Prusa quality with Core XY speed
Tom’s Hardware Verdict
Prusa literally transformed their classic i3 printer into a Core XY machine with more speed and all the outstanding quality we expect from an industry leader. The enclosure has a clever design that allows for creative modding, but it oddly lacks expected premium features like a built-in camera.
TODAY’S BEST DEALS $949 at Prusa $1,199 at Prusa Check Amazon
Pros
- +
Core XY speed
- +
High flow CHT Nozzle
- +
Perfect first layer
- +
Very quiet
- +
Fully assembled or DIY kit
- +
Can be upgraded from a MK4
Cons
- –
Expensive
- –
Chamber heated by bed
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Josef Prusa finally gave his customers what they wanted: a fast CORE XY 3D printer to compete with Bambu Lab and all the Voron Design clones on the market. The new CORE One has a brilliant design that’s shares parts with the familiar MK4S to the point that a conversion kit is being made available for $450.
Prusa fans have been begging the European manufacturer to produce a Core XY ever since the reveal of the industrial Pro AFS (Automatic Farm System) several years ago. That machine is a bank of nine Core XY printers, proving that the company could indeed make more than bedslingers.
The CORE One is designed with easy maintenance in mind: nothing is welded or glued in place, and the whole thing can be built with a screwdriver. The steel case serves as an exoskeleton, which the company claims is nearly indestructible. We’ll cover more on the design later in this review.
The CORE One is not intended to replace the MK4S, but rather provide a better option for makers who need an enclosed 3D printer. This machine has a similar footprint and build volume of the classic bed slinger, but takes up much less space than an enclosure for a MK4S. It’s also about 20% faster and has a vented chamber that can be heated to 55 degrees C for printing engineering filaments or kept under 30 degrees C, which is cool enough for PLA. This means the door can remain closed for safety around children in a home or school environment.
The CORE One is retailing at $1,199, only $200 more than the MK4S. You can save a little money by building the kit version for $949, or converting a MK4S for $449. The Prusa CORE One lives up to its reputation and is one of the best 3D printers we’ve tested to date.