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The Ol' Switch'a'Pru

This Clever Project Turns Prusa MK4 Leftovers Into a CoreXZ Printer

by Jonny Edge
Published Aug 7, 2025

Spare bits and pieces remaining from a Prusa MK4S to Core One upgrade? You probably have all you need for an unofficial Voron Switchwire.

If you’ve upgraded an Original Prusa MK4S to the company’s enclosed CoreXY system, the Prusa Core One, you could have the bulk of parts to build a Voron Switchwire, albeit not officially.

Ella Fox and Positron3D, have converted a Prusa MK4S frame to a Voron Switchwire-inspired CoreXZ system, making use of everything left over from a Core One Upgrade.

Originally an elaborate April Fool’s ’25 idea via the mind of Positron3D’s CEO Anthony Dragone, AKA, TheNomad, the “Prusawire” is now an advanced, Beta-worthy project with a reliable backbone and months of hard work behind it. That being said, keep in mind this project is for fun, and isn’t a kind of ultra-refined 3D printer design from which to run wild speeds and results. Nor is it an official Voron Switchwire – so don’t request their support.

However, Dragone themself seems to work as R&D Manager at Printed Solid, Prusa Research’s official US-based reseller and service centre. If anyone has a rock-solid base on Prusa printers from which to riff on, it’ll be them.

This isn’t the first Switchwire conversion we’ve seen. Back in 2024, we reported on the assortment of Creality Ender 3 DIY conversions that could morph your Ender into a Switchwire. At the time, Creality’s Ender 3 V3 had recently become available, and took the Switchwire’s CoreXZ kinematics, which replace leadscrews with belts. That movement system smooths out the printhead motion as the belts do not hold the imperfections that cheap leadscrews do.

If you’re looking for an entertaining project to make use of discarded components (or even just a fun project full stop) then this little printer conversion fits the bill… of materials. That, along with everything else you need to get the project going can be found over on Ella Fox’s Prusawire page on Printables.