Guide · Maintenance parts
3D printer maintenance and lubrication: what makers say
Prusa's 200-hour and 600-800-hour checks, what not to grease on the MK4 and MINI, CORE One rail lubrication, and ELEGOO's PTFE interval, by exact model.
We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page. How we make money
Picks in this topic
- Micro Swiss MK8 plated A2 tool-steel wear-resistant nozzle, 0.4 mm (M2585‑04)Check price on Amazon
- Micro Swiss MK8 plated M2 hardened high-speed-steel nozzle, 0.4 mm (M2500‑04)Check price on Amazon
- Sovol hardened steel nozzle kit for SV08 / T300, 0.4 mm x2Check price on Amazon
Short answer
Use your printer maker's schedule. Prusa publishes the clearest one: checks every 200 printing hours and electrical connector checks every 600-800 hours on the MK4/S and MK3.9/S. Prusa also says what not to lubricate: the Z-axis nuts and lead screws on the MK4 family and the MINI. ELEGOO recommends monthly hotend PTFE replacement on busy Neptune 3 printers.
Picks in this topicSee the shortlist
- Micro Swiss MK8 plated A2 tool-steel wear-resistant nozzle, 0.4 mm (M2585‑04)Check price on Amazon
- Micro Swiss MK8 plated M2 hardened high-speed-steel nozzle, 0.4 mm (M2500‑04)Check price on Amazon
- Sovol hardened steel nozzle kit for SV08 / T300, 0.4 mm x2Check price on Amazon
Prusa MK4/S and MK3.9/S
Prusa's maintenance guide for the MK4/S and MK3.9/S calls for sporadic checks every 200 hours of printing and electrical connector checks every 600-800 hours.[1] It also says fans should be checked and cleaned after every few hundred hours.
What not to lubricate: Prusa says not to apply lubricant to the Z-axis trapezoid nuts or threaded lead screws on these printers.[1] Prusa Lubricant is for the smooth rods and linear bearings, and Prusa says the Nextruder primary gear and idler-shaft bearings need no lubricant.
Prusa MINI and MINI+
- Smooth rods: clean them after about 200 hours of printing.[2] Prusa allows its supplied lubricant or "any good super lube" on the X, Y and Z smooth rods.
- Z axis: do not lubricate the Z-axis trapezoid nut or lead screw.[2]
- PTFE tubes: the MINI has four, two external and two internal; replace any that is deformed or worn, and clean them with compressed air rather than a solid wire.[2]
- Fans: check them every couple hundred hours.
Prusa CORE One and CORE One+
Prusa's CORE One/+ guide says to lubricate the X-axis linear rail every 3-6 months with the dedicated rail lubrication set, not with Prusa Lubricant.[3] It keeps the same 200-hour checks and 600-800-hour connector checks. The guide has no Z-leadscrew section, so we give no Z-leadscrew lubrication advice for the CORE One; ask Prusa support if you are unsure.
ELEGOO Neptune 3 Pro, Plus and Max
For frequently used Neptune 3 Pro, Plus and Max printers, ELEGOO recommends replacing the hotend PTFE tubing at least once a month.[4] For nozzles, ELEGOO says to judge replacement by wear, so there is no fixed nozzle interval.
At a glance
| Printer | Interval | What the maker says |
|---|---|---|
| Prusa MK4/S, MK3.9/S | 200 h | Sporadic checks |
| Prusa MK4/S, MK3.9/S | 600-800 h | Electrical connector checks |
| Prusa MK4/S, MK3.9/S, MINI/+ | never | No lubricant on Z nuts or lead screws |
| Prusa MINI/+ | about 200 h | Clean the smooth rods |
| Prusa CORE One/+ | 3-6 months | X-axis rail, with the rail lubrication set |
| ELEGOO Neptune 3 Pro/Plus/Max | at least monthly (frequent use) | Replace hotend PTFE tubing |
Other brands
For Creality, Sovol, Bambu Lab and other printers, follow your manual. We found no comparable published schedule from those makers in the sources we checked, so we do not invent one.
The same applies to aftermarket linear rails. We could not read HIWIN's own guideway manual, so we publish no lubricant type or interval for rails in general. Use the interval and grease your rail or printer maker names.
A simple routine that follows the makers
- Log printing hours, or read them from the printer if it counts them.
- Put your maker's intervals on a calendar.
- Before lubricating anything, check the manual says that part takes lubricant.
- Replace worn PTFE tubes and nozzles by condition, as Prusa and ELEGOO describe.
Next
Questions
How often should I service my 3D printer?
Follow your maker. Prusa's MK4/S and MK3.9/S guide calls for sporadic checks every 200 printing hours and electrical connector checks every 600-800 hours. We found no comparable published schedule for most other brands.[1]
Should I grease the Z lead screw?
Not on a Prusa MK4/S, MK3.9/S, MINI or MINI+: Prusa says not to lubricate the Z-axis trapezoid nuts or lead screws on those printers. For other printers, follow the manual.[1][2]
What lubricant goes on a linear rail?
Use what the rail's or printer's maker names. Prusa says to lubricate the CORE One and CORE One+ X-axis rail every 3-6 months with its dedicated rail lubrication set, not with Prusa Lubricant. We could not read HIWIN's own lubrication instructions, so we publish no general rail interval.[3]
How often should I clean the smooth rods on a Prusa MINI?
Prusa says to clean the MINI and MINI+ smooth rods after about 200 hours of printing.[2]