Prusa's Firmware 6.0.0 Brings Easier Object Cancellation and a Surprise Touch Interface
"A touch panel has been secretly a part of the MK4's and XL's display from the very beginning," Josef Průša reveals.
Prusa Research has announced a "major firmware release," bringing its printers up to firmware revision 6.0.0 — and, in doing so, unlocks a hidden touchscreen interface in its MK3.5, MK3.9, MK4, and XL printers.
"For several months, we’ve been working hard to bring you the next major firmware release. And today’s the day: firmware 6.0.0 is out now! What does it bring? Honestly, a lot," says founder Josef Průša of his company's latest firmware release, which covers the Prusa Mini, MK3.5, MK3.9, and MK4 printers, with the Prusa XL on 6.0.0 Release Candidate 3 at the time of writing.
All printers, including the Prusa XL, upgrading to the new firmware receive a "vastly improved" version of the Cancel Object function, Průša says, designed to make it easier to handle multi-object printing problems: for models sliced using PrusaSlicer 2.7.4 or above printing on a 6.0.0-equipped printer Prusa Connect will now show an interactive bed layout, with failed objects cancelable in two clicks — without interrupting printing of the remaining objects.
"Devices with touchscreens are pretty common these days, so we're considering this just a neat little update," Průša says of a surprise new feature for selected printers in the updated firmware. "A touch panel has been secretly a part of the MK4's and XL's display from the very beginning, however, we didn't advertise it anywhere and we waited until we were sure it was ready for release. Don't expect an extremely smooth smartphone-like experience, but I’m happy to say that the current implementation is really good and it makes accessing many features faster than before."
The new firmware also brings Stealth Mode from the Prusa MK3 to newer 32-bit printers, putting an upper limit on acceleration, feedrate, and jerk settings in order to reduce noise at the cost of longer times — extending an eight-hour print to a little under nine hours, model-dependent, Průša says. The Prusa XL, meanwhile, gets a new Phase Stepping calibration system to reduce noise from the stepper motors.
Other features of the new firmware include stuck filament detection for the Nextruder-equipped MK3.9, MK4, and XL printers, the ability to automatically update the MMU3 in the MK3.5, MK3.9, and MK4, and a new bed level correction system in the Prusa MINI+ and MK3.5.
More information on the new firmware, and features in the latest PrusaSlicer and Prusa Connect packages, is available on the Prusa blog.