Josef prusa PRUSA RESEARCH MINI User manual

3D PRINTING
HANDBOOK
USER MANUAL FOR ORIGINAL PRUSA MINI
ORIGINAL INSTRUCTIONS
ENG

Original Instructions: Basic Info
Please always refer to the www.prusa3d.com/drivers/
for an updated version of this 3D printing handbook (PDF download).

Failure to read the handbook may lead to personal injury, inferior results, or damage to the 3D printer. Always ensure that
anyone who operates the 3D printer knows and understands the contents of the Manual/Handbook. We cannot control the
conditions in which you assemble the Original Prusa MINI. For this, and other reasons, we do not assume responsibility,
and expressly disclaim liability for loss, injuries, damage, or expense arising out of, or in any way connected with, the
assembly, handling, storage, use or disposal of the product. The information in this handbook is provided without any warranty,
expressed or implied, regarding its correctness.

Translated versions of the handbook will be available at:
•Czech: www.prusa3d.cz/ovladace/
•French: www.prusa3d.fr/drivers/
•German: www.prusa3d.de/treiber/
•Polish: prusa3d.pl/sterowniki/
•Italian: www.prusa3d.it/driver/
•Spanish: www.prusa3d.es/drivers-y-manuales/
QUICK GUIDE TO THE FIRST PRINT
1. Read chapter 6 Your First Print carefully
2. Place the assembled printer on a Sat and stable surface
3. ,tart the printerU insert the enclosed B,4 drive and update the Frmware
5. jollow the on-screen instructions to calibrate the printer
I. Print a sample ob!ect
Tmportant noticeU tipU hint or information that helps you print with ease.
Read carefullyx ghis part of the teqt has the @reatest importance - either for user safety or for
proper printer service.
How to contact Prusa Research tech support:
jirstU check the last chapters of this handbook for troubleshootin@ @uidesU or visit help.prusa3d.com
for a complete list of common issuesU print Luality troubleshootin@ and other @uides. Tf your problem
is not listed thereU or the solution does not workU please send an e-mail to supportHprusa3d.com
or use the 0ive chat at shop.prusa3d.com. gry to eqplain your problem as thorou@hly as possible.

Dandbook version 1.81 from 9ecember 1(thU 281)

About the author
Josef Prusa ’born jeb 23rdU 1))8E became interested in the 39 printin@ phenomenon before !oinin@
Pra@ueJs Bniversity of Aconomics in 288) - at FrstU it was a hobbyU a new technolo@y open to
chan@es and improvements. ghe hobby soon became a passion and Oosef @rew into one of the
leadin@ developers of Vdrien 4owyerJs internationalU open-sourceU RepRap pro!ect. godayU you can
see the Prusa desi@n in diWerent versions all around the worldU it is one of the most popular printers
and thanks to itU knowled@e about the 39 printin@ technolo@y si@niFcantly increased amon@ the
public.
Vll 39 printers by Oosef Prusa are open-source and based on the RepRap philosophy - you can use
your 39 printer to produce parts for buildin@ another 39 printer.
ghe lineup of Mri@inal Prusa devices is constantly eqpanded with new machines and up@rades. ghe
main @oal is to make technolo@y more accessible and understandable to all users.
Oosef Prusa also or@anizes workshops for the publicU participates in professional conferences
dedicated to the popularization of 39 printin@. jor eqampleU he lectured at the gA9q conference
in Pra@ue and NiennaU at Yorld Caker jaire in “ew …orkU Caker jaire in Rome or at the Mpen
Dardware ,ummit hosted by CTg. Oosef also teaches Vrduino at 'harles Bniversity and was also a
lecturer at the Vcademy of Vrts in Pra@ue.
Tn his own wordsU he ima@ines 39 printers will be available in every home in the not-too-distant
future. ”Tf anythin@ is neededU you can simply print it. Tn this FeldU you !ust push the boundaries
every dayá Ye7re @lad you7re part of it with usx+
Josef Průša

° Introduction 9
’ Glossary 2
3 Package contents K Accessories (bundled / optional) “
8 Handling / Transporting the printer “
V ”uickKStart Info °q
I.1 9isconnectin@ the power supply 11
I.2 Dow to contact tech support 11
I.3 Bnpackin@U assembly and Frst start 11
6 Your Lrst print °’
X.1 4asic controls 12
X.2 Bpdatin@ the Frmware 13
X.3 Preparin@ Seqible steel sheets 13
X.5 'alibration Yizard 15
X.I ,elftest 15
X.X 0oadin@ and unloadin@ the Flament 15
X.: jirst 0ayer 'alibration 1X
X.( 'hecklist 1:
X.) ,tartin@ the Frst print 1:
X.18 Removin@ the print 1(
X.11 Vfter-print checks and actions 1(
9 Advanced features °“
:.1 Cenu structure 1)
:.2 Cesh 4ed 0evelin@ eqplained 28
:.3 jactory reset 28
:.5 “etwork connections 28
2 Printing your own models ’q
(.1 Mbtainin@ a printable model 21
(.2 'reatin@ your own models 21
(.3 Yhat is a %-code Fle 22
(.5 Prusa,licer 22
(.I Tmportin@ ob!ects into Prusa,licer 23
(.X Bsin@ supports 25
(.: Print speed vs Print Luality 2I
(.( TnFll 2X
(.) 4rim 2X
(.18 0ar@e ob!ect printin@ 2X
(.11 Print multi-colored ob!ects 2(
(.12 ,licin@U eqportin@ 2)
“ Material guide ’“
).1 P0V 2)
).2 PAg/PAg% 38
).3 V,V/V4, 31
).5 jleq 32
°q Regular Maintenance 3’
18.1 ,teel sheets 32
18.2 ,prin@ steel sheet with gA;gBRA9 double-sided PAT 35
18.3 ,prin@ steel sheet with ,CMMgD double-sided PAT 35
18.5 Tncreasin@ the adhesion 3I
18.I 4earin@s 3I
18.X jans 3I
18.: Aqtruder drive @ear 3I
18.( PgjA tubes 3X

