Routine Maintenance & Common Upgrades
Every ~50 hours of printing
- Lubricate the smooth rods and lead screws — the same principle as the MK3S+, dry rods increase bearing wear.
- Check belt tension on X and Y.
- Clean the print sheet with warm water and dish soap for consistent adhesion.
Every ~200 hours, or when quality drifts
- Check the nozzle for wear, especially if printing abrasive or fiber-filled filaments — replace rather than troubleshoot around a worn one.
- Re-run the Calibration Wizard if you've moved the printer.
- Inspect the Nextruder's toolhead cable for wear at the flex points — it moves constantly with the gantry.
Popular first upgrades
| Upgrade | What it helps with |
|---|---|
| Spare Nextruder hotend | Fast swap when a clog or nozzle wears out, minimal downtime |
| Hardened nozzle | Printing abrasive filaments without wearing out a stock nozzle |
| Enclosure | Reduces warping and fumes for ABS/ASA |
| Extra print sheets (smooth + textured) | Different finish without re-leveling mid-job |
Tip: Before buying an upgrade to fix a quality problem, check Common Print Quality Problems & Fixes first — most issues on a well-maintained MK4 are calibration, not hardware limitations.