Original Prusa MK4 Station
Quick-Reference Operator Card
1. Pre-Flight Safety & Prep Checklist
- [ ] NOZZLE CLEANLINESS: Verify nozzle tip is completely clean before starting. Cold plastic drips trick the Loadcell, causing an improper Z-offset.
- [ ] EYE PROTECTION: Wear safety glasses when removing supports or trimming filament stock with flush cutters.
- [ ] BUILD SHEET MATCH: Verify the physical sheet installed matches the sheet preset selected in PrusaSlicer and on the screen menu.
- [ ] BED CLEARANCE: Ensure 100\text{ mm} clearance behind and in front of the moving heatbed frame.
- [ ] SURFACE CLEANING: Wipe the spring steel sheet with 99% Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) and a microfiber cloth before every print.
2. Standard 5-Step Print Workflow
- MOUNT SHEET & PREP SURFACE Align the sheet onto the magnetic bed pins. Wipe smooth/satin plates with 99% IPA. Apply glue stick barrier only if printing PETG/TPU on Smooth PEI.
- LOAD FILAMENT Go to Control \rightarrow Load Filament. Select material type, insert filament into the Nextruder top PTFE tube, and confirm a clean color purge.
- SLICE IN PRUSASLICER Select the Original Prusa MK4 profile (0.4\text{ mm} nozzle default). Set layer height (0.2\text{ mm} default), infill (15% Gyroid), and sheet preset.
- SEND JOB & VERIFY LOADCELL PROBING Transfer the file via USB drive or PrusaLink. Watch the automated Loadcell bed probing routine tap the nozzle grid cleanly across the plate.
- VERIFY FIRST LAYER Observe the initial perimeter line and base layer in person before leaving the station.
3. Filament & Surface Sheet Matrix
| Filament Type |
Compatible Sheets |
Hotend Temp |
Bed Temp |
Key Operational Rule |
| PLA |
Smooth, Satin, Textured |
215^\circ\text{C} |
60^\circ\text{C} |
Standard settings; clean sheet with 99% IPA. |
| PETG |
Textured, Satin (Smooth w/ Glue) |
245^\circ\text{C} |
90^\circ\text{C} |
Do not print directly on Smooth PEI without glue barrier. |
| TPU (Flex) |
Textured (w/ Glue barrier) |
230^\circ\text{C} |
50^\circ\text{C} |
Loosen Nextruder idler latch screw 2-3 turns to prevent gear wrapping. |
| ASA / ABS |
Smooth, Satin (Enclosure recommended) |
260^\circ\text{C} |
110^\circ\text{C} |
Keep room drafts away to prevent warping; apply glue stick for release. |
4. Rapid Troubleshooting & Maintenance
| Issue |
Root Cause |
Immediate Corrective Action |
| First Layer Too Low / Dragging |
Dirty nozzle tip during Loadcell check. |
Clean nozzle tip with brass wire brush while heated (250^\circ\text{C}), then restart job. |
| First Layer Lifting / Warping |
Finger oils on sheet or incorrect bed temp. |
Wash sheet with warm water & plain dish soap, dry thoroughly, and wipe with 99% IPA. |
| Filament Grind / Extruder Click |
Excessive idler tension or partial clog. |
Adjust Nextruder idler screws flush for rigid filament (loosen for flex) or perform a cold pull. |
| Axis Chatter / Layer Shift |
Dry linear smooth rods. |
Clean smooth steel rods with 99% IPA and apply approved Prusa linear bearing grease. (Never use WD-40). |
⚠️ HOT SURFACE HAZARD: Nozzle (300^\circ\text{C}) and heatbed (120^\circ\text{C}) reach severe burn temperatures. Allow the bed to cool below 40^\circ\text{C} before flexing the sheet to remove parts. Report grinding noises, damaged PEI sheets, or nozzle clogs to lab staff immediately.