How to 3D Print with Prusa i3 MK3S/MK3S+

By on

3D printing has revolutionized how we prototype, create, and innovate, from hobbyists building figurines to engineers printing functional parts. Among the many tools available, Prusa Printers paired with PrusaSlicer offer a powerful, user-friendly ecosystem ideal for both beginners and seasoned makers.

This guide provides a complete walkthrough for preparing and executing a 3D print using the Prusa i3 MK3S/MK3S+ and PrusaSlicer, optimized for a 0.4 mm nozzle setup. 

Prusa MK3S 3D Printer
I assume you already have a 3D model designed and saved in .stl format (e.g., Bottom_Chassis_1.stl) and are ready to move from digital model to physical object.

You’ll be guided through each step of the workflow, including:

  1. Installing PrusaSlicer

  2. Configuring PrusaSlicer for the MK3S/MK3S+

  3. Importing and preparing your STL file

  4. Slicing the model and generating G-code

  5. Transferring the G-code to the printer

  6. Initiating the print job

NOTE

This documentation is specifically tailored for users working with the Original Prusa i3 MK3S/MK3S+ printer. Ensure you have access to this printer, as the configurations and settings have been fine-tuned for optimal performance with this hardware.


1. Installing PrusaSlicer

    Step 1: Download PrusaSlicer
  • Go to the official PrusaSlicer page:

  • Choose the version compatible with your OS (Windows, macOS, Linux)

  •    Download the installer and run it.
    Step 2: Install PrusaSlicer
  •     Follow the on-screen setup instructions.

2. Configuring the PrusaSlicer.

After installing and launching PrusaSlicer for the first time, you'll go through a Configuration Wizard. Follow these exact steps to ensure you're correctly set up for the Original Prusa i3 MK3S/MK3S+ printer with a 0.4 mm nozzle.

    Step 1: Start the Configuration Wizard.

  • When you first open PrusaSlicer, the Configuration Wizard will launch automatically.

  • If not, you can start it manually:

    Click Configuration > Configuration Wizard from the top menu.

      Step 2: Optional - Create or Skip Account

  • You’ll be prompted to sign in or create a Prusa Account.

    • You can choose to skip this step.

  • Click Next to proceed.

    Step 3: Select Printer Sources
  When prompted, you’ll see a list of available printer profiles and sources.

    To streamline your setup:

    ✅ Keep only: Prusa FFF printers
           Deselect everything else

    Why only select "Prusa FFF Printers"?

         Prusa FFF (Selected)

FFF stands for Fused Filament Fabrication, also known as FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling).
The Original Prusa i3 MK3S/MK3S+ is a Prusa-branded FFF printer. It uses plastic filament spools to build objects layer by layer by melting and extruding the material.

By selecting only this option, you’re enabling:

  • Official, fully-tested printer profiles tailored for your MK3S/MK3S+

  • Accurate print settings, material presets, and calibration options

  • Fewer compatibility issues and no guesswork

This ensures a smoother printing experience and better print quality.

 Why deselect the rest?

Prusa SLA

  • SLA = Stereolithography Apparatus — a resin-based technology that uses UV light to cure liquid resin

  • Used in Prusa printers like the SL1S

  • Not compatible with filament-based printers like the MK3S/MK3S+

     Including this would only clutter your interface and risk confusion.

Other FFF

  • These profiles are for non-Prusa filament printers (e.g., Creality, Anycubic)

  • They aren’t optimized for your MK3S/MK3S+

     Since you're using official Prusa hardware, stick to Prusa’s own tested profiles for best results.

Other SLA

  • Resin printer profiles from third-party brands

  • Completely irrelevant to your workflow

     Keep your slicer clean and focused by removing what you won’t use.

    After selecting only Prusa FFF, click Next and allow PrusaSlicer to fetch and install the relevant printer configurations.

    Step 4: Select your Printer

`    From the list, scroll down to MK3 Family and select:
         Original Prusa i3 MK3S & MK3S+

    Step 5: Choose Nozzle Size

  • Choose:
       ✅ 0.4 mm nozzle (the most commonly used and standard size for most prints)

  • Click Next.
    Step 6: Custom Printer Setup
  • Click Next.
    Step 7: Filament Profiles Selection.

  • Leave it as it is and click Next.

    Step 8: Automatic Updates Selection

  • Check the boxes and click on Next.

    
       Step 9: Select View Mode

  • Select your preferred mode according to your level of experience.

  • Click On Finish.

3. Importing and preparing your STL file.

Once setup is completed, the main PrusaSlicer workspace opens. You can begin importing your 3D design for slicing.

    Step 1: Click the “Add” Button

  • On the top-left toolbar, click the Add button (represented by a cube icon with a plus sign).


  • A file browser window will open.

📁 Tip: You can also use the shortcut Ctrl + I to open the import dialog.

    Step 2: Locate and Select Your STL File

  • In the file browser:

    • Navigate to the folder where you saved your 3D model.

    • Select the file with the .stl extension (e.g., Bottom_Chassis_1.stl).

    • Click Open.

The STL file will now appear on the virtual print bed in the PrusaSlicer workspace.

