Frequently Asked Questions

What filament should I start with?

PLA. It's the most forgiving material to print and needs no enclosure — see the Filament & Material Guide for the full comparison once you're ready to branch out.

Do I need an enclosure?

Not for PLA or PETG. For ABS/ASA, an enclosure significantly reduces warping and contains the fumes — it's a strong recommendation, not strictly mandatory for occasional small prints.

Is it safe to leave printing unattended?

The MK3S+'s thermal runaway protection (see LCD Error & Alarm Code Reference) is a real safety system, but no 3D printer should be treated as fully unsupervised for very long unattended runs — use common sense with ventilation and a smoke detector nearby, as with any heated appliance.

How often do I need to re-level the bed?

Mesh Bed Leveling runs automatically before every print, so you don't need to do this manually. Live-Z occasionally needs a small tweak (see First-Time Calibration) — a sign it's drifted is a first layer that's suddenly too squished or not sticking.

Why is my printer louder than videos I've seen?

Some noise is normal — fans, stepper motors, and the Z-axis lead screws all contribute. A sudden increase in noise, though, is worth investigating (see Maintenance & Upgrades) rather than ignoring, since it's often an early sign of a mechanical issue.

Can I print two colors or materials at once?

Not out of the box — the stock MK3S+ has a single nozzle. Multi-material printing requires the separate MMU (Multi Material Upgrade) unit.