Prusa i3 MK2.5/S

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Prusa i3 MK2s

The Prusa MK2.5/S is a great workhorse machine that produces consistently high quality prints. These machines are provided to print shop filament only in order to maintain a consistent and simple user experience. This is the recommended machine for new or casual users, or anyone wishing to run off prints without having to purchase and store an entire spool of filament.

The filaments we use are Atomic PLA and PETG, which are stored in humidity controlled airtight containers. The filament is fed through a tube to the printer in order to keep it dry and dust free for the entire filament path.

Printing Guide

Using Shop Filament

In general, Lowell Makes does not provide materials and consumables. In the interest of convenience, the 3D Printing Shop has chosen to make filament available for purchase on a per-print basis. The filament pricing is calculated at-cost, and all payments will be used to buy future spools. Pricing on "shop filament only" machines is calculated by the Octoprint server. If other spools of shop filament are available, their pricing (in $/unit length and $/unit mass) will be listed on the spool.

Paying cash on a per-print basis is fine, but we ask that you round up to the next 25¢. You can also pay in $5 increments and take a filament voucher card. As you print, use the voucher to track your usage by marking off squares on the card. Each square represents 25¢, and each row $1. Filament payments are on the honor system, so you may keep your own ledger if you wish. If you want to pay via PayPal, there is a $5 minimum to keep the fees manageable, but you may use any excess towards future prints.

Slicing

PrusaSlicer is the recommended slicer for the Prusa i3 MK2.5/S. Once the software is open, import your STL model by clicking the Add icon, pressing ctrl+i, or by drag-and-dropping it into the window. Check it's orientation and placement on the bed and that it fits within the build area. Make sure the correct Print Settings, Filament (Shop PLA or Shop PETG), and Printer (Original Prusa i3 MK2.5S) are selected in the drop-downs at the right. 0.20mm NORMAL and the default 20% Infill will work well for most prints. Press Slice now to generate the tool path and visually inspect the preview. The Sliced Info box will provide a filament cost and a fairly accurate estimated printing time. If the preview looks good, press Export G-code to save the .gcode file, ideally to your personal folder on the boottmill drive.

Printing

An Octoprint server is running on a Raspberry Pi connected to the printer. Open a browser and connect to the server by clicking the Spaceship, Narwhal, or Dragon bookmark. Please note that the Spaceship and Narwhal are loaded with PLA while the Dragon is loaded with PETG, so make sure to use the correct printer for whichever filament you selected in the slicer. Log in if needed and insure that the printer is connected. Upload your .gcode file using the Upload button, or by drag-and-droping the file into the window. Once the upload is complete, press the Load icon next to the file name. Once the file is loaded, the price of the print will be displayed in the status menu. Press Print to start printing your model. Always be sure to watch the first layer complete to make sure it sticks to the bed. If the first layer does not stick to the bed, Cancel the print and remove the failed parts from the bed. Then restart the print or modify the slicer settings depending on the failure. If you need help with a difficult print, please contact [email protected] or the shop Basecamp.

Removing The Print

When your print is finished, let the nozzle and heatbed cool down before removing the printed object. When the bed is hot objects are very hard to remove, so always wait for it to cool down first. Pull the bed towards you and remove the flex plate carefully. Flexing the plate in both directions is usually enough to release the object. If you experience any trouble removing the object, you can use one of the provided spatula tools to pry it off. Slide the spatula under the corner of the object and gently push, until the print pops off. Be careful not to dig into the PEI on the bed. Handle the plate at the edges and avoid touching the print surface more than necessary as finger oils degrade the adhesion. Replace the plate when finished, making sure it is seated properly and no filament or other debris is between the bed and the flex-plate. The magnets are very strong, so be careful not to pinch your finger!