Makergear M2 or Prusa I3 MK2

[Maker5162]

@cobnut My apologies for failing to clarify.

Though my experience with Prusa machines does not extend to the MK2, I am pointing out that Prusa machines in general are made to be more affordable and therefore cannot use the high-performance components that you find on an M2— that is simply an economic reality wrapped up in things like supply chains, manufacturing processes, etc, which are not matters of opinion but simply cost. Is this evidence enough, or would you like me to provide links, research journals, and spec sheets?

With regard to my statement about sacrificing performance in the long term and maintenance needed to maintain quality, I am speaking of my experience of 1) build quality and 2) attention to detail during assembly for previous Prusa machines. One of their new features is literally a software program that enables you to print on a mis-assembled machine — this is not something that one would even want if quality and performance are their top priorities.

Though I cannot say for certain that this is true of the MK2, my experience with earlier i3 iterations indicates that paying ~$800 for an assembled printer simply means that you’re to sacrifice component quality and quality control measures during assembly and testing. When you sacrifice component quality, you sacrifice the performance of the machine over long periods of time. If you examine the revisions made on the i3 MK2 from its previous generation, there are lots of improvements in terms of features but pretty much the same old Prusa in terms of build quality and components used.

Hope this helps to clarify!

[Maker5162]

Just to be clear, I am not claiming that the Prusa i3 MK2 has inherent maintenance issues, but that it requires much more attention and replacement parts over time if held to the same performance standards as a MakerGear M2.

[cobnut]

Hi @Maker5162 thanks for the clarification. I think price vs quality and reliability becomes a very difficult discussion when dealing with technology (or many other things for that matter!). It’d be lovely to be able to definitively say that a “thing” that costs twice as much as another “thing” does its job twice as well, but we all know that’s not usually the case. If we’re right down the bottom of the market, the lower priced thing could be virtually useless while the higher priced one does an OK job; at the upper end the differences between the two could be hard to spot (and the higher priced thing is almost certainly overpriced). And, of course, there’s every stage inbetween.

The Prusa Mk2 and the Makerbot M2 are, on the face of it, very similar machines. Virtually the same build area, both open source, both the same physical design, etc. The M2 can go down to 25 microns rather than 50 for the i3, but really I rarely print below 100 microns anyway so it’s debatable how important that is for a new user. So, someone looking to buy their first machine is left asking, what am I getting for my extra $1000? Your argument (and I’m not disagreeing with it) is that the extra cost is in higher quality components, greater reliability and so on, but that’s really only relevant if the i3 Mk2 has demonstrably poorer quality issues in terms of reliability, etc. What’s important to any user is whether they’ll actually be affected by any such issues. If the M2 will print 24x7 for 10 years and the i3 only 6, I’d argue that’s irrelevant to me because I can be pretty sure I won’t be using either in 6 years time. If the Prusa will break down in a year, that’s more of an issue, but it seems unlikely and if it breaks down, I’ve got $1000 in my pocket I can use to repair/upgrade it and, perhaps more importantly, by then there will be other machines on the market and that $1000 could buy something even better than the M2, who knows?

I think the M2 is a fine machine, I have absolutely no criticism of it, but this thread was started by @marczem who has said he’s a new user, looking for a hobbyist/enthusiast machine and that being the case I’d argue the Prusa is a better choice because it’ll do everything a hobbyist will need and it leaves $1000 in their pocket for filament, the multi-colour upgrade, spare nozzles, etc., or to reduce their wastage if they discover 3D printing isn’t for them. If the original poster was an experienced printer with specific needs, the M2 may well be the better choice, but that’s not the case here and we should consider the person as well as the machine.

[wirlybird]

If neither machine has a major issue over a similar time frame then your first paragraph is really irrelevant. Which it really is anyway. You are comparing two products built by different methods and different parts with a considerable cost difference that can do the same basic function. Really an apples to oranges comparison. There is no dispute that the M2 is a good machine but saying the MK2 is not because it is not built with the same parts is disingenuous.

