An Awesome Machine
The Prusa i3 MK3S is arguably one of the most popular 3D printers in the world. One of the main attractions of the MK3S is that it’s open-source, so the ability to develop and make modifications to both hardware and firmware is a huge plus.
That said, Prusa Research regularly releases new versions of many things, including firmware. The latter offer improvements in the operation of the printer, such as new features and fixes for any bugs found.
In this article, we’ll give a brief overview of the MK3S’ firmware before discussing updates and alternatives.
The Brain of the MK3S
The Prusa i3 MK3S uses an Einsy Rambo as its main logic board. As with any printer, it’s responsible for interpreting G-code files to provide instructions to the MK3S’ mechanical hardware, such as stepper motors and heaters.
The firmware that Prusa uses is a variation of Marlin, which is a popular open-source build. It was developed alongside the RepRap family of printers, created by Adrian Bowyer.
Knowledge of Marlin is only required if you intend to replace the proprietary Prusa firmware with an alternative, which we’ll discuss further down.
Prusa Proprietary Firmware
Prusa has their own skilled developers and engineers, who use the company’s print farm for the testing and ongoing development of the firmware. This is one of the reasons for the success of the MK3S, as its firmware is recognized as providing many features that aren’t available with other printers, including optimized printing quality.
As mentioned previously, Prusa provides regular firmware updates based on user feedback. It’s also possible to check Prusa’s GitHub repository for beta or pre-released candidate versions as well as the full release log for each firmware version.
These versions are made available for advanced users in the maker community to try and provide feedback on new versions of the official firmware. However, you must bear in mind that care needs to be taken when installing a beta or release candidate version, as they’re not fully tested and may be unstable. This is a task for the more seasoned tinkerers out there.
Updating
Ensuring that your MK3S’ firmware is the latest version will help you get the most out of your printer. To update, here’s the general process:
- Check your printer’s current firmware version. This can be done on the printer’s LCD screen by navigating to “Info Screen > Support > Firmware Version”.
- Compare your version to the latest available on Prusa’s drivers website. It also includes a release log, so you can see if an update adds any features or resolves any issues you may be having.
- If a firmware update is required, download the appropriate package and upload it to your printer using PrusaSlicer. For more information on this, Prusa Research provides an in-depth guide when you click on “How to flash firmware” in the upper right-hand corner.
- If you run into any issues, assistance can be found on the Prusaprinters forum via “Firmware updating and Flashing Problems“.
You can also update via OctoPrint if you have it installed. See their website and also their GitHub site for Firmware Updates.
Incidentally, this procedure (from Step 3 onwards) is also followed when using an alternative to Prusa’s official firmware. Instead of using Prusa’s configuration (hex) file, the alternative configuration file is used.
If the firmware fails to operate properly once uploaded, the printer can be reset back to its original firmware via a factory reset.
Alternative Firmware
Being open-source, the MK3S’ firmware is fully editable. Consequently, a number of enthusiasts and organizations have developed their own firmware versions.
Generally speaking, there are two main reasons to do so:
- Improving quality: Alternative revised firmware can potentially improve print quality or reduce print failures.
- Upgrading or replacing parts: Adjusted firmware can also come in handy when additional or replacement hardware is installed, such as multi-color or multi-material extruders. The Bondtech extruder upgrade is a prime example of this, providing their own guidelines for upgrading the firmware. The same is true for the E3D Hemera extruder.
Self-Editing Firmware
The beauty with Marlin is that you can edit existing firmware or completely write a new version. Remember though, Prusa uses some specific G-codes commands, which must be used in any firmware for the MK3S to work properly. Failure to use these can cause issues in the operation of the printer. You must also ensure that the version of Marlin in question is compatible with the Einsy Rambo logic board.
Again, it should be noted that changing the firmware is generally seen as an advanced activity and not recommended for beginners.
We won’t go into detail on how to edit Marlin here, but for more information on the topic, take a look at our main Marlin guide.
Why Tinker with It?
While most changes can be undertaken using slicer settings and custom G-code commands (provided through a slicer like PrusaSlicer), there are some things that lay beyond these options. Here are some example reasons to do some self-tinkering:
- Extended limits: Firmware developers frequently install maximum and minimum values for aspects like print speed. In order to make changes outside these limits, changes to the firmware may be required.
- Saved states: Changes are less likely to be lost or corrupted due to slicer updates or using G-code from different slicers.
- New features: Incorporating the latest printer features that Prusa has not yet included in their own firmware becomes possible.
Check out this video on the latest version of Marlin from Teaching Tech:
(Lead image source: Hackaday)
License: The text of "Prusa i3 MK3S Firmware Update: All You Need to Know" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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