Table of Contents

Prusa Maintenance

Tools

The following should be in a Maintenance tool kit for the printer

Prusa Maintenance Articles

Regular Maintenance

Check out this article on the Prusa Knowledge. Base it covers most of the regular maintenance that should be done every “several hundred hours”. I suspect that will work out to 4 times a year for our printers.

The areas covered include:

Changing Nozzle

Watch this video and this article from Prusa and follow this nozzle change routine.

Cleaning Build Plate

The build plate should be cleaned regularly by members with 90% Isopropyl Alcohol.

Occasionally oxidation will build up on the surface of the PEI and a wipedown with Acetone will refresh the surface. This should only be needed roughly twice a yearcif that. More frequent application will cause the PEI to become brittle, shortening its service life.

Using a new green scrubbie on a new build surface can also scuff up the PEI improving adhesion. Shouldn’t be needed after initial preparation.

If the build sheet becomes marred by the nozzle or by removal tools. it will need to be removed and replaced.

Regular Maintenance

Bearing Lubrication

This is part of the regular maintenance but I’ll also include the link here.

Fan Maintenance

Dust or plastic build-up can decrease their efficiency or even damage them.

A cotton swab can also be used to clean off dust and debris from the propeller or canned air will clear the dust. Tweezers can be used to take out any plastic strands. Hold the propeller of the fan to prevent it from spinning while cleaning it with canned air. Otherwise, it can get damaged. Clear away any debris that may be stuck and check that it can rotate freely.

Occasionally the Heat break and Part fans might need oiled. If the fans are making rattling noises they could use an oiling. Remove the fan from the printer. Peel Back the sticker in the center and apply a drop or two, no more, of sewing machine oil to the hole under the sticker so that it reaches the bearings. Re-assemble printer.

Fans also occasionally will need to be cleaned from dust and lint buildup.

Belt Tension

Follow the guide here.

Firmware

Use this guide for updating the firmware.

Tramming

The printer should be occasionally checked to be trammed. That each axis of movement is perpendicular to the others. There can be some test prints done to check the calibration of the printer.

* Start with the Manual