In the second paragraph - again you make a comparison that is irrelevant. You compare “old-different” models of the i3 but not the MK2 of discussion to the M2 so your claims of reliability etc are again baseless.

“One of their new features is literally a software program that enables you to print on a mis-assembled machine — this is not something that one would even want if quality and performance are their top priorities.”

Again, you over dramatize a feature with “mis-assembled machine”. An advanced feature of the firmware and leveling system is its ability to adjust for very small alignment issues. To say that you can incorrectly put the machine together wrong but a magical “software” will make it all better is misleading.

The purpose of this feature is to let the builder and user know there is an issue and have a means to diagnose and correct it. No machine stays perfectly aligned and level as it is used. Some do better than others but we are not talking high end CNC machines here.

You must then feel auto leveling systems are also only to compensate for problems on inferior machines or for users who don’t know what they are doing and thus have no business on a “quality” machine.

With all respect, all you have done is give this guy a lot of miss information and innuendo. If you like and have experience with the M2 more power to you and provide him with useful pros and cons of the machine. It does seem to be a well made albeit expensive, well received machine.

If you don’t have direct experience with the MK2 then negative comments are hearsay and not useful.

Personal experience with older models can be relevant to address issues of past so a potential user can research to see if it is still there.

I tried to give the person my personal experience and opinion of the MK2 and made it a point to say I have no experience with the M2 thus couldn’t comment.

Ok, I think we have all said enough! Let’s move toward helping a new user make an informed decision.

Thanks for a spirited debate.

[PepCo_Parker]

If you’re looking to go into 3D printing for fun, I’d vouch for the prusa I3 mk2. I have 4 China model mk 1 prusa I3s that I got as kits, and they’re a ton of fun. Only just recently have they started breaking down, and I was hitting over 2000+ hours on some of them (I have another post on me thinking it was the motherboards) Only thing I’d have to say is, one of th best parts of the prusa machines is building them yourself, and truly learning your 3D printer inside and out during the process. I don’t have experience with the Mk2, but honestly with the way 3D printing is evolving and expanding at a rate much faster than previously imagined, spending the extra 1000$ on a machine that could quite likely become obsolete within a year or so seems like a waste to me. Personally I don’t see any real gain for that extra money spent. It’s like the equivalent to having purchased a 4000$+ makerbot 4 years ago, yes the machines work but their print volumes, tolerances, speeds, ease of use, and customer service have become obsolete since then.

[Maker5162]

Great points.

Lets just be clear though, I would never mistake a MakerGear for a Makerbot. If you’re not careful when recommending 3D printers, an engineer might end up with an expensive kids’ toy and a teacher may end up with a heavy-duty workhorse!

PS: I’d love to pick your brain for ideas about possibilities for developments in 3D printing. You seem very knowledgeable and on-the-frontier… For the benefit of the OP, what future features might we see in a Prusa machine that we’re not finding today?

[Maker5162]

A spirited debate indeed. If only every conversation spurred this much excitement!

Our friend hit the nail on the head by calling our attention beyond features to the needs of the person behind the printer, and I must admit that I am less hesitant to spend the extra $1000 in exchange for a bullet-proof guarantee and prompt customer service — as a business owner who relies on fast, reliable output from my 3D printer to make a living, the cost savings of a prusa machine (and the natural consequences) is more of a liability than a benefit. I just happen to prefer the same 3D printer for my home projects as I do with my with my business.

You’re right to say that I’m not the most qualified to speak about MK2 software features. Though you’ve made a Strong argument, I cannot accept your use of the term “baseless”. As I mentioned, the MK2 has many improvements from the previous version. VIRTUALLY NONE OF THESE IMPROVEMENTS ARE STRUCTURALLY- OR PERFORMANCE-BASED, meaning that the MK2 rests upon the same basic foundation as my experiences because it relies upon the same components, setup, and performance that I am calling attention to. It would be different if Prusa actually made improvements in these areas for the MK2, but they’re focusing their marketing budget on ease of use features, therefore we are wise not to believe that Prusa somehow made huge leaps of progress toward better build quality in one upgrade but didn’t manage to tell anyone.

