3. Printer positioning

Step 1 Disassembling the spool holder

Step 2 Disassembling the control panel (1/2)

 Disconnect the 2 ribbon cables.

Remove the rotational knob. In principle, it is only necessary to pull it slightly forward.

Remove the 2 screws holding the control panel in its case.

Remove the SD card.

Step 3 Disassembling the control panel (2/2)

Sort out the disassembled parts.

For the next step we will need:

• the control panel,
• the rotational knob,
• and the SD card.

We no longer need the printed parts and the screws.

Step 4 Rotating the printer

The rear side of the printer should be on top.

The front of the printer should be against the table.

Be careful not to pinch any cables.

Hold the printer tray firmly: it can move forward or backward very quickly.

Step 5 Cables separation

Cut the 5 cable ties.

Be careful not to cut the cables !

Separate power cables (red and black), power panic  cables (black and white) and control panel cables from the others.

Attach the other cables to the printer frame with 5 cable ties.

Step 6 Disassembling the power supply (1/2)

Loosen the 2 screws securing the power supply. It is not necessary to remove them completely.

Step 7 Removing the power supply (2/2)

Unscrew the 2 screws that hold the power supply to the vertical frame.

Be sure to keep the power supply in your hand. The power supply will be completely unhooked and may fall out.

Place the power supply behind the printer.

Step 8.1 Installing the Power Supply Replacement Bracket (mk3/mk3s/mk3s+)

In the original configuration, the power supply helps keep the vertical and horizontal parts perfectly perpendicular. It is then necessary to put a bracket instead.

Replacement bracket.

Align the nuts in the rail with the bracket.

Fix the bracket to the horizontal frame using the screws that were removed in step 6-1/2.

Fix the bracket to the vertical frame using the screws that were removed in step 7-2/2.

Step 8.2 Installing the Power Supply Replacement Bracket (mk2/mk2s/mk2.5s)

In the original configuration, the power supply helps keep the vertical and horizontal parts perfectly perpendicular. It is then necessary to put a bracket instead.

Fix the bracket to the vertical frame using the screws that were removed in step 7-2/2.

After step 9, fix the bracket to the feet parts using the screws that were removed in step 6-1/2.

Step 9 Printer feet installation for mk3s/mk3s+

For genuine Prusa dampers, you have nothing to do and you can jump to step 11.

For Printer-box dampers follow step 9.1 & 9.2

For Squash balls dampers follow step 9.1 & 9.3

Step 9.1 Feet nuts assembling:

Insert M3 square nuts inside T-slot nut printed parts.

For back feet, use a long M3 screw as a spacer in order to help you. You can get inside Prusa spare parts kit.

Place T-slot nut printed part on the M3 screw.

Step 9.2 Printer-box dampers old version:

Screw dampers inside printed parts.

Be carreful to screw dampers perpendicular to printed part in both direction.

Screw part with T-slot nuts. Distance for back feet is 15mm (don’t follow the measurement on the picture)

Make the same for front feet. Distance for front feet is 41mm (don’t follow the measurement on the picture)

Step 9.2 Printer-box dampers new version:

Screw dampers inside printed parts.

Be carreful to screw dampers perpendicular to printed part in both direction.

 Assemble and screw back feet inside. Distance for back feet is 15mm

Make the same for front feet in the outside. Distance for front feet is 41mm

Step 9.3 Squash balls dampers:

Distance for back feet is 15mm (don’t follow the measurement on the picture)

Make the same for front feet. Distance for front feet is 41mm (don’t follow the measurement on the picture)

Step 10 Squash balls dampers for mk2/mk2s/mk2.5s :

The base part is the same as mk3s, the front parts are installed in the same way. The back parts must be installed in the same way as the front parts.

Holes for front feet.

Holes for back feet.

Step 11 Positioning the printer on the platform (1/2)

Secure the control panel cable to the platform.

Place the platform on the table where you will set up your printer.