18.) jilament sensor ’optional accessoryE 3X
18.).1 Runnin@ out of Flament 3:
18.).2 jalse sensor readin@s and debu@@in@ 3:
18.18 “ozzle cleanin@ 3)
18.11 Replacin@ / chan@in@ the nozzle 58
18.12 jlashin@ unsi@ned Frmware 51
°° FA” K common issues and how to solve them 8’
11.1 ,kewed ;-aqis 52
11.2 Printer canJt read the B,4 drive 53
11.3 0oose ;- and/or …-aqis belts 53
11.5 jilament stuck in the PgjA tube 53
11.I ;-Vqis homin@ fails 53
11.X Deatin@ errors 53
11.: jan errors 53
11.( 9own@radin@ the Frmware 55
°’ Advanced hardware troubleshooting 88
°3 Print 4uality troubleshooting 88

Product details
Title: Mri@inal Prusa CT“T
Manufacturer: Prusa Research a.s.U Partyz6nsk6 1((/:VU Pra@ueU 1:8 88U 'zech Republic
Contacts: phone G528 222 2X3 :1(U e-mail° infoHprusa3d.com
EEE group: 3 ’Tg and/or telecommunication eLuipmentEU 9evice use° indoor only
Power supply: V'/9' ,YTg'DT“% V9VPgMRU T“PBg 188-258 NV'U I8/X8 DzU 2.8 V / MBgPBg
25NU XUX:VU 1X8 Y CV;U complies with Part 1I of the j'' Rules
Working temperature range: 1( Z' - 3( Z'U indoor use only
Working humidity: (I K or less
Compatible Llaments: 1.:I mm only
Package weight (gross / net): :.X k@ / 5.(I k@
ghe serial number is located on the printer frame and also on the packa@in@.
Warranty
ghe pre-assembled Mri@inal Prusa CT“T 39 printer is covered by a 25-month warranty for end
customers in the AB and 12 months for businesses and non-AB customers. Year and tear cate@ory
components and consumables are eqcluded from this warranty.
ghe warranty period be@ins with the day when the customer receives the @oods. “either the ,eller7s
liability for defective products nor the Luality warranty applies to printers or parts dama@ed by
handlin@U which is in conSict with the instructions and recommendations in the oWicial manuals and
@uidesU or improper handlin@ caused by unoWicial modiFcationsU such as modiFcations to hardware
or software.
-icensing
ghe Mri@inal Prusa CT“T printer is a part of the RepRap pro!ectU the Frst open-source 39 printer
pro!ect free to use under a %“B %P0 v3 license ’www[email protected]@/licenses/@pl-3.8.en.htmlE. Tf you
improve or alter any part ofU a printerU and you are willin@ to sell itU then you have to publish the
source code under the same license. Vll 39-printed elements of the printer that can be improved
upon can be found at www.prusa3d.com/prusa-i3-printable-parts.
I

Please be very cautious during any interaction with the printer. This printer is an electrical
device with moving and highKtemperature parts.
1. ghe device is for indoor use only. 9o not eqpose the printer to rain or snow. Vlways keep
the printer in a dry environment at a minimum distance of 38 cm from other ob!ects. Cake
sure none of the vents/fan outlets are blocked.
2. Vlways place the printer on a stable placeU where it cannot fall or tip over.
3. ghe printer supply is household power outlet 238 NV'U I8 Dz or 118 NV' / X8 Dz. “ever
connect the printer to a diWerent power supply_ it may cause malfunction or dama@e to
the printer.
5. Place the power cord so you cannot stumble over itU step on itU or otherwise eqpose it to any
potential dama@e. VlsoU make sure that the power cord is not mechanically or otherwise
dama@ed. Tf soU stop usin@ the dama@ed power cord immediately and replace it.
I. Yhen you disconnect the power cord from the socketU pull the plu@ rather than the cord
to reduce the risk of dama@e to the plu@ or to the V' outlet. ghe plu@ that @oes into the
printer has a safety lockin@ mechanism° Frst pull the cover of the plu@ to unlock itU then
disconnect the plu@ from the printer
X. “ever disassemble the printerJs power supply_ it does not contain any parts that could be
repaired by an unskilled worker. Vll repairs must be performed by a LualiFed technician.
:. 9o not reach inside the printer while it is still in operation. Vn in!ury may be caused by its
movin@ partsU heated elements or electrical current.
(. Prevent children from unsupervised access to the printer even when the printer is not
printin@.
). 9o not leave the printer unattended while it7s still onx
X