Best of luck in all of your endeavors, and thank you for your contributions to the discussion @wirlybird

[sipo75]

What is your experience with Prusa Research support? My experience is that I had an immediate online chat which lasted for two hours with a very informed and helpful employee.

What is wrong with the build quality? I have no structural problems with my Prusa i3 MK2 of any kind.

[wirlybird]

I have to agree that this echos my personal experience.

I have talked on chat for several questions and curiosities and they have been responsive and helpful. the nice thing is even though it is the middle of the night for them when I need to call they are there.

Plus the Prusa forum is great with a lot of knowledgeable people in it. Josef even comes to the facebook group from time to time!

[WStockman]

I’m glad with Prusa i3 mk2

[PepCo_Parker]

When I compared makerbot with the current situation, I wasn’t comparing printer quality itself but rather the fact that makerbot was once top of the line and quickly became obsolete. IMO makerbot is a joke and I’ve used their products a substantial amount. Maker gear I’m sure is leaps and bounds above them, I was simply comparing the fact that buying an expensive printer, even the MK2 , may quickly become regrettable due to bigger/badder/better machines

[Maker5162]

[JacobBlumberg]

If picking between the two hands down Prusa I3 MK2 I own 3 printers and have been printing for 2 years and I will be getting the Pursia as my next printer in an FDM there is nothing more you could want.

[Maker5162]

Do you have any experience with the MakerGear M2?

[JacobBlumberg]

It is not a very common one in the maker community. You are getting a much better product and better value with pursia.

Jacob

[Maker5162]

Is your opinion supposed to overcome the thousands of independent reviews submitted by 3D Hubs around the world, or are you just blatantly spreading your personal bias?

In light of the fact that the MakerGear M2 is THE top ranked machine on 3D Hubs, your statement that Prusa is a “better” product is totally invalid. Considering your utter lack of experience as well as your deliberate avoidance of my question, anything you say at this point is about as useful as a jackhammer in a chemistry lab (as far as I’m concerned).

Thanks for not clarifying!

[JacobBlumberg]

Hello,

This is a increadably hostile response I have a very extensive experience with 3D printing. I am an independent technology specialist in the DC area. I have worked for the Naval Surface Warefare Center and the National Institutes of Health 3D Print exchange have given many talks on the subject as well for high school kids and government officials. I have also designed Makerlabs for schools in the area. In case you didn’t know there is a world out there besides 3D hubs. In case you didn’t know the Pursia MK2 is rated the best Printer by Make: A company that specializes in 3D printing and unlike the people on 3D hubs tests all of the printers not just the ones that they have. Also at a even lower price point then the maker gear you get 4 Color 3D printing a major break threw in the industry at that price point. You also get auto calibrating so all of your prints come out square even if your printer is not square. After doing printing constantly every day for 2 years I can tell you that’s very important as leveling can be a pain esspially with large beds but newbies like this person will especially appreciate it because their prints will have a higher chance of coming out perfect white out them having to mess around. The maker gear offers none of that.

[PepCo_Parker]

Just to clarify it’s the prusa I3 Mk2 that you mentioned, unless prusia mk2 is a thing I don’t know about. In which case sorry and please ignore this!

[JacobBlumberg]

Yeah that is what I was discussing sorry if there was confusion I was abbreviating.

[wirlybird]

This guy has been on the attack on anyone who mentions anything other than worship for the M2.

My opinion for what it is not worth - if you like the M2 and have had a good experience with it then great but no reason to attack everyone with a differing opinion or experience.

He won’t like this then! Aside from “Make” another very respected site had this ranking of their top 20:

Best 3D Printer 2016-2017 #1: Original Prusa i3 MK2

Best 3D Printer 2016-2017 #14: Makergear M2