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How Fast Can a Prusa MK3 Print?

One of the most popular 3D printer models is the Prusa MK3. But how fast can a Prusa MK3 finish an entire 3D printing job?

Written by:
Ben
Last updated:
11/23/2023

When it comes to 3D printing and the different 3D printers that we have today, we need to know that 3D printers can take time to print, as 3D printing is naturally a lot more time-consuming. In that regard, one of the most popular 3D printer models is the Prusa MK3. But how fast can a Prusa MK3 finish an entire 3D printing job?

The Prusa MK3 can print somewhere above 90 mm/s, but some were able to reach printing speeds of more than 120 mm/s using PLA or polylactic acid. It depends a lot on the materials used, but the fact is that the Prusa MK3 can print faster than most other 3D printers.

When you look at how fast a 3D printer can print, it is important to note that you have to look at how big the entire printing job is and what kind of materials you are using. Some materials tend to make the 3D printer work quicker, but it all depends on the settings and the design you want to print out. But let’s learn more about 3D printers for you to understand how fast the Prusa MK3 can print truly.

How 3D printing speed is measured

One of the fastest-rising technologies in the world today is 3D printing. This 3D printer makes use of different types of raw materials to make into reality a design that is constructed through a computer-based program. So, technically, it is similar to how a 2D printer works, but the difference here is that you are making a 3D design that isn’t necessarily paper-based.

But the thing you need to know about 3D printing is that the speed is somewhat different compared to the usual printers that we have at home. That’s because of how 3D designs require a lot of time to be brought into reality. It also depends on the raw materials used as different materials, and the number of materials deposited can affect the printing speed of a 3D printer.

That said, the way 3D printers are measured in terms of speed is usually in millimeters per second or mm/s. So, when you are shopping for an excellent 3D printer, this is typically the metric you will see when the 3D printer is advertising itself and its printing speed. 

What is the average printing speed of a 3D printer?

So, considering that 3D printers are measured based on the millimeters per hour that they can print, you need to know that there is an average printing speed when it comes to most 3D printers. As such, how fast is the average printing speed that most of the 3D printers today have?

Many of the different 3D printers that we see today have an average printing speed of about 50 to 100 mm/s. That simply means that these printers can deposit about 100 mm of material in each second that the 3D printer is working. In that sense, it doesn’t seem like the average 3D printers are fast, but you have to understand that 3D printing is an intricate process that requires precision to make some of the most detailed designs into reality.

However, there are some things you need to know regarding the printing speed of a 3D printer. In most cases, 3D printers can print fast enough to turn out products that are not the best in terms of quality. 

The reason is that, again, 3D printers need to take time to print the design correctly. So, if the 3D printer rushed the printing process, what happens is that it might make subtle mistakes that can ruin the overall quality of the design. That’s why 3D printers that can print at speeds of 100 mm/s are already good enough in terms of the balance in their quality and speed.

Then again, there are 3D printers that can print at more than 150 mm/s, but these usually affect the quality of the design. Moreover, those that can reach such speeds typically do so with easier materials for the 3D printer to use.

For example, 3D printers that use PETG, a Glycol Modified version of Polyethylene Terephthalate, tend to take more time to print than 3D printers that use polylactic acid or PLA. That’s because PETG is sturdier than PLA and will require more precision compared to other types of materials like PLA. However, if you want a fast enough printing job, PLA will usually give you faster printing speeds on your 3D printer.

How fast can a Prusa MK3 print?

All that said, now we go to the Prusa MK3, which is one of the most popular 3D printers for the consumer market. So, compared to the average 3D printers we see in today’s market, how fast can a Prusa MK3 print?

The printing speed of a Prusa MK3 will depend on the different materials and the speed you set on the software you use to print your designs. That means that the printing speeds can fluctuate depending on the factors mentioned above that can affect your Prusa MK3.

In most cases, however, a Prusa MK3 can give you printing speeds of over 90 mm/s on average if you are using the sturdier PETG material, which forces the 3D printer to work at a slower pace given how sturdy this material is. However, if you use the less sturdy PLA material for your Prusa MK3, you may be able to churn out speeds of over 120 mm/s.

As such, the Prusa MK3 is faster than the average 3D printer you can see in the market today. And the good news is that, as fast as it is, it can still give you high-quality results even at 120 mm/s printing speeds. But, to be on the safer side, it should be a good idea to use slower printing speeds unless time isn’t much of an issue for you compared to how you value the quality of the results.

Written by:
Ben
Last updated:
11/23/2023

About Ben

I started 3D printing since 2013 and have learned a lot since then. Because of this I want to share my knowledge of what I have learned in the past years with the community. Currently I own 2 Bambulab X1 Carbon, Prusa SL1S and a Prusa MK3S+. Hope you learn something from my blog after my years of experience in 3D printing.