Prusa i3 Bear Upgrade V2

Prusa i3 Bear Upgrade V2.0



Introduction
This is an aluminum frame conversion for the Prusa i3 MK2, MK2s, MK2.5 and MK3.

Josef PRŮŠA has created numerous of incredible 3D printers and its latest Prusa i3 MK3 is capable of very impressive print quality for a very low price. A huge thanks to him and all its team!

One of the down point of the Prusa i3 MK2 and MK3 is the rigidity of the frame. A very good project has solved those problems by using 3030 extrusion aluminum : Prusa 3030 Haribo Edition. So why another conversion build? Check the next section


Why another conversion build?
Here are the features that explain why I decided to create another printer upgrade.

• Use as much as possible original parts (no need to print a new RAMBo cover nor change any cable, rods or firmware)
• Compatible with MK2, MK2s MK2.5 and MK3
• Let user choose between two versions :
  • Half upgrade : similar to MK3 and cheaper
  • Full upgrade : stronger but more expensive
• Highly detailed manual
• Use more aluminum and less printed parts (3D printed parts can crack and are less reliable)
• Use Openbuilds hardware :
  • Single platform of multitude compatible hardware parts
  • V-Slot offers more possibilities for printed parts and customisation than T-Slot
  • Open source with powerful community
  • Easy to square and build
  • Worldwide shipping plus several other shops selling these parts
• Other type of aluminum extrusions can be supported thanks to parametric design (check Fusion 360 files)
• 3D printed parts designed using advanced techniques like selective infill, clean vertical holes, sharp angle...
• Open source by providing STL, STEP and Autodesk Fusion 360 files

Full And Half upgrades
The Prusa i3 Bear upgrade is proposed in two versions: full or half upgrade.

• Half upgrade : upgrade your MK2/MK2s/MK2.5 frame to MK3 type
• Full upgrade : has a redesigned and stronger Z axis for all MK2 and MK3 printers but is more expensive

Here is a comparison table to help you choose :

Half upgrade use the same v-slots and printed part for MK2(s) and MK2.5. However, the full upgrade has 3 different versions, one for MK2(s), one for MK2.5 and another one for MK3.



Several printed parts are shared between all these versions. This makes easier to move from half to full upgrade, or full upgrade MK2 to full upgrade MK3.

You will find description, files, drawings, manual, etc. for each version on my github here:
Half upgrade
Full upgrade


Community
Here are the places were the Bear project is the most active. Do not hesitate to ask if you have a question :

• Facebook group : facebook.com/groups/PrusaBearUpgrade
• Discord server of "The 602 Wasteland" community : discordapp.com/invite/hYUjSnW
• GitHub : github.com/gregsaun
• Thingiverse : thingiverse.com/pekcitron
• Openbuilds community : openbuilds.com/builds/prusa-i3-bear-upgrade-v2.6428

Optional parts
Checkout the best optional parts for you Bear : Optional Parts on Github


Support my work
The Bear project is made possible thanks supporters. Here are some way to support me:

• Become my patron with Patreon: patreon.com/gregsaun
• A tip via Paypal: paypal.me/gregsaun
• A tip via Thingiverse: thingiverse.com/pekcitron

Big thank you in advance ❤️


Thank you
Thank you to all my Patreons.

Thank you to all that have send me a tip on Thingiverse and PayPal.

Thank you to everybody from Facebook group and The 602 Wasteland community.

Thank you for having purchased a kit from an official distributor.

Thank you to all official distributors for taking care of the kits and customers.

Thank you Jason from LDO Motors for the quality manufacturing and relationship.

Thank you Openbuilds for your hardware, community and state of mind.

Thank you for making the community alibe with all your comments, issues, pull requests, optional parts, make, pictures, etc.

Thank you to David Ogles, Flobler, Jason from LDO Motors, Matthew Humphrey, Nathan Denkin, Orlando from All3DMakers, Termlimit, Vertigo295 for helping me developing the Bear project.


Sources
Here are a list of sources I used to build this project :

• Prusa : Prusa3D - 3D Printers from Josef Prusa
• Prusa 3030 Haribo Edition : GitHub - PrusaMK2Users/3030_Haribo_Edition: Aluminum extrusion conversion for the Original Prusa i3 MK2
• Openbuilds : Build List | OpenBuilds
• Prusa i3 Solidworks parts from jzkmath : GitHub - jzkmath/Original-Prusa-i3: Original Prusa i3 MK2 3D printer printed parts

Huge thanks to these projects, without them this project can not exist!


Pictures of the Full Upgrade MK2s build