EN
  • Čeština
  • Español
  • Italiano
  • Deutsch
  • Polski
  • Français
  • 日本語
Login

How to replace a hotend heater (MINI/MINI+)

Menu

How to replace a hotend heater (MINI/MINI+)

How to replace a hotend heater (MINI/MINI+)
Relevant for:
Last updated 2 years ago
How to replace a hotend heater (MINI/MINI+)
 Difficulty
Very easy
 Steps
36
 Available languages
CSPLDEJAESITFR
Introduction
Introduction
This guide will take you through the replacement of the hotend heater on the Original Prusa MINI and MINI+.
Some parts might slightly differ. However, it does not affect the procedure.
All necessary parts are available in our eshop shop.prusa3d.com.
Note that you have to be logged in to have access to the spare parts section.
Tools necessary for this guide
Tools necessary for this guide
Tools necessary for this guide
Tools necessary for this guide
2.0mm Allen key
2.5mm Allen key (ball-end is recommended)
Needle-nose pliers
Flat screwdriver tip width 2.5 mm (3/32")
Cloth or piece of fabric 15x15cm (2x)
Preparing the printer
Preparing the printer
Make sure the printer parts - print head and heatbed are cooled down at room temperature.
Turn the printer off and unplug it from the socket!
Before proceeding any further, it is recommended to protect the heatbed first!
Take off the flexible steel sheet.
Use any cloth or piece of fabric, which is thick enough and cover the heatbed. This will ensure you won't damage (scratch) the surface during the disassembly.
Opening the box with the electronics
Opening the box with the electronics
Opening the box with the electronics
Release and remove the M3 screw on the box with the electronics.
Remove the printed cable cover.
Lift the second electronics cover slightly. Before you remove it completely, pull it first towards the vertical aluminum extrusion to release both pins from the holes.
Removing the heater (new design)
Removing the heater (new design)
Removing the heater (new design)
Release the M3x12 screw.
Release the M3x20 screw.
Remove the minda-holder with the M.I.N.D.A./SuperPINDA sensor.
Loosen the black screw on the bottom side of the heaterblock to release the heater. There is no need to remove the screw from the heaterblock.
New hotend heater - parts preparation (new design)
New hotend heater - parts preparation (new design)
New hotend heater - parts preparation (new design)
New hotend heater - parts preparation (new design)
For the following steps, please prepare:
New hotend heater (1x)
Molex connector (1x) reused from the old heater or if damaged, buy a new one in our eshop.
Zip tie (3x)
WARNING: Be very careful with the hotend wires, handle them with care.
New hotend heater preparation (new design)
New hotend heater preparation (new design)
Insert both heater cables all the way into the Molex connector. The order of the cables doesn't matter.
Tighten two screws on the connector by the flat screwdriver.
Make sure the cables are fully inserted and tightened.
Hotend heater installation (new design)
Hotend heater installation (new design)
Hotend heater installation (new design)
Hotend heater installation (new design)
Insert the heater to the heaterblock.
Make sure the heater goes through and sticks out slightly on the right side, see the picture.
Secure it by tightening the black screw.
Mounting the minda-holder (new design)
Mounting the minda-holder (new design)
Mounting the minda-holder (new design)
Mounting the minda-holder (new design)
Place the minda-holder with the M.I.N.D.A./SuperPINDA sensor back to the hotend.
Insert and slightly tighten the M3x12 screw in the minda-holder.
Make sure the cables from the hotend are not pinched.
Secure minda-holder with M3x20 screw.
Tighten fully the M3x12 screw on the minda-holder.
Guiding the cable bundle (new design)
Guiding the cable bundle (new design)
Guiding the cable bundle (new design)
Push all the cables from the print head into the MINI-fan-spacer-clip. Orient the clip as shown in the picture, the beveled side is up.
Guide the print fan cable trough MINI-fan-spacer-clip groove.
Slide down the MINI-fan-spacer-clip and mount it on the spacer with the M3x20 screw. Tighten the screw, then release it slightly by 1/4 of turn (90 °). No nut is ​​needed here.
The MINI-fan-spacer-clip must move freely.
Guiding the cable bundle (new design)
Guiding the cable bundle (new design)
Guiding the cable bundle (new design)
Guiding the cable bundle (new design)