    Step 3: Adjust Model Position (Optional)

    Once the model is imported:

  • Move Tool: Click and drag to reposition the object on the bed.

  • Rotate Tool: Use the rotation handles if your model needs re-orientation.

  • Scale Tool: Resize your model if needed (use the right-side panel or shortcut S).

  • Place on Face Tool:  Align the desired face of your model to the print bed

    Step 4: Review Print Settings (Top Right Section)

    Check or modify the key parameters:

  • Print Settings: e.g., 0.15mm QUALITY.

  • Filament: Make sure Generic PLA is selected (or the material you're using)

  • Printer: Should already show Original Prusa i3 MK3S+

  • Infill: Choose your desired percentage of infill depending on strength needed.

    Step 5: Slice the model

  • Click the “Slice Now” button

  • Review the estimated time, filament usage, and preview the layers

4. Exporting the G-code

  • Click Export G-code

  • Name your file clearly (e.g., Bottom_Chassis_1.gcode)

  • Save it to a location you can access easily.

  • Remove the SD Card from Prusa printer’s SD card slot and insert it into your laptop.

  • Move the .gcode file to your SD card.

5. Loading G-code into the 3D Printer

  • Safely remove the SD card from your computer

  • Insert it into the Prusa printer's SD card slot

6. Preparing the Print Bed

  • Use isopropyl alcohol and a lint-free cloth to wipe the bed surface

  • Ensure it's free of dust or oil

  • Let it dry and apply an adhesive.

7.  Starting the Print

Step 1: Select File

  • On the Prusa printer menu:

    • Go to Print from SD

    • Select your G-code file (e.g., Bottom_Chassis_1.gcode)

Step 2: Start Printing

  • Confirm selection.

  • The printer will:

    • Calibrate for positioning.

    • Heat the nozzle and bed

    • Begin printing automatically

✅ And just like that, you're done!💥🎉 Here's what I printed using this exact setup — the Bottom Chassis for our robot


💡 Running into issues?
Don’t worry—3D printing has a learning curve! Check out the official Prusa Troubleshooting Guide for clear solutions to common problems like poor bed adhesion, stringing, layer shifts, and more.

References

  1.  First Print with PrusaSlicer | Prusa Knowledge  Base

  2. Configuration Wizard | Prusa Knowledge Base

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Getting Started with ROS2 Humble: Workspace, Packages, and Nodes

By on
Image
Introduction to ROS2 Workspace A  ROS2 workspace  is your development environment where you organize, build, and test ROS2 packages. Think of it as your personal robotics lab—where all your code, configurations, and dependencies live. Why is a ROS2 Workspace Important? Organized Development:  Keeps your ROS2 projects structured. Dependency Management:  Helps manage libraries and packages. Build & Test Automation:  Uses  colcon  to compile and run your code efficiently. Isolation:  Prevents conflicts between different projects. Objectives of This Guide By the end of this blog, you will: Set up a ROS2 Humble workspace. Create a ROS2 package (Python & C++). Write and run ROS2 nodes in Python and C++. Prerequisites Before starting, ensure you have: Ubuntu 22.04  (recommended for ROS2 Humble) ROS2 Humble installed  ( Official Installation Guide ) Basic terminal familiarity 1: Setting Up a ROS2 Workspace 1.1 Create the Workspace Struct...
Read more

Introduction to ROS 2: The Future of Robotics Software

By on
Image
Robots are no longer futuristic fantasies, they are shaping our present. From autonomous delivery systems to smart home assistants and self-navigating drones, robots rely heavily on reliable software frameworks to function. One such powerful and widely adopted framework is ROS ; the Robot Operating System . But today, we're not just talking about ROS. We're diving into ROS 2 , the next-generation version that is fast becoming the standard for modern robotics projects. What is ROS2? ROS 2 (Robot Operating System 2) is an open-source framework for developing robot software. Despite its name, it's not an operating system like Windows or Linux, but rather a middleware , a collection of tools, libraries, and conventions that help you build complex and distributed robot applications. ROS 2 is a complete redesign of the original ROS 1 framework. It was created to address the limitations of ROS 1 and to support real-world production systems more effectively. Why Use ROS 2 Humble H...
Read more

CREATING A PUBLISHER AND SUBSCRIBER NODES USING PYTHON

By on
Image
  Introduction. In ROS2(Robot Operating System 2), a node is the smallest executable unit that performs computation. It is essentially a process that communicates with other nodes to exchange data (via topics, services, or actions) and perform tasks in a robotic system. ROS 2 publishers and subscribers are the basic communication mechanism between nodes using topics. They can be created by either using python or C++ language. But in this blog we will be creating both the publisher and subscriber nodes using python. Prerequisites ROS installed.   installing ros2 ROS2 workspace set up.   creating a workspace Package setup . Setting up a package Basic Understanding of ROS concepts(nodes, topic, messages). Basic knowledge on ROS Publisher-Subscriber Node in python In this case you will notice some small changes due to the language changes. 1. Create two ROS2 Run the below commands in terminal: cd ~ / ros2_ws / src # Create publisher package ros2 pkg create - - build - typ...
Read more