Position the printer on the platform. Make sure that the printer’s feet are correctly positioned in the footbraces.

Take your time: each of the printer’s feet must be positioned correctly in its slot for the printer to be stable.

Step 12 Placement of the printer on the platform (2/2)

Position the printer so that there is precisely 75 mm (3 inches) of space between the front frame of the printer and the front of the printerbox.

Bring the printer tray to the front stop and make sure that the tray does not come within 5 mm (0.2 inch) of the front of the printerbox.

If you have chosen to fit Printer-box shock absorbers to the Mk3 printer, it is now the time to fix them.

Once the printer is in the correct position:

• Move the platform slightly forward of your table so that you have access to the footrest screws located under the platform.
• Make sure that the platform remains stable so that the printer does not fall on your head.
• Tighten the footbrace screws that were not tightened yet.

Step 13 Mounting the control panel (1/3)

The control panel consists of your printer’s display and a stand.

Parts needed to mount the control panel:

These parts are print holders and must be removed before mounting. Simply bend them so that they break.

Insert the M3 square nuts into the indicated slots.

Install the screen into the bracket.

Fix the screen to the bracket with 2 M3x6mm screws.

Clip the cover on the support.

Your control panel is ready to be installed.

Step 14 Mounting the control panel (2/3)

Reconnect the ribbon cable with 2 lines on “Exp2”.

Check the connections carefully to avoid damaging the printer.

Step 15 Mounting the control panel (3/3)

Position the control panel through the inside of the platform and press it against the left end of the opening on the front panel.

Fix the control panel to the platform with 2 M3x6mm screws.

Step 16 Installing the cover

Slide the right panel in the direction shown.

Fix the right panel to the platform with 2 M3x6mm screws.

Step 17 Fixing the control panel (1/2)

Slide the bracket to the location shown.

Fix the bracket to the platform with 1 M3x12mm screw.

Step 18 Fixing the control panel (2/2)

Fix the bracket to the platform with 1 M3x6mm screw (new version).

Fix the bracket to the platform with 1 M3x6mm screw (old version).

Step 19 Inserting the SD card

Step 20 Fitting the rotational knob

Information about power supply

There are two types of power supply : silver or black.

The mounting is quite similar, but parts are different.

If you have a black PSU, please follow step 21.

If you have a silver PSU, please follow step 22.

Step 21.1 Installing the black power supply

There are two versions of the PSU holder. In either case the setting is similar.

Insert an M3 square nut in each of the indicated slots (10 for the new version).

In some cases, it may be easier to use a clamp, such as the one supplied by Prusa.

This slot is a Keystone plug.

These spots are for Wago connector, such as :

This can be bend to secure the power buck converter.

Step 21.2 Installing the power supply

Place the power supply support at the back of the platform, with the stop on the right.

Place the power supply against the bracket.

Position the 2 retaining clamps on the power supply as shown.

Step 21.3 Installing the power supply

Fix the retaining clamps and the power supply bracket to the platform with 4 M3x6mm screws.

Move the platform slightly forward of your table so that you have access to the screw hole where the power supply is located.

Fix the clamps and the power supply bracket to the platform with 4 M3x6mm screws.

You can now go to step 23.

Step 22 Installing the silver power supply

Insert an M3 square nut in each slot (8).

You will need to remove the black part on your silver PSU. Take a picture of wire connections before disconnecting.

The third picture is the silver PSU without power panic system, the fourth is with power panic system (black and white wires).

Then the installation is the same than steps 21.2 and 21.3, but you will need only one bracket.

Step 23 PSU cables routing

Route cable as show on the picture.

Make a loop of excessive cable .

PSU cable can be fix with a zip tie (not mandatory)

Place the PSU cover.

Fix PSU cover with a M3x6mm screw

Step 24 Cable cover

Route control panel ribbon as show on the picture.

Clip the front cover on the right place

Clip the back cover on the right place

There is a “front” and “back” inside printed parts.

You can now proceed to the next chapter:  top and doors assembly.