Posted by: @sam-g-pascoe
My goodness that looks a million times better than anything I have been able to create!
It’s rewarding to hear that! Achieving high-quality 3D prints, especially for detailed miniatures, is definitely a journey. Think of 3D printing today more like mastering a recipe in cooking than writing code. You need to develop a feel for your specific printer and filament to really dial in your settings. Once you do, a printer like the Mk3 becomes an excellent tool for producing fantastic miniatures.
I did try using a 0.25 Nozzle, but I think it just doubled the issues I already have at 0.4, creating a mess. Would you be able to share the exact settings you used for the paladin sample model, to test if I am a lost cause?
Switching to a 0.25mm nozzle can indeed be tricky if your foundational settings aren’t optimized first. While I can share my PrusaSlicer settings, it’s crucial to understand that there aren’t any universal “magic profiles” that guarantee perfect 3d Print Miniatures right out of the box, despite what some online videos might suggest. My settings are specifically tuned for my printer and the filaments I use. While Prusa printers are known for their consistent quality, meaning our hardware is likely quite similar, filament variations and proper printer calibration play significant roles. Using my profiles can be a good starting point, but you’ll likely need to fine-tune them based on your setup and materials to get the best results for your 3d print miniatures.
I’ve made a collection of my PrusaSlicer settings available here for you to explore and experiment with. However, I strongly recommend focusing on understanding and addressing individual print quality issues systematically.
Printing miniatures is a demanding task for any 3D printer. My breakthrough came when I started tackling one problem at a time. I began by focusing on stringing, and then moved on to optimizing supports. A good approach is to find short test prints, around 10-30 minutes, that highlight specific issues. Then, adjust only one setting at a time and observe the impact. Trying to fix everything at once by changing multiple settings often leads to unpredictable results.
Also, keep in mind that much of the online advice about 3D print miniatures is not tailored for high-quality printers like the Mk3. Many guides are written for budget-friendly printers which have different characteristics and require different approaches. Focus on resources and communities specifically discussing Prusa printers for more relevant guidance when you’re aiming for top-tier 3d print miniatures.
I can run a test print of the Paladin model using my current settings and upload the project file for you later.
Looking at your printer setup, it seems like addressing some fundamental issues should be your priority. To help diagnose those, could you print the Prusa logo and the Marvin or Frog sample g-code files that come with your printer and share pictures here? This will help us assess if there are any basic hardware adjustments needed on your printer. Also, please let us know if you’ve already made any adjustments to your printer.
You can find my general notes and disclaimers on 3D printing here and more of my tech projects here. “He is intelligent, but not experienced. His pattern indicates two dimensional thinking.” — Spock in Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan
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