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Idler screw tension

Last updated 2 months ago
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CSPLDEJAESITFR

The Original Prusa FFF printers and upgrades use a screw(s) with a spring(s) to provide tension between the filament and the filament pulley. It is important to have this tension correct. If too loose the pulley will not be able to "grab" the filament, while if it is too tight the extruder motor can overexert itself and even start grinding the filament. With the exception of the MK2/S and MMU1, the correct tension remains the same across all of our printers. 

When printing flexible filaments (TPU/TPE) you want the screw even looser than what is depicted here. Please see Flexible materials for more information.

MK2.5S/MK3S/MK3S+/MK3.5

The idler screw should be about flush to protruding 0.5 -1 mm with the plastic part when the filament is not loaded.

Original Prusa MK3SOriginal Prusa MK3S+

MMU2S unit

The MMU2S requires a slightly different extruder but also has 1 idler-screw on the left side of the extruder, like the picture above. Roughly the same tension should be applied but it should only be adjusted as a part of the IR filament sensor calibration.

In addition to the screw on the extruder, the MMU2S unit itself has two tension screws on top (green arrows left picture), applying pressure to the filament upon load/unload. These should be slightly below the surface of the plastic part (about 1 millimeter) when the filament is not loaded to the nozzle (right picture).

MMU3 unit

Both Idler tension screws should be adjusted so that the top of the screw head is flush or slightly above the top surface of the idler-body, as a default setting.

MK3/MK2.5

This extruder design has two idler screws. The head of the screw should be about flush to sticking out 1 - 1.5 mm when a filament is loaded.

MINI

The Original Prusa MINI has its idler screw on the bottom of the extruder, located on the Z-axis extrusion. This too should be about flush with the plastic, when the filament is not loaded.

MK4/MK3.9/XL

The Original Prusa MK4 and the Original Prusa XL have two idler screws, that are inserted into the Idler Nut. The Idler Nut keeps the Idler, the part that includes the two driven gears, in place. The tips of the screws must be aligned with the front surface of the Idler Nut

Original Prusa MK4Original Prusa XL

MK2S

The Original Prusa MK2S had a different extruder design. It has two screws, where the length of the springs should be circa 13 mm when tightened. After some use, it is ok to tighten them a little bit more, but the two screws must be equal.

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