.4C.
The G-code doesn't take ambient temp into consideration, if you want lower fan speed, which you might get away with due to the lower ambient temp, you'll have to set the max fan speed lower manually in the slicer. The printer just does what the slicer have decided for it and that is 100% fan speed, not x amount of cooling, depending on ambient temp.
I'm talking about the hot end fan, not the part cooling fan. I think the hot end fan is controlled by the heat break temperature.
I haven't owned a mk4 but I think on my mk3+, while it is somewhat controlled by the hotend temp, it's just a on or off situation. So mine goes at 100% as soon as the hotend passes, I think it is 60 or 80°C. This ofc might be more advanced on the later versions, so might work better on a mk4. I would still think that the hotend fan needs to be going at 100% when the hotend is at operating temp to avoid heatcreep though, when at 250-300°C, ambient of 19 or 24 doesn't make many % difference.
Yeah, the MK4 has a heat break temp sensor and the fan speed is variable. It runs fairly quietly printing PLA (which seems counter intuitive) but almost always 100% for PETG.
I see, that is fancy. That it runs quiter during PLA printing makes sense, though, since the nozzle temp is lower?
It's counter intuitive to me as 230 to 255 isn't much of a difference and I would think you'd want to keep the heat break as cool as possible for PLA to prevent heat creep.
I think you're right though.
You always want to keep the heat break cool for all filaments to prevent heat creep. The steeper gradient the better. But I guess prusa have a set value that the heartbreak temp sensor triggers on, deemed safe for all filaments and that it doesn't change with filament type?
Looking at the custom G code in Prusaslicer, I see this for PLA:
M142 S36 ; set heatbreak target temp
and the same for PETG.
PCCF though:
M142 S45 ; set heatbreak target temp
So it is higher for some filaments but PETG and PLA are the same.
I actually have mine on a 18x18 rubber paver with a 18x18 cement paver on top of that to help with vibration. The only real noise I have is from the motors and I’d say there’re pretty close to the same but the MK4s is a touch quieter. I’ll try to add a pic of it when I get some time to give you an idea.
Thanks! I like the rubber paver idea, that's clever!
After taking a few paid print jobs I am wanting to upgrade from my trusty 3S+ since time is money.