octoprint4

Small and fast when it is working.. super frustrating when it is not! see below

Base stats#

  • Make: Prusa
  • Model: Original Prusa MINI+
  • Filament diameter: 1.75mm
  • X = 180
  • Y = 180
  • Z = 180
  • Layer heights = 0.05mm-0.25mm
  • Hotend max: 280C
  • Bed temp max: 100C
  • Max travel speed: 200mm/s
  • Motherboard: Custom 32-bit Buddy board
  • Flavor: Marlin 2.x

Nickname#

Well, since I got the XL I felt this needed to be named in the same, childish, way.

So, I named it teeny-weeny and put it on the network to work with PrusaLink and PrusaConnect.

Hardware included or added#

  • Direct drive: no (bowden, and long at that)
    • upgraded to Bondtech extruder and no change to bowden length
  • Filament runout sensor: yes (optional)
  • Bed mesh leveling: yes (included, SuperPINDA - an inductive sensor)
  • Hardened Steel Nozzle: no (0.4mm)
    • upgraded to Nozzle X upon purchase (0.4mm)
  • Flexible build plate: yes (included, smooth PEI)

I wanted the Prusa experience in my office area#

Did I get the Prusa experience? It’s a lot of yes and a little bit of no..

Yes: When it is not being crushed by the gremlin train the printer is fantastic. It’s a little loud here in Larry the Loft but not obnoxiously loud. No gremlins means it is the fastest printer in the farm (of bedslingers) with excellent structures and details.

No: Gremlins!!! This thing was plagued with them.

Prusa MINI+ was my fourth printer purchased overall and is the printer that had the most gremlins of any of my FDM printers to date.

Building took me less than an hour (purchased the assembled version which came mostly assembled) and I had working prints within 30 minutes of powering on and going through calibration steps.

Initially I was having stringing issues with PETG and a ton of issues printing with any PLA then that issue just went away and PLA, for the most part, is all dandy fine.

Out of the box it is about 5-7% faster than the MK3S+ when it is working correctly.

Unfortunately I have had so many issues with the MINI+ that I can’t recommend it to anyone at this time.

After resolving items as listed below I have changed my recommendation on this printer from ‘oh hell no’ to ‘oh yes, so much yes!’

I upgraded the extruder as I feel it is the most weak link for this printer. I decided upon the Bondtech Dual Drive Extrusion Upgrade Kit link (though find a local reseller and save yourself the shipping hassle and costs) and it solved many problems but the long bowden path still makes it mostly impossible to print TPU/flexible filaments. It did wonders to help with stringing with PETG so it’s worth the ~$80 (including shipping).

The printer can be purchased as a kit for $349 or assembled for $399. I estimate at least 8 hours to build from the kit vs less than an hour to buy the assembled version.

Problems since receiving this printer mid-May 2021#

  • super stringy prints with PETG

    • resolved: heater block too low, not flush with heat break, PTFE tube too short, upgraded extruder

  • initially PLA was a bitch but no longer

    • resolved: heater block too low, not flush with heat break, PTFE tube too short

  • random times when any extruder clicks and filament stops flowing before and after extruder upgrade. I can never predict when it will happen.

    • resolved: heater block too low, not flush with heat break, PTFE tube too short

  • updating/changing nozzle temperatures between prints is becoming the norm.

    • resolved: with above fixes

  • white and blue screen crashes mid-print. (loud in the middle of the night)

    • resolved: updated firmware and this has disappeared

As you can see this are things that now resolved!