When’s the right time to buy tech? The second a new gadget comes out? Sure, you’ll get the hottest technology available. But you might have to live with some flaws that will be ironed out over time. Should you buy a mature product that has proven itself on the market? Then you may run into the problem the manufacturer releases a newer model with a lot of additional features you didn’t know you were desperately wanting.
The latter just happened to the 3D printing community. Prusa Research has introduced the Original Prusa i3 Mk3, which is currently available for preorder.
It has a lot of new goodies in the bag. Just to name a few: A new removable flexible metal bed lets you pluck the prints from the bed with ease, the filament sensor pauses the print if you’re running out of material, and the printer continues even if you unplug it from the power source. These and more features are definitely great (read more about them here).
So what do you do you just have bought the successor Prusa Mk2?
Well, now there’s an upgrade solution available – for the price of €499. In comparison: A new Mk3 will set you back €769 (kit version) or €999 (assembled). If you bought your MK2S during the last 30 days before MK3 release (September 23, 2017), you will get a 100 USD discount.
Why does the Mk2 Upgrade Kit Cost Half of a New Mk3
When we talked to Josef Prusa at TCT 2017 he stated an upgrade kit probably wouldn’t make sense. The reason is the sheer magnitude of components you’ll have to exchange.
It’s good to see that there‘s an option now – even if it’s pricey. Be prepared to replace almost all components of our Mk2 (but thanks to excellent documentation, this can be accomplished in just some hours).
The upgrade kit contains:
- Magnetic MK52 Heatbed 24v with powder coated PEI spring steel print sheet
- Bondtech extruder gears
- Filament Sensor
- P.I.N.D.A. 2 probe with thermistor
- Noctua fan 24v
- EINSY RAMBo motherboard with Trinamic 2130 drivers
- 505015 blower fan
- PSU 24v
- new dural frame with 1 cm more z height and 16 holes
- E3D V6 Hotend assembly 24v
- 3030 extrusions
- front and rear plate
- 300g EasyABS filament
If you’re upgrading from MK2, you will not get MK2S parts like u-bolts and new rods/bearings, you have to buy them separately.
According to the website, shipping for the upgrade will start in January 2018.
(Source: Prusa Research)
License: The text of "Prusa Research Offers MK3 Upgrade Kit for Older MK2/S Models" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.