Merge all cables leading from the hotend together and guide them up.
Place the textile sleeve on the cable bundle and slide it into the MINI-fan-spacer-clip so that 2-5 mm of the sleeve extends over on the other side.
Don't pull the cables, leave some slack around the fan.
Guiding the cable bundle (new design)
Guiding the cable bundle (new design)
Guiding the cable bundle (new design)
Tighten the zip tie, you've installed in the previous step, but use a reasonable force or you might break the cables. Rotate the zip tie's head to the left.
Add a second and third zip tie. Again, tighten carefully and rotate the heads to the left.
Move the print head all the way to the left to ensure there is no collision between the zip ties and the fan's casing.
Covering the electronics (new design)
Covering the electronics (new design)
Covering the electronics (new design)
Covering the electronics (new design)
Before covering the electronics, make sure the square nut is correctly positioned in the printed part. The nut must not fall out! This can cause fatal damage to the electronics.
Insert the cover back in, make sure it is properly seated in the slot. Note: on an older design, there are holes instead of slots, the assembly procedure is the same.
Place the second cover on the top and arrange the cables:
Extruder bundle, ensure the textile sleeve is partially in. Also, it must be tilted away from the printer.
Heatbed bundle, ensure the textile sleeve is partially inside the box.
Filament sensor cable (optional), ensure that the textile sleeve wrapped around the cables is partially inside the box.
Now, tighten the second cover. Check that no cable is pinched.
Skip to: Final check
Removing the textile sleeve (old design)
Removing the textile sleeve (old design)
Removing the textile sleeve (old design)
Removing the textile sleeve (old design)
Cut off the first zip tie on the print head. Avoid cutting the print fan cable!
Cut the 3 zip ties attached to the extruder.
Cut the remaining zip tie at the end of the textile sleeve. (The zip tie might not be used on the early units.)
Carefully remove the entire textile sleeve from the cable bundle. Avoid pulling the cables!
Removing the hotend heater (old design)
Removing the hotend heater (old design)
Removing the hotend heater (old design)
Removing the hotend heater (old design)
Loosen the black screw on the bottom side of the heaterblock to release the heater. There is no need to remove the screw from the heaterblock.
Using the Allen key gently push the heater out.
Pull out the heater from the heaterblock on the opposite side of the hotend.
New hotend heater - parts preparation (old design)
New hotend heater - parts preparation (old design)
New hotend heater - parts preparation (old design)
New hotend heater - parts preparation (old design)
For the following steps, please prepare:
New hotend heater (1x)
Molex connector (1x) reused from the old heater or if damaged, buy a new one in our eshop.
Zip tie (5x)
WARNING: Be very careful with the hotend wires, handle them with care.
New hotend heater preparation (old design)
New hotend heater preparation (old design)
Insert both heater cables all the way into the connector. The order of the cables doesn't matter.
Tighten two screws on the connector by the flat screwdriver.
Make sure the cables are fully inserted and tightened.
Hotend heater installation (old design)
Hotend heater installation (old design)
Hotend heater installation (old design)
Hotend heater installation (old design)
Insert the heater to the heaterblock.
Make sure the heater goes through and sticks out slightly on the right side, see the picture.
Secure it by tightening the black screw.
Mounting the minda-holder (old design)
Mounting the minda-holder (old design)
Mounting the minda-holder (old design)
Mounting the minda-holder (old design)
Place the minda-holder back to the hotend.
Secure it with the M3x12 screw.
Place the minda-holder-clip to the minda-holder.
Insert the M3x12 screw in the minda-holder-clip and slightly tighten.
Insert and adjust the M.I.N.D.A. sensor.
Adjust the M.I.N.D.A. sensor position, there should be about 2-3 threads above the minda-holder. This a temporary position for now. We will set the proper one later on.
Tighten the screw on the minda-holder. Do not use excessive force, you can damage the minda-holder!
Guiding the cable bundle (old design)
Guiding the cable bundle (old design)