1 Introduction
ghank you for purchasin@ the Mri@inal Prusa CT“T 39 printer from Oosef Prusax …our purchase
supports us in the further development of the CT“T and other devices. Mri@inal Prusa CT“T is our
compact, smart and aUordable 3D printer, which was designed as a 3D printing workhorse
and a great starter printer. Ye hope you will en!oy usin@ itx PleaseU read the handbook carefully,
since all chapters contain valuable info re@ardin@ the operation of the eLuipmentU @ettin@-started
instructionsU 39 printin@ tips and everythin@ about re@ular maintenance.
Please check the prusa3d.com/drivers page for the updated version of this 3D printing
handbook (PDF download).
Tn case of any printer-related problemU do not hesitate to contact us at infoHprusa3d.com. Ye
are @lad to receive your valuable comments and tips. …ou can also visit our knowled@e base at
help.prusa3d.com and forums at forum.prusaprinters.or@.
:

2 Glossary
1. Spring steel sheet - comes in two variantsU smooth and teqtured. ghis is where the
printed ob!ect appears. Please read the maintenance instructions carefully to ensure optimal
conditions for 39 printin@.
2. Heatbed - located directly under the sprin@ steel sheet. Deatbed ensures @ood adhesion of
the printed ob!ect. Yarnin@° do not touch the heatbed when itJs hotx
3. YKAxis - the @eneral name for the entire heatbed assembly ’smooth rodsU beltU heatbedáE.
5. Bnob - main control of the Mri@inal Prusa CT“T 39 printer° rotate left/ri@ht to scroll throu@h
optionsU press the knob to conFrm your selection. ghereJs a reset switch directly neqt to the
knob. Press it to perform a hard reset.
I. -CD screen - the display is used for the conF@uration of the 39 printer. Bse the knob to scroll
throu@h the menus and conFrm your selection with the press of the knob.
X. Power switch - when the printer is not in useU turn it oW usin@ the power switch.
:. ZSX port - compatible with B,4 2.8/3.8 Sash drives ’jVg32 FlesystemE. Bsed for readin@
print Fles ’%-'odesE from the inserted drive and Sashin@ the Frmware.
(. Main PTFE tube - leads the Flament strand from the eqtruder into the print head / nozzle.
Tnspect it from time to time to make sure there is no debris inside that would prevent the
Flament strand from reachin@ the nozzle.
). Tube Ltting - on both ends of the main PgjA tube. Tn case Flament @ets stuck in the PgjA
tubeU use a spanner ’included with the printerE to remove the Fttin@s and the PgjA tube to @et
access to the Flament strand.
18. Print fan - cools the printed ob!ectU improves print Luality. 'omes with RPC monitorin@.
(

11. Print head - 0i@htwei@ht print head consistin@ of the hotend ’printin@ nozzleEU C.T.“.9.V. probe
and two fans. ghe heaviest parts of the eqtruder were moved onto the Q-aqis tower to improve
print Luality.
12. Nozzle - 8.5mm nozzleU can be replaced with e.@. 8.2Imm or 8.Xmm A39-compatible nozzles
to achieve various eWects.
13. !KAxis - the entire vertical aqis assembly ’smooth rodsU Q-aqis motoráE.
15. Extruder / Extruder motor - as opposed to 39 printers like C?2 or C?3,U the eqtruder motor
is not movin@ alon@ the ;-aqis. TnsteadU itJs Fqed on the side and pushes Flament throu@h the
PgjA tube towards the print head.
1I. 1KAxis - allows the movement of the belt-driven print head from left to ri@ht.
1X. Spool holder - should be placed near the printerU so the Flament strand can enter the PgjA
tube from below. jilament must not bend at an acute an@le.
3 Package contents - Accessories (bundled / optional)
…our Mri@inal Prusa CT“T comes bundled with°
•ZSX drive with Lrmware Lles
•Vllen key
•,panner
•,urface cleanin@ wipes ’infused with isopropyl alcoholE
•Vcupuncture needle
ghese are the basic tools reLuired for correct assembly and basic maintenance. DoweverU we
recommend @ettin@ some eqtra items to improve your 39 printin@ eqperience.
•Side cutting pliers - for Flament cuttin@
•Isopropyl alcohol, Windex, paper wipes - for print sheet maintenance
•Metal spatula - for easier removal of prints stuck to the steel sheet
4 Handling / Transporting the printer
Yhen transportin@ the Mri@inal Prusa CT“TU use the recommended way of holding the device.
…ou can either @rab it by the Q-aqis motor at the topU or by the Q-Vqis assembly. ,ee photos below
for reference. Never hold it by the cables or PTFE tubes0
)