Tuning the Prusa Core One

Summary

Introduction This article introduces and explores the new Prusa Core One printer. It includes a number of methods to increase this printer's accuracy and usefulness. Some printable 3D resources are included, including a Web camera mount to provide a local-network, full color, video frame rate printing monitor, to replace the Prusa Buddy3D camera. This article describes the Prusa Core One from a user perspective. I have no connection with Prusa, no editorial constraints, and some personal preferences having to do with privacy and independence. This article assumes you have a working Prusa Core One, either a factory-built machine or a completed kit. This article goes beyond the instructions provided by Prusa and offers some configuration and tuning advice not found elsewhere. Although this article's focus is the Prusa Core One, many of its methods apply to other Prusa printers. This article is intended as a resource archive for a video yet to be released. Let's get started! Print Bed Alignment As delivered, either factory-built or user-assembled, this printer needs certain alignments for best performance, some of which aren't very well documented. This section provides a Z-axis (vertical) alignment method to level the print bed. Figure 1: Pathologically Misaligned Print Bed Figure 1 shows a print bed with greatly exaggerated misalignment, just to make a point — if the print bed isn't properly aligned or "leveled", many other things will go wrong. On delivery, many Prusa printers, especially those assembled by the recipient, will have misaligned print beds. It's important to say the printer will automatically detect and if necessary correct small Z axis misalignments, at the start of each print. This special procedure is meant only for newly assembled / arrived printers, where a Z misalignment may need special attention, to avoid component wear and stress. Here's the procedure: the Prusa Core One print bed is supported by three threaded shafts, each connected to a step...