Guiding the cable bundle (old design)
Guiding the cable bundle (old design)
Merge all cables leading from the hotend together and guide them up. Don't pull the cables, leave some slack around the fan.
Carefully wrap the sleeve around the cable bundle.
WARNING: Read this first, don't overtighten the zip tie around cables, leave some slack or you might break some of them!
Secure with a zip tie to the fan-spacer.
Double-check all cables aren't stretched, if so, please cut the zip tie, make them slightly more loose and tighten the zip tie again.
Guiding the cable bundle (old design)
Guiding the cable bundle (old design)
Guiding the cable bundle (old design)
Guiding the cable bundle (old design)
WARNING: Follow these instructions carefully! If you mount the cable bundle at an incorrect position, you will have issues while printing!
Start by rotating the lead screw until the X-axis is all the way up.
Move the print head all the way to the right and ensure it is touching the printed part.
Bend the cable bundle slightly and use the upmost zip tie slot to partly tighten the entire bundle.
Add the EXTRUDER motor cable to the bundle and use the textile sleeve to cover the cables all the way down to the electronics.
Check whether the textile sleeve can reach the inner space of the electronics cover. If not, you left too much slack above the X-axis, readjust it.
Go back to the X-axis and check once again, that the print head can move all the way to the right without being pulled back by the cable bundle.
Guiding the cable bundle (old design)
Guiding the cable bundle (old design)
Guiding the cable bundle (old design)
Guiding the cable bundle (old design)
Tighten the zip tie, you've installed in the previous step, but use a reasonable force or you might break the cables. Rotate the zip tie's head to the left.
Add a second and third zip tie. Again, tighten carefully and rotate the heads to the left.
Move the print head all the way to the left to ensure there is no collision between the zip ties and the fan's casing.
Secure the textile sleeve with a fourth zip-tie 1-2 mm before the end of the wiring harness. Tighten so that the textile sleeve doesn't move freely. Do not tighten too much, cables may get pinched.
Try to pull the sleeve by hand and make sure it does not move.
Covering the electronics (old design)
Covering the electronics (old design)
Covering the electronics (old design)
Covering the electronics (old design)
Before covering the electronics, make sure the square nut is correctly positioned in the printed part. The nut must not fall out! This can cause fatal damage to the electronics.
Insert the cover back in, make sure it is properly seated in the holes.
Place the second cover on the top and arrange the cables:
Extruder bundle, ensure the textile sleeve is partially in. Also, it must be tilted away from the printer.
Heatbed bundle, ensure the textile sleeve is partially inside the box.
Filament sensor cable (optional), ensure that the textile sleeve wrapped around the cables is partially inside the box.
Now, tighten the second cover. Check that no cable is pinched.
M.I.N.D.A. sensor height adjustment (old design)
M.I.N.D.A. sensor height adjustment (old design)
M.I.N.D.A. sensor height adjustment (old design)
M.I.N.D.A. sensor height adjustment (old design)
Using your fingers turn the lead screw and move the entire X-axis down. Stop when the hotend touches the heatbed! Avoid bending the heatbed!
Release slightly the screw on the minda-holder so you are able to adjust the position of the M.I.N.D.A. sensor.
Place a credit card under the M.I.N.D.A. sensor or use a tip of the bundled zip tie.
Gently press the M.I.N.D.A. sensor down against the credit card.
Tighten the screw on the minda-holder. Do not use excessive force, you can break the printed part!
Rotate the lead screw manually in the opposite direction to move the axis at least 5 mm up.
Final check
Final check
Final check
Final check
Connect the printer and turn it ON.
Use the knob and navigate to the Preheat in the Menu.
Select PLA.
Navigate back to the Info screen and check if the temperature rises.
Was this guide helpful?

Comments

Still have questions?

Still have questions?

If you have a question about something that isn't covered here, check out our additional resources.
And if that doesn't do the trick, you can send an inquiry to [email protected] or through the button below.

Contact us